Rusty Ward Ministries, Pounding Mill, VA (2026)

06/17/2026

The Eagle: Strength from Above
God knows when we feel tired, weak, or worn down, and He never turns away from our need. God promises to give us new strength when we trust in Him and wait on Him. The Bible says, “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV). Just as the eagle rises high above the clouds, God lifts our hearts so we can rise above fear, stress, and trouble.

The eagle does not fight the wind; it lets the wind carry it. In the same way, God calls us to lean on His power and not our own. When life feels heavy, God is the One who lifts us up and helps us keep going. He gives strength to the weary and hope to the worn out. When you wait on the Lord, He will help you soar. Trust Him today, and let God carry you on His mighty wings.

Help Us Share the Message!
Support our vision by liking and following Rusty Ward Ministries on Facebook for encouraging insights and the latest updates. To learn more about our mission and ministry, visit www.rustyward.org.

Grow in Faith—One Day at a Time
Download the Bible App and search for Rusty Ward Ministries to follow our devotionals. Let’s walk this journey of faith together, day by day.

06/14/2026

Sunday Sermon: Rocks in My Pocket
Who would choose to carry a pocket full of rocks all day? At first, one small rock may not seem like a big deal. But as time passes, the weight begins to slow you down. It becomes sore and painful. What once felt small starts to hurt and keeps you from moving freely.

In the same way, many people carry heavy burdens in their hearts. Worry, fear, regret, and stress are like rocks in our pockets. We carry them to work, into our homes, and even to bed at night. God never asked us to carry these things, yet we hold on to them day after day. The longer we carry them, the heavier they feel, and the more tired we become.

But we have a choice. God invites us to empty our pockets and place our burdens in His hands. When we let Him carry what we were never meant to hold, He gives us peace and rest. We do not have to live weighed down by the past or afraid of the future. God is ready to help when we trust Him and let go.

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you.” — Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)

06/10/2026

The Dove: A Promise of Peace
God uses gentle things to show His deep love, and the dove is one of them. From the very beginning, God used this simple bird to speak peace to His people and to remind them that He was near. When Noah was on the ark after the great storm, he sent out a dove to look for dry land. “Then he sent out a dove… and the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth” (Genesis 8:10–11, NKJV). That small leaf carried a big message. The storm was over, the waters were going down, and God’s peace had returned to the earth. The dove showed that God was faithful and that new life was beginning.

Years later, God used the dove again in a powerful way. When Jesus was baptized, “He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him” (Matthew 3:16, NKJV). The dove showed the presence of God and His peace resting on His Son. Today, God still sends His Spirit to live in our hearts. When life feels loud, heavy, or full of storms, the dove reminds us that God brings calm, comfort, and rest. Just as He did in the past, God still speaks peace over His people today.

Help Us Share the Message!
Support our vision by liking and following Rusty Ward Ministries on Facebook for encouraging insights and the latest updates. To learn more about our mission and ministry, visit www.rustyward.org.

Grow in Faith—One Day at a Time
Download the Bible App and search for Rusty Ward Ministries to follow our devotionals. Let’s walk this journey of faith together, day by day.

06/07/2026

Sunday Sermon: As Far as the East Is from the West
God created this world with incredible design and perfect wisdom. God placed truths within His creation that remind us of His mercy and the depth of His forgiveness.

You may not have known this, but the distance from the North Pole to the South Pole is about 12,436 miles. That is the greatest distance you can travel on earth going north or south. But something interesting happens when you travel in those directions.

If you keep heading north, eventually you will reach the North Pole. Once you pass that point, every step you take will actually be heading south. The same is true if you travel south. Eventually you will reach the South Pole, and after that point you will begin heading north again.

In other words, north and south eventually meet.
But east and west do not work that way.

If you begin traveling east, you will continue going east forever. You will never suddenly start going west. The same is true if you travel west, you will continue west without ever meeting east. The two directions never meet. This beautiful truth reflects the incredible mercy of God.

Psalm 103:12 (NKJV) declares:
“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

God did not say our sins are removed as far as the north is from the south. He said as far as the east is from the west, a distance that never meets and never returns.

For those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior, believing that He died for their sins and rose again, God promises that their sins are completely removed. They are not partially forgiven or temporarily covered. They are taken away, separated from us by a distance that can never be measured.

But for those who have not yet trusted Jesus as their Savior, the weight of sin still remains upon their shoulders. The Bible teaches that sin separates us from God and keeps us from entering Heaven.
The good news is that this can change today.

If you place your faith in Jesus Christ, trusting that He died for your sins and rose again, God will forgive you completely. In that moment, He will remove your sins as far as the east is from the west.
God’s mercy is greater than your past.

God’s grace is stronger than your failures.
And through Jesus Christ, your sins can be carried away forever.
As far as the east is from the west.

06/03/2026

Nuts Closing Reflections
God’s design can be seen in every part of creation, even in something as simple and small as a nut. From the tiniest seed hidden in the soil to the tallest mountain reaching toward the sky, all of creation speaks of His power and purpose. Just like the cashew, pecan, macadamia, pistachio, hazelnut, and peanut each grow in different ways and serve different purposes, we too have a unique journey designed by God. These ordinary parts of nature remind us that He sees our struggles, our potential, and the process we must go through to grow. Even when we feel hidden or overlooked, God is carefully shaping us, preparing us for the plans He has already set in motion. Nothing about us is by accident, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. So, let’s place our trust in Him, knowing that our lives are part of a far greater story, one that brings glory to the Creator who designed it all.
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

Help Us Share the Message!
Support our vision by liking and following Rusty Ward Ministries on Facebook for encouraging insights and the latest updates. To learn more about our mission and ministry, visit www.rustyward.org.

Grow in Faith—One Day at a Time
Download the Bible App and search for Rusty Ward Ministries to follow our devotionals. Let’s walk this journey of faith together, day by day.

Click the link below to get started:
https://www.bible.com/organizations/fcf107c1-d00f-45fa-b1d1-9e86cde24a45?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExS05TcWc4VGpNelpFQ3A3bgEeHBaMMG6JySHGujC_Su7IF5N8TgLfDowT184zzsXk1xvKndcU3EDkddhtGWQ_aem_DIOd0toHQVNDdrazyPp9AQ

05/31/2026

Sunday Sermon: Always By My Side:

Lord, You Are Always on My Side
Lord, anytime I call on You, You answer me. Your Word says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV). What a promise! We do not pray to a distant God. We pray to a Father who listens. In every season, good or bad, You stand with us. When we feel weak, You strengthen us. When we feel unsure, You guide us. When we feel alone, You remind us that You are near. Your Word declares, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, NKJV).

Because You are with us, we will not fall. We may stumble, but You lift us up. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Psalm 37:24, NKJV). Lord, You support us when we cannot stand on our own. You never disappoint, because You are faithful. People may fail us, but You never will. “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear” (Hebrews 13:6, NKJV). That truth gives us peace and courage.

We praise You, Lord, for You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13, NKJV). You are Yeshua, our Savior. You are our Maker and our Keeper. “The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul” (Psalm 121:7, NKJV). You are everything we need. You are always on our side, not because we are perfect, but because You love us.

So today we say with confidence: Lord, anytime we call, You answer. You walk with us in every step. You lift us when we fall. You will never disappoint. And for that, we give You praise.

05/27/2026

Peanut
Just like the common peanut, which grows quietly beneath the soil, hidden from sight, yet provides nourishment and strength, God often works through ordinary people and simple things to accomplish extraordinary purposes. From a tiny stream that slowly shapes a mighty canyon to the warm sunlight that brings life to an entire forest, all of creation reminds us that small and humble beginnings can lead to great outcomes. You don’t have to be rich, famous, or powerful for God to use you in amazing ways. He delights in working through those who are willing, even when the world may overlook them. Like the peanut, we may feel unseen or unimportant, but beneath the surface, God is shaping us for His purpose. When we offer ourselves to Him with a humble heart, He can take our simple acts of service and multiply them beyond what we could ever imagine. A kind word, a helping hand, or a prayer spoken in faith can make a lasting impact in someone’s life. Just as the peanut brings strength to the body, our lives can bring spiritual nourishment and hope to others. God’s greatest works often begin in quiet, hidden places. So even when you feel small or unnoticed, trust that He is using you to bless the world in ways you may never fully see.

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 14:11 (NKJV)
Help Us Share the Message!

Support our vision by liking and following Rusty Ward Ministries on Facebook for encouraging insights and the latest updates. To learn more about our mission and ministry, visit www.rustyward.org.
Grow in Faith—One Day at a Time

Download the Bible App and search for Rusty Ward Ministries to follow our devotionals. Let’s walk this journey of faith together, day by day.

Click the link below to get started:
https://www.bible.com/.../fcf107c1-d00f-45fa-b1d1...

05/24/2026

Sunday Sermon: Remember and Honor.
On this Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who gave their lives, and we thank God for the love and sacrifice they showed. God is the giver of all life, and He sees every act of courage and every life laid down for others. The Bible tells us in John 15:13 (NKJV), “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” This day reminds us of that kind of love, a love that gives everything so others may live in peace and freedom.

As we reflect, we also look to God for comfort and hope. Many families carry both pride and pain, but God is near to the brokenhearted and gives strength to those who trust in Him. Psalm 34:18 (NKJV) says, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Today, we honor the fallen, but we also thank God for His promise of eternal life. Because of Him, death is not the end, and hope still lives. May we never forget the cost of freedom, and may we live each day in a way that honors both God and those who gave so much.

05/20/2026

Chestnut
Just like a chestnut’s prickly outer burr protects the smooth nut inside, God places His shield of protection around us, especially in difficult times. From the towering mountains that stand firm against raging storms to the tiny shells that cover and protect a crab, all of creation reminds us that God guards what He has made. Life can often feel sharp and painful, like the burr of a chestnut, but even in those moments, God’s love surrounds us like a strong, unbreakable wall. The challenges we face may try to pierce our hearts, yet His grace is a constant defense, keeping us safe and secure. We never have to face the world alone because His presence goes before us, walks beside us, and stands behind us. Just as the chestnut stays hidden and safe inside its burr until the right time, God keeps us under His care, preparing us for the moment when His plan will be revealed. When we choose to rest in His protection, we find peace even in the middle of life’s storms. No matter how dark or uncertain the path may seem, His promise remains sure, He will never leave us nor forsake us. And when the time is right, He will bring us out of hiding and into the beautiful purpose He has prepared for us all along.

“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” – Psalm 3:3 (NKJV)
Help Us Share the Message!

Support our vision by liking and following Rusty Ward Ministries on Facebook for encouraging insights and the latest updates. To learn more about our mission and ministry, visit www.rustyward.org.

Grow in Faith—One Day at a Time
Download the Bible App and search for Rusty Ward Ministries to follow our devotionals. Let’s walk this journey of faith together, day by day.

Click the link below to get started:
https://www.bible.com/.../fcf107c1-d00f-45fa-b1d1...

05/17/2026

Sunday Sermon: Gravestone

One day, when we leave this earth, someone will engrave words on a headstone. They will not list your job title. They will not write how many hours you worked. They will not record how much money you made. The world may measure success by those things, but eternity does not.

Instead, they will write what truly mattered, mother, father, husband, wife, son, daughter, friend. They will write the roles that speak of love and relationship. And on that stone, there will be two dates: the day you were born and the day you died. Between those two dates is a small dash. That dash may look small, but it holds the story of your whole life. The Bible reminds us, “For what is your life? It is even a v***r that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14, NKJV). Life is short, but what we do with it carries great meaning.

Your legacy is not your career. Your legacy is not your paycheck. Your legacy is the love you gave, the prayers you prayed, the people you helped, and the lives you touched. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (NKJV). When we understand how brief life is, we begin to focus on what truly matters. Did we love well? Did we forgive quickly? Did we point others to Jesus?

The dash represents every choice you made, every kind word spoken, every act of faith, and every moment you trusted God. Proverbs 13:22 tells us, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (NKJV). That inheritance is more than money; it is faith, character, and love.

One day, all that will remain of this life is that small dash carved in stone. So live your dash wisely. Invest in people. Serve the Lord. Love deeply. Walk with God daily. Because when it is all said and done, what truly matters is not what you had, but who you loved and how you lived for Christ.

Rusty Ward Ministries

06/17/2026

06/14/2026

06/10/2026

06/07/2026

06/03/2026

05/31/2026

05/27/2026

05/24/2026

05/20/2026

05/17/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Place Of Worship

Shortcuts

Share

Category