Rusty Ward Ministries, Pounding Mill, VA (2026)

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.

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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.

05/13/2026

Hazelnut
A hazelnut may be small, but it is filled with strength and nourishment, reminding us that little things can carry great power. In the same way, our smallest acts of faith can have a big impact in God’s hands. From the roar of the ocean waves to the quiet beauty of a single flower blooming in the field, all of creation shows that greatness often begins in small and simple ways. You may feel like what you have to give is too little to matter, but God can take even the smallest gift and use it to bless others. A short prayer, a kind word, or a simple act of love can bring hope and change in ways you may never see. Just as a tiny seed can grow into a tree, God can grow your faith into something strong and lasting. He doesn’t look at how big your actions are, but at the heart behind them. Even the smallest step of obedience can lead to something amazing. So never doubt the value of what you offer to God, no matter how small it seems. In His hands, little things become mighty.

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” – Matthew 17:20 (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...

05/10/2026

Sunday Sermon: A Heart Like Hers.

On this Mother’s Day, we thank God for the love we see through mothers. God uses their hands to care, their hearts to comfort, and their faith to hold the home together. Even on the hard days, when no one sees the tears or the tiredness, God sees it all. His Word says in Isaiah 40:11 (NKJV), “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” In many ways, a mother reflects that same tender care, holding, guiding, and loving with patience that comes from the Lord.

A godly mother may feel worn down, but she is never without strength, because her strength comes from God. In Proverbs 31:26–27 (NKJV), it says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Her work matters. Her prayers matter. Her love matters. Today, we honor her not just for what she does, but for who she is in Christ. May God refresh her spirit, lift her heart, and remind her that she is deeply loved and never forgotten. Happy Mother's Day!

05/06/2026

Pistachio
Just like a pistachio nut naturally splits open when it's fully ripe, ready to be enjoyed, God desires for our hearts to be open to Him. From the great oceans to the endless skies, all of creation responds to its Creator, and so should we. When we open ourselves to God's love and guidance, His blessings can truly overflow into our lives. A closed heart, much like an unopened pistachio shell, can't receive the goodness that's meant for it. By opening up to Him, we become ready to receive the peace, joy, and purpose that He wants to give us. There's no need to hide or hold back any part of ourselves from God. He is always waiting to fill us with His goodness if we are willing to be open.

“He shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes.” – Jeremiah 17:8 (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.

05/03/2026

Sunday Sermon: Farmer

God is calling you to move, and God does not wait for perfect weather to work in your life. In Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NKJV) the Bible says:

“He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”

If you’re waiting for perfect conditions, you’ll never start, and if you never start, you’ll never reap. So many people say, “I’ll start when I’m ready.” But ready is not a feeling; it’s a decision. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second-best time is today. The devil’s favorite word is “tomorrow.” Tomorrow I’ll get right with God. Tomorrow I’ll quit that habit. Tomorrow I’ll change. But the Bible does not say tomorrow is the day of salvation, it says today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow is not promised.

Procrastination costs more than you think. You don’t pay for it all at once; you pay daily, and small delays turn into big regrets. The pain of discipline weighs ounces, but the pain of regret weighs tons. To procrastinate is to choose the discomfort of waiting over the discomfort of action, but only action leads to progress. No matter your age, you will always wish you had started sooner, and today is the youngest you will ever be.
When Moses stepped toward the water, God parted the sea. God would never have split the Red Sea if Moses had stayed on the shore. Take the step. Start today. Trust God with the results. And one day you’ll look back and say, “Where there was no way, God made a way.”

04/30/2026

Lessons from the Fruit Basket: A Final Reflection

We've journeyed through the fruit basket, seeing how each piece of fruit from the simple apple to the strong coconut holds a special lesson about our faith. We learned that an apple reminds us of the choices we make, while a banana teaches us the strength we have when we are united. The grape showed us the importance of staying connected to Jesus, and the peach reminded us to have a heart that is soft toward others but a faith that is firm.

We saw how a pineapple's tough exterior holds a sweet reward, much like God's goodness in our struggles. The pear taught us that God can soften even the hardest parts of our hearts, and the cherry reminded us of the sacrifice of Christ. We discovered how watermelon points to the refreshing Holy Spirit, and the orange showed us that we are all part of one body in Christ.

We also learned from the lemon that God can bring sweetness from sour times, and the olive showed us that we can find strength even under pressure. Finally, the coconut reminded us that true strength and nourishment come from within, and the fig taught us that God is looking for real fruit in our lives, not just a good appearance.

As we end this series, remember that God’s lessons are all around us. He uses simple, everyday things to teach us profound truths. The goal of our faith is not to just "look" good, but to bear good fruit that blesses others and honors Him. Let us continue to stay rooted in Him, trusting that He is at work in us, turning our lives into something sweet and beautiful for His glory.

04/26/2026

Sunday Sermon: In the Beginning… God

“In the beginning, God…” (Genesis 1:1).

Before there was light, there was God.
Before anything had shape, there was God.
Before you took your first breath, there was God.

The Bible doesn’t start with an idea or a human opinion. It doesn’t say, “In the beginning, people,” or anything else. It clearly says, “In the beginning, God.”

Everything we see was made on purpose. God created it all. He didn’t guess or try things out, He made everything with care and order.

When we put God first in our lives, we build on something strong that won’t fall apart. Jobs can change. Money can come and go. Life has many ups and downs. But God never changes. He is always the same and always faithful.

No matter what you are starting, a new job, a business, a ministry, or a family, don’t begin without God. Don’t just rely on your own plans. Take time to seek Him first. When you put Him first, He will guide you and help shape your future.

Remember this: if God is not at the start of something, we can’t expect Him to take care of it later. Many problems happen when we move forward without praying. But when God gives the idea, He also gives what is needed to carry it out. What He starts, He will keep going.

In every part of life:
At work…
At home…
In public…
In private…

True and lasting success depends on Him.

So start with God in everything you do, big or small. Talk to Him before you act. Ask Him for direction before you make decisions.

When you give Him the beginning, you can trust Him with the rest. The God who starts the work will keep it going and bring it to the end.

Remember… In the beginning… God.

Rusty Ward Ministries

05/27/2026

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