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May 23: Peace in the Midst of Family Stress

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Key Text: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 The summer unfolded nothing like we expected. My parents had looked forward to welcoming their four grandchildren, ages 3 to 13, for a season of laughter and memories. The plans were in place—until, without warning, Daddy fell seriously ill. He was rushed to the hospital with a mass on his lungs. It was unthinkable; he had never smoked a day in his life. How could this happen? My mother, deeply reliant on Dad, does not drive and was on the verge of starting a new job. Our whole family leaned on him when we visited—he knew every route, every shortcut, so we never had to worry about navigating unfamiliar roads. On top of this, my mother had just finished her own battle with cancer. Only months before, Dad had lost his sister, and a year prior, his father. Our family had been buffeted by hardship after hardship. Just when w...
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May 22: God Is Working in the Silence

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  by Dr. Jodian Manderson Waterford Seventh-Day Adventist Church Jamaica  Key Text: Romans 8:28 —  “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” — Romans 8:28 (NLT)   We live in a society where work is often measured by visible progress, noise, and excitement. Attention is given to those with the most fanfare, and people tend to follow those who are flamboyant and charismatic. Many of us grow up believing that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. However, that is not always true. History is filled with examples of terrible things happening to good people — even faithful Christian people. Terminal illness, deadly pandemics, accidents, and unforeseen circumstances often become the reality of the “good” among us. To make matters worse, these painful moments are sometimes accompanied by deafening silence and prayers that seem unansw...
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May 21: Blooming Where You Are Planted

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  by: Sis. Sandra Walker  Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventist In 2019, the Lord called my husband and me to serve as a pastoral family in another country. Even though we did not know where we were going, like Abram, we gathered our belongings and journeyed into a far land. This was because of the commitment we made when we accepted the Lord—to go wherever He leads. As a teacher, I had never worked outside of my homeland, and being in this new place meant that our expenses required me to find a job. My family and I began to pray. I desired to work only three days per week, wherever I could find employment, except within the school system. For more than two years, we prayed, and nothing seemed to happen. In the third year, we acquired a home, and we praised God—but our financial responsibilities increased even more. The church we were called to serve was a constituency church, meaning it supports the school in that territory, and my husband serves on the school board. One ...
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May 20 : For His Glory

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  by Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson Key Text: “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.” — Esther 1:19 Queen Vashti had it all, stunning beauty, royal status, and the resources of the Persian Empire at her fingertips. She didn’t have to chase trends or prove her worth with outward enhancements; her place as queen was secure. When King Xerxes threw a lavish seven-day feast for the men of Susa, Vashti hosted one for the women, each party pulsing with the opulence of the palace. At this party it was not BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle), just endless royal wine, all on the house. After few days, the wine began to consume the men more than they consumed it. In a haze, King Xerxes demanded Queen Vashti’s presence, wishing to display her beauty befor...
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May 19: Woodpecker

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by Sharon Danvers Scripture: "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, NIV) Childhood Reflection As a child, I was always impressed by the beauty of woodpeckers. Their colorful feathers and steady rhythm fascinated me. What stood out most was their diligence. Each peck was intentional, focused, and persistent. No matter how hard the wood, they kept going until they uncovered what they were seeking. Spiritual Lessons from the Woodpecker Persistence in Faith Just as the woodpecker never gives up, we are reminded not to give up in prayer, in doing good, or in seeking God. Even when answers seem hidden, persistence leads to breakthrough. Strategic Action Woodpeckers do not peck randomly. They strike specific spots. Likewise, God calls us to act with wisdom and discernment, working smarter by relying on His guidance. Adaptability Woodpeckers can thrive in forests, deserts, and even city sp...
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May 17: Undeserved Grace

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by: Sharon Danvers When I first heard the word grace, it was not from the Bible. Growing up in Jamaica, Grace was the brand name of many products my parents would send us to buy at the supermarket. Their products had a certain flavor, and people gravitated toward them. But that is not the grace that Scripture speaks of. The grace of God is far richer, sweeter, and life-changing. The Bible tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). That is grace—undeserved, unearned, freely given. There are times when I am at a low spiritually, and I feel like I have nothing left to give, but grace lifts me. There are times when I falter and know I deserve judgment, but grace steps in. There are moments when my back feels like it is against the wall, and just in time, grace makes a way. The apostle Paul reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift...
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May 16: God Has the Final Word

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  The Final Word Belongs to God Key Text “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 Sharon Campbell-Danvers, Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  I have always enjoyed movies with courtroom drama, law themes, or police investigations. There is something fascinating about watching a case unfold. The twists, the evidence, the uncertainty, and the tension of trying to figure out how everything will end. Usually there comes a point in the movie where the main character looks completely defeated. They are beaten down emotionally, physically, or mentally. All hope seems lost. The enemy appears stronger. Defeat feels certain. But then something shifts. Just when it looks like the story is over, the main character slowly begins to recover. Strength returns. New evidence emerges. Truth comes to light. What looked like the end becomes the beginning of a comeback. And every time I watch scenes like that, I cannot help but think abo...
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May 15: A Woman of Unshakeable Faith

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  Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson Key Text: I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. Job 19:25 I love farming, but it doesn’t seem to love me. I have tried many times to plant peppers, cane, tomato, avocado, and the list goes on. They all died. Friends started the process and passed the plants or trees to me, but they still died. All except 1. My beautiful Aloe Vera. Oh, how I love this plant. I do nothing, and it still grows. All the pots that had plants that died now have Aloe Vera. My husband planted a Leaf of Life, and although he, too, did not get the gift of farming, the Leaf of Life started striving. One day, I noticed that the Aloe Vera took over half the pot with the Leaf or Life. We used the Leaf of Life several times, so I really did not want it to die. I decided to rescue this plant. I added lots of water to soften the soil; I used my gardening fork and shovel to try to pry the Aloe up, but nothing. When I pulled it up, all the soil from the...
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May 12: God Sees the Tears No One Knows

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God Sees the Tears No One Knows Sharon Campbell-Danvers  “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” Psalm 56:8 There are many things that people collect in life. Some collect coins. Some collect stamps. Others collect memories, achievements, or material possessions. These collections often reflect what people value and hold dear. Yet, in contrast to all of these, God collects something far more personal and meaningful. God collects tears. In Bible Psalm 56:8, the writer reveals a powerful truth about the nature of God’s care. The verse reminds us that God keeps track of every sorrow, gathers every tear, and records every moment of pain. This is not a distant or indifferent God. This is a God who is intimately aware of human suffering. I am now being made aware that God has a bottle with my tears. When I begin to think about the number of tears I have shed, especially within the last few years of my life, it is difficult to imagine how...
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May 11: Strength for the Woman Carrying Much

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  Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson  Key Text: He gives strength to the weary ; and increases the power of the weak . Isaiah 40:29 If the weight you carry could be stacked on a scale, what would the numbers read? Responsibilities. Expectations. Silent worries. Unspoken prayers. Some weights don’t show up on the body, yet they press hardest on the mind. You carry much. You carry concern for your children. You carry the emotional weight of your relationships, the unseen labor of keeping peace, the mental checklists that never end. You carry work deadlines, studies, meals, plans, and often the pressure to remain “strong.” And some days, strong feels impossible. Scripture never pretends that women of faith lived burden-free lives. Hannah is one such woman. Her heart ached with longing, misunderstood by others, and heavy with years of unanswered prayer. Her grief followed her everywhere. Yet instead of collapsing under the weight, she brought it honestly before God. Not...
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May 10: The Seed That Grows in Secret

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By Tamelia Barriffe Gospel of Mark 4:27 (KJV) says, “And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should  spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.” This verse highlights a powerful truth about how  growth works through God. The farmer plants the seed and then continues living his daily  life—sleeping, waking, and carrying on—while the seed begins to grow in ways he cannot fully  see or understand. The key idea is that growth is still happening even when the farmer is not  actively doing something, and he does not fully understand how it is happening. That is often  how God works in our lives.  The seed represents God’s Word, truth, purpose, instruction, or even the things we pour into  others through encouragement, teaching, guidance, and care. The sower can represent  anyone—a parent, teacher, helper, believer, entrepreneur, leader, or friend. Our role is to plant  faithfully, not to force growth. Many times as humans, we becom...
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May 9: Loving Others Without Losing Yourself

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by:  Camile Beckford-Johnson Key Text: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Mark 12:31 Jesus’ command is simple, yet deeply layered: love others  as yourself . That small phrase carries a powerful truth, healthy love for others is rooted in a healthy understanding of self. It is not a call to disappear, to overextend, or to tolerate harm in the name of kindness. Too often, love is mistaken for endless sacrifice without wisdom. But biblical love is not the absence of boundaries; it is the presence of truth, discernment, and alignment with God’s design. Jesus Himself modeled this. He loved deeply, yet He withdrew from crowds, confronted wrongdoing, and never compromised His identity to please others. Loving others does not mean accepting behaviors that diminish your peace, your purpose, or your values. It does not require silence in the face of disrespect or staying in spaces where your spirit is consistently drained. In fact, without boundaries, love can become distorted, tu...
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