“For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.” – 2 Corinthians 12:20

In 2006, a Fort Worth high school student, who was an understudy in a high school play, received two years probation for spiking the drink of a classmate who won the lead role.

Hours before opening night of L.D. Bell High School's production of "Ha!" in February, Katherine Smith, 19, squirted an eyedropper of bleach into a Mountain Dew before giving it to a sophomore billed with the starring role, police said.

The sophomore didn't take a drink because she thought it smelled funny, according to an arrest affidavit. School officials later alerted police.

In a plea agreement reached Thursday, Smith was sentenced on the charge of attempted assault of bodily injury and fined $530 for her jealousy.

Smith told school officials she had a lot of her family visiting to see her perform. Janet Smith, her mother, told the school she already made a costume for her daughter because she thought she won the lead role.

Jealousy is a sin and it can inflame other sins. Today in prayer, confess any jealous thoughts to the Lord and seek to be thankful for all that is in your life.

“O! Beware, my lord of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” – William Shakespeare

God’s Word: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS   †

"For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." - 2 Corinthians 4:11

Catherine Booth was co-founder of The Salvation Army, along with her husband William Booth. Because of her influence in the formation of the organization, she was known as the 'Mother of The Salvation Army'.Their work began in 1865 in London's East End. William preached to the poor and ragged and Catherine spoke to the wealthy, gaining support for their financially demanding ministry.For 35 years, the couple ministered together.Then on October 4, 1890, Catherine lay dying of breast cancer. As she was surrounded by her family, she said her last words: “The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over. Do not be concerned about dying; go on living well, the dying will be right.” 

The Lord wants us to live fully in Him so He may be glorified in us. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He loves you and that He can be glorified in your life.

"When we are abandoned by the things we value, when we discover that no matter how much we have gathered we do not have enough, when we realize that even in the currency we value we are very poor, we are ready to start talking to God. Not before. Faith means betting our lives on the grace of God." - M. Craig Barnes

God's Word: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." - Romans 8:35-37

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS †

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

For William Siraj, 75, and Reverend Patrick Naeem, 55, Sunday, January 30, 2022, started as an ordinary Sunday. They led worship for their congregation at the Shaheedan-e-All Saints Church in Peshawar, Pakistan. After the service, they gathered their things to leave, likely looking toward a restful afternoon.

They had no inkling that in only a few minutes they would become terrorist targets.

As they started their car to leave, two assassins on a motorbike drove up beside them and opened fire. William, a senior lay leader who led worship at three area parishes, was shot in the head and killed instantly, while Reverend Naeem, leader of All Saints Church parish, was severely injured. The assassins sped off, and Reverend Naeem was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. A third church leader in the car was unharmed.

As Reverend Naeem continues to recover from his wounds, William is remembered fondly: “He was a very humble and godly man, and we all respected and loved him. He loved us so much,” a visibly emotional church member said.

TV footage showed a crowd carrying William Siraj’s body from the car to a nearby house, chanting “Long live Jesus Christ.”

When life presses in, look to Jesus. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that in every situation, He is faithful to lead us toward Himself.

“More persecution—more growing!” – Samuel Lamb

God’s Word: “Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” – John 15:20

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS  †

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17

One of the most prominent symbols of freedom in the United States is the Liberty Bell, which hangs today in the historic district of Philadelphia. It’s been called an icon of liberty and justice. Its most famous ringing was on July 8, 1776, when the sound of the Liberty Bell rang out from the tower of Independence Hall summoning citizens to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon. In that historic moment, the Liberty Bell fulfilled the purpose designated by its inscription: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." That inscription is taken from Leviticus 25:10.

The purpose of the bell flows out of God’s Word and so does ours. God has the same purpose for our lives today—to proclaim liberty that is only available through Jesus Christ throughout the world.

There is liberty and freedom found in union with Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that in Him we have freedom.

“Man is really free only in God, the source of his freedom.” – Sherwood Eddy

God’s Word: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” – John 8:31-32

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS †

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Back in 1929, the City of Holland, Michigan planted its first crop of 100,000 tulips and the overwhelming number of visitors over the years as the Festival took shape resulted in the addition of programs, pageantry, costumes, parades, and the popular Dutch Dancers. The Tulip Festival has been recognized as a Top 20 event in the world by the International Festival and Events Association, as well as Americaʼs Best Small Town Festival.

Today, more than 5 million tulips burst into bloom each spring in the greater Holland area—and that doesn’t count the city’s hyacinths, daffodils, and blossoming fruit trees. Drive along the Tulip Lanes, 6 miles of city streets bordered with tulips in every shade of the rainbow. The weeklong Tulip festival in May floods the eyes with the beauty of tulips and the nose with its sweet fragrance.

There is a sweet smell we enjoy when we are in fellowship with Jesus. Today in prayer, give thanks to Christ, that there is a pleasing aroma of the knowledge of Him.

“When we lift our hands in praise and worship, we break spiritual jars of perfume over Jesus. The fragrance of our praise fills the whole earth and touches the heart of God.” - Dennis Ignatius

God’s Word: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:1-2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS  †

“Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” – 2 Corinthians 2:7

Moravia was once a region in Eastern Europe. Slovakia would be the nearest modern equivalent. The “Moravians” were a group of Moravian Christians forced out of their homeland by persecution. In the 18th century, they settled in Saxony, Germany; and from there, Moravian missionaries went out across the globe, spreading the Gospel.

A group of Moravian missionaries decided to take the message of God to the Eskimos. They arrived on the shores of Labrador in 1771 and went about the work of learning the language. One of the struggles the missionaries faced was in teaching the Eskimos was that they could not find a word in the Eskimo language for forgiveness. Finally, they had to compound a phrase to use in the place of forgiveness. This compound phrase turned out to be issumagijoujungnainermik. It's a formidable-looking assembly of letters, but the expression has a beautiful connotation for those who understand that it means "not being able to think about it anymore”.

Forgiveness is a difficult act of love, but it demonstrates God’s love for us. Today in prayer, let the Lord know you have forgiven those who have hurt you, and then let them know that you forgive them.

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” – Paul Boese

God’s Word: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS  †

"Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace." - 2 Corinthians 1:12

In 1977, James Brewer was arrested in Tennessee on suspicion of killing his neighbor Jimmy Carroll in a fit of jealous rage. Brewer had shot and killed Carroll because he believed he had been trying to seduce his wife.

After his initial arrest, Brewer, considered a “respectable member of the community,” was granted bail and fled to Oklahoma where he and his wife began a new life together under the names Michael and Dorothy Anderson. They became active members of the local church, where Mrs. Brewer established a Bible study group. Their daughter married and they became grandparents.

In 2009, Brewer had a serious stroke. Thinking he was dying, he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to confess to the crime that had weighed on his conscience for over three decades. His wife called the police to his hospital bed, saying her husband wanted to confess to a murder. With his wife’s help, Brewer told the police everything that had happened—she acted as “translator” because of the effects of her husband’s stroke.

The only problem with this deathbed confession was that Brewer didn’t die. When he was released from the hospital several weeks later, Brewer surrendered himself to Tennessee authorities and appeared in court with the same lawyer he had used almost 32 years earlier when he skipped bail.

Brewer’s pastor, Lawrence Guest, of the Good Shepherd Chapel where Mrs. Brewer set up the Bible study group, said, “I don’t know what their former life was, but I do know they were both dedicated to the Lord. They’ve been in their own prison for 30 years. I think they’ve done their time. They did what they needed to do in order to be right with God, and that’s all that matters.”

The Lord has given us a conscience to awaken us to sin. Today in prayer, confess any sin to Jesus and seek to keep a clear conscience before Christ and others.

"Conscience tells us that we ought to do right, but it does not tell us what right is--that we are taught by God’s word.” – H.C. Trumbull

God's Word: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." - 1 Peter 3:15-16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS  †

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Terry Anderson was an American journalist. In 1985, he was taken hostage by Shiite Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and held captive until 1991. For seven terrible years, he was moved from location to location, hidden successfully, and sentenced to horrible loneliness. Before he was taken as a hostage, Anderson had given much thought to matters of faith. But in prison, he was allowed to have a Bible.

“Constantly over the years, I found consolation and counsel in the Bible I was given in the first few weeks,” he wrote, after his ordeal ended. “Not other world, ‘this is just a test’ kind of consolation, but comfort from the real, immediate voices of people who had suffered greatly, and in ways that seemed so close to what I was going through. I read the Bible more than 50 times, cover to cover, in those first few years.”

At any time, we can look to Jesus Christ and receive comfort in Him. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord, that He is Lord of all, and seek comfort in Him.

“It will greatly comfort you if you can see God’s hand in both your losses and your crosses.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” – 2 Corinthians 7:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS †