He Is Worthy of my Praise

02/21/2026

Reflection of Galatians 5:22-23 ESV this morning.

In Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV), we’re reminded that the fruit of the Spirit is not something we manufacture by willpower — it is something the Holy Spirit produces in a surrendered life.

It begins with love. In many ways, every other fruit is simply love in action.

Love is the root. The rest are beautiful expressions of that love at work within us:

* Joy is love delighting in God and in others.
* Peace is love resting confidently in the Lord’s promises.
* Patience is love waiting without giving up.
* Kindness is love responding with grace.
* Goodness is love choosing what is right.
* Faithfulness is love keeping its word.
* Gentleness is love expressed with humility and care.
* Self-control is love resisting temptation for the sake of honoring Christ.

As we grow in faith, love becomes more deeply rooted in our hearts. It begins shaping how we speak, how we respond, and how we live. What once felt difficult becomes evidence of the Spirit’s transforming work within us.

Be encouraged today — if you belong to Christ, the Spirit is producing fruit in you. Stay close to Him. Abide in His Word. Trust His work. The fruit will grow.

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you,
Bill and Linda

02/06/2026

Song of the Day - New by Sovereign Grace Music

"We are Yours alone, our life, our everything is Yours alone
Oh, King of mercy, make our hearts Your throne, we are Yours alone"

Nathan Stiff & David Zimmer

Scripture References:
Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Ephesians 1:5 "he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,"

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Philippians 1:11 " filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

Matthew 6:10 "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Psalm 139:14 "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

In an age of rampant individualism and self-centeredness, Christians joyfully acknowledge we are no longer our own. We belong to God and we belong to each other, because we have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As the apostle Peter tells us: ""But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light"" (1 Peter 2:9). In Christ, God has given us a new identity and a new purpose.

“Lord reign unrivaled, within Your people, Your kingdom come, Your will be done in us”

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you today,
Bill and Linda

Official Music Video for Yours Alone by Sovereign Grace Music Written by Nathan Stiff and David Zimmer From the Album "Yours Alone"Scripture References: Roma...

02/04/2026

Good morning, friends, I pray this post may share some encouragement to you, as it has with me while writing it.

As I approach my 62nd birthday tomorrow, I find myself thinking deeply about the path the Lord has walked me through. Some seasons gently shaped me, step by step, forming Christ in me almost imperceptibly. Other seasons came with sharp turns—cuts I never expected, losses I didn’t choose, and changes that left me barely recognizing the man I once was.

I am not the same person I was before. There are places where God removed things I clung to unwisely, where my own mistakes left wounds that had to be carefully stitched back together by His mercy, and where His hand pressed hard enough to leave lasting marks. At times, those marks feel overwhelming. They remind me that I wasn’t supposed to be here after 1980—and yet, here I am, by grace alone.

But I am learning something holy in this later season of life: every place where God has carved deeply has revealed more of Christ. Each strike of the chisel, though painful, has exposed something of my Savior’s likeness beneath the surface. What once felt like disfigurement is slowly becoming transformation. The scars I thought stripped me of beauty are, in truth, shaping me into a clearer reflection of Jesus.

Scripture tells us, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV). That transformation is not painless—but it is purposeful. And it is good.
So today, I’m learning to honor the marks God has allowed in my life. They have reshaped how I see Him, how I walk with Him, and how I worship Him. More than anything, I want my life—marked, scarred, and redeemed—to be a worshiping image of my Savior.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you,
Bill and Linda

01/16/2026

Thoughtful Friday, Romans 8:28-30 we have been studying this text for almost 2 weeks straight, so much to feed on. May you have a blessed day!

There is deep comfort for the believer in knowing that our salvation does not rest on the shifting sands of human will, but on the unshakable purpose of God. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:28–30 that “those who love God” are not wandering through history by chance, but are being carried along by a sovereign hand that foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified them. This is not cold theology—it is warm assurance.

When life is confusing, painful, or overwhelming, the doctrine of God’s sovereign grace anchors the soul. Our hope is not that we somehow chose perfectly, but that God chose mercifully, wisely, and lovingly—according to His eternal purpose in Christ.

"The doctrine of unconditional election is also known as predestination, a word that sends chills up the spines of those who do not understand it. But those who reject this doctrine must ask themselves what kind of a God they want to believe in: a God who is in control of everything or one who is at the mercy of man and his decisions."
Pastor John MacArthur

Romans 8 assures us that God is never reacting, never surprised, and never defeated. The same God who set His love upon His people before the foundation of the world is the God who is faithfully conforming them to the image of His Son—even now. That truth does not diminish human responsibility; it magnifies divine grace and gives weary hearts rest.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace be with you,
Bill and Linda Simmons

01/11/2026

1/11/26

01/08/2026

Thursday's Thought from my Desk:

"There are burdens the Lord, in His sovereign wisdom, chooses not to remove. Like the apostle Paul, we may plead earnestly for relief—yet God’s answer is sometimes not deliverance from the burden, but deliverance within it."

Paul reminds us:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

God gives us something better than the removal of the weight: His nearness and sufficient grace. Grace does not merely help us endure suffering—it enables us to rejoice, because it is in weakness that Christ’s power rests upon us.

Scripture echoes this hope again and again:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” (Psalm 34:18)

Our afflictions are never wasted. Even when the burden remains, God is at work:
“This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)
Notice the promise is not that we will avoid the fire or the waters—but that we will not face them alone (Isaiah 43:2).

So, take heart today:
God’s will never allow a burden without purpose, never withholds His presence, and never lacks sufficient grace. In weakness, Christ’s power is displayed. In suffering, His nearness becomes sweet. And through it all, His mercies are new every morning.
“Great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:23 (ESV)

Grace, Mercy and Peace be with you,
Bill and Linda

🤍 His grace is enough. Always.

12/28/2025

Have a blessed and awesome Sunday in Worship of the one true King! Our Savior Jesus Christ.

2 John 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

Bill and Linda

12/27/2025

Happy New Year! As we step into the unknown of 2026, it’s natural to look for a spark of hope or a fresh direction. The world often offers us "false lights"—fleeting trends, temporary successes, or the pressure to find our own way in the dark. But this year, there is a steady, unchanging radiance available to you.

The Gospel of John offers us this beautiful promise:
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" — John 8:12 ESV

Why This Matters for Your Year Ahead:

1) Clarity in the Fog: When the world feels confusing or overwhelming, His light cuts through the noise to show you the next right step.

2) True Hope vs. False Hope: Unlike the "lights" of this world that eventually dim, the light of Christ provides a deep, soul-level peace that isn’t dependent on your circumstances.

3) Constant Companionship: Following Him means you never have to navigate the "dark valleys" of life alone. He is the light that walks with you.

As you set your goals and dreams for 2026, I encourage you to lean into the True Light. May your year be defined not by the shadows of worry, but by the warmth and life found in following Him.
Wishing you a year filled with purpose, peace, and the radiant Light of Life!

"Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love." 2 John 3 ESV
Bill and Linda

11/20/2025

Be blessed today!

When the world whispers that your suffering is meaningless, rehearse these tastes of the glory to come — glory of which we know only the half.

10/25/2025

Verse Drop for Saturday. Be blessed. Bill