Caribbean Moravian Devotions

When I first moved to live in St. Thomas, I was driving and speaking on my cell phone. It wasnÂ’t to my ears but in hand. All of a sudden, I heard some sirens and saw a police vehicle behind me. I pulled over to make way but then the siren stopped. I realized that it had stopped behind me. Out came a female police officer who asked if I knew why she pulled me over? I didnÂ’t answer. She said because I was speaking on my cell phone. I responded that I didnÂ’t have it to my ears and so as far as I KNEW I was not breaking any law. She responded that according to the law my hands must be free while driving and so I needed to have an ear-piece. She gave me a provisional ticket on the condition in two hours I need to meet her at the police station with an ear-piece. Because of that day I can truthfully say that I now KNOW something that I didnÂ’t KNOW before. Our FF for today is LET OUR KNOWING DIRECT OUR DOING.

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Isaiah 61: 1 – 3 The Lord has sent me to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

This passage of Scripture in Isaiah refers to the Messiah Jesus Christ. He actually quoted them in Luke 4: 16 – 21in the synagogue at Nazareth, adding ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’. Here then is the Messiah prophesying through Isaiah, what He would do when the fullness of time came. Those who mourn in Zion are the children of God living in Jerusalem. Referring to the Hebrews then, today the phrase refers to those of the household of faith. That is you and I and all who call upon the name of God through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible is full of God’s precious promises of the many ways in which He will provide for those who trust in Him. In this case, Christ will provide in specific ways. A garland will replace ashes. Here garland is symbolic of beauty. The garland was a part of the bridegroom’s dress. It was a head dress. Ashes was used to represent mourning. In ancient Israel, a person who was mourning would dress in sackcloth and sprinkle ashes on their heads, or would sit in ashes, to express their mourning. The children of Israel were exiled during this prophecy and so the ashes symbolized their sadness and despair at their condition. God would change their situation and replace their sadness with happiness. There would be a change in headdress. Sadness would be taken off and replaced with joy. Are you sad today? You don’t have to remain that way. God has provided a crown of joy for those who look to him in faith.



Continue reading "Joy Instead of Sorrow."

A massive earthquake hits Haiti – thousands die and are still homeless after 1 year.
IF YOU CARE, SHARE!
Deadly floods in Brazil and Australia – probably the costliest natural disaster seen.
IF YOU CARE, SHARE!
A tsunami strikes in the Indian Ocean hitting Indonesia – thousands are affected.
IF YOU CARE, SHARE!

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Psalm 86: 16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant.
TodayÂ’s text is a beautiful verse that embodies GodÂ’s action in saving his people. It is part of a Prayer of David in which the king not only makes his petitions known to God but gives a reason for everything he asks for. Of note is the fact that in the midst of making his petitions the king breaks into praise. You see friends, if we adopt this method of praying, we will automatically burst into praise, overwhelmed by the qualities of the God we serve. For example, in verse 4 he prays for joy and gladness. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, he prays, adding, for I put my trust in you. DavidÂ’s hope is in the Lord and no one else. It is only to God then that he looks for the joy and happiness he desires. With such confidence in God, who could refuse from bursting out in praise?

Continue reading "GodÂ’s Mercy StrengthenÂ’s Our Faith"

A few days ago I was watching a show on the new OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). They were looking at behind the scenes for this her final season. In that particular episode they were reviewing a show in which Oprah and her best friend Gail were on a camping trip to Yosemite National Park. They were going to surprise a black ranger who had written to her lamenting that they were not enough black folks camping and visiting the park. The man who was to be surprised when he MET Oprah simply walked up to her and Gail and welcomed them like any other visitor to the park. I was stunned by the comment of the producer for that show who said they were very disappointed by the manÂ’s lack of emotion at being surprised. It was not what they expected. That lack of emotion was not good enough for the Oprah Winfrey Show. They were expecting him to be speechless, almost besides himself because he was MEETING not just anybody. He was MEETING Oprah Winfrey for the first time!

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Hear the word of the Lord for today as it comes from Isaiah 41: 4 Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.” In this entire chapter, God challenges the nations to a confrontation with Him. They are to produce their best arguments and compare the strength of their efforts or their idols with the power and sustenance of Jehovah God. He is able to look from the past to the future in one sweeping look, and through His actions affect past, present and future which are laid out before him as a moment is to us. He is indeed the God of all time, of all peoples and of all generations. We may be focused on the intricacies of our generation. We look back to learn from past mistakes and seek to set the pace for future generations. God however, has an all embracing plan that spans the generations. He was present in the lives of our great-grandparents, and he will be present in the lives of our great-grandchildren. Only God can see 100 years into the future as clearly as he can see 100 years into the past.

Continue reading "The Future Belongs to God! Do You?"

Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge. Psalm 17:7

David was being persecuted by Saul when he wrote this Psalm. The Psalm is a cry for justice in the face of false accusations and persecution. Despite this challenge, David is still able to reflect on the love of God. He knows that GodÂ’s love endures forever.

When the storms of life overwhelm us we are able to take comfort in the steadfast love of God. He continues to love us no matter what. Many times we cannot understand it, but it brings to our life great joy in spite of our deepest troubles. As GodÂ’s children, we can be assured that He will never leave us nor forget us.

When we seek refuge God will protect us. We must not conclude, however that we have missed GodÂ’s love and protection when we experience troubles. GodÂ’s love has far greater purposes than helping us to avoid pain; it is to also make us better servants for Him. God also expresses His love for us by guiding us through painful circumstances, not only by helping us escape them.

David urges us then friends to realize the true goal of life – to know God and His love, and the true reward of life – to see God one day.

One Love, till next Friday.
Bro. Patrick Coke.

One of the most exciting activities of my boyhood days was to go fishing in the ponds close to our village. Back then life was simple. You didnÂ’t buy fishing lines. You made your own. There was no bait shop. You had to DIG for your own bait. And what was the bait of choice? Worms! So with fishing pole in hand, an old tin cup or some other container to put the worms in and a heavy duty garden fork, the DIGGING would start. Now that I think about it some of the places where we went DIGGING were not exactly the cleanest but it was where the worms were. And we knew well enough that if we had no worms, there would be no grand fishing. Not every time the fork hit the earth you found some worms and so you had to KEEP DIGGING. In the end the more worms you had, the better you felt. It was dirty work but it was rewarding at the end to have a can cup filled with earth worms wriggling over each other. As we embark on a new year the first FF challenge for 2011 is for all of us to KEEP DIGGING!

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Ezekiel 34: 16 I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.

From my family, to you and yours, a happy new year. May the Lord abundantly bless you with every spiritual blessings in 2011. May His grace abound in your life, and may you experience His peace.

TodayÂ’s text is set against the background of IsraelÂ’s period of exile. In this chapter, the religious leadership is called to books for being more concerned about their own wellbeing than that of the people. Because of their neglect, God himself would provide a leader, a shepherd who would establish a peaceful kingdom and take care of the needs of all GodÂ’s people.

Continue reading "ThereÂ’s Hope."

Pro.15:17 'Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith'


Unlike vegetarians, there are those of us who prefer to live with a little discomfort as long as there is the taste of meat. We tend to endure great hardships sometimes in order to satisfy our longings. Sometimes we pay dearly for a sweet tooth.

The longing for a little activity outside of the law can so deprive us of precious freedom. (A speeding ticket can declare this truth). A longing for a little sexual excitement can so deprive us of a peace of mind. The longing for a little extra money, can so deprive us of a sense of honesty.

To live in peace and love calls for sacrificial living. Sometimes we have to give up harboring the desire for plenty if we are to be at home with ourselves with the little. We must be prepared to be vegetarians when we would rather have steak, for the sake of peace and love. Let us seek PEACE and pursue it in 2011.

Rev. Trevor Dawkins

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:6 (NIV)


Have you paid attention to the words to that children’s song ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’? That song implies that Santa Claus knows everything – he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake, he knows when you are good or bad. Children are cautioned to be good for goodness sake. Do not shout, do not pout, because Santa Claus is coming. Santa Claus is coming yes, but there is a condition to get a visit – you must be good. Parents are always reminding children about the need to be good so that they will receive some promised gift.

Continue reading "Isaiah 33:6"