Posted on Leave a comment

Blessing or Missed Opportunity?

Obedience bring blessings

The Bible tells us that Simeon was a just and devout man, filled with the Holy Spirit who revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Christ, the promised Savior of the World. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord as commanded in the Law God gave to Moses, the Holy Spirit guided Simeon to be at the right place – the temple –  at the right time – the moment that Mary and Joseph brought the baby to the temple. The Holy Spirit showed him that the infant Jesus was the Christ and Simeon held the baby in His arms and blessed God saying, “Mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”

Excuses yields missed opportunities

March 22 ctt

What if when the Holy Spirit prompted Simeon to go to the temple, Simeon said, “you know Holy Spirit, today’s not a good day. You know I’m old and my arthritis is acting up and my knees are hurting. I think I’ll just stay home today.” Simeon’s excuses would have caused him to miss the opportunity to meet the Savior of the World. Instead, he obeyed the Holy Spirit and he was able to hold the Creator of the World, God’s only Son, in his arms.

Have you had blessings or missed opportunities?

When the Holy Spirit tugs at your heart to help the homeless, teach the sixth grade boys’ class at church, serve in missions, or to just be in a certain place at a certain time, what is your typical response? Do you convince yourself that the Holy Spirit isn’t speaking to you? Do you respond with, “I don’t have time right now?” What keeps you from obeying those quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit? Do you obey and receive the blessing or do you find an excuse and miss the opportunity? There is always blessings to be found in obedience to the Holy Spirit. What is He asking you to do today?

God, help us to recognize the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit and help us to be obedient to whatever you want us to do – not just to receive a blessing – but to honor you so that you are glorified in our lives. 


Revive Renew Redeem logo on self-care post

Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]
Bible Reading Plan Download

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

This week’s new Christian Tees designs:

Blessings from Head to Toe

Let’s start a pandemic of blessings by praying a blessing over everyone you meet. Our “Blessings” design is meant to do just that. We’ve created this design in four different choices.

Blessings from Head to Toe
Blessings from Head to Toe – Hearts
Blessings from Head to Toe – Roses
Blessings from Head to Toe – Floral

Graduating Seniors

For all the seniors celebrating graduation in a few months. Includes Jeremiah 29:11. If you have a senior graduating, this design makes a great gift.

Graduating Seniors

Here are some of our favorite designs

  • Revive Us Again, Lord

New in the Teespring Store: The Prayer of Blessing

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.

God instructed the Israelite priests to pray the prayer of blessing every day over the people. The prayer is found in Numbers 6:24-26. Hang the canvass in your home or carry the mug, tote bag, or water bottle and let the prayer of blessing impact all those who you meet throughout the day.

We’ve also put this design on a poster, coffee mug, a stainless steel water bottle, phone cases, and a few other products.


Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

Click here for the Contemporary Christian Playlist
Click here for the Southern Gospel Playlist
Or Click here for the Hymns Playlist

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel


God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
  • Conversation Starters.
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
  • Romance Builders.
  • Relationship Builders.
  • Personal reflections.
  • Date ideas.
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

WestBow Press logo

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Christianbook Distributors logo
Everything Christian for less!

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search:
Christianbook.com

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.


Here’s some of our recent posts.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

Follow us on:

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is FB-logo.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is linked-in-logo-1.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is twitter-bird.jpg
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is instgram-logo.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pintrest-logo.png

Posted on Leave a comment

Praising God in the Unexpected

The unexpected pandemic curveball

When was the last time you praised God out of the very depths of your soul? Have been able to find reasons to praise Him through the past year of this pandemic virus? Certainly this Coronavirus has been an unexpected and unwelcomed turn of events. It has required us to adapt to ever changing circumstances, face new fears, and learn how to do life differently. Every time the news comes out, the number of infected rise and the number of those who have died rise.

So how do we praise and magnify God in such a time? Or how do we give him the praise worthy of him whenever life pitches a curveball our way? It really depends on where our focus is. If we focus on the unexpected problem, we’ll become discouraged, fearful, or depressed. But when our focus is on the God of our Salvation, we can praise Him for His goodness, even in the unexpected.

Mary’s praise at some unexpected news

Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. A young, unwed teen who would become pregnant and have to explain to family, friends, relatives, and her fiancé’ that the child she carried was placed within her by God and that she was still a virgin. We see her total surrender and obedience to God’s plan in Luke 1:39 when Mary says to the angel, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Surely the cost of her obedience went through her mind. Perhaps she wondered what it would cost her unborn child as he grew up with the whispered comments behind his back about who his father was.

The Bible does not tell us what went through Mary’s mind as the angel revealed God’s plan to her. Only that she surrendered to God, no matter the cost, and she gave all the praise and glory to God. The day the angel appeared to Mary was just as unexpected as the Coronavirus. But yet, Mary’s soul magnified the Lord and she rejoiced in God. Her song of praise is recorded in Luke 1 and can be our example for when our unexpected moments occur.

Cultivating a heart of genuine praise

It is easy when the curveball of life flies at top speed toward us to panic, feel overwhelmed, or lost in the chaos. But if we purposefully cultivate a heart of genuine praise, then we will be able to praise God in the unexpected moments of life – even when those moments are scary, difficult, unwanted, or sorrowful. When we take the time to just sit and meditate on all the God has done for us and how He provides and meets our needs each and every day, our first response should be a heartfelt, genuine praise.

From Christ’s finished work on the cross that provides our salvation, to God’s mercies that are new every morning, for his provision to meet our financial needs, for healing, for seeing us through a difficult time, for peace, for comfort, for never leaving us – every single aspect of our life should be offered back to Him as a worship of praise for His greatness and love. As we focus on these things, we see the fingerprints of God all over our lives and we experience Him in a real and personal way that results in our soul magnifying the Lord.

Take some time today to meditate on God’s goodness to you and spend some time praising Him from the very depths of your soul. Start with reading the entirety of Mary’s praise in Luke 1:46-55. Then think back through the last year and write down the times that God has seen you through your unexpected moments in life. Now, write our your own song of praise to the Lord who is worthy of all our praises. Let this song by the Prestonwood Church choir help you praise and magnify God today.

Father, we magnify you today for your greatness and love.  We praise you, we lift you up. We honor you. You are worthy of all our praises. You are Holy, Righteous, Rock of Ages, Most High, Promise Keeper, Shepherd, Faithful, Savior, my Strong Tower, Comforter, Mighty Warrior, Great Jehovah, Victor, Helper, Redeemer, Sovereign Master, Creator, Healer, Excellent, Incredible, Omnipotent, and Infallible. 


Revive Renew Redeem logo on self-care post

Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]
Bible Reading Plan Download

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

Isaiah 41:13

Need help? God holds your right hand and He says to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” No matter what you face in life, you are not alone.

Isaiah 41:13

Graduating Seniors

For all the seniors celebrating graduation in a few months. Includes Jeremiah 29:11. If you have a senior graduating, this design makes a great gift.

Graduating Seniors

Here are some of our favorite designs

  • Revive Us Again, Lord

New in the Teespring Store: The Prayer of Blessing

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.

God instructed the Israelite priests to pray the prayer of blessing every day over the people. The prayer is found in Numbers 6:24-26. Hang the canvass in your home or carry the mug, tote bag, or water bottle and let the prayer of blessing impact all those who you meet throughout the day.

We’ve also put this design on a poster, coffee mug, a stainless steel water bottle, phone cases, and a few other products.


Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

Click here for the Contemporary Christian Playlist
Click here for the Southern Gospel Playlist
Or Click here for the Hymns Playlist

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel


God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
  • Conversation Starters.
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
  • Romance Builders.
  • Relationship Builders.
  • Personal reflections.
  • Date ideas.
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

WestBow Press logo

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Christianbook Distributors logo
Everything Christian for less!

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search:
Christianbook.com

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.


Here’s some of our recent posts.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

Follow us on:

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is FB-logo.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is linked-in-logo-1.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is twitter-bird.jpg
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is instgram-logo.png
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pintrest-logo.png