Be generous with everything, not just money. For everything we have – talent, skill, time, self – comes from the one who created us and our universe. Sharing with all – especially the nonbelievers – can draw them back to God. From today’s YouVersion devotional:

What Does It Mean to Be Generous?

The word “generous” is often defined as:

• Open in giving or sharing
• Willing to give help or support
• Unselfish

Generous living is not a concept limited to the wealthy, the gifted, or the lucky. Generosity is a lifestyle that stems from a desire to worship God in every area of life.  

The principle of generosity is laced all throughout Scripture, and we have the best model and mentor when it comes to seeing it in action—God. He sent His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our mistakes so that way we could spend eternity with Him. That is generosity in action. 

Psalm 24:1 says that “the earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…” Everything we have belongs to God and is given to us by Him. He is the owner, and we are His managers. And the people who manage well are often entrusted with more to manage. 

It doesn’t matter how much we have—it matters what we do with what we’re given. 

We will live generously when we view everything we have as a gift from God. And when we do that, our mindsets switch from “This is mine?” to “How can I share?”

So right now, think about how you view the things God has given you. Do you see them as gifts from God to be shared, or as accomplishments and possessions you’ve earned? What is one thing you can start doing today to become more generous?

From today’s YouVersion Devotional

What It Takes to Thrive

In both gardening and spiritual terms, planting and harvesting are exciting seasons. Planting is the start of an adventure, and harvesting is the product of hard work. It’s easy to celebrate new beginnings and hard-earned completions—but one thing that’s not as much fun? 

The pruning process.

Who wants to acknowledge what’s dead and unproductive in their lives? Who wants to trim back what’s already blooming—leaving you smaller, awkward, and feeling extra weak?

But pruning is exactly what we need to keep producing fruit.

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:2 NIV

Jesus mentions two separate actions in this process—cutting off what’s dead and pruning fruit.

Cutting out what’s dead makes sense. It’s extra weight, it’s unproductive, it’s blocking sunlight, and it’s stealing good energy from branches that could thrive. But without proper context, pruning fruit feels backwards.

However, the purpose of pruning isn’t to disable something, but to revitalize it. 

If a branch is weak or diseased, it could not only damage itself, but the surrounding trees as well. Without pruning, both the tree and the life surrounding it can never reach full potential.

Pruning creates room for more growth.
Pruning stimulates production.
Pruning keeps the plant or person strong.

God is a good Gardener. He wouldn’t be a good Gardener if He left you to yourself—overgrown, ineffective, and full of dysfunction. But He cares for those He loves. He cuts off what’s dead for your benefit. He lovingly trims back ineffective things in your life to make way for more fruit. 

You can trust God with your life because He cares about who you are and who you can become.

So what “dead branches” are you dragging around? Is it possible that God is pruning you for future growth? Take a few moments and talk to God about any areas in your life that you recognize need to change.

Another way to explain leadership is influencing people. One can do that through actions and words. From today’s YouVersion devotional leading, or influencing people, is a charge for us all that the Apostle Paul calls us to do.

The Messengers of Good News

Pause for a moment and reflect on your role as a bearer of the good news. Are you actively sharing the love of Christ with those around you? Are you seeking to be a living testimony of His grace?

You might read Paul’s call to “preach” in Romans 10:14 and think this call is reserved for a pastor, priest, or teacher. But our homes, workplaces, and communities can serve as pulpits of influence when we live surrendered to Him. In these seemingly ordinary spaces, we can share the love of Christ through a listening ear that brings peace to a troubled mind, a helping hand that lifts burdens, or a word of encouragement that rekindles hope. 

As a follower of Christ, you are qualified to share this hope and encourage others! What God desires is obedience and willingness to be a vessel of His Word. In the simplicity of everyday interactions, we become vessels of His love and messengers of the gospel.

As believers, we have an integral role in sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit equips you. God chooses and empowers you. And the seeds you sow, even the tiniest ones, have the power to take root and spread the message of salvation.

Greetings from Athens, Greece. This week’s episode is released. Please share with all of your contacts and on your social media pages. Be sure and give it a “thumbs up” on Rumble or YouTube.

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From today’s YouVersion Devotional

Mary was a young girl immersed in the quiet rhythms of Nazareth when an angel announced that she would bear the Son of God (Luke 1:31). The typical response to hearing this might be fear, or shock, or awe. Instead, Mary responded with belief–a belief that what the angel was telling her was the truth. “May your word to me be fulfilled,” she said to the angel (Luke 1:38). 

Witnessing this unwavering faith, Mary’s older cousin Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, acknowledged Mary’s faith and blessed her: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

In these simple words, we hear a reminder to anchor our faith in the unwavering truth that God is faithful to fulfill His promises according to His Word. Elizabeth’s statement, “Blessed is she who has believed,” is more than an observation; it’s a present affirmation. The emphasis isn’t just on the fulfillment of these promises, but on the blessing that comes from believing and trusting in God’s plan. And it prompts us to examine our own faith journeys. Do we, like Mary, choose to surrender and trust in God’s promises?

Today, as you seek the Lord in prayer, express gratitude for the unexpected blessings. Ask for discernment to recognize God’s hand at work, even when circumstances seem contrary.

From today’s YouVersion devotional

A Testament of Loyalty and Commitment

Ruth and Naomi, two women bound by grief and a shared history of loss, stood together under the sun-scorched fields of Moab. Famine and death had stricken their family, and Naomi had chosen to return to her homeland of Judah. 

Before Ruth, a young Moabite widow, lay two paths: one, to stay in the familiar comfort of her home country, and another, an uncertain journey into the unknown land of Judah. In Moab, the people did not serve the God of Judah–the God Naomi served, and the God who we serve today.

Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, pleaded with her to seek a new life among the Moabites, where she would be welcomed and accepted, but would not worship God. Instead, Ruth embraced her mother-in-law. “‘Where you go, I will go,” Ruth said, “Your people will be my people, your God my God. Death alone shall part us.’”

Each one of us will face choices that demand commitment beyond the ordinary. The question is clear: What principles will guide your decisions? Ruth’s journey encourages us to boldly declare our allegiances, not just in words but in the deliberate actions that shape our lives and honor God.

What would it look like for you to embrace a life marked by a steadfast commitment to God’s leading? We all will leave a legacy for those who walk behind us. Will yours be a testament of loyalty to God?

Today’s Devotional from YouVersion

Every season of life has both ups and downs, positive and negative situations. On top of that, there are spiritual powers in this world that are trying to get us to lose hope.

In the midst of difficult seasons, or even persecution, it can be easy to forget that God is still present with us. He does not abandon us in the midst of suffering. Rather, He strengthens us and walks with us through the pain.

The church in Thessalonica experienced a very similar situation. As they were praying for the gospel to spread across their region, they encountered suffering and opposition. Paul writes to the members of these churches to not only encourage them, but to remind them of God’s character.

He tells them first that the Lord is faithful. This means that God doesn’t change—He is consistent in His character. If He was good and merciful yesterday, He will be good and merciful again today.

It also means that He fulfills His promises. God is faithful to do what He says He is going to do. He is not like a human who changes his mind when things get difficult.

Second, Paul tells these believers that God will strengthen them and protect them in the midst of what they’re experiencing. Paul does not tell them they will never experience evil, but rather—that God will be with them in the midst of it.

Because God never changes, He is able to strengthen and protect us through every experience in life. So take some time to thank God for His strength and faithfulness. Ask Him to help you, and to give you confidence in His power.

From today’s devotional:

In an ever-changing, always-moving, constantly-shifting world, we can count on the unchanging nature of God.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the author of Hebrews said it like this:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT

A title for the three distinct parts, or “Persons,” of God is the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And the Son—Jesus Christ—is the purest reflection of the Father, who never changes.

When you unpack the stunning mystery that is God made flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ, you’ll notice that He said audacious things like: “I and the Father are one,” (John 10:30) “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father,” (John 14:9) and, “Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (John‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬)

John described Jesus as the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬)

God said of Himself, “I the Lord do not change…” (Malachi 3:6) This unchanging quality is called the immutability of God. 

From generation to generation, God is the immovable rock where we can firmly plant our faith.

God cannot lie. He cannot be unjust. He’s always good. He’s always faithful. He’s fully perfect. He’s self-sufficient. He’s continuously steady and constant, enduring and everlasting.

If your world has been rocked, or if everything around you seems to be shifting, or if it’s challenging to tell what is solid rock and what is shifting sand, you can trust in, count on, and place your hope in Jesus.

He’s not only your righteous Savior, but He’s also your unchanging God.

I would like to encourage all Tennesseans, especially those that live in House District 12 to listen to this podcast episode.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-freedom-matters-podcast/id1604428242?i=1000654887076

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🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 Join us for a Meet and Greet with Larry Linton, your Constitutional Republican candidate for House District 12 in the Tennessee General Assembly!

🗓 Date: May 28

🕔 Time: 6-7pm

📍 Location: Sevier County Library, King Family Branch

This is your chance to meet Larry Linton in person, hear his vision for the district, and discuss the issues that matter most to you. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with your future representative! RSVP now and invite your friends and neighbors to join us. Together, let’s make a positive difference in our community!

Follow me on Facebook at Larry Linton For TN12, as well as Liberty, Leadership and Lies.

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