Category Archives: Brighten Your Corner!

Walking With My Friend??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #397

16 Thursday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Blessed by God, Blood of Jesus cleanses us, Brighten Your Corner!, Broken Hearts, Friends, Friendship, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Greater is HE that is IN US!, JESUS, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all

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Walking With My Friend???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #397

Someone once said to me, “You talk about Jesus like He’s your best friend”, to which I replied, “He is!”  I just want to let you know this morning, that Jesus is there for you also!  You can come to Him in faith and repentance of your sin and receive the gift of eternal life that He bought and paid for at Calvary’s cross!  He loves you that much!  While I am open to being a friend, only Jesus can save you from sin and give you new life—eternal life– with Him!  I just want to share a few passages of scripture that you may know that His love and provision are for you as He does for me!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

While Jesus is my Lord and master, He is also my friend, even as He told His disciples just before His crucifixion and death—but praise God, He didn’t stay dead, He rose on the third day to buy salvation for you and me—for all who will come to Him in repentance of sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice!  Oh, what a wonderful friend He has been, is even now and will be for all time; what a blessing to know Him, and you can know Him too.

“Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends,

if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants;

for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:

but I have called you friends;

for all things that I have heard of my Father

I have made known unto you.”  John 15:13-15

Jesus is there for you, and he will be with you in all your ways if you will but trust Him.  I pray that you will hear His voice calling you and run to the shepherd who loves you, will guide you and ever be the greatest friend you will ever know!

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:7-11

And in closing, if you need peace, true peace is only found in the Lord of all creation, who gave Himself for you and me on that cross of Calvary.  He gives peace beyond measure, and He will walk with you continually, not just once in a while!

“Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth,

give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.

28 Ye have heard how I said unto you,

I go away,

and come again unto you.

If ye loved me,

ye would rejoice,

because I said,

I go unto the Father:

for my Father is greater than I.

29 And now I have told you

before it come to pass,

that, when it is come to pass,

ye might believe.”  John 14:27-29

His confident reassurance is found in His promise to save and keep His own; for HE is the only way to heaven, life and peace!

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again,

and receive you unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way

ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord,

we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:1-6

He’s waiting for you today!  Won’t you come to my best friend?  He’ll be your greatest friend also!

Amen and Amen!!!

Where’s The IF??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #390

24 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Brighten Your Corner!, Broken Hearts, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus prayed, Jesus Saves!, Renewing or Reviewing, Repentance, Responding Rightly, Responding to God's call to share the Good news., Responding to the call!, Resting Or Wrestling?, Restoration

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Where’s The IF??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #390

I have seen a lot of things going around on social media and people referring to 2 Chronicles 7:14, but not quoting it, just making a loose paraphrase of it, and then asking people to pray “this prayer”, yet in seeming to be scripture they ask God to “banish what isn’t of Him”!  Excuse me!  There is a day coming when God will certainly banish all that isn’t of Him, but that is the judgment—not now.  Now God has truly called us to be salt and light, not to cling to our own pet sins (mine are ok, yours are not-mentality).  But that isn’t what God says!  So I will simply let scripture say what scripture says in context; you be the judge.

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:12-14

This was God’s message to Solomon at the dedication of the first temple, and God let Solomon know that the people would go into sin, and when they did, HE would discipline them; yet God told Solomon that the turnaround was up to them!  And when we read the scripture, we see that again and again the people sinned grossly—just like us!  So God told Solomon there was a cure, but it came with a great big IF! God’s people—not the world—must be ready to repent!

The IF that most don’t want to talk about!  But clearly God calls us, those called by His name, the people of GOD Almighty, for those called by the name of HIS SON, Jesus Christ The Lord—Christians!  And may I add that just saying so, doesn’t make it so. As Jesus himself said, “ye must be born again”! And if we are of the “born again” congregation, God is calling us also to fall on our faces and,

“shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways “!

And I must say, with all the hoopla going around about revival, I think God is waiting for us to humble ourselves before Him, pray in earnest, seeking HIS face, and being willing to turn from our “wicked ways”!  Where are the tears of conviction?  Where are the hearts broken over sin?  Where are the fires of holy living igniting?  I’m longing to see it—especially in me—but also in those who claim the name of my Lord Jesus!  As I wrote last time, as James said, “sweet water and salt water don’t’ flow out of the same fountain”!  May we truly seek God’s face to revive ‘ME’! And you!  And all of His own!  As Paul said, I cling to the cross, I pray that you will meet me there in earnest desire for God to move among His own—and God knows those who are His!

“For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ, and him crucified…

…5 That your faith should not stand

in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:2 & 5

And just so you’ll know what the Gospel is, I’ll simply close with Paul’s great “gospel in a nut shell” passage.  Please look up and not around!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Oh, precious Jesus, touch our hearts, speak your truth to us that we may live for you according to your Word.  May we truly come to you in repentance (anew for those of us who are already saved) and faith in your substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!  Thank you for hearing our prayer!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s All About God’s Work??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #32

26 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Brighten Your Corner!, Broken Hearts, Encouragement

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It’s All About God’s Work???  A Word from THE WORD!!!  #32

I simply have a few words of hope this morning—words that remind us that it is all about the work that God is doing in us!

It’s not by our own hand—our own effort—our own wisdom—our own ingenuity—our own way—it is God who is at work in us! We can choose to obey and follow HIS way or go our own way and reap the consequences of our choices.  YOU decide—you choose but remember there is a test.

“Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly

through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace,

we should be made heirs

according to the hope

of eternal life.”  Titus 3:5-7

And one of my favorite passages from the letter to the Philippian believers.  Take heart my friends—God is at work, and HE wants us to succeed!

“I thank my God

upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine

for you all

making request with joy,

5 For your fellowship in the gospel

from the first day

until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all,

because I have you in my heart;

inasmuch as both in my bonds,

and in the defence

and confirmation of the gospel,

ye all are partakers of my grace.

8 For God is my record,

how greatly I long after you all

in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray,

that your love may abound

yet more and more

in knowledge

and in all judgment;

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent;

that ye may be sincere

and without offence

till the day of Christ;

11 Being filled

with the fruits of righteousness,

which are by Jesus Christ,

unto the glory

and praise of God.”  Philippians 1:3-11

Amen and Amen!!!

Brighten Your Own Corner??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #17

29 Wednesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Brighten Your Corner!

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Brighten Your Own Corner???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #17

There’s an old song that we used to sing all the time, and it still rings through my heart and mind oft-times when I’m down over some lost opportunity, or uncertainty!  Jesus has called us to be faithful where we are not to keep trying to change our place, opportunities, or circumstances; if we really trust to HIS care, we can trust Him to lead, guide and provide “in His time” and in HIS way.  Job is such an inspiration to me, and while it is a most difficult book to read (the first time through), but as we read it again and again, we find the faith, courage, and strength that Job possessed and that his friends wrestled so inadequately to see!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.”  Job 13:15

When I’m confused, frustrated or just plain old tired, I rehearse this precious declaration from Job!  It’s all about Jesus!  Do I trust HIM or do I NOT?  Job knew that The Lord would come—sooner—or later—Jesus would come!  Is that amazing or what?

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

and not another;

though my reins be consumed

within me.”  Job 19:25-27

Job didn’t run, he didn’t hide, he stayed right where he was when tragedy struck in ways beyond our comprehension; he sat faithful before his God and stood fast in truth before his ‘so-called’ friends who had no clue of what God was doing.  Even Job didn’t know what God was doing, but he KNEW his God was still the faithful ruler of all.

Where are you?  Are you shining or pouting?  Has God asked something of you that you don’t want to do or deal with?  Are there difficult people around you; and while the world says, “you don’t have to put up with that”, God has called you to stand fast and speak the “truth in love” as you have opportunity.

Are we shining our little light?  Or are we hiding it under a bushel while we run, hide, seek our own way, or are we just sit and pout?  Jesus calls us to “be” salt and light, not “do” salt or light!  We are to BE and then shining will come!  And then sinners will be drawn to the “life-giving” cross and the Lord Jesus Christ who shed His “life-changing” blood for you and me—for all who will repent and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!

“Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light

unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine

 before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:13-16

David also demonstrates faith and ‘shining’ in his cry before God in humble repentance for his failure, knowing that only God could restore and do mighty things with a humble, and contrite heart!  God could brighten his corner!  How about you and me?  Have we let Satan dim our light with our failures!  Stop it!  Take David’s example and the instructions we have in 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.” 

God is great at cleaning lamps!

“Hide thy face from my sins,

and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart,

O God;

and renew a right spirit

within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence;

and take not thy holy spirit from me.  

12 Restore unto me

the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me

with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors

thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted

unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness,

O God,

 thou God of my salvation:

and my tongue shall sing aloud

of thy righteousness.”  Psalm 51:10-14

Being one who has known and experienced the forgiveness and restoration of The Lord Jesus, I can assure you that HE does good work!  So, I encourage you to meet Jesus at whatever place you are and let HIM light your lamp–either in salvation through faith in His sacrifice for you—or in restoration, having HIM refresh your flame.  Turn up that light and shine on that corner where HE has placed you—where HE has placed me!  Let’s stand fast in this “evil day”!  Our Lord is coming soon; oh, that HE will find us faithful and that we might hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant….”!  Here are the lyrics of the song I mentioned, and I pray they will encourage you today as they have me so often.

Brighten The Corner Where You Are! By Ina D Ogden

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar;
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Refrain:
Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!

Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,
Let not narrow self your way debar;
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,
Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;
Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Go shine!

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Shine!  Shine!!  Shine!!!

Brighten YOUR corner!!!

Amen and Amen!!!