 An Encouraging Word- Poppies at the Plywood House May 3, 2026 This winter my father asked me to come look through an abandoned house that was on a piece of property he owned. The house had sat unoccupied for a few years but still had contents inside. We looked through antiques, old books and records, and pulled out a few treasures. I nicknamed the house “The Plywood House”. It was just made of plywood. There was no insulation, no electricity, no running water, no heat source. It was a pretty rough looking structure. The yard was a mess, filled with odds and ends of rusting metal, tires, broken appliances, odds and ends of items. Last week my dad sent me some pictures from The Plywood House. The grass had grown up this spring all around it and the most beautiful California Poppies covered the yard. In the midst of all that property that looked like a total loss and disaster were beautiful glimpses of stunning beauty. That image has stayed in my mind all week. As I have thought of those beautiful pictures, I have been reminded of how God sends glimmers of hope and beauty into our own lives, even during hard and trying times. All may seem lost, the outcome may seem impossible, the brokenness may fill our lives and seem insurmountable. BUT GOD steps in, breaks the chains, sets the captive free, brings salvation, makes a way where there seems to be no way. God has a way of filling all the broken places in our lives with His renewing power and strength. He works in the rubble and ashes, in the places that seem desolate, and brings beauty from what was thought lost or destroyed. I pray you can allow Him to come into your life and heal you , to make you new, to restore you, to bring beauty where there once was nothing but brokenness. Scriptures to Hide In Your Heart: Isaiah 49:16 (King James Version) “ Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me…” Matthew 28:20 (King James Version) “ (And Jesus said), Lo , I am with you always even unto the end of the age….”. Zephaniah 3:17 (King James Version) “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing”. Psalm 139:7-10 (King James Version) “ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven , thou are there, if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me”. Isaiah 63:1-4 (New International Version) “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations”. Songs to Encourage You: If I Was A Bird (Mission House) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDqZbXXkcw8&list=RDYDqZbXXkcw8&start_radio=1 Peaceful Worship Medley (Is He Worthy, How He Loves Us, As the Deer, Jesus We Love You) (Samuel Jackson-Reed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm3BiUKYe6Q&list=RDqm3BiUKYe6Q&start_radio=1 You Are Loved Beyond Measure! Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Superintendent (photos are from The Plywood House” 
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 An Encouraging Word- The Snow Day I Will Never Forget
April 26, 2026 When I was in 4th grade, we had an unusually late snow storm in the middle of April. We woke up to 18 inches on the ground. Naturally, school was cancelled and my brother and I took the opportunity to go out and play in the snow. We could not find our sleds, so we decided to slide down the hill on our knees. John went first to pack the snow down and then I went. I don't remember feeling any pain, but when I stopped sliding in the snow I looked down and everything around me was pink. Our little beagle dog was whining and sniffing at my leg. I noticed that my pants were ripped and when I pulled them back I was shocked to see that my left knee had been cut all the way down to the bone. I started to panic a bit but knew that I would need to get into the house as soon as possible. I sent my little brother in to tell our mom that I was hurt. Then I managed to get to my feet , hold my leg together, and hobble to the house. It is amazing that I was feeling no pain during all of this. Later I would find that when I slid down the hill on my knees, that I had slid over a broken glass pop bottle that was under the snow. It had cut my left knee on the side, leaving an eight inch gash, several inches deep, cutting through nerves, tendons, and muscles, chipping part of my left knee cap. When I got into the house and my mom saw how badly I was cut, things went into action fast. My mom is an RN, so she immediately had me laying on the ground, leg elevated, with one of my dad's t-shirts stuffed down inside of it to stop the bleeding. The neighbor lady came over to watch my brothers and to help me get into the back of my mom's car. Mom drove me, through all of that awful snow and ice, to Holzer Hospital in Gallipolis, about 30 minutes away. They rushed me back into the emergency room and I remember laying on the table watching the reflection in the stainless steel lights above me, as the doctor stitched and stitched. Hundreds of stitches later, I was wrapped up in a leg brace that was from my upper thigh nearly to my ankle, and ready to be sent home. My dad had called my uncle, Casey Morgan, who worked for the county highway department to snowplow our long driveway. Unfortunately, the driveway was such a mess , the snow plow had gotten hung up in it. My dad came down the driveway, with an inner tube from a tractor tire, loaded me up on it, and pushed me up the driveway. It was a bit of a cold journey as the hospital had thrown my cup up pants away! It took physical therapy and several weeks of recovery for the stitches to heal my leg. There was serious concern that I would have a permanent limp or other issues with my leg, however, I have had no problems at all with it. That is also the only year of school that I had perfect attendance! I was the popular kid in school when I returned from the snow days with a leg brace and crutches. Later , the scar was always the source of an interesting story about the snow day that I will never forget. Looking back on that day, I do not remember being scared. I think that was due to the wonderful take charge presence of my mother. She was terrified ,but I knew that as long as she was there with me, that everything would be OK. I still remember her praying out loud for me in the car during the entire ride to the hospital, and telling me over and over that everything would be alright. Because of her , I was not afraid. Abraham Lincoln once said, " All that I am or every hope to be, I owe to my mother". Not all of us have had the privilege of having a wonderful mother, but I have, and I am forever thankful for her! We all have to walk through scary things sometimes. Things that we have no idea how they will turn out. Sometimes it feels like we are walking through a dark valley trying to find our way out. God’s Word promises us over and over that we are not alone. God has not forgotten you. You are His child. He walks every journey with you. Dig into His Word and listen to the promises God speaks over your life. These words are LIFE! Cling to them. This is how we fight our battles- with the Word of the Lord! Scriptures to Hide in Your Heart: Proverbs 31:28 (New International Version) "Her children rise up and call her blessed..." . Proverbs 3 (New International Version) “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”-- when you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason-- when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.” Songs to Encourage You: You Lead Me (Lauren Daigle) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xwQFjx5Er8&list=RD5xwQFjx5Er8&start_radio=1 Meet Me In the Valley (Tasha Layton and Ben Fuller) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c-INcY_gEo&list=RD3c-INcY_gEo&start_radio=1 You are loved beyond measure! Praying for you and your family this week. Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Superintendent  An Encouraging Word- An Arrowhead Called Hope
April 5, 2026 Author’s Note: This devotional is from a blog that I wrote in 2018. I was thinking about my Uncle Jim this weekend and wanted to share this beautiful story about him. He was a great human being! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An Arrowhead Called HopeMy father has owned his construction company since the early 1980’s, and has built more buildings than I know of. When I was a little girl, he did a great deal of work in Gallia County, Ohio and in the Point Pleasant, West Virginia area, mostly building pole barns on farms that had been in families for generations. These old farms were large, situated along the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers in the beautiful Ohio Valley. The families who owned these farms were always very generous to my father, and appreciated his craftsmanship. One family invited him to take us arrowhead hunting in their fields. My dad invited my Uncle Jim , a huge arrowhead enthusiast, to come along. We visited a very large farm with fields along the Ohio River, freshly plowed up after harvest time. Dad handed me a Wonder Bread sack and told me to “keep my eyes peeled”. I had only seen arrowheads at my Uncle Jim’s house, hanging in a frame on the wall , and at the local flea markets for sale. My Uncle Jim walked with dad and I and helped us to spot our first arrowhead. I could only see a little bit of brownish-pink rock sticking out of the dirt. I reached down and unburied it and was amazed to see the marks where it had been chipped and carved out of rock. Plus , it was pink, so I thought that was super cool! I was hooked! Dad , and Uncle Jim , and I set off across the field, eyes searching the ground for anything that even resembled a rock. I found so many arrowheads I could not believe it. Then I spotted the greatest find of all! On the ground in front of me was the biggest arrowhead I had seen that day. It was shiny black, like obsidian. I bent down to dust the dirt off of it and was surprised to find that it was not a little arrowhead, but a large spearhead. I yelled across the field, ” I found a big one!” . Dad and Uncle Jim gave me a thumbs up and told me to keep looking. I went back to looking but started to get a little distracted by the river, and watching the flat bottom barges loaded with coal, coming up and down the Ohio. I must have absently-mindedly started swinging my Wonder Bread sack around while I was walking through the field. I worked my way back over to dad and Uncle Jim, anxious to show them my spear head. However, when I got back to them , I discovered that the bread sack had a big hole in it, and I had lost almost all of my arrowheads, including that amazing spearhead. I started running back through the field, and recovered some of the arrowheads, but never saw a trace of that beautiful black spearhead again. That was almost 40 years ago and sometimes I still think about that day and wonder if anyone else found it or if it is still buried in a field along the Ohio River , back where near the same place that I found it when I was ten years old? I guess that I am still holding out hope that I might get the chance to go back and look for that old spearhead again someday. Hope is a powerful thing. It can sustain us through very dark times and be something to believe in, especially when there doesn’t seem like there is anything else to hold on to. Hope is like the candle in the window leading us home through a lonely night. It is that little voice that whispers, “You are going to make it…” The Bible says, ” Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life”, Proverbs 13:12 , The New Living Translation. Hope is not meant to be deferred, delayed, or abandoned. Hope is meant to be what drives us to achieve, to meet our goals, to plan and design, to fulfill a longing in our souls. Is it a surprise that 1 Thessalonians 5:8 assigns hope as a helmet, the “hope of our salvation”? The greatest battles we face begin in our minds- the battles of despair, unbelief, and doubt. I have been listening to a wonderful song from the band Tenth Avenue North, called I Have This Hope. The words are moving and inspire me. I hope that you enjoy them too. Psalm 33:20 ” We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield” (New Living Translation). I Have This Hope by Tenth Avenue North (you can listen to it by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBg9jHQtE44&list=RDeBg9jHQtE44&start_radio=1. As I walk this great unknown Questions come and questions go Was there purpose for the pain? Did I cry these tears in vain? I don’t want to live in fear I want to trust that You are near Trust Your grace can be seen In both triumph and tragedy I have this hope In the depth of my soul In the flood or the fire You’re with me and You won’t let go But sometimes my faith feels thin Like the night will never end Will You catch every tear Or will You just leave me here? But I have this hope In the depth of my soul In the flood or the fire You’re with me and You won’t let go Yes, I have this hope In the depth of my soul In the flood or the fire You’re with me and You won’t let go So, whatever happens I will not be afraid Cause You are closer than this breath that I take Chin up dear one! You are loved more than you will ever understand by a Savior who is our hope. He is our Hope! Don’t ever stop seeking that arrowhead called hope It will point you straight to the Savior. Praying for you this week! Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Superintendent  An Encouraging Word- The View From the Window March 15, 2026 Author’s Note: I wrote this devotional in May 2024, but it came back to my mind this past week when i saw the daffodils blooming at my house again and along the roadside. I so enjoy seeing them on my drive home in the evening. Just a little reminder from God to enjoy the little things. (MB) -------------------------------------------------- The last few weeks the early spring flowers have been coming up all around my house. In March and April there were daffodils all over the place. They came up around my mailbox and on the hill where I can look out of the window and see them when I am doing dishes. They are coming up behind my house and filling the old horse field in white and yellow ribbons . The past two weeks the resurrection lilies have been coming up too. When the flowers started blooming in late March and early April, I thought about cutting them and putting them in vases several times. I even went out with scissors a few times and was going to start cutting them to make arrangements. I stopped myself because I realized they made me happy to see them blooming on the hillside and in the yard when I came home from work at night. All of my beautiful daffodils have finished their blooming cycle in the past week or so and have dried up. It has been sad not to see their cheery yellow petals when I come home at night. Yesterday was kind of a heavy work day for me. I had a lot on my mind as I drove home and was praying for some people in my life. I pulled into my driveway and happened to see a flash of purple out of the corner of my eye. I was surprised to look over on the edge of the hillside and see one purple iris plant full-grown, all bloomed out. A beautiful sight, really. I stared at it for a long time and was reminded , again, how God can bring beautiful things into our lives right when we need them. Kind of a little reminder- hey don’t give up. Keep going. I am here with you. I shared a picture of the flowers with my mom last night and we were talking about her parents, my grandparents. They are gone now, but I live in their house. All the flowers that come up in the spring around the house were planted by my grandpa. He strategically planted them so that they would be in places that my grandma could see. Flowers she could see from her sitting room. Flowers she could see from her back porch swing. Flowers she could see from her kitchen window as she cooked or did dishes. Flowers on the hillside and yard that she could see as she sat on the front porch. It was always important to him that he showed her in little ways how much she meant to him. How much he loved her. He knew how much she enjoyed flowers and he made sure she had a yard full of her favorites. He did not always say “I love you”, but he showed it in many ways, especially in the view from the window. I thought about that last night awhile. I am enjoying something beautiful that my grandpa did for my grandma. How many times has God shown us His love in the same way? A beautiful sunrise. A smile and hug from your child. A kind word from a stranger. A forgiven offense from a friend. Finding something that was lost. Enjoying a good meal with friends. Laughing at a good joke. An answered prayer. Comfort in times of distress. Peace in our heart. Watching Him put someone back together again. All around us we are surrounded with reminders of His great lovingkindness. Pause and reflect on your many blessings. Even in times of trouble, there are still signs of loving kindness too. The shoulder to cry on. The person that sits with you and holds your hand. The ones praying for you that you do not even know about. Sometimes we just need to take a moment to enjoy the view from our window too. Truly our loving Heavenly Father has planted seeds of beauty in even the hardest times, just to remind us- I love you. You are my child. Don’t give up. Keep going. I am here for you. Scriptures to Dwell On: Romans 5:1-11, English Standard Version “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Matthew 6:25-34 , English Standard Version (Jesus speaking) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Jeremiah 31:3, English Standard Version “ I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Songs To Encourage You: Make Everything Beautiful, Rebecca St. James and For King + Country (from the motion picture Unsung Hero) this song really means a lot to me right now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FIB9obdax0 Consider the Lilies, Claire Crosby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSDTJRLpV28 Jesus Does, We the Kingdom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baz5tuV7X2Q Psalm 84 (I’m Home), Shane & Shane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEPAKmwHhdg Praying for you today! You are loved beyond measure! Photo 1: Purple Iris at my house last night Photo 2: My grandparents, Pierce and Nellie Hensley (about 1949) Photo 2: My family with my grandpa. I am the little girl and my brother John is on the pony. Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Superintendent    A Word of Encouragement For You Thank You For Giving To the Lord (3/7/2026) Author’s Note: Nothing we invest into the work of the Lord is ever wasted. Nothing. As parents, we need to be reminded of that often. The investments into the lives of your children will affect them, their children, and their grandchildren. You are creating a legacy with your family memories, family traditions,and family values. . Don’t forget to create a legacy of faith for your family too! A legacy of faith can carry your child through their entire life. It is an eternal investment into them. Families- you are some of the most important and influential people in the lives of your children! Never stop encouraging them to follow the truth and never stop praying for them. I shared this story over and over and it still gets comments from people that knew my brother Joe and have known our family for a long time. Joe passed away in an accident in 1996, when he was 12 years old and in grade 7. Today, March 7th, is his birthday and he has been on my mind this week. I am happy to honor his memory by sharing this story with you . His life and his story have touched thousands of people. I originally wrote this devotional in 2021 and would like to share it with you again. (MB) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In church tonight the lesson was about salvation and how we should understand the impact the testimony and witness of others have had in our lives. The speaker encouraged us to write a letter to those that have helped us make a decision to follow Christ, and to thank them. I can’t write a letter to either of these people but I can share on here about them . I went for a long walk after church tonight and that is always a good time to think. While I was walking I remembered a very sweet story about my brother Joe Morgan. He passed away when he was 12, but he loved Jesus and he loved people. He had a very soft spot in my grandmother’s heart. She could be gruff and was not someone that was easy to talk to about the Bible. She had a fast temper and would shut you down pretty quickly in any religious discussion. That didn’t stop Joe though. He just kept plugging right along talking to her anyway. I think she admired his spunk, which was a lot like hers . My grandfather would pick him up from preschool at CLA and when they got home Joe would share the Bible story from class with my grandparents. This was something that my grandmother began to look forward to every day. My brother Joe’s last Christmas he wrapped up his own Bible with a card telling our grandma he loved her. When he gave her his Bible he said “ I want you to know who Jesus is”. He died 9 months later in a tragic accident. Our entire family was so heartbroken but my grandmother mourned deeply. She always kept his Bible in a box beside her chair in her sitting room. I was visiting her at her home a few years after Joe passed. She handed me the box and asked me to open it. I did and was surprised to see Joe’s Bible and his card to her. She didn’t look at me when she told me this story, but with tears running down her face said,” I prayed and asked Jesus to be in my life because of Joe. And I read that Bible of his- all of it. It means so much to me.”. Now, I have Joe’s Bible and card. It’s in my office at school . Sometimes I share that story in chapel services with my older students. Sometimes I just open his Bible and read and remember a sweet kid that loved Jesus and his Grandma Nell a whole lot, and I am challenged to love people the same way. Our grandma was able to know forgiveness and restoration in her life because of a little kid that just loved her enough to talk to her about Jesus and the Bible every time he could. Our lives do have impact on others- even after we leave this Earth. Our testimony does matter and our sharing the Gospel does change lives. I am Thankful for that reminder tonight at church. My Brother Joe’s Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 “ Therefore , anyone that is in Christ is a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come.” Two of My Brother Joe’s Favorite Songs: Thank You For Giving To The Lord , by Ray Boltz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtD8EBvFecM Heartland , By George Strait and his son (we played this at my brother’s funeral, but it was a good description of how he lived his life- with thankfulness and joy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6-7j948l6M --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My prayer for you today is the same that my brother prayed for our grandmother- that you would allow Jesus to be your Redeemer, your Restorer, your Healer, and your Savior. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 , ‘Today is the day of salvation’. Don’t shut your heart to the voice of your Savior calling to you. Stop running. Stop thinking you are not good enough. Just stop. Listen. Hear the words of the Lord and let them heal your life. Come home and be restored. What are you waiting for? Happy Birthday in heaven, Joe! You are not forgotten. Thank you for your obedience to the Lord. Love you and praying for you and your family every day, Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Superintendent   A Word of Encouragement- Glimpses of His Loving Kindness
March 2, 2026 Author’s Note: I originally wrote this devotional in November 2023. At that time both of my sons Hayden and Thomas were deployed with the US Army. Now, three years later my sons and daughter in law are still serving in the military. Any military family understands that watching the world news can cause a lot of anxiety. Will my loved one be deployed? Will they be in danger? I am finding myself praying for my sons and and my daughter in law throughout the day with many whispered prayers for God’s protection , for His hand on their lives, for them to draw close to Him and to feel His Presence greatly in their lives every day. In Hebrew the word chesed is used to represent the loving-kindness or incredible mercy of God. It describes the deep, enduring love of God that has been lavished upon us. The Bible uses the word chesed over 190 times in the original texts. This devotional is about an experience that I had with the loving-kindness of God in my life the last time that my sons deployed. Praying that you can experience this beautiful Presence of our God in your life today too! Seek Him and He will be found (Isaiah 55:6). As our world is facing another scary time of conflict, let’s not forget to pray for our leaders, our military serving at home and around the world, for our military families, and for each other. Original Devotional from Nov. 2023: Almost a year ago was the last time my children and I were altogether in the same room. My sons have chosen to be in the military and with that comes long separations, lots of moves, and deployments. My oldest son , Hayden , was deployed to Poland in January and my youngest son, Thomas , was deployed to Korea in June. The last day we were able to spend together was in late December 2022. Two very special things happened during that visit. The first was that my sons gave me the car they had shared in high school and told me to trade it in so I could get my first new car in twelve years. My son Hayden went with me to the dealership and asked all the hard questions, asked for the Carfax report, and when we took it for a test drive made me pull over so he could pop the hood and check out the engine. When we came back to the dealership he talked shop with the dealer , and made sure I got a good price. The second thing that happened was that one night I came home and it sounded like Niagara Falls in my basement. I knew as soon as I got out of my car what had happened. Yep, my water pipes had burst in my basement. When I opened the door I saw at least an inch or more of water already on the floor. I tried and tried but could not get it to stop. My son Hayden came in the middle of the night to help me. He was able to shut off the water and helped me for the next two hours to sweep the flooded water over to the basement drain. At one point I laid my head on my washing machine and cried . Hayden just came over and hugged me and said, “I’ve got this mom. Don’t worry about it. It will be ok.”. The next day Hayden came back and fixed all my pipes as good as new. When my boys had to leave after Christmas to go back to their bases in Texas it was a tearful sad day. I was praying for all three of my children and reading in the Bible. This beautiful Scripture jumped out at me from Jeremiah 31:16-17, “ Thus says the Lord; “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work. Declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is a hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.”. This Scripture was so impactful for me. In that moment, the gentle peace of the Lord surrounded me and comforted my heart. All I can describe it as is loving kindness. I knew this was going to be a very hard year, but I knew that the Lord would be with me through it all. I hung this Scripture up on the wall in my office. I read it every single day. I held onto it as a promise that God would help me through every situation I was facing (and He did!). I held onto it as a promise that God would reward me for my work (He has!). I have held onto it as a promise that God would bring my sons back from the land of the enemy! Today I pulled it out of my desk drawer and read through it again. Again , I felt that special loving kindness of the Lord in my heart and I remembered how God used His Word and His Presence to pull me through some major challenges in 2023. Friday my daughter in law called me to let me know that my son Hayden is coming home from his deployment! He should arrive on US soil Tuesday at 4:30 am in Texas! Although I won’t be able to be there in person, I have felt such relief to know that he is going to be home safe. Now, just a few more months and my son Thomas will be home in the US too. How fitting that Tuesday is our Veteran’s Day Program at school , where we will honor our military service members past and present. While I am helping our students honor and celebrate our service members, I will also be celebrating that my son Hayden is home! All I can say is “Thank You God!” . All weekend I kept thinking of Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”. The Words of the Bible can be a great comfort in both the good times and in the hard times. They are truly a treasure that we should hide in our hearts and minds. I thank God for this hard year- the good and the not so good . He has drawn me closer to Him, closer than I have allowed myself to be in a long time. He has helped me learn to trust Him more, how to love Him more, how to step out in faith more than I have in a long time, and how to let him become my everything. There were times I did not know if I could make it, if I could keep holding on. Then I would go back to my promise and I would read it over and over again, holding onto every syllable. Oh how much strength and hope it gave me to keep holding on. I am so thankful that I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! If you are in the struggle , just hold on. Hold on to the promise of God. Hold onto your faith. Hold onto hope. He is there with you through it all! Surely His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. Scriptures to Encourage You: Psalm 27:13 “ I remain confident of this , that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Songs To Encourage You: My Portion (Shane & Shane) I love this song so much! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Q33MX9XmE Hold On (Katy Nicole) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s3k8aUaFqk I Will Carry You (Ellie Holcomb) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IziBz0d5yOk Psalm 23 (Phil Wickham & Tiffany Hudson) https://youtu.be/q25xEFyTHFY?si=lXOY8lTTpnav2uvD Love You Dearly! Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Administrator  An Encouraging Word - Shine!
February 22, 2026 This weekend I was able to go to the Winter Jam Christian concert with our church youth group. One of the headlining artists was Chris Tomlin (one of my favorites). Tomlin was interviewed in the pre-show before the concert started. He was asked how he handled being famous around the world for his songs. His response was really thoughtful. He said his job was to be like the moon. You see, the moon creates no light on its own. It only reflects the light of the Sun back into the darkness of the solar system.. Tomlin said that we as Christians need to remember to be like the moon too. Instead of shining for ourselves we need to be the people that can reflect the light of Jesus Christ back into the darkness of this world. Jesus reminded his disciples of this same concept in Matthew 5:14- 16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven .” Such a simple thing, but so important. Shine through our lives , Lord Jesus, to this world that has lost its way. You, Lord, still save, restore, and redeem Your children! Shine, Jesus, Shine! Scriptures to Hide In Your Heart: Isaiah 9:2 (English Standard Version) “ The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” John 1:5 (English Standard Version) “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. “ Songs to Encourage You: This Little Light of Mine (Caleb + Kelsey) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czjs-_MvDIk&list=RDCzjs-_MvDIk&start_radio=1 Let the Beauty of Jesus (Eversham Community Church) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3efsAZweirM&list=RD3efsAZweirM&start_radio=1 Wonderful (Cain + Steven Curtis Chapman) A Christmas song, but has such a great message for the entire year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QjOC3ofV74&list=RD3efsAZweirM&index=2 O Come , All You Unfaithful (Sovereign Music) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FA1aV4mqCk&list=RD3efsAZweirM&index=3 Praying for you this week! You are loved beyond measure! Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Superintendent  An Encouraging Word- Still the Greatest Story Ever Told!
February 8, 2026 For the last few weeks the students in Mrs. Jenkins’s 8th grade literature class has been reading through the novel Ben-Hur written by Civil War Major General Lew Wallace. They have had me come in as a guest reader and I have enjoyed experiencing the story with them. Last week we finished the book , with the last chapter being the healing of Ben- Hur’s mother and sister from leprosy and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I was so moved reading this to the students! My eyes were blurry with tears and my voice was barely able to read the words of Christ from the cross, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do (Luke 22:34)”. I did not know until reading the author's background that Lew Wallace gave his life to Christ while writing this book. He had set out to write a book that would debunk the story of Jesus Christ but while researching and writing he came to the conclusion that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. The book became a written testimony of Lewis’s own return to peace with God. The 1959 movie with Charleton Heston is fantastic! I had to come home and watch it again this weekend. When I taught middle school we would watch it every spring, right before Easter. I encourage you to watch it. Beautiful storytelling. Still the greatest story ever told! I have thought about these words of Christ and this book and movie all weekend. “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do”. Me, in my selfish human state, not one time have I prayed this prayer for people that hurt me, yet my Savior asked God to forgive all of us, and offered himself up for us on the cross. Our sins for his life. We have knowingly turned away from God. We have chosen to satisfy our own wants and needs rather than surrender our hearts and lives to our Heavenly Father. Yet , Jesus prayed for each of us, in fact, he pleaded with God on our behalf, for God to forgive us- the ones who did not even acknowledge it or want this gift. Why would any of us choose to reject such a life-changing thing in our lives? Jesus showed such strength! Such sacrifice! For me. For you. Forgiveness. Grace. Restoration. Paid at a great price. Don’t wait! Meet him at the cross. Surrender. Let Jesus do the work of salvation and healing in your heart , mind, and soul. It will be the greatest decision you ever make! Scriptures to Hide In Your Heart: Luke 15:3-7 (English Standard Version) “So Jesus told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Matthew 11:28 (English Standard Version) “(Jesus said) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (King James Version) “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” Ephesians 1:7 (English Standard Version) “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Songs to Encourage You: Make Me New https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N68AA9arbuU&list=RDkur3yn1-r0w&index=13 Run to The Father (Cody Carnes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcpeLDp0Foo&list=RDHcpeLDp0Foo&start_radio=1 Prince of Peace (Josh Baldwin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfUSiAKnz0E&list=RDVAZd3EWu8tg&index=2 Clips From the Movie: Ben-Hur Meets Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDoyywKt1_0 Ben-Hur at the Cross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDoyywKt1_0 Praying for you this week. You are loved beyond measure! Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy  An Encouraging Word- Everything I Do , I Do It for You
January 20, 2026 Can you think back to a song that really has meant a lot to you in your life or brings back memories when you hear it? Let me set the scene…the summer of 1991…and 14 year old Melissa Boggs listening to the radio to hear the top song on the charts. The song was from the movie Robin Hood starring Kevin Costner. The popular song from the movie was by Bryan Adams and was called (Everything I Do) I Do It For You. Oh my, did I love that song and that movie! I still remember being a teenager and calling into the radio station every Saturday morning asking them to play that song! Every time I hear that song it reminds me of when my mom took me and all of my friends to see the Robin Hood movie at the Jackson Markay Movie Theater when I turned 14. We all gushed over how handsome we thought Kevin Costner was as Robin Hood. We played the radio all night and listened for that song to come on and then we sang it together at the top of our lungs. Music is a powerful thing. It can express emotions and words for us in a way that we cannot always do on our own. It can move us to tears, soothe us to sleep, inspire us to work out or run miles and miles. It can lead us to heart soaring worship and prayer with the Almighty. It can express our love , our anger, our heartache. It can fill the silence. It can help us sleep at night. It is a powerful created wonder that God has given to us to enjoy. The largest book in the Bible is actually a collection of songs. We call it the Book of Psalms. I try to read a chapter or two from the Book of Psalms every day. Many were written by David through very trying times in his life. There are highs and lows. It beautifully expresses the many feelings that we pass through in stages and trials of our lives, both celebrations and heartache. The wonder is how David went to God with all of this. This has helped me in my own life to still turn to God when I am angry, when I am hurt, when I do not want to believe anymore, when I am celebrating, when I am thankful. David gave us a practical example of how we should go to God with all of these feelings , not just in the “churchy” times. God already knows your heart deeply and wants to walk with you through every season of your life- the highs and the lows. Psalm 40 has been in my heart and mind lately. It is a Psalm of Kind David. He wrote it in gratitude to God for delivering his life from great trouble. Read through this Psalm and take note of the important things David is acknowledging:
Scripture to Hide in Your Heart: Psalm 40 (A Psalm of David) (English Standard Version) 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. 6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear.[a] Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” 9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! 12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” 16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” 17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! Songs of Worship: Here I Am (Featuring Ashley Hess) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYIbCw30x3E&list=RDWYIbCw30x3E&start_radio=1 All That I Need (Maverick City, Dante Bowe, and GRAHAM) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JC7y8HL0zM&list=RD_JC7y8HL0zM&start_radio=1 Yet to Come (Ben Fuller) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwjtW2EEUvs&list=RD_JC7y8HL0zM&index=2 I encourage you to take time to spend in Scripture daily , even if it is just reflecting on a verse or a few Psalms. It is a life-changing practice to incorporate into your daily life. You will be so encouraged and grow so much from this. Also, take time to sing and worship the Lord daily. As soon as I get up I put on some worship music to sing along to as I am getting ready in the morning. Worship God in the car singing along to KLOVE or AIR1 Radio. Worship God as you are cleaning your house, doing chores, taking care of animals, or even at work if you have a moment to hum along to a great Christian song. A wonderful resource that a friend shared with me is from The Worship Initiative (Shane & Shane). They send out a daily devotional in song and Scripture through the week. You can sign up for the free Daily Devo at https://sing.theworshipinitiative.com/auth/login?redirectTo=https%3A%2F%2Fsing.theworshipinitiative.com%2F. These are heartfelt and beautiful songs and Scriptures. I enjoy them so much and it is a great start to the day or something to settle me before I lay down to sleep at night. These days we don’t have to wait for the radio to play it. We have everything on demand through YouTube and other music platforms online. We can literally have a concert in our car or in our house just at the click of a button. Back to that song I loved as a teenager….sometimes I still sing it. I change the words a little bit but still sing it at the top of my lungs.Now it has a different meaning in my life. I don’t sing it to Robin Hood (aka Kevin Costner). I sing it to the Lord…. “Everything I do , I do it for You”. You will not regret giving the Lord some time in your day, time in your life. It will change everything. You are loved beyond measure! Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Superintendent   An Encouraging Word - Blessing in Boch’s Hollow
January 4, 2026 Craig Van Gelder (1999) gives background information in the article “Hearing the Gospel Again, for the First Time” about how crucifixion was used in the Roman world. Crucifixion was a common form of torture and punishment in the ancient world. The Romans had mastered it to make the person have the maximum amount of suffering, and also to keep them alive for as long as possible through the torture. Crucifixion was also performed publicly , so that the crowds were forced to come and observe it. This was quite effective in controlling the populations of conquered peoples. The Biblical Archeological Society (2025) estimates that the Romans may have crucified up to one million people in the ancient world including 6000 slaves that revolted with Spartacus and thousands of Jews when the Romans sacked Jerusalem. This form of capital punishment was generally reserved for the lowest of society including criminals, people who upset the government causing unrest, and slaves that revolted. To be crucified was a shameful way to die. Those crucified were often crucified naked, viewed by the entire community. They were sometimes tortured by having their eyes removed or limbs amputated. Their bodies were often left for the birds to pick dry. That the Son of God would die the worst death even the lowest could be sentenced to in Rome was appalling and is not easy to understand. Yet, Jesus chose that to bear the sins of the world, out of love for you and for me. In fact, the Bible says that he went to the cross with JOY (Hebrews 12:2). He knew the blessing that would come from this experience. Jesus Christ focused most of his earthly ministry on reaching out to those that society marginalized - women, children, the sick, tax collectors, prostitutes, people from outside of the Jewish community, even Romans (their conquerors). Everything about His life was counter to the culture and did not meet religious expectations from the leaders of the day. It would be no different if he walked with us in our day and age. He would still be with the outcast and the downtrodden, the overlooked, the ones that society does not think matter. This is still our call to action for today! To get back to this discipleship focus will be what brings the change to our community and to the world. What the world needs today is for Christians to be authentic and to live out the Gospel with simplicity and truth. This morning in church we read the Beatitudes , beautiful words of Jesus. Each of these reminders of blessing are from a place of lack, yet Jesus calls us blessed if we are experiencing them. They are challenging and most do not fit the definition of life that we want to live. I mean, who wants to experience poverty, grief, hunger, thirst, persecution, being disregarded, being treated unfairly, being hated, being betrayed, even losing our life for our faith? Yet, many of these are things that we would experience in our life even without Christ. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see that He experienced every single one of these things. What wise and true words He left us in the Beatitudes. He reminds us that all that really matters is that we shift our focus from troubles and trials to victory. Like that old hymn- Victory in Jesus , my Savior forever! Part of a new year is thinking through goals and putting things into perspective. Most of these goals are for self-improvement, which is not wrong. We all need to improve areas of our lives. This week I had the chance to take a quick road trip. On my way home, I passed a beautiful state park called Boch’s Hollow. It has a lovely bridge over a creek with a small waterfall. I drove past it and then about a mile down the road I turned around and went back. There was a bunch of snow on the ground and it was just too beautiful to pass up. I snapped a few quick pictures and took time to listen to the little waterfall. It was beautiful and peaceful. The little memory has stayed with me all week. I am so glad I turned my car around and drove back. The Lord has been reminding me lately to take the time. Take the time to read the Bible. Ponder on it. Don’t rush. Savor it. Take the time to listen when someone needs to talk. Put down your cell phone, Melissa. Stop feeling rushed to type and work , work, work, Melissa. This life is a beautiful gift. The people that God has put into it for you are an even greater blessing. Spending time in church worshiping with other believers is a sweet blessing. Savor it. Take the time. Make room in your life and day for these things. Make room for God to work in His miraculous way in your life. It is all about priority and surrender. Living a life without regrets is a life surrendered to Him! Scriptures to Hide in Your Heart: Matthew 5:1-12 (English Standard Version) “Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Philippians 2:6-11 (King James Version) “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Songs to Encourage You: Make Room (The Worship Initiative with Dinah Wright) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=make+room+dinah+wright Give Me Jesus (Victory Worship) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0TMRjbKhE4&list=RDF0TMRjbKhE4&start_radio=1 Jesus, My Everything (Common Gathering) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDF9T4_4FLM&list=RDDDF9T4_4FLM&start_radio=1 Look to Me (Alysha Kyle) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu8t9D1SZys&list=RDDLBvCTV23qw&index=2 (Photos are from my trip to Boch’s Hollow this week.) You are loved beyond measure! Praying for you this week. Melissa Boggs Christian Life Academy Administrator References: Biblical Archeological Society. (2025). Roman crucifixion methods reveal the history of Crucifixion. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/roman-crucifixion- methods-reveal-the-history-of-crucifixion/. Retrieved 12/06/2025. Van Gelder, C. (Ed.). (1999). Confident witness and changing world: Rediscovering the Gospel in North America. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eermans Publishing Co. |
AuthorMelissa Boggs is the Superintendent of Christian Life Academy and attends Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church. 
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