 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
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  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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