
DIGGING DEEPER DEVOTIONAL AUG. 14, 2025



This Monday morning kickstart is from a week ago, but I wanted to catch up. I will post today’s Kickstart video later today.



Today started out in prayer. I was up as usual by about 3 A.M. and did my private prayer time and then joined in online with our churches Tuesday Jesus 45 prayer meeting from 6-6:45 A.M.

Normally I run this meeting, but for the next three meetings Deacon Jody Clapp will be filling in for me and I will just attend remotely.
I watched the sunrise from my balcony in Florida as we prayed together.

After prayer it was breakfast and then morning devotionals with Pastor Amanda , James and Sadie, the teenagers who are competing in the National Fine Arts portion of the convention.
We are reading from Psalm 119 this week. Here is the portion we read and prayed over today:
33 gTeach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it hto the end.6
34 iGive me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 jLead me in the path of your commandments,
for I kdelight in it.
36 lIncline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to mselfish gain!
37 nTurn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and ogive me life in your ways.
38 pConfirm to your servant your promise,
qthat you may be feared.
39 Turn away the rreproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I slong for your precepts;
tin your righteousness give me life!
41 Let your usteadfast love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation vaccording to your promise;
42 then wshall I have an answer for him rwho taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my xhope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk yin a wide place,
for I have zsought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies abefore kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I bfind my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48 I will clift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will dmeditate on your statutes.
49 Remember eyour word to your servant,
in which you have made me fhope.
50 This is gmy comfort in my affliction,
that your promise hgives me life.
51 iThe insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not jturn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O LORD.
53 kHot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my lsojourning.
55 I mremember your name in the night, O LORD,
and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
that nI have kept your precepts.
57 oThe LORD is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
58 I pentreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me qaccording to your promise.
59 When I rthink on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61 Though sthe cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not tforget your law.
62 At umidnight I rise to praise you,
because of your vrighteous rules.
63 wI am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
64 xThe earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;
yteach me your statutes!
We left by 9 A.M. for the OCCC (Orange County Convention Center) and spent the day there to watch James’ and Sadie’s performances and to peruse the other portions of the show and exhibit halls.
Here is some of the artwork from the festival. All of this is done by teenagers.





The sunrise yesterday was absolutely gorgeous from the balcony of our condo in Bonnet Creek.

It was registration day for the General Council and National Youth/ Fine Arts Convention. That means it was a day of standing in lines. We had until 6 P.M. to register, so we spent the morning and early afternoon getting to know the lay of the Bonnet Creek resort.


I got up late yesterday…almost missed the sunrise. Then I spent the rest of the morning in prayer and study and writing as is my normal Monday routine. Just before lunch I took a prayer stroll around the lake at the center of our resort. I took time to notice small details: the ducks, the egrets, the way the chairs were arranged, the artwork along the path, things like this orchid. I have a small orchid like this… I wonder if mine could get this big.

We headed over to the Orange County Convention Center at about 3 P.M.

Then we commenced standing in lines. Honestly it was not too bad. James and Sadie were excited.

Don’t mistake Pastor Amanda’s gaze here. She was thoughtful and concentrated not murdery.

Of course we had to take pictures of the AG (Assemblies of God) sign.

We capped off the night with a youth service. The them of the week is…THE GOOD FIGHT.
“7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 TIMOTHY 4:7

