Christian - forgiven - grateful

Welcome! My name is Richard Templin Hancock and I am a senior citizen who has found great peace in his old age in the forgiveness that Jesus Christ offers to sinners. I enjoy reading my Bible and recording short Devotional podcasts with the aim to encourage us all to have faith in God and follow His Son Jesus Christ every day.
I hope the following blog posts will be an encouragement to you:

My Help Comes From The Lord

My Help Comes From The Lord.

Psalms 121:2 > "My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

In moments of stress, exhaustion, or uncertainty, our first instinct is often to look inward for strength or outward for solutions. We scan our bank accounts, our schedules, or our social circles for an answer. However, the Psalmist invites us to lift our eyes higher—beyond the horizon of our current problems—to the One who stands outside of time and over all creation.

Psalms 124:8 > "Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

Notice the recurring reminder: the One helping you is the One who made heaven and earth. When we feel overwhelmed, it is usually because we have forgotten the scale of God's power. If He can speak galaxies into existence and anchor the foundations of the world, He is more than capable of handling the details of your day. Your help isn't coming from a limited resource; it is coming from the Creator of all resources.

Psalms 46:1 > "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Psalms 146:5-6 > "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:"

Help isn't just a distant hand-off of power; it is a Person. God is described as a "very present" help. He doesn't just send help; He is the help. Because He "keepeth truth for ever," His promises don't have an expiration date. Your happiness and hope are secure not because your circumstances are perfect, but because your Helper is faithful.

What "mountain" are you staring at today? Shift your gaze from the height of the problem to the power of the Creator.

Closing Prayer: Lord, I thank You that I do not have to carry my burdens alone. Forgive me for the times I have relied on my own strength. Today, I lift my eyes to You. Thank You for being my refuge, my strength, and my very present help. I place my hope in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Amen.

At The Door

At The Door

In our modern world, we are used to waiting. We wait for packages, we wait in traffic, and we wait for seasons to change. But the Bible speaks of a "waiting" that is charged with electric urgency. It describes a Savior who isn't just "on His way," but is already standing at the threshold.

"Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." — Matthew 24:33

Jesus uses the imagery of a door to describe His return. When someone is "at the door," they aren't miles away or planning a trip; their hand is on the latch. Their arrival is no longer a matter of distance, but a matter of a single step.

The writer of Hebrews offers us a firm assurance in Hebrews 10:37: "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." Sometimes, from our human perspective, the "little while" feels long. We see a world in turmoil and wonder where the promise of His coming is. Yet, Scripture reminds us that God does not "tarry" or delay in the way humans do. He is perfectly on time. The "little while" is the grace period we are currently living in—a final invitation for the world to turn to Jesus in faith.

If the Judge is truly standing before the door, as James warns, it changes how we treat one another.
"Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." — James 5:9

When we realize how close Jesus is, our petty grievances and grudges lose their power. Why hold onto bitterness against a brother or sister when the Prince of Peace is literally at the threshold? The imminence of His return calls us to a higher standard of love and forgiveness. "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." — First Peter 4:7

To be "at the door" means we must be:

Sober: Clear-minded and not distracted by the intoxications of this world.

Watchful: Keeping our eyes on the spiritual horizon.

Prayerfully: Maintaining an open line of communication with the One who is about to walk through that door.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise that You are near. Help us to live today with the joyful awareness that You are at the door. Cleanse our hearts of grudges, sharpen our spirits for prayer, and let our lives be a witness to Your soon return. We look forward to the moment the door opens and we see You face to face. Amen.

The Lord Is Always With You

The Lord Is Always With You.

In the quiet moments of the morning or the chaotic rush of the afternoon, it is easy to feel adrift. We often measure our security by our circumstances, but the Bible invites us to measure our security by a Person.

Psalm 16:8 "I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me."

To "set the Lord" before us is a conscious choice. When we acknowledge that He is right beside us, our perspective shifts. The world may shake, economies may fluctuate, and plans may fail, but your foundation remains fixed because the Creator of the universe is standing guard over your soul.

The Lord has Chosen and Cherishes you. The Lord isn't with you by accident or out of obligation; He is with you because He wanted you.

First Thessalonians 1:4: "We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people."

Being "chosen" means you are intentional. You aren't just a face in the crowd to Him. God’s presence in your life is a direct result of His deep love for you. You are His own, and He stays close to what He prizes.

The Lord is your Great Deliverer. His presence is also our protection. We do not have to fear the future or the weight of our past mistakes.

First Tessalonians 1:10: "And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment."

Because He is with you, you can look toward the future with hope rather than dread. Jesus has already bridged the gap, rescuing us and ensuring that our ultimate destination is secure in Him.

The Lord is your strength for the Journey. Finally, the Lord stays with you to transform you from the inside out. He doesn't just walk beside you; He works within you.

First Thessalonians 3:12-13: "And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen."

His presence provides the "overflow" of love we need when our own wells run dry. He is currently at work, making your heart strong and blameless. You don’t have to muster up the strength to be holy on your own—He is right there, providing the grace for every step.

Today, take a deep breath and remind yourself: "I am chosen, I am rescued, and I am being made strong—because He is with me."

(Bible verses from New Living Translation)

Peace is a person not a place

Peace is a person not a place.

"I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world." — John 16:33

A daily walk with Jesus isn't about finding a path where the sun always shines; it’s about having a Guide who knows the way through the shadows. Jesus doesn't say peace is found in a perfect schedule or a problem-free life. He says, "In me you may have peace." Peace is a Person, not a place. 

To walk with Jesus daily is to constantly "check in" with the One who has already overcome.  Ask for His wisdom, guidance, and strength. God will never fail you.
 
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, I don't want to walk alone today. When the pressures of this world feel heavy, remind me that You are right beside me. I trust Your lead. I trust You rule the universe and I can trust You rule my life and my steps. Amen.