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Grace Of God Children's Project, Charleston, SC (2026)

10/02/2026

“Listen Carefully”
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 NLT.
We live in a noisy world. Everyone has an opinion, everyone has something to say, and our attention is constantly being pulled in a thousand directions. In the middle of all that noise, we must learn to listen carefully for the voice of God.
Jesus said His sheep know His voice and follow Him. Listening to God isn't simply hearing words—it is recognizing His voice, receiving His direction, and responding with obedience.
Sometimes God speaks through Scripture. Sometimes He uses prayer, circumstances, wise counsel, or the quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit. But we cannot recognize His voice if we are constantly distracted by the voices around us.
Slow down. Be still. Open your Bible. Pray. Listen.
God may be trying to show you something, correct something, or lead you somewhere—but you have to be willing to listen.
Prayer: Father, quiet the noise around me and help me hear Your voice clearly. Give me wisdom to recognize what is from You and courage to obey what You reveal. Keep me from being distracted by the world's voices. Teach me to listen carefully, follow faithfully, and trust You completely. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Credit: Dr. Steve Collins

09/30/2026

“In the Last Days”
“But know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will boast and be proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.” 2 Timothy 3:1–2 NLT.
We are living in a world where values are constantly changing, truth is often rejected, and people are increasingly consumed with themselves. Paul warned Timothy that difficult times would come. But his warning was not given so that believers would live in fear—it was given so that we would live faithfully.
The answer to the last days is not panic. It is perseverance.
Don't allow a corrupt culture to corrupt your character. Don't let the darkness around you extinguish the light within you. Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep loving. Keep preaching the truth. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
The darker the world becomes, the more brightly the people of God should shine.
Jesus is coming. Until He comes, remain faithful.
Prayer : Father, help me remain faithful in these difficult times. Guard my heart from the selfishness, pride, deception, and spiritual compromise around me. Give me courage to stand for truth, strength to persevere, and grace to shine Your light wherever You have placed me. Keep my eyes fixed on Jesus until the day He returns. In Jesus' name, Amen.

09/29/2026

“The Powers That Be”
“For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1 (NLT).
We live in a world filled with governments, leaders, institutions, and authorities. Some decisions made by those in power may encourage us, while others may frustrate or concern us. Yet Scripture reminds us that God remains sovereign over every human authority.
Romans 13 does not mean God approves every action of every leader. Rather, it reminds us that no earthly power is greater than God's ultimate authority.
As believers, we are responsible for respecting legitimate authority, obeying God above everyone else, praying for those who lead, and remembering where our ultimate allegiance belongs.
People may hold positions of power, but God holds the universe in His hands.
Don't allow the actions of earthly powers to determine the condition of your heart. Keep your eyes on the One who is sovereign over them all.
Prayer: All-Sovereign Lord, thank You that You are sovereign over every authority and every nation. Give me wisdom to respect those in authority while remaining faithful to You above all else. Help me pray for our leaders, respond with grace, and never allow fear or anger to control my heart. Remind me that no earthly power can overthrow Your purposes. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Credit: Dr. Steve Collins

09/27/2026

God did it. Congratulations to me, Dr. David Cheromei

09/16/2026

“But Who Are You?”
We are introduced to an amazing experience in Acts 19:15–16 (NLT), wherein the Scripture says, “But the evil spirit replied, ‘I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?’ Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and badly injured.”
There is a question in this passage that ought to make every one of us stop and examine our hearts: “But who are you?” The seven sons of Sceva had witnessed the power of Jesus' name. They saw Paul preach, heal, and minister in the authority of Christ. So they tried to imitate what they had seen. They attempted to cast out a demon, saying: “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” But there was one major problem. They knew about Jesus—but they didn't know Jesus. The evil spirit responded: “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”
That question exposes the danger of operating in spiritual authority without a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. They had the right words. They used the right name. They had seen the right ministry. But they didn't have the right relationship. And that is a sobering warning for us.
Church attendance doesn't make us followers of Jesus. Knowing Scripture doesn't automatically mean we know the Author. Having a ministry title doesn't mean we have spiritual authority. Being around godly people doesn't make us godly. Knowing Christian language isn't the same as knowing Christ. We can learn how to say “Praise the Lord,” while our hearts are far from Him.
We can sing the songs. We can preach the sermons. We can teach the Bible. We can lead ministries. We can even impress people spiritually—and still fail to cultivate a genuine relationship with Jesus.
Jesus said in John 10:27: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” The Christian life isn't primarily about performing for God.
It is about knowing God. The seven sons of Sceva wanted the power associated with Jesus without surrendering themselves to Jesus. They wanted the authority without the relationship. They wanted the results without the obedience. And their encounter ended in humiliation and defeat. But Acts 19 also gives us the other side of the story. When people witnessed what happened, they became deeply convicted. Verse 17 says: “The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.” Acts 19:17 (NLT). The name of Jesus was greatly honored. That's what our lives should accomplish.
Not that people would be impressed with us, but that they would see Jesus. Not that people would remember our names, but that they would remember His. Not that people would say, “Look how powerful that person is,” but: “Look what Jesus has done!” So today, ask yourself: “Who am I?” Am I simply familiar with Jesus? Or do I actually know Him? Do I know His Word? Do I know His voice? Do I trust Him? Do I obey Him? Do I love Him? Am I following Him when nobody is watching?
The world doesn't need more people who merely talk about Jesus. It needs people who know Jesus. People whose lives demonstrate His grace. People whose character reflects His holiness. People whose actions reveal His love. People who aren't using Jesus for their own purposes but are completely surrendered to His purposes. Because ultimately, the question isn't whether we know Jesus' name. The question is: Does Jesus know us? May our answer be more than religious vocabulary. May our lives declare: “I belong to Jesus.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I don't want to know about You merely. I want to know You truly. Forgive me for the times I have focused more on religious activity than on relationship with You. Forgive me if I have ever tried to use Your name for my own purposes instead of surrendering my life to Your purposes. Search my heart and reveal anything that is not pleasing to You. Give me a deeper hunger for Your Word, a stronger desire for Your presence, and a greater willingness to obey You.
Let my life demonstrate that I belong to You. May I never seek recognition for myself when all the glory belongs to You. When people encounter me, let them see something of Jesus in the way I live, love, serve, forgive, and respond. Lord, may my life never cause people to ask, “But who are you?” May it cause them to see and honor who You are. Let the name of Jesus be greatly honored through my life, in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Credit: Dr. Steve Collins

09/07/2026

“Working While It’s Still Daylight”
Daylight reminds us that we have time, but we don't have forever. Jesus made this very clear when He said: “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” John 9:4 NLT.
Jesus wasn't talking about a nine-to-five job. He was talking about purpose.
There are things God has called us to do, people He has called us to love, opportunities He has placed before us, and lives He wants us to influence.
But opportunities have an expiration date.
There will be a day when the phone stops ringing. A day when the door closes. A day when the opportunity to encourage someone has passed. A day when we can no longer say, “I'll do it tomorrow.”
Tomorrow is not promised. Today is the assignment. Too often we spend our daylight complaining about the darkness instead of using the light God has given us. We complain about what is wrong with the world when God has placed us in the world to make a difference. We wait for the perfect opportunity. We wait until we have more money. We wait until we have more time. We wait until we feel more qualified. We wait until circumstances become easier. But sometimes God is saying: “Stop waiting. Start working. It's still daylight.”
Paul gave the church this challenge: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NLT. Notice those words: “Don’t get tired.”
Doing good can be exhausting. Serving people can be frustrating. Ministry can be difficult. Sometimes you pour yourself into people and wonder whether anyone notices. But God notices.
Every prayer matters. Every act of kindness matters. Every person you encourage matters. Every life you touch matters. Every seed you plant matters. You may never see the full harvest from the seeds you plant today, but God does. So keep working while it's daylight. If God has given you a ministry, serve. If God has given you a voice, speak truth. If God has given you resources, give. If God has given you influence, use it wisely. If God has placed hurting people around you, love them. If God has given you another day, don't waste it. The clock is moving.
The sun is traveling across the sky. Today's opportunities will eventually become yesterday's memories. So don't wait for another day to do what God has allowed you to do today.
One day, the daylight will fade. But until then... Keep loving. Keep serving.
Keep praying. Keep giving. Keep encouraging. Keep witnessing. Keep working.
It's still daylight.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me another day and another opportunity to serve You. Help me recognize that every day is a gift and every opportunity is precious. Keep me from wasting my time on things that do not matter while ignoring the work You have placed before me. When I become tired, strengthen me. When I become discouraged, encourage me. When I become frustrated, remind me that You see what others may never see. Give me courage to love people, serve faithfully, speak truth, extend grace, and make a difference while I still have the opportunity. Lord, help me never to assume that I will have tomorrow to do what You are calling me to do today. The daylight is still here.
So help me get to work. May my life bring glory to You while I have breath, strength, and opportunity. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Credit: Dr. Steve Collins

09/07/2026

“Steadfastness in Serving the Lord and Others”
Anyone can serve when everything is going well. It is easy to be faithful when people appreciate you, the work is exciting, and you can see immediate results. But steadfastness is revealed when the excitement wears off.
Steadfastness means continuing to do what is right even when nobody applauds, nobody notices, and nobody seems to say, “Thank you.”
Sometimes serving the Lord and serving others can be exhausting. People can disappoint us. Circumstances can discourage us. Our efforts can seem unnoticed. We may wonder if what we are doing really makes a difference.
That's when we need to remember Paul's words: “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT.
What a promise! Nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. That phone call you made may have kept someone from giving up. That prayer you prayed may have been exactly what someone needed. That encouraging word may have changed someone's entire day. That meal you provided, that person you visited, that burden you carried, that person you forgave, that ministry you faithfully supported—God sees it all.
People may forget. God doesn't. Hebrews reminds us: “For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers.” Hebrews 6:10 NLT.
Sometimes we want to see the results immediately. But God often works through faithfulness over time. A farmer doesn't plant seed in the morning and dig it up that afternoon because he doesn't see a tree. He plants. He waters. He waits. He trusts. And eventually, there is a harvest.
Our responsibility is not always to produce the harvest. Our responsibility is to remain faithful to the assignment God has given us. Don't quit because someone failed to appreciate you. Don't stop serving because someone criticized you.
Don't stop loving because someone took advantage of your kindness. Don't stop praying because you haven't seen the answer yet. And don't stop doing good simply because you are tired.
Paul gives us this encouragement: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NLT. There is a difference between being successful and being faithful. The world celebrates success. God celebrates faithfulness.
We may never know how many lives were touched because we refused to quit. So keep showing up. Keep serving. Keep loving. Keep praying. Keep encouraging. Keep giving. Keep doing good. Stay steadfast. People may not always see your service, but God always sees it.
And when this life is over, the greatest accomplishment will not be that everyone knew our name. It will be that we were faithful with the life God gave us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me opportunities to serve You by serving others. When I become tired, give me strength. When I become discouraged, give me perseverance. When I feel unnoticed, remind me that You see everything. Help me serve without needing applause, recognition, or appreciation. Give me a heart that keeps loving when loving is difficult, keeps forgiving when forgiveness is costly, and keeps serving when the results are not immediately visible. Lord, help me remember that nothing done for You is ever wasted. Let my life be marked by steadfastness—not simply by what I accomplish, but by my willingness to remain faithful. When I am tempted to quit, remind me that the harvest may be closer than I realize. Give me grace to keep going, keep serving, keep loving, and keep trusting You. And when my earthly work is finished, may I hear those words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” In Jesus' name, Amen.
Credit: Dr. Steve Collins

09/06/2026

“Life Moves On With or Without Us”
There is a simple truth about life that we sometimes forget: life moves on with or without us. The sun will rise tomorrow. The seasons will change. Children will grow. People will come and go. Churches will continue their ministry. New generations will take their place. And eventually, our chapter on this earth will come to an end. That truth is not meant to depress us—it is meant to wake us up.
We are not here forever, so we should stop living as though we have unlimited time.
The psalmist prayed: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NLT.
We cannot control how long we have, but we can control what we do with the time God gives us. Sometimes we become frustrated when people don't do things the way we think they should. We get caught up in arguments, disappointments, offenses, and things that, in the grand scheme of life, won't matter nearly as much as we think they do. Meanwhile, the clock keeps ticking. Life moves on.
The question is not, “Will life continue without me?” It will. The better question is, “What will I do with the life God has entrusted to me while I am here?” Jesus said:
“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” John 9:4 NLT.
That is a powerful reminder. There are people we need to love while we still have the opportunity. We need to make apologies. Forgiveness we need to extend. Encouragement we need to give. Prayers we need to pray. Good we need to do. And perhaps most importantly, people need to see Jesus through our lives. Don't waste today's opportunities worrying about yesterday's disappointments. Don't spend tomorrow before tomorrow arrives.
Live today. Love today. Serve today. Forgive today. Give today. Pray today.
One day, someone else will sit in the place where we once sat. Someone else will carry responsibilities we once carried. Someone else will continue work we once started. And that's okay. We were never called to be indispensable. We were called to be faithful. Paul understood this when he wrote:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”2 Timothy 4:7 NLT.
What a beautiful goal for life—not to be remembered by everyone, not to control everything, and not to make ourselves indispensable. Simply this: Finish well. Love well. Serve well. Stay faithful because life will move on with or without us.
So while we are here, let's make sure we are moving with God.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of this day and for every moment You have placed before me. Teach me to understand that my time on this earth is limited. Help me not to waste it on bitterness, unnecessary arguments, resentment, pride, or things that will not matter in eternity. Give me wisdom to recognize today's opportunities. Help me love the people You have placed in my life, encourage those who are discouraged, forgive those who have hurt me, and serve You faithfully while I have the opportunity. When my time eventually comes to leave this earth, may I be able to say that I did not waste the life You gave me. May I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and remained faithful. Lord, let my life matter—not because I was important, but because You were important to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Dr. Steve Collins

09/01/2026

“Shutting the Door Softly”
In Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6 (NLT), Solomon said, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven … A time to search and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to throw away.”
Some doors in life are ones we desperately want to keep open. Doors to relationships. Doors to opportunities. Doors to friendships. Doors to seasons we loved. Doors to places where we once felt comfortable.
But sometimes God whispers, “It’s time to close the door.” And when that happens, we need to learn how to shut the door softly. Not every ending needs an argument. Not every departure requires an announcement. Not every relationship needs to end with anger. Not every closed door needs to be slammed. Sometimes maturity is recognizing that a season has ended and having enough grace to walk away without destroying everything behind you.
Jesus understood this. There were people He loved who still didn't understand Him. He ministered in places where He was rejected. Some people walked away from Him. Yet Jesus didn't spend His entire ministry chasing after people who had decided to leave.
There comes a time when you have to stop knocking on a door God has told you to close. A closed door is not always a punishment. Sometimes it is protection.
Sometimes God closes a door because staying there would keep you from walking into what He has prepared next. Sometimes the relationship served its purpose.
Sometimes the opportunity was for a season. Sometimes the friendship was real, but the season was temporary. Sometimes you have outgrown where you used to fit. And sometimes the hardest thing God asks you to do is not fight for something to remain—but trust Him enough to let it go.
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) tells us, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” There is wisdom in guarding your heart. You don't have to remain available to everyone. You don't have to keep explaining yourself to people committed to misunderstanding you. You don't have to keep reopening doors that God has given you the wisdom to close. And you don't have to hate someone simply because you can no longer walk with them. You can forgive someone and still close the door. You can love someone and still establish boundaries. You can appreciate the past without trying to recreate it. You can be grateful for what someone meant to you without letting them keep controlling your future.
That's what it means to shut the door softly. You don't slam it in anger. You don't leave bitterness scattered across the floor. You close it, thank God for what was behind it, and turn your attention toward what is ahead.
Isaiah 43:18–19 (NLT) says, “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new.” God is a God of new beginnings. Don't let yesterday's closed door keep you from seeing tomorrow's open door. You may have lost something, but God has not lost His purpose for your life. You may have walked away from something, but God is still walking with you. You may not understand why the door had to close, but you can trust the One who closed it. Some doors need to close so you can finally see the door God is opening.
So today, if God has been asking you to close a door, don't slam it. Don't curse it. Don't spend the rest of your life standing outside it. Shut it softly. Release it. Forgive what needs to be forgiven. Learn what needs to be learned. Thank God for what was good. Leave what was unhealthy behind. And then turn around. There is still a road ahead of you. And if God is leading you down that road, you don't need to keep looking back at the door He told you to close.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me the wisdom to recognize when a season has ended and the courage to let it go.
Help me shut the doors You are asking me to close—not with anger, bitterness, or resentment, but with grace. Heal my heart from the relationships, disappointments, failures, and seasons that I have struggled to release. Teach me that closing a door does not mean I have to hate what was behind it. Help me forgive those who hurt me, release those I need to release, and trust You with what I cannot change. Lord, keep me from continually looking backward when You are calling me forward. Give me the faith to believe that a closed door is not the end of my story. If You close one door, help me trust that You already know what lies beyond it. Give me the grace to shut the door softly—and the faith to walk boldly into whatever You have prepared next. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Credit: Dr. Steve Collins

08/29/2026

“When We Think We Know Others”
“People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT).
One of the easiest mistakes we make is believing we know someone simply because we have observed a part of their life. We see a person's behavior and assume we know their motives. We hear one side of a story and think we know the whole truth. We see someone smiling and assume everything is fine. We see someone struggling and assume they are lazy. We see someone make a mistake and decide that mistake defines them. But we are not God.
When Samuel looked at Jesse's sons, he focused on what he could see. But God reminded him that He does not judge people the way human beings do. God sees what we cannot see. He knows the heart, the wounds, the battles, the motives, the fears, and the circumstances behind what others see.
Sometimes we are far too confident in conclusions God never permitted us to make. We see the moment; God sees the journey. We see the behavior; God sees the heart. We see the struggle; God sees the story. We see where someone is; God sees where He is taking them. Before you decide you have someone figured out, remember that you may only know a chapter of their story.
You may not know what they have survived. You may not know what they are carrying. You may not know what they are praying about. You may not know what God is doing in them. James 1:19 (NLT) reminds us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
That is good spiritual advice for dealing with people. Instead of assuming, listen. Instead of judging, pray. Instead of labeling, show grace. Instead of believing you know everything, leave room for God to reveal what you cannot see.
The truth is, we don't know others nearly as well as we think we do. And perhaps that's why Jesus calls us to love people rather than analyze them. Today, ask God to give you eyes that see beyond appearances and a heart that gives people the same grace you desperately need yourself. You don't have to understand someone's entire story to treat them with Christlike love.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I have judged people based on what I could see rather than what You know. Help me remember that I cannot see the heart as You can. Give me wisdom to listen before I speak, grace before I judge, and compassion before I criticize. Help me never to reduce someone to their worst moment or assume I know everything about their journey. Teach me to see people through Jesus' eyes and to love them with patience, mercy, and grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Credit: Dr. Steve Collins

Grace Of God Children's Project

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