May 31 "Keeping Your Word" Read I John 2:5

"Keeping Your Word"

1 John 2:5 "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

This thought has come across my mind quite often lately. It seems as though we get so busy in our everyday life that we sometimes forgot about things we have told someone we would do. For instance I have a dear friend who asked my to send her a daily bible verse and I can remember to do that for a few days in a row then the devil steals that thought and I have to apoligize and start over. Then it becomes a pattern. I truly get convicted over it and realize that I put some things in front of that, that have no importance compaired to the value of THE WORD! His word never comes back void and our words get shallow and empty due to the lack of the renewing of our minds daily. I know as a child when my parents told me they were going to do something I hung on their every word and took it to heart.

In the days we live in now we don't think about the person we've gave our word to...what it feels like when we don't keep it. Sure, there are certain things that come up out of our control but we must remember as Christians that there is always someone listening or watching to see if are doing our best to be Christ-like!

Mrs Kelly Tester Proffit

CMBC Pastors Wife

May 28 "Family In Crisis" Publication

The Family in Crisis

New figures show that increasing numbers of children in America are being born out of wedlock. According to statistics gathered by the Pew Research Center from census reports, 41 percent of American babies in 2008 did not have married parents. That’s a striking increase of 13 percent from findings in 1990, when 28 percent of babies were born out of wedlock in our nation.What does this mean?It means that our society is losing its way morally. And children are the victims.



In our schools, we have traded the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule for situational ethics and sexual ambiguity. Children learn that there is no real right or wrong and when they become adults they live out this creed, jumping into sexual relationships at will.In the media, sexual imagery is splashed in our faces all the time. As a man, I know how important it is to depend on the Christ who lives in me to keep my mind clean. But our culture constantly battles us in this regard. Men get the message hammered into their minds that women are sexual creatures for their pleasure, and this thinking becomes a part of their existence. Watch a “dating” show on TV some time. It’s downright shocking.This is certainly not what God intended for us.



Oh, how we need the Lord today in our homes, churches and in our society, in this order.We must have revival and we can’t expect it to begin in the White House, the State House or the School House, but in God’s House. Judgment must begin at the House of God.Are we as Christians just going to sit around and do nothing to bring our country back to God?



I don’t believe most of us know how bad a shape we are in. We have been blessed so much in America that many of us don’t believe that we could end up like a third world country. We are in deep trouble and we really need God’s help.May each of us make a new commitment to turn back to God and get our families back to God and in church and pray, pray, pray.



God bless each of you!

Pastor Delmar James

Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church

May 25 "Give and It Shall Be Given Unto You" Read: Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

When we think about giving as a church we think about tithes and offerings. We all know we need to tithe and give to the church. However there are other things that if we give we can expect to receive. Things like compassion, love, time and effort, just to name a few. We give by visiting people in the hospital or at home. Both people in the church and in the world appreciate a visit from a friendly face. A friend of mine spent his whole Saturday building a deck for a church member in need. We give love by never letting a need go unfilled and showing people how a healthy church operates. But all too often people, the church included, are too willing to give other things. Things like judgment, rumors, gossip jealousy, laziness and greed. As you go through your week think about the things you give and remember what you give, you will receive… “good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over”…

Kevin Winebarger
CMBC Devotion Writer

May 24 "From the Dope House to the Pulpit"

“From the Dope House to the Pulpit”

The testimony of Jimmy Galgano...

I was led to give my testimony hoping that maybe it would touch someone that’s lost or encourage a saint of God that they can do anything. Well my testimony starts out as most others in these mountains. I was took to church as a young man and made a profession of faith at a young age, I can remember going up to the alter only because everyone else was. Looking back now I can see I never produced any fruit that comes along with salvation. I grew up a pretty normal kid, I didn’t have bad childhood I cant blame the choices I made on anyone else other than me. I was a good kid in school, made straight A’s never got in trouble but all that changed in eighth grade. I was desperate to fit, my family never had a lot of money ( but mom done the best she could do ) so my way of fitting in was through drugs. I was the hookup, I was the one who could find a place to party, I thought finally I am important to people. Some 9 years later I would find out I was all alone. For the sake of time Ill be brief through my teen years. I was busted for drugs when I was 14 years old, stayed on probation until I was almost 18 years old. Dropped out of high school and never really cared about anything. Then when I was 18 I move out, thought I was going to conquer the world, but I found out the world will spit you up and chew you out! It wasn’t long until I was on the “ hard drugs” and was head long into an addiction that no one but Christ could cure. Before I turned 19 I was in rehab for second time ( my first stint in rehab was when I was 15, matter of fact I spent my 16th birthday there) so I knew I had a problem. I thought it was the drugs but in all reality it was a sin problem. I left rehab worse than what I went in. I can remember leaving and getting so high on cocaine that night I thought I was going to die. At 5 or 6 o’clock that morning I actually left the house I was in and went to die in a car by myself, BUT GOD had mercy on me that night.. The drugs got worse, partying was more, now I was committing crimes, LIFE was horrible for me. Then one evening I got the worst calls of my life one of my best friends died on his 18th birthday in a car wreck. He was on his way to get his license, him and his cousin both passed away that day. I was tore apart and didn’t know where to turn. That week I was introduced to a drug known as meth and I was addicted the very first time I used. I left home again that week and didn’t show my face for months. I lived a depraved life apart from any reality. I was in the worst shape of my life. Meth ruined any descent part of me that was left. I denounced that there was a God and got deep into the music f Marilyn Manson and worshipped him. Then one Sunday I overdosed and on every drug you could think of and ended up in the hospital just heartbeats away from hell. God spared me again even though I cursed Him that night.. Just a few months later God gloriously saved my soul and deliver me from drugs. I just want to say I PRAISE HIS NAME! When I fully surrendered to God he done something in me nobody else could. He placed a new man inside of me and that’s what I needed. AA or NA wouldn’t help me, the only 12 steps I needed was from the pew to the pulpit. God has blessed me so much since then. He has given me a beautiful wife a darling son, and has called me to preach His word and I now pastor at Clifton Baptist Church. Friend there is nothing to big for my GOD. There is no one that God cant use, if he can take a run down drug addict like me and make a preacher of Him just imagine what he can do for you. Gods grace is sufficient and I am realizing that more and more everyday. This November will make five years that I have been saved. Just five years ago I was a nobody, had no hope no joy no love. But now I feel like God has blessed me more than anyone else I know. Friend He will do it for you too if you will let Him. I am not boasting in anything I used to do or who I used to be. In fact that man I told you about just a little while ago is dead. But I want you to see that God can and is willing to save anyone. I look back over all those years I was lost and I can see Gods grace and mercy covering me like a hen covers her diddles under her wings. Friend I hope this has helped you don’t give up praying for that one that you love so dearly that’s lost on drugs. Keep praying help is on the way. You never know God make take them from the dope house and put then right into the CHURCH HOUSE.

May God Bless You

May 21 "Quiet, Please!" Proverbs 17:28

When I was young, and used to have to go to the library, I would always see that sign that said, "Quiet, Please!"

If and when you did speak in the library, you had to be very quiet.

Even though I saw friends in the library and wanted to talk and catch up, I had to refrain from doing so...it wasn't the place to do so...

The knowledge wasn't in the words of others, it was in the books the lined the walls and I quickly learned the two didnt mix...and I also learned that the less I said, the more knowledge I gained because I wasn't busy talking, I was busy reading and listening...

Anytime I was being taught or I was learning, it demanded that I, (myself) just needed to be quiet...

PROV 17:28, "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."

Sometimes the Lord would have us to just be quiet...be quiet with Him, be quiet in church and be quiet at home.

Did you know that many folks think that when its time to share a testimony or voice our opinion that we think others may think we have knowledge by doing so?

The Bible tells us the opposite is true...that a man of knowledge and understanding is sparing of his words; and will be reckoned a wise man by those that don't even know him! The Bible teaches that most times we just need to plainly "shutteth our lips" [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding ; and keeps them shut, lest he should say anything rashly and hastily; a man that has so much command of himself as not to speak unadvisedly, through the heat of his own passions, and through the provocations of others, will pass for a man that understands himself, and knows how to behave well before others.

When given the chance, be careful when you speak, and let the man of God speak to others about the way that God would have us to live. God knows our heart, and the fool that is bound there, so let us glorify God by holding our peace and in good terms, most of the time!

As everyday Christians, let's speak to God, and when we use our tongue, let it be for the reasoning of sharing the gospel alone, otherwise we should truly think before we speak...and speak less than more often!

Bro Dave G
CMBC FACEBOOK MODERATOR

May 19 "It Starts at Home" Bible Reading Included

IT STARTS AT HOME...

Over the past few weeks the Lord has really dealt with me to do a devotion on the home life. For many Christians their home life doesn't line up with the Bible, so it makes it difficult for their relationship with God to line up with His word.

The Lord did not intend for our homes to be filled with anger, resentment, impatience, hatred or any negative qualities. Sure, we all deal with fleshly emotions daily but, the Bible gives us the plenty of details on how to deal with situations we come up against.

Our marriage and relationships with our children have to be solid and biblical in order to serve God. Husbands must love their wives as Christ loves His church and wives must submit to their husbands (which is hard for some to do).

To be honest, it took me along time to truly submit, but when I did everything just seemed to be so much better in our relationship at home. If Christians will follow the Bible and what it tells us about our home and relationships, we will all have a better relationship with our Lord.

Matthew 7:24 says, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock."

We all are entitled to a wonderful home life if we build it on our spiritual rock and not our fleshly emotions. Just remember, it does matter how our home life is and it will affect our worshiping the Lord. If we can't get along at home, how do we expect to get along any where else? Our children and friends in our home do see how we live and wonder how we serve God and act like we do sometimes. Be sure that if you don't get your home life right, you won't be right with God and your prayers will be hindered!

Luke 11:17 "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation: and a house didvided against a house falleth."

Mrs Kelly Tester Proffit
CMBC Pastors Wife

May 18 "When Jason Got Saved" Read: Luke 5:1-12

Jason, the other youth Sunday school teacher, taught a lesson Sunday about influences in our lives. The scripture he went from was Luke 5:1-12. “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.’ And Simon answering said unto him, ‘Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.’ And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’ For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, ‘Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.’ And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying,"Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

Jason said that in this account of the first disciples being called, Jesus influenced Simon with a miracle. But Simon was captain of this boat, it seemed, so that when he came to Jesus it influenced James and John. Jason went on to tell about one of his friends who, when Jason was still unsaved, would drink and party and although he never made him, forced him or even asked him to drink, just because his friend had done it, it influenced Jason to do it, too. But then Jason got saved. He was the same Jason, but he walked and talked and lived a little differently. And after a while his buddy began to notice and wonder what was going on. Then he got in church and got saved himself. Jason had influenced him – for God. This made me think about the influenced in my own life.

There are good ones – my mom, her mom, my sister, my wife, even my own daughter in a way. There are bad influences in my life, too, but I’m not going to name them. But it also made me think about the people I influence and have influenced in one way or another. People like the members of my Sunday school class, my co-workers, my neighbors, even my church’s facebook friends who read these devotionals. But most importantly, my daughter. She sees me at my best and at my worst. My prayer is that if I influence anybody that it will be for God’s good or nothing. I challenge you today to look at your life and the people around you and try to influence them the way God leads you to.

Have a good week!

Bro Kevin Winebarger

CMBC Facebook Writer

May 14 "Walking with Jesus" Bible Reading Included.

How's our daily walk with God?

Our Heavenly Father desires to meet with us. Just as we stay in touch with a close friend or family member, God wants us to stay in touch with Him. Talk to Him through prayer, read His message to us through the Bible, take our cares and concerns to Him, and make Him a daily part of our life. Also keep a tender heart toward God's leading in our lives. Allow Him to have full control of our actions, thoughts, words, and direction. As we faithfully follow God each day, He will guide us into greater use in His work.

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:4-5

And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
Leviticus 20:26

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8

Praise Him, Praise Him!

Bro Dave
CMBC Facebook Moderator

May 13 "BOASTING IN GOD ALONE" Jeremiah 9:23,24

BOASTING IN GOD ALONE

Jeremiah 9:23-24:

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Everyone wants to accomplish something significant in this life. We all desire to do things well and sometimes we like to boast about the things we do. But God says we are to boast about one thing only...that we know Him.

Folks may want to boast about wisdom, strength and riches, but even if we have all these characteristics, we can't allow pride to set in as though WE did something great because EVERYTHING WE HAVE COMES from GOD if we are His!

The one thing we can boast about is our relationship with the Lord. The only reason I (personally) have the potential to do anything is because I am HIS, and HE is mine and His Spirit dwells in me. Because of HIS greatness in me, He can accomplish things through me. Perhaps the greatest thing we may every accomplish are the things no one will ever see...interceding in prayer or spending quality time with Jesus.

Let us pray and confess any pride we have over anything in our lives. Let us pray that we never appear boastful about anything other than the fact we know Jesus as our personal Savior. Let's pray and know that the only good or potential of good is because the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

Lord, help us to keep clean in our mind, body and soul so that God can use us to our fullest potential so we can BOAST in GOD ALONE.

Trusting this will help us.

Bro Dave G
CMBC Facebook Moderator

May 11 "Life Without Limits" Alternate Bible Reading

Life Without Limits

The other day I was standing around talking with the other guys at work. Not gossiping; you know men don’t know how to do that! But something came up about a man who wanted to move to the other side of the country and start a new career. But in order to do this he had to borrow half the start-up money from his dad. This gentleman was afraid to do this because there was no guarantee that he would succeed. We discussed it for a few minutes and I made the remark that the only guarantee we have in life is death. And just like that, I placed a limit on God in my life.

You see, after I said those words God showed me that the Bible is full of promises, guarantees from God. If we are willing to accept and believe for them, He is more than willing to give. Here are just a few. The first and most important is guaranteed salvation. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”


The second promise I’d like to share with you is for guidance. Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.” You see, if we seek God’s will in our decisions in life, He will guide us to the place He wants us to be. When you have decisions in life one choice leads to success, the other to failure. Pray until God gives you peace in your decision and don’t make your choice until He does.


Here is one that probably won’t make you happy – hard time and trials will come. Matthew 5:45 says, “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His Son to ride on the evil and the good. And send the rain on the just and the unjust.” Sometimes bad things do happen to good people. God’s word says that it happens. But in Psalm 9:9 He gives us another guarantee: the Lord will also be a sanctuary for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.


Read Hebrews 13:5. God guarantees that He will never leave you or forsake you. I believe every word in the Bible. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t believe one. I can now see that the only limits in my life – concerning God – are the limits I put there myself through lack of faith and speaking doubt in my life. God showed me that I can take every word in that Book as a “double your money back” guarantee.


Bro Kevin Winebarger
CMBC Devotion Writer

May 10 "Personal Testimony"

For todays devotion, we share the testimony of Beth Causby Bare...

John 8:12 -
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

"I know that every word of my Bible is true. God sent His son to die for me and I thank God that my soul was worth dying for. I was a single mother and headed down a road of destruction for me and my daughter but I found my Lord and he saved me 2 years ago. I now have a wonderful husband, a loving church family and can finally be the mother that God intended for me to be because of His love and guidance. Most importatnly though I know that one day I will go to Heaven and never have to hurt or deal with the burdens that this life has to bring! Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!"

May 07 "True Security" Bible Reading throughout...

Psalms 125:1-2 (KJV) "They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever."

True Security

What does it mean to trust the Lord? It means looking to him as the source of our security and putting our faith in the grace, love, power, and protection of God when the inevitable pressures of life come.

It means knowing as the psalmist did that the mountains surround Jerusalem, God himself surrounds and shields his people. When we trust the Lord, we don't have to focus on the wicked and what they are doing or might do to us. We don't have to rehash our own woes. Even though there are problems the size of mountains facing us, we can cry out to the Lord who created the mountains and is able to move them. As we focus on him and his truth, he will encourage our hearts and help us to claim the great promise of verse 2: The Lord will surround and protect his people, now and forever.

Let’s keep our attention and focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Powerful Word. Satan loves to attack our minds. “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”

Philippians 4:8 (KJV) "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Philippians 2:5 (KJV) "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..."

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

In these lasts days, we really need to keep our focus on the Lord and His Word. Jesus always responded with the Word when he was attacked by Satan. (Matt. 4:1-11)

Keep your minds on the promises of God.

Philippians 4:13 (KJV) "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

1 John 4:4 (KJV) "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Revelation 12:10-11 (KJV) "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

We are winners if we are saved.

God bless each and every one of you!
Pastor Delmar James
Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church

May 05 "True Love" Read 1 John 4

God is Love: True Love Only Comes Through a Relationship With Him.

God is Love! As such, true love -- God's love -- can be summed up in this passage of scripture: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1 John 4:7-11)

If you want to know this love - true love -- get to know God. He is ready to pour out His love on you, and He wants to teach you how to love others as He loves you.

Bro Dave

CMBC Facebook Moderator

May 4 "But for the Grace of God........" Read: 1 Cor 15

1 Corinthians 15:10

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

Our Saviour says, "I am that I am" and it is our privilege to say, (as Paul did): "But by the grace of God I am what I am...by God's grace we are what we are!! Praise Him now!

We are nothing but what God makes us, nothing in religion but what His grace makes us!! Nothing at all without Jesus!

All that is good in us is a stream from this fountain. We are a debtor to the grace of God.

God worked in Paul's life and then came a humble servant...

A humble spirit will be very apt to own and magnify the grace of God. A humble spirit is a gracious one...where pride is subdued, grace usually reigns...we can see this develop throughout Paul's ministry.

So many have found "grace in the eyes of the Lord" when through so many trials & tribulations in this life...and then will come a humble servant!

Lets pray together today for God's grace and because of grace, we will be made humble...and realize without Jesus, we are dust, and all our righteousness is filthy rags!


In closing I think of this great song:


Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

God Bless You.
Bro Dave Gindlesperger
CMBC Facebook Moderator

May 3 "Strong Tower" Read: Proverbs 18 & Psa 61

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10

I am happy to report to you today that we Christians have a shelter, a strength, a strong tower to count on in times of need, or at any time. When the world throws every kind of fiery dart at us we have the name of the Lord to call upon, that strong tower that we can run into and be safe. You can leave the seat you’re in at this moment and go to the other side of the earth and that strong tower is right there. I am thankful that as a child I discovered that strong tower and ran into it and was saved. God is my ever-present help in time of need. At times in my life I have drifted so far from Him I thought He would surely forget who I was. The only thing He forgot was my sins when I repented. When I was weak, the Tower was still strong. Psalm 61:3 says, “For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a stronghold from the enemy.” When we are in the shelter of the Strong Tower, the enemy cannot touch us.

Bro Kevin Winebarger
CMBC Facebook Writer