Excel Still More

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected]

John 10

Jesus likens His disciples to sheep who hear His voice and follow Him. Jesus is the gate that they enter to reach safety. He is also the good shepherd who calls them forth and leads them in green pastures. He alone has authority over them. A good shepherd will put his life on the line for the sheep. Jesus proved this by dying on the cross for the good of His people. He would also be raised from the dead and continue as their shepherd in heaven! The Pharisees reject all of this, and once again revile and accuse Him. He tells them they say these things because they are not of His sheep. His works prove He is the Son of God and that all should believe in Him.

The sheep and shepherd imagery are valuable for believers. Jesus is not just our Savior; He is our Shepherd. We do not simply believe in Him, we follow Him. Jesus has authority over our lives. We answer His call. We go where He directs us. Jesus has earned this right by laying down His life to save us from the enemy. He has also risen and is ruling at the right hand of the Father. The Pharisees rejected Jesus’ message because it would mean surrendering their power to Him. They could not see past their desires. True belief involves total surrender. The choice is ours, but the testimony about Him will convict us if we do not believe in Him. 

Great God, please allow us to honor our Savior with this adaptation from Psalm 23: The Lord is our shepherd. We shall not want. He makes us lie down in green pastures; He leads us beside quiet waters. He restores our souls; He guides us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil, for He is with us. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow us all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Thought Questions:

-       What does it mean in your daily life for Jesus to be your shepherd? How do you go about living as a sheep within His flock?

-       How has Jesus demonstrated a depth of love for you that goes beyond what anyone could ever do? How do you honor Him?

-       Evidence for Jesus as God’s Son is powerful and life changing. What testimonies about Christ have the deepest impact on you?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected]

John 9

Jesus heals a man who is blind from birth. As the Light of the world, Jesus puts clay on the man’s eyes and renews his sight. The Pharisees question the man as to what has happened, and the man announces Jesus as a prophet. The Jews then call in the man’s parents, confirming he was born blind. They will not believe in Jesus and are determined to discredit the miracle. They speak to the man again, and he proclaims the Healer to be from God. The Jewish leaders then put him out of the synagogue. Jesus finds the man and reveals Himself to be the Son of Man, and the healed man worships Him. Jesus then teaches that Pharisees who think they can see will always be blind and in sin. 

The blind man’s healing leads to these words of Jesus: “For judgment I came into the world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” For all who are humble and in need of Christ, He brings light and restoration. The blind man represents all sinners, in need of opened eyes by the power of Jesus. If He has restored us, we should openly and passionately worship Him as the Son of God. But those who think they see without Him will not come to him for healing. All who choose to reject the glory of Jesus will be revealed in the end as blind and lost in darkness. 

Dear Lord, You have shown amazing mercy in sending Your Son, the perfect Light, into this world of darkness and sin. He relentlessly seeks those who know that they need Him. Father, we pray for an ever-present need for the Light of the world in our lives. We are often blind and drawn to the shadows. Will You please make Jesus the Light to our path and the One who shows us the way? Give us the wisdom to see Him and follow Him. Purge from our hearts any arrogance, pride, and disbelief that would keep us from our Savior. 

Thought Questions:

-       The man’s blindness created a circumstance for God to act. Are you open to seeing your struggles as opportunities for Christ to work?

-       The healed man worshiped Jesus. Do you believe Jesus is worthy of your worship? How does that look on days other than Sunday?

-       The Pharisees would not believe no matter the evidence. What creates that sort of blindness and how do you avoid it?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

BRAND NEW BOOK - The Daily Bible Devotional Volume 2 (Acts - Ephesians) is now available on Amazon. We hope this becomes a great daily tool in engaging with the New Testament, one chapter at a time. 

Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Figuratively, “learning to eat fruit in its season” means embracing the natural timing of things in life — being patient, appreciating each phase or blessing when it comes, and not forcing what isn’t ready yet.

Here are a few deeper layers to the metaphor:

Patience and Timing – Just like fruit tastes best in its right season, some things in life (like love, success, healing, or growth) are meant to be experienced at the right time. Trying to rush or skip ahead often leads to disappointment or frustration.

Contentment and Gratitude – It’s about being present and thankful for what you have now, instead of always craving what’s next. There’s beauty in each season — even the quiet, hard, or ordinary ones.

Trusting the Process – This phrase can also reflect faith in God’s timing or life’s unfolding journey. Some things can’t be hurried — they ripen with time and experience.

Wisdom and Maturity – As you grow, you begin to understand when something is truly good for you. You stop settling for "unripe fruit" — things that look good but aren’t ready or right yet.

It’s a reminder that there’s a rhythm to life — and true joy, peace, and fruitfulness come when you align yourself with that rhythm.

1) Gratitude and Presence - Enjoying Now

2) Spiritual Meaning - Trusting God's Timing

3) Emotional Meaning - Peace over Pressure

4) Mental Maturity - Knowing what's Good for You

5) Relational Wisdom - Patience with Others

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected]

John 8

Jesus is teaching in the temple when Jewish leaders bring Him a woman who has been caught in adultery. They ask Him what should be done to her. He asks the one who has no sin to cast the first stone. Slowly, all the men leave. He then explains there is no testimony against her and sends her away, telling her to “sin no more.” This opens a discussion about testimony concerning Jesus, including His own words and works, along with the prophecy and proclamations of His Father. He teaches eternal life with the Father and that unbelievers will die in their sins for the devil is their father! The men try to claim Abraham as their father, but Jesus enrages them when He says, “Before Abraham was, I am”.

Things are heating up between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. He is teaching in their temple and embarrassing them with His wisdom. In the case of the adulterous women, the men’s motives are faulty, and they leave in shame. But the guilty woman is given a pardon by the mercy of the Lord. Jesus has proven His glory and His right to be obeyed, and those who will not believe will die in their sins. To claim God as Father is to follow Jesus. We must understand this. To follow the world is to have the devil as our father. We belong to whomever we follow. Jesus existed before all men, is glorified as holy, and is worthy to be praised. 

Kind Father, we know You show mercy to those who are sorrowful for their sins. Like the adulterous woman told to sin no more, we call upon your grace to free us from our sins, and we vow to pursue holiness. We acknowledge Your Son as the Light of the world, and the One who was lifted up to save us from sin and darkness. He is eternal and He is holy, and reverence to You is shown through belief in Jesus and obeying His teachings. We commit to Him as our Guide and to You as our only Father. 

Thought Questions:

-       Beyond the fact that all witnesses left, why did Jesus send the adulterous woman away unpunished? What does that say about Him?

-       Jesus said you must continue in His word to be set free from sin. How are you making it a priority to continue in His word?

-       Can God be your Father if He is not allowed to control your life? Why must you trust and follow Jesus to have God as your Father?    

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected]

John 7

Jesus’ unbelieving brothers encourage Him to go to Jerusalem and publicly work miracles. Jesus refuses and later goes up more privately, and He eventually enters the temple and teaches the people. He gives all glory to His Father for His words of wisdom. Though many believed in Jesus when He acknowledged having come from the Father, many Jewish leaders sought to kill Him. Jesus makes a series of beautiful claims. He is soon to return to His Father. All who come to Him with spiritual thirst will be gifted a flowing river of living water. Those who believe in Him will be given the Holy Spirit. These messages divide the crowd. Some proclaim Him as the Christ, but the Pharisees will not believe and become even more angry. 

Even Jesus’ brothers had doubts about Him before His resurrection from the dead. Jesus continues to be patient with them and with all His disciples in His teaching. He is also insistent that He has come from the Father, and He has all authority to teach and would be returning to the Father. The kingdom would leave no middle ground for disciples to believe in His blessing without also trusting in His Lordship. Jesus will come and take us home with Him. He will fill us with eternal life and the Holy Spirit. But there cannot be doubt within us. We must confidently assert Him to be “the Prophet” and “the Christ”, even in the face of those who reject Him. 

God of Grace, You have shown Your deep love for us in sending Jesus to guide us back to You. Thank You for His ministry, His wisdom, and the undeniable proofs of His Sonship. So many will not believe in Him. So many are inconsistent in their willingness to obey Him. We pray for the resolve to put our lives in the hands of the Prophet and to surrender to Him as the Christ. Please fill us with salvation from Your Holy Spirit. We also ask for boldness to always defend Your honor and to invite others to surrender to Jesus.

Thought Questions:

-       Many hated Jesus because He exposed their sinful deeds to be evil. Do you also have to see sin as evil to be a follower of Jesus?

-       Jesus always redirected glory away from Himself and to the Father. In what ways should we be openly redirecting all praise to God?  

-       The Pharisees rejected all testimony about Jesus. What leads hearts to be that hard to truth, and how do you avoid that same fate?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected]

John 6

Jesus feeds 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. The people proclaim Him as the Prophet of God. They want to make Him king, so He withdraws to the mountains. His disciples then cross the sea to Capernaum. Several miles out, in high winds, Jesus walks to them on the water! He gets in the boat, and they are immediately at the land. The crowd from the previous day crosses the sea looking for Him. Jesus explains they come to be fed, but that He is the bread of life. All who digest His words will be raised on the last day and live forever! Sadly, many are confused and leave Him. But the twelve apostles remain saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Jesus performs physical signs to validate spiritual messages. When He feeds the people, some think of Him as a source of physical blessings. But the miracle is simply to demonstrate that He is the Source and Sustainer of life. His nourishment is truth, love, and forgiveness. He fills us with His goodness and spiritual promises so our souls will never lack and will live forever! God gave Israel manna, but they died in the wilderness. God has given us Jesus so that we may live now, and forever after the final resurrection. Jesus’ teaching is not always easy to understand or follow, but to whom shall we go? He is the Holy One and He has the words of eternal life. 

Holy God, Your Son is a miracle worker. He feeds thousands. He walks on water. He calms the storm. It is not just what He does that draws us, but who He is. He is Your Son. He is the bread of spiritual and eternal life. He is the Prophet who promises a future and resurrection into the glory of heaven. He is everything to us. Lord, fill our hearts with thanksgiving and embolden our lives and lips to pronounce His majesty. When we struggle to understand, hold us close and help us learn to trust Him in all things.

Thought Questions:

-       Christians understand that following Jesus is about spiritual richness over physical provisions. How do you show that in your life?

-        Jesus says to eat His body and drink His blood. In practical Christian terms, what does that look like in your walk of faith?

-       When things got hard, many disciples left. What keeps you serving Jesus when His will is difficult to understand or follow?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected]

John 5

Jesus returns to Jerusalem and heals a man who has been lame for 38 years. The Jews begin to persecute Jesus for healing on the Sabbath day. Jesus responds by proclaiming that He is carrying out His Father’s work. The leaders understand Jesus to be claiming a special relationship with God, so they seek to kill Him. Jesus claims to be sent by God and presents testimony to prove it. Firstly, the preaching of John the Baptist verifies the deity of Jesus. Secondly, the miracles of Jesus prove His heavenly power. Thirdly, the Old Testament scripture, including the teachings of Moses, prophesy concerning Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus has the authority to speak for God and He will be the final judge over all men on the last day!

It must have been incredible to be healed by Jesus after 38 years of illness. Jesus levels a powerful message to the healed man: “Do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” Surely this man lived the rest of his days in faithfulness to God. The Jewish leaders were too busy arguing about Sabbath rules to see the amazing things Christ was doing. We must be like the healed man and not the Pharisees. We are healed from a life of sin by Jesus. And we are charged with faithfulness in His honor. Jesus has proven His power to save and direct us. If we stay humble, we will have compassion for everyone who needs Jesus. 

Dear Father, before Jesus found us, we were burdened by sin and unable to stand justified on our own. But Your Son has saved us by His grace. Help us to live every day in thankfulness to Him. He has also directed us to flee from sin and honor His Lordship. Please teach us how to do those things joyfully. Strengthen us to have hearts of faith that believe the testimony about Jesus, and hearts that lovingly adore Him and care about others as much as He does. We will love Him and live in readiness for His return.

Thought Questions:

-       What has Jesus healed in you that was previously a heavy burden? Are you thankful enough to “not sin anymore” in His honor?

-       Jesus provided testimony to prove His Lordship. What evidence would you provide to convince someone Jesus is God?

-       Jesus is coming again in the final judgment. Are you ready for that day to come? How do you do your best to stay ready?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected]

John 4

Jesus passes through Samaria on His way back to Galilee. He sees a Samaritan woman at a well and asks for a drink. She responds by questioning why a Jewish man would speak to her. What follows is a conversation wherein Jesus speaks of a gift from God, living water, that would spring up within her “to eternal life.” The woman is both curious and cautious. Jesus patiently educates her about a relationship with God, independent of nationality. She knows a Messiah is coming, and Jesus openly tells her that He is the One. She believes and tells many others who then come to Jesus and believe in Him. Following this, Jesus returns to Galilee and heals a royal official’s son by simply saying, “Go; your son lives.”

Luke is the only Gentile author in the New Testament. His gospel is committed to showing that Jesus’ kingdom is open to all people. In this chapter, it is likely that the two beneficiaries of Christ’s mercy are not Jews. The Samaritans were often maligned by the Jews, and yet Jesus preaches eternal life to a Samaritan woman. The official, whose son is sick, is often determined by commentators to be a Gentile. Salvation and the Lord’s help are for those who believe in Jesus and worship God in spirit and truth. This means having hearts of faith and actions consistent with the teachings of the King. All who commit to these things have eternal life, regardless of nationality or background. 

Father of Life, we know that living water and eternal life are found in You through Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Him to find sinners like us. Thank You for sending a Savior who searches for a foreign woman with an immoral past. He is a Healer who changes lives in an instant wherever He encounters true faith. We are thankful for Jesus, and we trust in His power to help us. We will honor Him by worshiping You according to His teachings. Help us to worship with humble spirits, with absolute surrender, and with complete commitment to Jesus. 

Thought Questions:

-       Jesus initiates a conversation with a woman in an uncomfortable setting. Why did He do that and how can you be more like Him?

-       True worshipers worship “in spirit and truth”. How do you make sure to do this righteously when it comes to worshiping God?

-       The official believed Jesus and then his son was healed. Why is it crucial to believe the words of Jesus to be blessed by Him?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

BRAND NEW BOOK - The Daily Bible Devotional Volume 2 (Acts - Ephesians) is now available on Amazon. We hope this becomes a great daily tool in engaging with the New Testament, one chapter at a time. 

Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)

Sponsors: 
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   
Phone:  205-326-7364

Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Thanks to Will Speer for the idea today! He has a great life example to show how important little things can be. When we think of others, we change everything. There is almost always someone watching or someone affected by what we do. From picking up trash, to putting away shopping carts, to doing some dishes, there are all sorts of ways to show we care. IF we care. And I pray that you do. 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected]

John 3

Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, comes to Jesus by night to proclaim his belief. Jesus states that a man must be born again of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. Nicodemus struggles to understand this concept. Jesus continues by announcing Himself to be the Son of God and stating that He is sent by God as the saving Light of the world and that He will “be lifted up” on the cross so that all who believe might be saved. John the Baptist spreads this message, baptizing those who come to him with open, repentant hearts. He states openly that Jesus is greater than him, the Son of God from heaven, and that all who believe in Jesus and obey Him will be saved for all eternity.   

Salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ. He has come from heaven to show us the way. He was lifted up in death to become the payment for sin. Jesus is the Light of God, the hope of restoration in this world of darkness. We must believe in Him to be saved. This means “practicing the truth” and a willingness to “obey the Son.” We must be born again in water to be renewed by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was baptizing people, as was John the Baptist. But baptism is only the beginning. Nicodemus struggled to understand and to change his life to follow Jesus. We must humbly decrease and let Christ increase and rule our lives. 

Generous God, thank You for the Light from heaven that shines in the darkness. We believe that Your Son is our hope and Savior and that He sacrificed His own life to save us from our sins. Father, we may not always understand all that He teaches, but we pray to have hearts that always believe and humbly obey all that we know He is teaching us to do. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit received at baptism. We will commit to obeying Your Son, the One who speaks Your Will and continually gives the Spirit without measure. 

Thought Questions:

-       Nicodemus struggled to understand Jesus’ teaching on being born again. What do you do when Christ’s teachings challenge you?

-       How did God prove His love for the world? What should your daily and ongoing response be to this demonstration of love? 

-       John the Baptist understands that he must decrease, and Jesus must increase. What does that process look like in your life?