Each Monday morning a short devotional is emailed out to the Men of Shades. The devotionals are brief but impactful as you begin to walk through the week. To sign up for the weekly Men of Shades email please send an email to menofshades@shades.org.

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There is no Place for Prejudice and Racism

People naturally gravitate towards those who look like them, think like them, speak like them, and believe like them...

God's Directive for Living

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue…

https://www.shades.org/assets/uploads/img/local-volume/MOS-Devotion-8.1.22.pdf

If You're Gonna Boast, Boast About Jesus

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14 No one likes a braggart. Or a showoff. Or a conceited…

https://www.shades.org/assets/uploads/img/local-volume/MOS-Devotion-7.25.22.pdf

Our Need to See the Evidence

“One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his…

https://www.shades.org/assets/uploads/img/local-volume/MOS-Devotion-6.13.22.pdf

Being "In the Zone

Whether you are a big sports fan or not, it’s easy to get caught up in the action when you’re watching a great athlete. Why? They play at such a high level that it is inspirational to watch them when…

https://www.shades.org/assets/uploads/img/local-volume/MOS-Devotion-5.30.22.pdf

Coaching For The Long Haul by Josh Dowdy

“All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Psalm 25:10 Many of us grew up admiring coaches—both the ones on TV and the ones who slapped our butts…

Where Will We Set Our Gaze

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire…

Is Your Light Still Shining Bright?

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 Astronomers have told us that the most recognizable feature in the Southern Hemisphere skies…

Finding Rest Amid the Raucous

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm4:8 Do you ever freak out a little at bedtime? At one-point last year, I had a couple of weeks when…

Journeying Through the Unexpected

“Now that same day, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven milesfrom Jerusalem…” Luke 24:13-35. When the unexpected happens, we ask ourselves a series of questions (in no particular order):

"Are We Just Focused On Ourselves?" by Pastor George Wright

“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” And he answered…

Seeking God's Will Through Prayer by Bryant Wright

Ever been disappointed or puzzled by the results (or lack thereof) of your prayers? Maybe you’ve even wondered if God is really there. Or if He is, maybe He isn’t going to answer YOUR prayers.

"Plenty" by Pastor Jack Hibbs

Middle Easterners have a way of partaking together that we Americans could learn from. I’ve experienced incredible fellowship around a dining table brimming with falafel, hummus, and loaves of bread. Everyone tears a piece of the same loaf to dip…

“Rise Above” by Pastor Jack Hibbs

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)I often stop and ponder the lives of those who have served us well, such as…

"Worth Sharing" by Pastor Jack Hibbs

“’Return to your own house and tell what great things God has done for you.’ And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. ” Luke 8:39 (NKJV) Once when…

“Build” by Pastor Jack Hibbs

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ” Jude 20-21 (NKJV) Beyond…

"Turn Your Eyes" by Pastor Jack Hibbs

“For we have seen His Star in the East and have come to worship Him. ” Luke 2:2 (NKJV) Heaven’s influence on our lives is never greater than when our sights are fixed upon it. The man or woman with…

Rejoice! by Pastor Jack Hibbs

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NKJV) Globally, more people in more countries celebrate Christmas than any other holiday. It is a season of…

Unstoppable

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but…

Pride in the Lord

When you do a great job and someone praises you, what do you say? Do you say “thank you” and just go on? Did you ever think about giving God the credit? Say something like, “I am so blessed that…

Dwell With Me

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Psalm 90:1 (NKJV) What a remarkable statement that the psalmist, Moses, makes – one ripe with meaning. A reading of the whole psalm points to those overwhelming times in life…

In All Things

“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things…

Liberated and Free

“Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to…

Nowhere Else To Turn

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Psalm 31:1 Have you ever prayed for God to deliver you in his righteousness? I don’t think I have. My…

Coming Your Way

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers transform themselves into ministers of…

Did Again

“And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father.” Genesis 26:18 (NKJV) WELLS AND ALTARS From the moment God called the Old Testament patriarch Abraham out of the pagan land…

How To Be One In Christ

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same…

Rest In His Power

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ and the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 (NKJV) Jesus was always on the move, so when He said, “Let us…

Opportunities

1 Samuel 24 The Lord provides and allows all opportunity. The difficulty is knowing what to do with the opportunity that He presents. In this chapter, David is presented an opportunity. The king who is pursuing David to kill him…

Come And See

“’Come and see’ Philip answered.” John 1:46b Sunday, August 15, 2021 – probably one of the saddest days for America since the ending of the Vietnam War (1975) and the tragic events of 9/11 (2001). After 10 days of sweeping…

Adorn Yourself

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” Luke 9:23 (NKJV) It is safe to say that the cross, or crucifix, is…

Check On Your Brother

“Check On Your Brother” by Rush Letson “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 In the last week I have had a long-time client pass away from COVID. In the last 24 hours a…

The Gold Statue

“…you are to fall down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. But whosoever does not fall down, and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.” Daniel 3:5b-6 (CSB) I’ve always enjoyed…

"How To 2TiGer" Not To Abolish But Fulfill-Part 7

In the fullness of His ALL AUTHORITY, Jesus proclaimed “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a ESV); a positive reality of great comfort to His followers. We don’t have to search the world over for…

Prayer Changes Things

“As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.” Luke 9:29 (NKJV) Prayer changes things. It may sound cliché, but prayer does change things! However, does it only change things or does…

You May Never Know What Impact You Have On Others

In my early, post college days, I volunteer coached a middle school church basketball team. We played in and were affiliated with a Louisiana statewide Baptist youth league. We practiced once each week on Thursday afternoons and played in league…

SENT PEOPLE

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” - John 17:18(CSB) Scripture reading: John 17:6-19 As followers of Jesus, we are often referred to in several ways – forgiven, adopted into God’s kingdom…

LOVING THE WORD

My name is Mike Bowman, and my wife and I have been members at Shades for the last 5 years or so. One of my favorite programs at Shades is Man Church, as that was the initial draw for me…

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