By Cody Carden
From the Memo Board: April 2025
Important Dates to Know
April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 15 – The last day to file your 2024 taxes without an extension.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.
May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
May 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.
Tax Filing Information
The deadline this year to file taxes for most taxpayers is Tuesday, April 15. If you have not yet contacted your tax preparer about filing your taxes, you need to do so as soon as possible. Failure to file on time, even if you are unable to pay on time, can result in additional penalties and interest. Individuals can receive an extension of the filing deadline, but please note that if taxes are owed, interest on those payments will begin as of April 15 even if you are not required to file until later in the year. All missionaries with WWNTBM are responsible for filing their own taxes. If the office can assist in providing paperwork to your preparer on your behalf, please let us know.
Financial Status Report
We will upload a Financial Status Report to your SecureCloud account in the coming days, showing figures for the first quarter of 2024. This is meant to show you the financial details that we have on file, such as your support estimate and the average amount of support you received this past quarter. This is information we provide to pastors who may call about your ministry. We ask that all missionaries update their support estimate once every four years, or as their lives and ministries change. Please review this information and contact us if you have any questions.
Policy on Designated Funds
The Executive Board adopted the following policy in 2023 for handling designated funds. They recognized you faced hardship and a challenge when designated gifts arrived at the missions agency, which were unsolicited and unexpected. Here is a reminder of our policy for handling designated funds:
Unsolicited Designated Funds: When a donor sends a designated unsolicited gift, we will process the gift as a regular gift. We will process the gift as unrestricted funds.
Solicited Designated Funds: We will follow donor intent when a missionary solicits funds for a project. All solicited projects need to be approved by the Executive Board. This agency has complete control of the donated funds and discretion regarding their use.
Reminders:
– We will make you aware of designations in the memo field of your support list.
– We can only accept designated funds for WWNTBM missionaries.
– We cannot receive funds designated as “national support” or funds designated as gifts for adult children of our missionaries (age 18 and older).
Doctrinal Agreement
If you have submitted your doctrinal agreement statement, your new card for 2025-2026 is now available for you to download and print from your SecureCloud folder. If you have not yet submitted your annual agreement, email us as soon as possible, indicating that you have read and are still in agreement with our Articles of Faith. If you have questions or concerns, please contact John O’Malley.
Family Fellowship Week
Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.
If your plans for Family Fellowship Week have changed, click here to let the office know about your changes ASAP.
Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!
New Missionary
We are pleased to welcome Noah Clarke to the World Wide family. Bro. Clarke is a member of the Victory Baptist Church in Fremont, CA, with Pastor Devon Ortiz and plans to serve the Lord in Brazil. Bro. Clarke is the brother of our missionary to Brazil, Gloria Duarte.
New Baby!
Michaela Grace Villarreal was born on March 27, 2025. Michaela is the third child of Stephen and Anelly Villarreal, and joins brothers Stephen (6) and Timothy (4). The Villarreals are missionaries in Mexico..
Prayer Requests and Special Days
Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.
Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.
You Are Hereby Invited
By John O’Malley
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).
Recently, I received an invitation to an Unbirthday party of McKenna, a friend. Alice in Wonderland was the theme. You could come dressed as anyone from the story. The invitation was playfully presented. The date and time were clear.
My wife and I were not able to attend. However, I did arrange for a FaceTime call. When I called, I had a video feed of the event. People were dressed in costume. Laughter and chattering were heard. I saw that all who responded to the invitation were participating in the joy. Yet, I was only a distant observer.
I spoke to “Alice” and sang the “Merry Unbirthday” song to her. We spoke for a moment, and McKenna was back to the party. I continued on with my evening, five hundred miles away.
In verse four, we read of the believers’ invitation to God’s house. He calls us to the gates and courts of the Lord. The gates are the entry point to His house. The courts are the place between the gates and His dwelling place.
The invitation of this psalm speaks not only of where we are to come. It tells us what we are to wear and what we are to do upon arrival. We are to come wearing garments of thanksgiving and of praise. When we arrive, we are to express words of thankfulness directly to Him. We are then to bless His name.
The invitation of our Host must be heeded. He asked us to come to His presence, whether it is in personal or public worship, wearing thanksgiving and praise. He asks us to arrive and be thankful. He asks us to bless His name.
Today, as you stand in His courts, look around you and reflect on Him. I urge you to reflect on His grace. He applied grace to your life when you believed in Him. None deserved His salvation. As you stand in His courts to praise Him, remember His goodness to you. He meets your every need. He always does what is best for us. Lastly, in this moment of intentional reflection, rejoice in His glory. When you rejoice in His glory, you remove yourself from the spotlight of attention to take credit for your talents and skills. You place Him in the spotlight, and you give Him the attention and praise for everything.
Reader, today I urge you to praise Him. Let thankfulness and praise be confirmed with the words you speak and the attitude you display. Then, you should bless His name. The idea behind the English word “bless” is to bow and praise Him.
For my friend McKenna’s party, we were to wear what was asked. We were to come and celebrate her birth and life. We were to come dressed to celebrate. The believer’s invitation to God’s presence is no different. Psalm 100:4 says we are to arrive in His presence with thanksgiving and praise. When in His presence, we must express thankfulness and blessing.
Do you give greater attention to an invitation to a party than you do to God’s presence? How often do you come to His presence in the way His invitation asked?
Today, accept His invitation to “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Wherever you are right now, why not just say aloud to God, “I know You are here and I am thankful I am not alone. Thank You for Your presence.”
John O’Malley
If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.
I Am Where He Placed Me
By John O’Malley
“…and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3).
As a boy, we lived in Colorado, a state in the western mountain region of the United States. Sheepherders lived in the community where we lived. We could both see and sometimes smell these animals. On more than one occasion, we had sheep wandering through our land. While these wandering sheep were on our land, they did not belong there. They were not ours.
We learned from living there that shepherds know their sheep. Most shepherds where we lived used a numbered and colored tag that was pierced in their sheep’s ear. This system allowed any shepherd who found a wandering sheep to easily identify the owner of the sheep and the pasture to which the sheep belonged.
When the psalmist says we are “the sheep of his pasture,” he identifies two relationships. He points to the relationship the sheep have with God; we are His possession. The second relationship is one of protection. He says we are in His pasture.
In the Psalms, you will find the relationships of possession and protection mentioned. The familiar passage of Psalm 23 identifies these relationships. Look at these three passages as well.
“For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice” (Psalm 95:7).
“Thou leadest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Psalm 77:20).
“But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock” (Psalm 78:52).
God wants me to know I am His, and He protects me. Delightfully, I am not a wandering and aimless sheep without a Shepherd. I am His sheep. I am in His pasture. He will go to great lengths to provide, protect, and pamper His sheep. As my owner, He drives away the wolves, worries, and wicked thieves.
Fellow sheep, mind not the discomforts of this life. Recall this truth: we are “the sheep of his pasture.” There will be no lonely moments of listless wandering. Yes, there will be panicked moments of wondering how will He provide and protect. However, if you are His sheep, His provision and protection will come. These assurances come with our relationship to the Shepherd.
Will you pause right now and reflect on God’s provision in your life? Today, will you share this with someone who needs to hear it?
John O’Malley
If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.
From the Memo Board: March 2025
Important Dates to Know
March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 15 – The last day to file your 2024 taxes without an extension.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.
For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.
Benefits of Financial Reports for US Citizens
The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that US Citizen Missionaries can use to become accountable to WWNTBM for their reimbursable expenses rather than having all funds listed as personal earnings. Over the course of 2024, 74% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 25.06%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.
Please keep in mind that January reports are due on March 1, February reports are due April 1, and so forth. It is very important that your reports are submitted on time with all receipts. Thank you for helping our staff in this area.
Reminders about Receipts
Receipts must be submitted for all ministry expenses on your reports that are equal to USD $75 or more. According to the IRS, “A canceled check, together with a bill from the payee, ordinarily establishes the cost. However, a canceled check by itself doesn’t prove a business expense without other evidence.” Based on this, we do not accept cancelled checks in lieu of receipts. Credit card statements are also not preferred. Although they show date and cost, they typically do not show what was purchased or the business purpose of the expense.
Please be sure that all receipts submitted with your report include the entire receipt or invoice for the item(s). The purpose of a receipt is the outside verification of the expense. Therefore, you should never receipt yourself. Receipts should be obtained at the time the expense occurs.
Family Fellowship Week
Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.
If your plans for Family Fellowship Week have changed, click here to let the office know about your changes ASAP.
Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!
New Missionary
We are pleased to welcome Jedidiah and Ashleigh Bickmore to the World Wide family. The Bickmores are members of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Abingdon, VA, with Pastor Kevin Rogerson. The Bickmores plan to serve the Lord in Shuman, Bulgaria. They have four children: Jedidiah, Zoey, Octavia, and Sofia.
Prayer Requests and Special Days
Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.
Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.
From the Memo Board: February 2025
Important Dates to Know
February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2024 tax year are available on Secure Cloud.
February 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.
For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.
New Excel Template for US Missionaries
A new Excel template for the year 2025 has been uploaded to SecureCloud.
January financial reports for US Missionaries will be due on March 1. If you have not yet submitted your January report, please be sure to utilize the new template for all future reports.
Click here to view a Financial Report Checklist to ensure you are filling out your MFRs correctly. This checklist is also available in the Secure Cloud folder named Forms and Manuals.
Benefits of Financial Reports for US Citizens
The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that US Citizen Missionaries can use to become accountable to WWNTBM for their reimbursable expenses rather than having all funds listed as personal earnings. Over the course of 2024, 74% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 25.06%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.
New Mileage Rate
Beginning on January 1st, the IRS mileage rate has increased to $0.700 per mile for business/ministry miles. This change will be reflected in the new Excel template for 2025, which will be available on February 15.
Family Fellowship Week
Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.
If you have not yet contacted us to reserve your spot please do so ASAP by clicking here. Your final plans regarding attendance for you and any guests need to be communicated to our office by February 1, 2025. Changes made after this date will affect our contract billing with the retreat center. Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!
IRS Information for the 2024 Tax Season
The IRS has issued a notice about this year’s tax season. Please click here to view the information from the IRS.
We encourage all missionaries who are subject to US Taxes to contact your tax preparer and begin the filing process as soon as possible.
Preparing and Filing Taxes for US Missionaries
Please note that while our Office Staff is familiar with many of the IRS regulations that affect missionaries, we are not authorities on the subject. We will attempt to assist our missionaries in any way possible; however, questions that are beyond the scope of your mission’s status are best directed to a tax professional.
We will provide you with the following information at the end of January. You may wish to submit this to your tax preparer:
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- A copy of your 1099
- A year-to-date Summary of the MFR information that you have submitted to the Office. This can be especially helpful if you have completed Categories 17-22, as many of those categories can affect your personal taxes. This will show your Personal Earnings Calculations for the year, as well as Housing Allowance information and details of estimated taxes we may have submitted for you during the year. There may also be notices on this document specifically for you and your tax preparer about any situations we are aware of that may impact your tax filing.
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You should also provide your tax preparer with the following:
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- List of the dates that you were in the US vs. out of the country during the year.
- Details of any Housing Expenses, to be used in addition to the Approved Housing Allowance for completing Worksheet 1 of IRS Publication 517.
- Information on any retirement plans that you may have contributed to during the year, or that you have received a distribution from during the year.
- Names and Social Security Numbers of all family members.
- Names and dates of any family births or deaths (children and spouses), as well as whether you were married during the year.
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US Treasury Department regulations require that if you have any foreign bank accounts, and if the sum total of all of your foreign accounts has ever been $10,000 or more at any time during the year, you should file the FBAR via FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System. Further information is available on the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
You may also need to complete Form 8938, which deals with foreign assets.
If you participated in the Healthcare Marketplace, you will need to provide your tax preparer with Form 1095-A.
New Missionary
We are pleased to welcome Cody and Nikayla Carden to the World Wide family. The Cardens are members of the McLeansville Baptist Church in McLeansville, NC, with Pastor Michael Barnette. Bro. Cody came with World Wide as an associate in March of 2023. He and Nikayla were married in October of 2024 and have now been accepted as missionaries with full status. As See the Harvest Director, he will lead See the Harvest trips.
To learn more about See the Harvest and the upcoming trips, please visit SeeTheHarvest.com.
Prayer Requests and Special Days
Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.
Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.
To Whom I Belong
By John O’Malley
“…we are his people…” (Psalm 100:3)
The psalmist paints a picture for us that is overwhelming. Consider the powerful message in these four words. “…we are his people…”
The psalmist reminds us of God’s interaction with man: “we.” Sinful men tainted by the garden experience in Eden, having been barred from fellowship with God, now have access to Him. No longer outsiders, by faith in His Son, we now stand inside the garden of fellowship with Him. God’s interaction with people made us “we.”
The psalmist reminds us of God’s interest in Man: “are.” God’s interest in man did not stop in the Old Testament and New Testament days. God’s interest is ongoing. We “are” His people. Not was. Not will be. We are, right now, His people. God is interested in His children.
The psalmist reminds us of God’s investment in man: “his” God made the ultimate investment in us. He invested Jesus. When God gave His Son to die for us, He showed what investment He was willing to make. What an investment He made to make us His own. We are His possession.
The psalmist reminds us of God’s inheritance in man: “people.” God chose us for His inheritance. He proclaims in His Word that He is not ashamed to claim ownership of us (Hebrews 2:11). The children of God belong to Him.
Shall we fear anything? Shall we be discouraged by any foe? Shall any condition bring despair? I call you to attention. We are His people.
Will I ever be left alone? Will I ever be forsaken? Will I ever be out of His reach? Will I ever be out of His care? I call you to remember His Word. We are His people.
As you walk through your day, will you let this thought echo in your mind and heart? You are His.
John O’Malley
If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.
Made Where?
By John O’Malley
“… it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves…” (Psalm 100:3).
Made in China. Made in Taiwan. Made in Japan. Made in Malaysia.
These are all common tags we see on the products we purchase. The tag reminds us of a distant land we may have only heard about. The tag may remind us of a global economy. The tag may even evoke strong feelings of national pride and seemingly unanswerable questions about trade practices.
On some products we purchase we also find a tag that reads, “Inspected by #4.” These tags make me smile. I wonder, “Who is number four? Is there more than one number four? Is number four a station? Who really made what I am wearing?”
Dear Reader, our verse for today sends one clear message. Believers carry a tag. It is a tag that designates our Maker. We carry God’s tag. The tag reads, “Made by God.” The psalmist describes our tag: “… it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.”
My entire existence is affected by this verse. This truth affects my worship and work for God. This precept brings me to the realization I did not bring myself into existence; He did. I did not make me; God made me. I read this phrase, and it brings comfort to my soul, conviction to my service, and compassion as I work with others. David’s words in the 139th Psalm say that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
The tag on every person’s life is the same: “Made by God.” We do not make our own way in this life. We may try to make a name for ourselves, but we carry His tag.
When someone accepts the payment for salvation paid by Jesus, we bear another mark on our tag. It is the designation that we were bought with a price. Paul wrote that we are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). Jesus purchased us with His defeat of death, hell, and the grave. His purchase of me means I am His. I am to put God in the spotlight of my life, or in other words, glorify Him. By faith in Him alone, the tag on my heart says “Purchased.” I am His.
This analogy is simple. It conveys one clear truth. Our lives are not our own; therefore, bring Him glory.
The believer wears the tag “Made and Purchased by God.” Is God pleased with your actions, your attitudes, and your activities?
I want you to find someone today and tell them, “God made me.” Then ask them, “Did you know He paid the price for you to go to heaven?”
John O’Malley
If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.
From the Memo Board: January 2025
Important Dates to Know
January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 1 – December Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 7 – Inform the office via the Signal app if you have any special instructions or additional information regarding your tax paperwork.
January 10 – All Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support.
January 13 – All Missionaries will receive their final December support on this day, regardless of the day they normally receive support.
January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2024. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2024 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.
For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.
Tax Information
We are preparing to issue tax paperwork for the year, and need to be sure we follow your intentions. Many missionaries have us use alternate addresses on their 1099, or have us send paperwork directly to a tax preparer for them. Please login to your SecureCloud and look for the document called 2024 Tax Info Status Report. If anything needs to be adjusted to the information included, or if you have any additional information or special instructions regarding your tax paperwork for this year, please contact us via the Signal app to let us know what changes to make. If we do not hear from you by January 7th we will issue your tax information as indicated on this report.
Year-End Adjustments
During a typical month, we close the books on the 25th, and any checks received after that date are posted to the following month. This means that you receive your Support List and total income figures on or about the 25th, and we then deposit funds into your account(s) on the 29th, 5th, or 10th of the month after we have calculated estimated taxes, tithes, and other month-end payments.
Due to receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December, as we are required by law to process funds that were postmarked in December as if they were received in December. This means we cannot close the books for December until January 10th, and therefore we do not have final December figures until January 10th.
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- Unless you have requested an early deposit, final transfers of December funds (after all estimated taxes and tithes have been calculated) will be made for January 13th, 2025, regardless of the day you usually receive your monthly support.
- Please be aware that your December support total may be higher than normal, while your January support total may be lower than normal. Please be sure to plan ahead for this!
Upcoming Financial Reports for US Missionaries
Please prepare now to ensure that your year-end financial reports are submitted on time. November reports are due January 1 and December reports are due January 15. If it is possible for you to submit reports before the due dates, that would greatly assist our staff. Please note it is fine to submit a report without waiting for the Line 1 income figure. We can add that for you as needed. Reports should be submitted to [email protected]. Please be sure to include all receipts for expenses $75 and over at the same time you submit your report so there are no delays in processing. Thank you for your help in these areas.
New Excel Template for US Missionaries
A new Excel template for the year 2025 will be available on February 15. This will give us time to review the need for any possible updates. January financial reports for US Missionaries will be due on March 1. Should you wish to complete your January report before the new template is available, you are welcome to submit it on the 2024 template. However, starting with the February report please be sure to use the new template.
SecureCloud Packets
At the end of each month, we scan any mail that has come to the Office and place it in your SecureCloud folder. This would include check stubs for all bills paid by the office, as well as any cards or correspondence from donors. Please be sure to check SecureCloud periodically, especially once you receive the notice that December packets have been uploaded, as many missionaries have received Christmas cards and letters which are available to you there.
Prayer Requests and Special Days
Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.
Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.
You Know
By John O’Malley
“Know ye that the Lord he is God…” (Psalms 100:3).
Advertisers spend millions trying to get us to know their product name and its benefits. They bombard our lives in print, radio, and television. When we might forget the name and benefit of their product, advertisers erect billboards. Even if we do not see the billboards, advertisers produce bumper stickers. All of their efforts are to help us remember their product and how it will change our lives.
The psalmist, in our focus verse today, puts up a billboard on the highways of the followers of Christ. The psalmist speaks of something everyone must know. He does not speak of knowing the name of another product. He is speaking of knowing something in the spiritual realm.
The psalmist says, “Know ye that the Lord he is God.” We should know He is God when difficulties arise that shake the very structure of our lives. We should remember He is God when we become overwhelmed. We should know He is God when in the midst of distress. Simply, we should know He is God.
Remind yourself. He is God. Not, He was God. The God of all Creation is your God. What should you fear?
Yet, life is filled with fears. Our tragedies and challenges seem to cast a shadow on our confidence. We easily lose sight of God. Our view of our distresses may be shortsighted. We can only see a short portion of our journey. However, God sees the entire path of our life. He knows what is beyond us. He sees the beauty when we see the ashes. He sees the hope when we see our hurt. He sees what is best when we see what is worst.
Dear reader, it is time to notice the billboards God erects on the path of our lives. This verse is like a highway sign. God’s highway sign reads: “Know ye that the Lord he is God…” I read this and know I am never alone. God is never without specific and keen awareness of my situation. Have you considered that Creation is a billboard to remind us He is God? Calvary is a billboard to remind us He is God. His compassion is a billboard to remind us He is God.
No matter where you go today, find the billboard He left in your path. You may hear it in a song. You may hear it in a sermon. But wherever you see it, believe this: “Know ye that the Lord he is God…”
John O’Malley
If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.