Devotional

The Yokes on You

By DAWAYNE STAMPER
December 02, 2020
The holiday season is once again near. For many, this time of year involves joyous family gatherings with loved ones that we do not often have the opportunity to visit with. For others, stress and anxiety can overwhelm their hearts and overshadow the festivities. Perhaps you&rsqu...

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Are We There Yet?

By DAWAYNE STAMPER
December 01, 2020
The United States has the largest Christian population in the world. According to Pew Research Center, approximately 43% of U.S. adults identify with Protestantism, and approximately 20% consider Catholicism to be their religious affiliation. As we look at the world around us, on...

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We Need Each Other

By TYLER CLOYDE
November 30, 2020
I can still remember close to 4 years ago when Lora and I found out the news about our little baby girl in the womb. We were unsure if she would make it, we were scared, and we felt alone. However, one Sunday morning after preaching (and after sharing with our church family...

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How You Doin?

By TYLER CLOYDE
November 25, 2020
It has been an exciting time at First Lavaca. We just finished up 1 Thessalonians and are about to finish the Experiencing God bible study as a church. So I would like to ask…”How are you doing?" Hebrews 3:13 (ESV) But exhort one another every day, as long as it is...

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Taken Care Of

By BRANDON CREWS
November 24, 2020
When I was in college I went on a retreat with a group. During the retreat we had the opportunity to play paintball. It was a lot of fun challenging each other and also a lot of exercise running around! One of the girls that was on my team wanted to play but was...

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Long Days & Short Years

By BRANDON CREWS
November 23, 2020
When my wife and I had our first child there were several anecdotes that friends and family members passed onto us. Some were extreme and others silly but there was one that stood out and to this day is something that I still think about. “The days are long but ...

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Pucker Up Butter Cup

By STEVEN SMITHSON
November 17, 2020
How would you describe an environment where people genuinely loved one another? A person can tell when they are being tolerated compared to when they are loved. Love causes us to lean in. Paul writes about a church that is affectionate toward one another in 1 T...

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Reaching Heaven

By STEVEN SMITHSON
November 16, 2020
This past Sunday was a great one at First Lavaca. We got to see new folks join our church, we worshiped, practiced believers baptism, heard The Word, and pronounced a blessing on one another. I saw believers before and after the service in corners praying for one anot...

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Come to the Table- Day4

By STEVEN SMITHSON
November 05, 2020
Yesterday we took some time examining ourselves and asking the Lord to purify us. As we continue preparing for the Lord's Supper, I want to provide a quick inventory for you to walk through. These questions originate from the Ten Commandments. They are designed to expose idols, ...

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Come to the Table- Day3

By STEVEN SMITHSON
November 04, 2020
Life is busy, very busy. Between sporting events, school activities, obligations at work, and duties in the home, it is hard to quiet ourselves. Because of this, we often come to the Lord's table without doing the preparation we should for it to be most meaningful. Putting ...

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Come to the Table- Day2

By STEVEN SMITHSON
November 03, 2020
This coming Sunday, we will, as a church, celebrate the Lord's Supper. This extra special meal causes us to come to the table after having prepared ourselves. More than once in the Smithson home, have our kids heard, "clean up before supper." Throughout this week, I want to wa...

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Come to the Table- Day1

By STEVEN SMITHSON
November 02, 2020
I want you to think for a moment about your favorite meal. What would you eat if you had the option to have anything you wanted with no expense spared. Now think, who would you want sitting with you at the table. I've shared meals that candidly were not that tasty, but they we...

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What do you want?

By STEVEN SMITHSON
October 29, 2020
"What do you want?" That question can be asked in a multitude of ways. Maybe it is asked by a waiter who is ready to take your order. A parent might ask their child this or a child to their parent. This question could also be posed by a motivational speake...

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No need for Tissues

October 28, 2020
A few years back, I was walking through a cemetery after having conducted a funeral service. I came across a tombstone that had names engraved on the left and the right. Below the deceased's names was the following portion of scripture, "And God will wipe every tear from their ey...

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The God Who Provides

By TYLER CLOYDE
October 23, 2020
I can count on many occasions where we have been in need of something, whether it be some extra income to cover medical bills or a letter of appreciation when I’ve been down. In every circumstance the Lord has shown me that He is Jehovah Jireh, the God Who Provides. Genesi...

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The God who is There

By STEVEN SMITHSON
October 22, 2020
"DAD, can you see me?" "Yes, Steven, I can see you, and God can see you too." I can't tell you how many times that exchange happened during my childhood. I had a very active imagination and excellent ears as a kid. My hearing was so good that I could hear monsters. When I got f...

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The God Almighty

By STEVEN SMITHSON
October 19, 2020
Do you know what your name means? As a child, I discovered that my name means "Crowned One." I'm still not sure what that means, but it sounds cool. When we named our children, we wanted their names to have a significant meaning to set a direction for their lives. In the Old ...

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Open my eyes

By TYLER CLOYDE
October 16, 2020
“Well, I wonder what God has in store for us now.” This was Lora & I’s response after our plans changed…again! It seemed like every time we planned something it would change. However, after Unit 4 Day 4 of Experiencing God, we began to realize that Go...

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How much longer?

By STEVEN SMITHSON
October 15, 2020
As a kid, almost every summer, we went to the lake. Looking back, this was typically the highlight of my year. We forged so many great memories on these trips. Though it didn't take long to get to Ouachita, the two-hour drive seemed like it would last for days.&...

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How Can I Help You?

By STEVEN SMITHSON
October 14, 2020
When I was in High School, I worked several jobs. One of my favorite jobs was also one of my least favorite jobs. I was a server at a restaurant that is no longer standing in Fort Smith. Though the fact that it's closed had nothing to do with me. One of the questions that peo...

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Stagnant or Fresh

By BRANDON CREWS
October 12, 2020
Growing up in Florida, our house was across the street from a river. We never swam in this river because often it would get blocked upstream and the water would become stagnate. When water stagnates and is not active in any way, there is all kinds of potential for rotten th...

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So very EQUIPPED

By STEVEN SMITHSON
October 08, 2020
Any job is easier when you have the right tools. Have you ever been working on a project and needed one tool, but you had to make it work with something else? On a recent disaster relief mission trip, one of our team encountered a man attempting to cut down a tree that had fallen...

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So very BORED

By STEVEN SMITHSON
October 07, 2020
"Dad, I'm so bored. This is so monotonous." These were the sentiments of all three of my children when the Coronavirus shut us down last spring. I wonder if these feelings of boredom as a boy extended to David, the youngest son of Jesse. While his big brothers were away doing bat...

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So very INTIMIDATING

By STEVEN SMITHSON
October 06, 2020
Think for a moment about an intimidating situation that you have found yourself in. Maybe it was that you were called on when you didn't know the answer, or you were not paying attention. I've found myself in that position a time or two. Let's take it to the next level though. Ha...

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Jesus Understands

By TYLER CLOYDE
October 01, 2020
One of the greatest ways that we can connect with others is showing empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It builds a connection between you and the other person because you understand their pain or suffering or just the dilemm...

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God Cares

By BRANDON CREWS
September 30, 2020
When I was younger we spent many hours in our pool. We had so many games that we would play to pass the time and one that was a constant favorite was “Marco Polo”. In this game the person who is “It” would keep their eyes closed while wondering...

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Simon Says

By STEVEN SMITHSON
September 29, 2020
Have you ever played the old game Simon Says? This game is one of my favorites. The premise is simple. Only follow the instructions that come after the leader announces, "Simon Says." "Simon Says, stand on one foot." "Simon Says cluck like a chicken." You get the idea. If you fol...

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Nothing but Love

By BRANDON CREWS
September 25, 2020
What comes to mind when you think of the word “Love”? This word has several different meanings in the English language. Did you know the Bible mentions the word “Love" over 310 times? It’s a word that Jesus mentions often in his teachin...

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Umbrellas in the rain

By JOSH TEAGUE
September 24, 2020
Have you ever been caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella? Wouldn’t it be amazing if the umbrella were always there when it rained? Likewise, it would be great if a jacket would just appear when it was cold, or a bottle of sunscreen would appear when the sun ...

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Counter Current

By BRANDON CREWS
September 23, 2020
Growing up in Florida the summers were really hot and humid so we found our way to the pool. One of our favorite activities was to get everyone moving around the pool in a circular motion which would create a current in the water. We would move faster and faster so th...

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Singular Focus

By DAWAYNE STAMPER
September 22, 2020
Multi-tasking is a common practice for some people. How many people do you know that watch TV while browsing social media? Have you ever seen someone trying to read a book while driving down the interstate? That’s always scary to witness! Admittedly, I am not good at mult...

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The Conductor

By Josh Teague
September 21, 2020
In July 2016, 7,548 musicians came together in Frankfurt, Germany to break the world record as the largest musical ensemble. Can you imagine over 7,500 people focused on one conductor, hanging on every wave of his hand? At any moment, the conductor could stop everyone...

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Trusting God in the Overwhelming

By TYLER CLOYDE
September 17, 2020
Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Yeah, me too. Especially during this season of life. Whether it’s COVID-19, taking care of little ones, or the craziness going on in our nation; it’s easy to fall prey to worry and anxiety. However, no matter the circumstances in our li...

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Home-Ec

By BRANDON CREWS
September 16, 2020
I remember in middle school we were required to take a Home Economics class. This class consisted of learning to sew, carrying around a baby made of rice for a week, and learning to cook. Each Friday we were given the freedom to cook anything we wanted. My gro...

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Hairs and Sparrows

By DAWAYNE STAMPER
September 15, 2020
There are seasons of life we sometimes go through that cause our minds to question God. “Is He even aware of what I’m going through right now?” “How am I going to be able to provide for my family since I’ve been laid off from my job?” Two of my...

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Use Your Freedom

By JOSH TEAGUE
September 14, 2020
Freedom is a word that is used so often that we can easily lose sight of it’s value and the responsibility that comes with it. We have all heard that nothing is free. Soldiers have paid the price for our freedoms as a country. Jesus paid the price for our ...

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Experiencing God in the Trial

By DAWAYNE STAMPER
September 10, 2020
We live in a society where many things compete for our attention. Social media posts often showcase the “many” positive experiences that happen in the lives of those around us. Advertisements often boast how purchasing a particular product will enhance the quality o...

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The Good Kid

By TYLER CLOYDE
September 08, 2020
I was always considered the “good” kid. I made good grades, did good in sports, was a good student/friend/son. Most parents would say to their kids, “Why couldn’t you be more like Tyler?” (which I hated…please don’t do this with your kid...

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AWESTRUCK BY THE GLORY OF GOD

By TYLER CLOYDE
September 04, 2020
Have you ever been awestruck by God’s creation? It was while I was in the middle of nowhere in Alaska that I first experienced this. While up in the mountains, I saw massive glaciers off in the distance. I felt so small, humbled, and insignificant, yet I felt a closeness to...

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AIMING AT THE ETERNAL

By BRANDON CREWS
September 03, 2020
In high school my brother ran on the Cross Country team. It was never something that interested me, but he seemed to enjoy it and did very well in his class. Throughout scripture we find that our christian walk is often referred to as a marathon or race. I...

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How Many Decisions Will You Make Today?

By Steven Smithson
September 01, 2020
How many decisions do you think you’ll make today? I recently saw a statistic stating the average person makes over 35,000 decisions every 24 hours. Some decisions seem inconsequential, while others have enormous effects. Bottom line, how you live your life is a constant ...

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