When a winter storm is on the way the whole town panics and rushes to help themselves and others. Grocery stores are packed. The milk and bread aisles are empty, and schools shut down in advance to protect those in danger of what’s to come.

When the storm hits the people are prepared, ready for what was predicted only days before. What if you knew something years before? What if someone told you that you that one day the world would end?

As a Christian, are you prepared for what God has told you would come?

In Matthew 24:44, the Bible says, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Jesus is preparing His people for the day that He will come and take them home. He is giving them good news but also news that should strike a fire in their soul to be ready every day, every hour, because they won’t know when He is coming.

The scripture before, in Matthew 24:42-44 says, “Therefore, stay alert, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Just as the weather warns us of what is to come, Jesus tells us to be ready, to stay alert, and to wait upon His coming.

In January 2020, no one knew that the coronavirus would reap havoc among the world. When the world panicked in March, schools shut down, and masks became an everyday necessity. No one was ready for that terrifying announcement.  Toilet paper was scarce, jobs were lost, and families were in turmoil from loss and fear.

If the world knew what would happen in 2020 a year before it happened, preparation would have been pertinent. People would have stocked up on toilet paper and food, saved money in case they lost their jobs, and prayed like they had never prayed before.

Why are people not preparing for what God has told them would come? How can you be ready?

Step 1: Make sure your relationship with Christ is secure. Do you know where you are going when you died? Are you 100% confident that you are saved by Jesus Christ? If not, I encourage you to reach out to me or a pastor or friend and find out what it means to truly trust in the Lord. Believe and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior.

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

Step 2: Make sure others are ready!  In 1 Peter 3:15 the Bible says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”  With Christ as your Lord, you are called to share the Good News.

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Make a list of the people you know are not believers or the ones you are unsure if they are saved. Pray over the list every day and imagine them leaving this world without salvation. How would you feel knowing they didn’t know Christ? How would feel for never sharing His love with them? There is no one, not even your worst enemy, that you (as a Christian) should think deserves hell as their eternal destination. I challenge you to pray for the lost daily and trust the Lord to lead them to Him. What if today was your last day on earth? Would you be ready? How many people would you leave behind that needed to know the Lord? Would it be one of your friends, your family members, or just a stranger you were too afraid to talk to?

Step 3: To add to step 2, Be bold in your faith. Share Christ with others with confidence. Your witness can be the difference between a person going to Heaven or Hell.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

Hebrews 11:6 states, By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

By faith, Noah prepared for rain that he had never seen. He trusted God and for over 100 years he built an ark that would one day save his whole family and wipe away the wickedness from this world. Have the faith of Noah. Prepare for the day that Jesus comes back even though you don’t know when it is. Have faith in His Words. Be ready, for the Lord is ready for you.

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

Kayla Rampey

There were 400 years of not so silent silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament. During this time, God didn’t go anywhere. He didn’t speak through burning bushes, send prophets to share His news, or send angels to direct His people. God was silent but present, watching over Israel and preparing the world for something they could never imagine. His silence, as His presence in the Old Testament had been, would only be the beginning to something, Someone, so much greater.

Through His will, God prepared the world through other people for the news they would soon hear. During the 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament, God prepared the way for the message to come. The Greeks spread across the world and created a common language amongst the people where one day people would be able to understand and translate the good news of Jesus Christ. The Romans created roads and transportation, a better way to spread the Word and follow the Great Commission that is given to each of us in Matthew 28. Even the people that were against God were used to fulfil God’s purpose and plan.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Just as God created mankind last in His order of creation, God created a time and a place on Earth for Jesus to be born to deliver His people from sin.

In Luke 1:5-7, God chose two people to bear a son, a son that would pave the way for Jesus Christ, later known as John the Baptist. God chose Zacharias and Elizabeth a couple that was “righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all commandments and requirements of the Lord.” (Luke 1:5-7) Elizabeth was barren and they were both advanced in age, but the Almighty God chose them to have a child to prepare the way for the Great Deliverer, Jesus Christ. As many of you know, his birth and beginning was only the start to a far greater journey.

 ”…an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.  Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.  You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” Luke 1:11-14 

“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.  It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” John was born.”  Luke 1:15-17

Little did they know, 6 months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God would send an angel to a young girl named Mary with news that would change the world for the rest of time. Her obedience would lead to a child given by God.

The connection between John and Jesus goes far beyond being born near the same time, but only time would tell the depths of each moment.

As we prepare for Christmas, the birth of Christ is on my mind. Without Jesus, without that silent night in Bethlehem, where would we be today? As important as the birth of Christ is, its just as important to remember the events that led up to that night. What if one stepping stone had not happened, would we still be here today? Imagine if God never chose to create mankind, or He never chose Noah to save during the flood. What if there Abraham and Sarah never had their son, Isaac? Or what if Joseph never interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and saved the people from the 7 years of famine? There are so many events in the Bible that people skip over because they don’t seem as “important” as others, but we need to remember that each event, each moment in time, serves a purpose. Even the events that seem insignificant in time are stepping stones, planned by God, for His ultimate purpose.

I want you to think back to all the times that happened before that glorious day, the day Christ was born. From the beginning of time God showed us His Almighty power. There are many stories in the Bible that so many people miss out on because they only focus on the key points, yet without them, where would we be?

Never stop searching God’s Word and discovering more about your Savior. Reflect on the moments, thousands of years before the birth of Christ, and remember what led up to the star in the sky, the baby in the manger, and the years that would come after His birth. What would become of the child Mary gave birth to? This Christmas remind yourself and others of the big picture, the entire Word of God.

The Word that would change the world.

“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the
Highest .…” Luke 1:32

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

-Kayla Rampey

Daily you hear reports about covid cases on the rise and friends and family suffering from loss and depression. What can you do to make a difference? How can you help others when you feel helpless yourself? 

You have two choices in this pandemic and only you can let God lead you to which choice you should choose. 1) You can turn to this world and wait for vaccines, medications, and quarantine scenarios that will protect you from the germs that surround you everywhere you go. You can live in fear and let it control your every move. Or 2) You can turn to God. Turn to God for your peace when you are in fear, your protection when are surrounded, and guidance when you don’t know which direction to turn. In no way am I saying you should not wear masks or follow rules set in place to protect you, but I am warning you not to let your fears turn you away from God.

People everywhere are turning to God but people everywhere are also turning to this world. 

As a Christian, now as always before, we need to lead by example and lead others to Christ. When you or a loved one is sick, show others your faith in God by praying instead of panicking. When you are fearful, find your peace in Jesus Christ. When you see someone in pain, living in fear, or dealing with a darkness they can’t get out of, share the love of Christ with them by taking them a meal, sending them encouraging messages, or just letting them know that you are there for them. One phone call or text message could save a person’s life. Lead by example. Love like Christ. 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Nothing is a profound word in this verse that has a different meaning for each person. Defined by Websters dictionary as meaning “not anything; no single thing” makes it seem like a word that would be easy to comprehend; yet when it’s  put in this verse “nothing” becomes “something” to everyone. 

The Bible tells us NOTHING can separate from the love of God yet constantly people are doubting God’s word and ability to forgive for sins of their past.

Have you ever thought about the “somethings” that you fear could have broken God’s love for you? 

Maybe you thought “But what about that one time I did this? Can that separate me from God’s love? Or this one time I did that? What about that? And what about the time I turned my back on God for years? I hated Him. I was bitter and angry. How could He still love me after all that?

Nothing is beyond understanding for our mere minds when we think that nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

It’s hard to fathom a love that strong. 

It hurts when I see one of my former youth or students falling into sin and turning against God, but I never stop loving them. I long for the day that they turn back to God and I can rejoice with them. My love for them is a love that wants them to find their peace in God and live the life He has designed for them. My love is waiting, wishing I could do more to bring them back. God’s love is waiting, knowing He could turn them back to Him, but giving them the free will to decide their own ways. He loves His children so much that He gives them a choice, freedom to live for Him or live for this world.  

There are people that have hurt me so bad that it’s taken time and lots of tears for me to overcome, give to God, and find peace about, but even the people that hurt me…I’m still called to love them. I may not love their situation or decisions, but I love them because God has commanded me to. I show my love to God by following His commands and loving others. 

The reason this verse is so hard for us to comprehend is because God’s love exceeds any love we’ve ever seen or will experience in this world. The love of your Heavenly Father is a love of forgiveness without grudges, a love without limitations or judgement, a love that is undeniable and never ending.

Gods love is not temporary. It’s not something you have to fear will go away when you mess up, but it is a reminder that when you do mess up, His arms are still open, His love is still there, and He is waiting for you to receive His love again. 

Find peace in God’s love. Don’t let the worldly love you know today be a comparison to what God’s love must look like. God will never abandon you because of your mistakes. He won’t turn His back on you if you don’t live up to what He expected you. He’ll never kick you out or let you go because someone else is better than you. Even when you doubt Him, even when you try to run from Him, forget to pray and choose this world over Him, His love never stops. Never. Not anything; not a thing; nothing can separate you from the love of God.

So if you feel far away from God right now, take a moment and pray. His love has never left your side, and He will guide you back to the life of peace you deserve. Rest easy in His arms knowing that nothing will ever stop Him from loving you.

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Be thankful today for His love that endures forever!

Today, let’s find peace in God’s plan. The amazing work He started in you, He will finish. His timing is not always your timing. Life might not be happening the way you expected. Circumstances might not be what you envisioned when you pictured this year, but trust Him in the process.

He is working, even when you don’t see Him or feel Him.

He will complete what He began in you. Your job is to trust in Him and leave the results in His hands. The same hands that created all things are also at work in your life. Don’t disappear when the “work” of your life isn’t turning out as you had expected. God’s not done with you yet!

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:1-6‬ ‭NASB‬‬

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

The resurrection of Christ brings hope. A hope that brings peace in uncertain times. A hope that you can only find in Christ. The late Emil Brunner once said, “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life.” Yet today hopelessness and despair are everywhere. There are so many people that are stuck in a state of worry that they can’t find the hope that they once had. 

Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 

There is hope that mistakes and sins can be forgiven. There is hope that we can have joy, peace, assurance, and security in the midst of the despair of this age. There is hope that Christ is coming soon. 

Our hope is not in our own ability, or in our right decisions in chaos, or in our physical strength and health. Our hope is instilled in us by the resurrection of Christ.

Find your peace in the hope of Jesus Christ. 

Find your hope in Him.

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

One of my former GA and youth girls posted the question “for my 30 and older friends – what advice would you give a young girl in her 20s?” I know you all aren’t in your 20s but after a lot of thought – here’s what I came up with. Praying for you all! -Kayla Rampey

First of all, I can’t believe I’m in this over 30 category. Let’s just pretend that’s not real lol 

My advice for surviving life is to…

Always remember that life is short and you are not promised tomorrow. 

Trust the Lord always – your will is not always the Lord’s will.

It’s ok to not be ok sometimes. Don’t put on a happy face and suck it up – everyone has bad days. It’s ok to rest – it’s ok to cry – it’s normal. 

Sometimes the “happy” faces are the ones that need your prayers the most. 

Always remember that when you hurt others, you are hurting the Lord – think twice before you speak. Sometimes it’s best to just stay quiet, walk away, and pray before your speak.

Remember that whatever you say to someone before they walk away could be the last chance you get to talk to them.

Pray for your spouse before you even meet him. And of course afterwards. Only God knows what and when you need someone else in your life. 

Don’t rush God and expect Him to follow your timeline – God’s timing is always perfect if you will just let Him be in control. Never compare your life and timing to others. 

For control freaks like me, the hardest lesson to learn is you can’t fix everyone – only God can. 

When you’re overwhelmed with anything -you’re most likely trying to do it all alone. It’s ok to ask for help – it’s more than ok to pray and just say “I can’t” God knows your heart but wants to hear your need for Him.

Life is not all about money – it’ll seem like it at times because adulting isn’t the greatest but don’t get overwhelmed with what you don’t have – look around at what you do have.

Just say no to credit cards. Debt is the devil. 

Inventory your social media feed occasionally- if a person is constantly posting negative things – unfollow them. Its toxic to your mind whether your believe it or not.

On the same note – unfollow people that seem to have perfect lives – sounds mean but when you constantly see what others have – you’ll constantly compare yourself and bring yourself down.

Did I mention ask for help when you need it? Never suffer in silence about anything. 

Choose your friends wisely- you’ll become just like them. Surround yourself with positive influences that’ll encourage you and just listen when you need them to. 

Don’t dwell on the negative – focus on the positive. What you dwell on is what you’ll become. 

Never let others drag you down. You are God’s creation – you deserve better. 

Stay in God’s word and in church – you can’t survive in this crazy world without a 

Leader that will guide you through all this. 

Help others however you can – being the hands and feet of Jesus doesn’t mean mission trips for everyone – it can simply mean holding the door for someone or calling someone to encourage them.

Friends are not always your age – be friends with someone older than you that can share experiences and give you wisdom. Listen to them – they’ve been there and done that. 

Don’t look back on regrets – move forward every day. (Just keep swimming – ha ha)

Never take family for granted – you might not always get along with them but they won’t always be around. Spend time with them. Listen to their stories – one day you’ll miss those moments.

Ask your friends and family about their salvation. There is no worse feeling than having a friend or family member die and not knowing that they are in Heaven. It’s a tough question to ask but it gets easier every time. 

Don’t let fear hold you back. 

Don’t let anyone hold you back.

Being independent is great but never lose your dependence on God. 

Pray for your enemies even when you have to grit your teeth to do it. 

Laugh at yourself – you’re not perfect. 

Respect and listen to your elders – they may have crazy stories or repeat themselves or whatever but they deserve your time. Don’t get too busy to care about others. You’ll miss those moments when they’re gone. 

Above all things, trust in the Lord. His opinion is the only one that matters. Don’t live life trying to please anyone else but Him.

“Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in ALL circumstances.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!

Congratulations on finishing up the 2020-2021 school year! To the 5th graders, 8th graders, and seniors, you have accomplished so much and are about to start a whole new adventure next year! My prayer for you is that you will see the next year as a fresh start and make a point to show others Christ in you. Wherever you may go, I challenge you to be different.  I challenge to set it in your mind that God has placed you in a new mission field. Serve Him wherever you go and let your walk be known to others.

I want you to know that you each mean so much to me. My greatest blessing is to see you grow in your walk with Christ. It is such a blessing to teach you and hear how God has changed your life throughout the years. I pray that you will reach out to me anytime you have questions or prayer needs. I am always here for you and love hearing your stories!

In the last year teaching Released Time at Pickens Middle, I was reminded how tough middle school can be for all students.  My advice for you and your future is to always remember that “God has not called you to “fit in.” He has called you to be set apart and to make a difference in the world around you.

Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

To break it down:

Transform don’t conform: The devil wants nothing more than to see you blend in with the sins of this world and accept the unacceptable in God’s eyes. We are called to love one another and show the love of Christ to everyone around us, yet we are not called to love the sins that others commit. Let it be known what you approve of and don’t approve of based on the Word of God. Don’t let go of God’s word just to appease those around you. The only One you should seek approval from is that of God Himself. If you are a follower of Christ, you won’t fit in with this world and to be honest – it won’t always be easy, but you can do it with the guidance of Jesus Christ. Don’t give up. Stay in prayer – stay focused on who God wants you to be – and don’t become consumed with the culture this world has created.

Renew your mind: Your mind is constantly filled with sin. Turn on the TV, the radio, or just simply scroll through the social media – everywhere you look sin is lurking in the darkness. In the midst of good posts filled with scripture and encouragement, the devil sneaks in with a video, a quote, or a picture that is not pleasing to God yet tempting to others. You are young and you are human – so it is all too easy for the world to consume you, bring you down, and turn your focus away from God and towards the negativity, pain, and sins of this world. My prayer will always be that God is first and foremost in each of your lives. I pray that you are praying. The only way anyone, young or old, can overcome the society we live in today, is to stay connected to their Heavenly Father. Remember what I said in class, when you sin, say the Lord’s Name in Vain, hurt someone with words or actions, or act out of what you want versus what is right in the eyes of the Lord, you should not be worried about just offending other people – you are offending your Heavenly Father, your Creator, your Savior. You are free to make your own choices but your choices can come with consequences. Seek the Lord first in every decision you make.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Mathew 6:33

Remember who you are in Christ and what Jesus did for you.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Let your light shine even when it’s not easy and let Christ use you to encourage those around you.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

 You can make a difference. You can save a life.

In my classroom we had 7 chairs that represented teens that had lost their lives during the school year (Ages 10-14). 3 of them from students that had committed suicide. Before you speak, think about what it would be like if that was the last thing you said to that person. How would you feel?

I pray that this virus and shut down has taught you a lot about yourself and what/who you often have taken for granted. Who did you miss? What did you miss about school or society in general? Would you have treated others differently if you knew you would miss out on the last 2 months of school with them?

At the beginning of the school year, my word for the year was more of a verse. “Rejoice always.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice when you are happy and everything is at peace but also rejoice when times are tough and God is working in your life. Life will not always be easy, but God has promised us hope and a future. Stay focused on God and let Him lead your life.

You are always in my prayers!

Love and prayers,

Kayla Rampey

864-915-8094 Text anytime with prayer needs

“Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

May God bless you and show you His grace every day!