Every day of my life was recorded in His book before my life began.

My loving Father fashioned a good plan for me.

Of course, there were options.  I could choose.

His love nurtured me through, day by day, gently guiding, caring.  

Evil came calling in every way, every day.

God’s mercy and grace helped me grow.

So many questions.  Too few answers.  

His Word details His deep love for me.  

He is thinking of me every minute.  Thousands upon thousands of thoughts.

All good thoughts.  All for my welfare.  

His love is so much more significant than I believed.

Until I read His Word, and He revealed Himself to me.  

Everything I know about the Lord, He shared it.

His Word is my document of growth, wisdom, mercy and grace.  

God is in me, His Hand, the Holy Spirit guiding me.  

Jesus is interceding for me.  He loves me.  He cares for me.

He provides the attention that I need to survive.  He is Lord. 

I know Him.  I believe Him.  I follow Him.  He gives me life.  

Clay Corvin

April 19, 2022

Today. This morning. Thank you, Lord, for the breath of life.
Sing a new song to the Lord. Let everything that draws breath praise Him.

He knows the plans He has for us.
Plans to prosper us. Plans that will give us joy and peace.
His plans are the right plan. His ways are the way we should walk.

Fear God. Work out His salvation.
Daily. Hourly. Moment by moment.
We value Him when we serve Him.
Be with Him. Seek Him. Serve Him.
Prepare your heart. Be alert. When He calls we can’t prepare then.

Difficult day. Surrender it to the Lord.
Let Him share ever burden. He will lift up your heart.
He will carry you in the unbearable times.
This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice. Jesus is with us.
His love and mercy overflow us. Peace be with you.

Thank God for what you have and experience.
Celebrate the Lord.
When you meet with Him, it is never business as usual.
Our God is passionate and purposeful. Let Him use you.
His grace and mercy are overflowing.
Bend your heart to Him. Jesus is Lord. He loves you.

God created us in Jesus Christ.
Always choose God’s plan.
His good works in us create satisfaction.
Our good works are used by the Lord to help the helpless.
Know that the Lord is good, and His mercy is great.

You belong to Him. He etched your name in His hand.
Your life is hidden in Christ with the Father.
Joy and peace are yours. Jesus loves you.

Clay Corvin
April 18, 2022

Ready.  Alert.  Willing. 
Qualities that outfit us for hearing from God.
We are to be ready where we are.  Useable.  Useful.
Not thinking about where we should be or could be.
God wants us available for the now. 
 
A good deed. 
A kindness that is desperately needed. 
Giving a bit of what we have, not daydreaming about what we could give.
The daily Christian life mediates joy and peace. 
Here I am.  Ready.  Alert.  Willing. 
 
How often have we closed the door on service? 
It didn’t live up to our mental hype.
It was beneath us.
In truth it was the very thing the Lord needed of us.
People count.  Humble people count.  All people count. 
 
If you are waiting on some big thing. 
Chances are you’ve missed God’s thing. 
Go back to Jesus.  Lord whatever you want me to do I’ll do it. 
Listen.  Let Him know “Lord here I am.”
Great service begins with humility and a hand to the needy. 
 
Jesus wants to use us where we can be of best use.
Those uses are often humdrum daily, bit by bit, services. 
Reach out and help those you are with. 
Jesus is often found in the little places of life. 
People count and you and I can make them count.  Serve.
 
Clay Corvin
April 18, 2022

C.J. Is always with Jesus.  He loves Jesus.  
He loves his family.  His wife, children and grandchildren special.  
C.J. Is loyal and faithful to Jesus and his family.  

He is a man one can follow and grow in Christ.  
He loves the Lord Jesus first, foremost and consistently.  
His live is devoted to becoming more like Jesus.  

C.J. Is a man filled with the Holy Ghost.
He has divine strength that equips him each day.
Only by the power of Jesus can one explain C.J.’s life.  

He is inclusive.  Everybody counts.
He is long suffering.  People are important to him.  
C.J. uses God’s wisdom, mercy and grace.

A team player, he helps others innovate. 
His target is to grow in Jesus and disciple people.

Selfless service.  He is steadfast in his love for Jesus and people.

Strong.  Courageous.  Trustworthy. 

C.J. is a man after the heart of God.  

He puts God first and serves Him.  

Thank you C.J. for emulating Jesus.  

Thank you for being a friend.  

Thank you for loving our Lord and being faithful.  

Clay Corvin

April 5, 2022

Jerusalem, Israel

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

My life for you.  Your life for mine.  

We live in constant tension about serving and being served.  

But, I’ve never given my life for anyone.

In fact, when forced to sacrifice I often do it grudgingly.  

Lord, I like winning much better.  

So often on my own walk.  The Lord quietly waiting. 

“Here I am, come follow me.”

Father forgive me, forgive me.  

I pray but too often my prayers become directives.  

I pray and too often Your thoughts are not my thoughts.  

Help me Lord in my unbelief.  

Help me follow You.  

I’m reminded of the hymn you sung on the way to Gethsemane.  

It’s a long walk from the Upper Room to Gethsemane.

Over hill and valley, crossing the Kidron and up the Mt. Of Olives.  

Remind me not to forget what I’m doing when following You.  

So, where do we go next?

At the moment, I’m waiting. 

You literally walked to Your death.  

I literally spend a lot of time complaining.  Demanding.  

Forgive me Father for my ignorance.  

Help me surrender.  

Help me remember.  YOU LOVE ME.  

Remind me of How Much You Think about me.  

I want to think about You a lot more.

I want to be used up.  To be equipped. 

To share the Gospel.  Follow Your lead.  

Thank You Lord for this brief respite.  You are Lord.  

Clay Corvin

Covid Holy Land Journal 

April 2, 2022

 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Conversation and relationship are important to the Lord.
He cares for His creation.  He is bold and constant.
Nothing surprises Him. 
He rejoices in our desire to be with Him.

There is a constant battle in the heavenlies.
Evil never sleeps.  Neither does God.
He knows everything that is going on.
He intervenes on our behalf.  He loves us. 

The Lord knows our future.
He desires that we know our future.
Ask Him and He will not hide it from you.  
Jesus saves us and we stand in Christ’s righteousness.  

God loves you.
The Lord will never leave you. 
He is seeking you right now. 
He even tattooed your name in the palm of His hand.  

Every time He thinks of you, your name is before His face.  
Your prayers go up to Him.  He willingly talks with us. 
Go to the Lord.  Deliver great petitions.  
Let Him explain what He wants and what He is doing.  

Remember, if you are devoted to the Lord, 
The outcome of your petitions will be a blessing.
Don’t live for what you don’t have. 

Accept life and light from the Father.  Serve Him.  Rejoice.   

Clay Corvin
In preparation for traveling to Israel
March 21, 2022 – Northport, Alabama

We must learn to be happy in the hard times and not wait until things get better. Jesus is with us and it’s always good for us. Learn to be happy. Accept His joy now. Hard times come and go. Jesus gives us joy and peace for everyday of our life.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10)

I pray that God blesses and protects you.
Receive His mercy and kindness and His wonderful peace.

Discouragement is devastating to one’s ministry.
Seek to let the Lord into your mind, filling your heart to overflowing.
His Word, His presence will help you deal with discouragement.
Sometimes it takes real discipline to keep your mind focused on the Lord.
Do it. The dividends it pays are worth your life.

The Lord is looking for you. He is seeking to bring order to your life.
Chaos is always seeking to seize us. Catastrophe is driving for the win.
Stop. Pray to the Lord. Let Him fill your mind with wisdom.
It’s simple to change. Stop doing what you were doing and obey the Lord.
He is God. He is in charge, and you are not. HE will guide you step by step.

God does not play games. He is looking for obedience.
He knows what we need and provides it.
He seeks our best good, even in discipline.
He knows all about us and He knows what tomorrow brings.
Follow Jesus. Don’t presume on God. Come to Him humbly.

You cannot fool God. You only wind up fooling yourself.
Drudgery is our test for obedience. Will I keep doing what God says?
Much of life is drudgery. Drudgery is where we often get in trouble.
Stop complaining. Do your job. Accept God’s blessings.
Do the work and you will see the profit in your heart and in your mind.

When we follow the Lord and submit our life to Him, we have joined the winning team.
Our Father is Lord of all things. His Son Jesus is His appointed king. We follow Him.
Jesus is coming back. He is coming back soon. Follow Him.
His promises in His Word were written for you and me. We can claim them. 
His strength is effective in our surrender. Do not fear. Trust Jesus. He loves you.

Clay Corvin February 19, 2022

FANTASTIC JOURNEY (GENESIS 12)

Abraham, God’s friend, on a journey God called.
No squirming, complaining, or weaseling out.
He packed up his family and everything he owned.
Left Haran traveling to Canaan – “and they arrived there.”

It’s a long way for so few details. Think about your call.
How often do you struggle for years to answer God’s call?
How often do you reject His call and go your way?
People count with God, and He is calling us to help people.

What will it cost you? Everything.
How long will it take? Until you stand before Jesus in heaven.
Who can go? Everyone you take with you.
How hard will it be? It’s only hard when you ignore God.

The key on your fantastic journey is to learn to control your emotions.
Emotions are the devil’s playground. They are one of his strongest tools to hurt us.
You count with the Lord. All the people around you count with Him.
Therefore, seek to control the way you act. Love one another.

Emotions are not reliable. Never base your faith on emotions.
We don’t pursue righteousness based on how we feel.
Turn your thoughts and emotions over to the Holy Spirit.
He will guide you in getting control of your emotions to do the next right thing.

Don’t accept everything you feel. Test the spirits.
Learn the Word of God, memorize it, quote it, depend on it.
Don’t depend on your emotions. Trust Jesus to guide you through.
Emotions come and go. This too will pass. God’s Word never changes.

Emotions will defeat you. They will manipulate you.
Negative emotions separate you from wisdom.
Never believe “if it feels good do it.”
Do what the Lord says. Now.

You want to please God. Make sure He is ruling your life.
If your emotions are ruling you, God is not in control.
When you are ruled by your emotions, they become your idol.
Trust God and follow Him, only HIM.

People get lost and die because of foolishness and lack of self-control.
Study God’s Word. Listen to HIM. Not your emotions.
Live for Jesus. Love for Jesus. Self-control for Jesus.
When you choose to follow Jesus, you will follow Him and not your emotions.

Clay Corvin – January 15, 2022
North River, Northport, Alabama

PSALM 85 GOD SAID IT. DONE.

The Lord God Almighty always does exactly what He says He will do.
Time does not limit Him. He sees tomorrow as clearly as we see today.
The Lord really loves the land of Israel.
The Lord really loves the children of Jacob.
In all their weakness and heartache. Their sinfulness is tragic.

By His own choice God turned away His wrath and anger.
His people, beloved people have returned.
Now the Lord is waiting on the people of Israel to turn back to Him.
He has made the first move. His mercy is great.
He is offering salvation to the children of Jacob.

The Lord is calling. He wants to guide us. He will direct us.
We must choose Him. We fear Him, love Him.
Jacob chooses foolishly. They maintain their attitude of ingratitude.
The Lord ignores them in their foolishness. He says He has a way.
Jesus Christ is His way. Christ paid the price of our sin.

He offers us the Lord’s free gift of salvation.
He will bring us into the family of God. Grafted into Jacob.
God’s own people. His mercy, His truth, no longer at odds.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He loves us.
Follow Him and you will be home.

Clay Corvin
January 12, 2022
North River
Northport, Alabama

PSALM 86 – SPEAKING TO GOD

We are poor and needy. The Lord bends down to listen to us.
We cry out, we plead, always with an eye on our need.
God just loves us. Not for what we do or say but because He does!

We need mercy and grace. Our best is but a blemish.
The Lord is our shepherd. He knows what we need.
That is exactly what He offers. Our God does wondrous things.

Jesus came to meet our need. His love expressing God’s character.
He wants to give us His power. He willingly offers us healing.
“Come to me when you are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus said let me teach you how to live.
He calls us to share in His triumph over death. He gives us life.
Jesus is our helper. He cares for us. We are beloved of God.

Clay Corvin
January 12, 2022
North River
Northport, Alabama

PSALM 87. CITY OF GOD

God loves Jerusalem. It is His city.
Nations have destroyed it so many times.
Chaos, evil, idol worship, and wickedness have reigned.
God sees the end from the beginning. He sees the New Jerusalem.

God loves Jerusalem. It is His city.
Egypt, Babylon, Tyre, and Ethiopia all boast of their residents.
God boasts of His children from Jerusalem.
After all of these disasters, Jerusalem still counts with God.

God loves Jerusalem. It is His city.
Birthed by God. Continued by the Holy One’s love and care.
Now again occupied. “This one and that one were born here.”

One day soon we will go to be with our Father.
We will see Him face to face in the Celestial City.
Our name will be in the book. “This one is my child-enter in.”

Clay Corvin
January 12, 2022
North River
Northport, Alabama