EMT Highlight–Del White–chief at Rock Creek
Week 2–January 10–2026 Maintaining a heart for the hurting!
This week’s video highlight features Chief Del White sharing about what he does as a chief and his motivation to help hurting people.
Day 5–Jesus Values Children!
Scripture reading for January 9: Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father Who is in heaven.”
The setting for this strong warning of Jesus was a discussion with the disciples about who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-6) Jesus called a little child to join Him and used this child as an illustration of kingdom greatness. Children are usually meek and obedient to their parents and older adults. They easily believe and trust. Jesus taught that those entering God’s kingdom must become like this child in his heart. True greatness comes from a humbled heart that is willing to listen and obey. If these disciples wanted to be great, they must receive the children and bless them, becoming like them. They had been rebuking them and sending them away.
Children are a blessing from the Lord Who loves and wants to bless them. God has assigned angels to each child to watch over them and report to God the Father concerning them. These heavenly protectors would report any mistreatment or abuse of children or the despising of them to Him. Jesus warned those sinning against children or leading them to sin that it would be better to have a great millstone fastened around the neck of the despising adult and they be cast into the deep sea. (Matthew 18:5-6)
As responders, we are often called to help children as well as the adults in their lives. Our society and the world culture often mistreats and demeans children. Children are sometimes marginalized and abused, even by their own parents or siblings. We must keep a clear focus on God’s love for His children. We must treat them with respect and dignity and protect them from harm. We must remember how we must keep the heart of a child as well to be the best servant in any situation. Jesus loves the children and calls us to lay our hand on them in blessing for Him.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for caring for children. Forgive me if I have marginalized or despised children in any way. Lead me in each incident to show love and respect and truly serve these who matter to You. Amen.
Day 4–Bruised reeds; Smoldering Wicks
Scripture reading for January 8: Matthew 12:20 “. . .a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, . . .”
As Jesus healed a man’s withered hand in the synagogue on a Sabbath, the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. According to these religious leader’s rules, healing on the Sabbath would amount to work and thus not be allowed. Jesus graciously offered them an analogy about a man having a sheep who fell into a pit on the Sabbath. Would not the owner of the sheep reach out and rescue him from the pit? (Matthew 12:10-11) The obvious answer was ‘yes’ and Jesus stated that it was lawful to heal and do good on any day. As the man stretched out his hand to Jesus, it was immediately restored. But this miracle demonstrating God’s care and love for hurting people stirred up murderous passions in the Pharisees who plotted how to destroy Him.
But Jesus knew their plans and withdrew from that place. Many hurting people followed Him and He healed them all. (Matthew 12:15) Matthew explained what had taken place by quoting form the prophet Isaiah 42:1-3. God’s chosen ‘Servant’ would proclaim justice to all people, but not with human methods or force or persuasion. He would show mercy to those ‘bruised reeds’ and to the ‘smoldering wicks,’ the weak and hurting and those willing to accept His healing ministry. This ‘Servant’ would not quit until justice was established and all people would find hope in Him.
As first responders, our hearts must have compassion for those who are bruised by life’s troubles. Some are despairing of life itself because of aging, troubles of life, accidents, or conflicts. Like our Lord, we are sent to reach out and care for them. We may encounter others who try to hinder us and our efforts. We must use wisdom and patience to try and calm them down. Sometimes we must withdraw and allow others with different giftings and authority to help. We always remember that Jesus helped the bruised and brought fresh oil and fire to those whose lives burned low.
Prayer: Father, thank You for caring for those bruised by life’s trouble. Thank You for sending willing responders with Your heart to minister to the hurting. Lead me in each incident to listen and discern how to help. Help me to stay calm and keep it simple. Use me to fan a new flame of life in the smoldering wicks and pour healing balm on the bruised. Amen.
Day 3–Jesus Multiplied Workers!
Scripture reading: Matthew 10:1 “And He called to Him twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. . . .Vs 5: These twelve Jesus sent out. . .”
Jesus had Himself, with His disciples, gone out to all the cities and villages preaching the Good News and healing the sick. Jesus had called twelve disciples that He had selected and invited to be with Him and learn from Him. This was His Father’s plan to multiply workers who would help to bring the Good News of God’s love for hurting people. This chosen group of disciples would form the initial team of workers. They needed training in God’s way of loving and reaching out. They learned the way by following Jesus Christ as He modeled ministry for them. Jesus preached the Gospel of God’s kingdom, inviting all to repent and join the group. Only those who were willing to follow Jesus would be included.
Jesus gave authority to those who came under His teaching and responded to the Good News. They would not be lone rangers, but would be under God’s authority and instruction. They would use their delegated authority to help hurting people and bring deliverance and healing. God’s heart was not just expressed in the Gospel of repentance and faith, but came with power. God demonstrated His love by healing the diseased and afflicted and delivering those in bondage to sin or under Satan’s control.
As we look at our lives as first responders, we see many parallels to the discipleship process instituted by Jesus and God the Father. Those involved have had to willingly volunteer to come under authority of the department of government that we serve. We are then given authority to serve others. We study to learn the proper ways to help as taught by those in authority in our department. We are sent out, often in a team, to help those in need. The older teach the younger by example and supervised responses. When we complete an incident, we evaluate our processes and make corrections if needed.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for calling me to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Thank You for those You have provided to mentor me and correct me along the way. Thank You for Your calling to be a first responder and be a part of Your team to help hurting people. Amen.
Day 2–Jesus Full of Compassion
Scripture reading: Matthew 9:35-36 “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Jesus was sent by the Father to earth to reveal His heart for lost and hurting people. Jesus had responded to His Father’s will by humbling Himself to become a human being and experience what all people go through on earth. He willingly responded to man’s greatest need by going out where the people were. He went to cities and villages where people had settled. He went to Jews, as He was born in a Jewish family. They gathered in synagogues to worship God and study God’s Word, but many were still far from God.
Jesus saw the crowds of hurting people, and He had compassion for them. He saw them as a shepherd might see his sheep who were lost in the wilderness and hunted by wild animals. His compassion was God’s heart towards those He had created in His image. Sin and transgression had brought consequences of being lost, sickness, disease, and helplessness. He shared the Gospel of the kingdom and ministered to their physical, emotional, and deeper spiritual needs. He came as the Good Shepherd Who went out to seek lost sheep and restore them to the health of God’s family.
First responders are part of God’s plan to reach out to those who are hurting and harassed and helpless. God hears their cries and responds to their needs by sending out willing volunteers to the cities, towns, and countryside. Compassion is love that acts regardless of the cost or convenience. Compassion motivates responders to go where the hurting are and provide assistance. We bring knowledge of how to help and share that in word and deed. We bring God’s heart of compassion and reflect His desire to respond and assist.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your heart of compassion that moved You to send Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your desire to assist those who are hurting, harassed, and helpless. As one that was helped, I now offer myself to go and help others. Amen.
Week 2–Day 1–Jesus Loves the Hurting
Scripture reading for January 5: “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn and live.” Ezekiel 18:31-32
Man’s biggest need is forgiveness for sins and transgressions. We have all broken God’s laws or crossed over His boundary lines. When we fall into sin, we are separated from God and damage our relationship with those around us. Our own soul becomes clouded in darkness. Scripture declares that all have sinned or transgressed and all have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
But God the Father sees everything and knows every heart, thought, and transgression. He loves each person and desires that none die for their transgressions. In today’s passage, God sent Ezekiel to His people with a call to repent. Repentance is a change of mind that precedes a change of direction. If we continue in sin, it will lead to our ruin. If we will confess and acknowledge our sins and turn from them in biblical repentance, God is faithful and will forgive us. Turning to God saves us from ruin and death.
As first responders to the calls of hurting people for help, we must always keep God’s love for hurting people as a foundation for our response. We enter each incident responding to people God loves and desires to help. We would do well to start each day with humble repentance and invite God to lead us in His ways to provide the help called for. We represent Him and are sent as an act of God’s love. He wants no individual to die or come to ruin.
Father God, thank You for Your love for each person, desiring their highest good and meeting their deepest needs. Search my heart today and reveal anything that displeases You. Fill me with Your love to respond to others who are in need. Amen.
Week 1 Video Highlight–The author’s mission
Scripture: Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Rest and Reflection with a responder: John Morse, the author.
This week’s video podcast is my short testimony on responding to God’s call to follow Jesus Christ. Following each weeks devotions, I will be interviewing other responders from those that God has placed me with and used to shape my life and abilities to help those in need. There will be firemen, sheriff’s deputies, police officers, highway patrol, and emergency medical people as well as an emergency manager. These podcasts will be set up on a u-tube channel and eventually linked with the finished book of devotions. At this time I am planning on 26 weeks of devotions. Will you join me on this special journey to honor our first responders? As the Holy Spirit is our Teacher, the devotions will apply to us all.
In His Love, Pastor John Morse
Day 2–Our Lord God Responds First!
Scripture for January 2nd: Genesis 1-3
Genesis 3:9 “But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:21 “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
As we begin our year’s devotions, we start out with basic truths of Scripture. My aim is to keep these daily readings as simple as possible, yet to let God’s Word bring hope and inspiration to those sent to help hurting people. God our Father is full of compassion and is loving towards all mankind.
In Genesis 1 through 3 we have the record of creation and man’s fall into sin. God created the world and everything in it. The last act of creation was man made in His image and likeness. Adam and Eve were given rulership and care of creation as their assignment. This was to be under God’s authority and direction. They were warned not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they would die. They walked and talked with God the Father regularly in His garden before temptation and disobedience.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s simple command, eating of the forbidden tree, and instantly felt guilt and shame, hiding from God and making coverings of fig leaves. God responded first–coming to the Garden and calling out, “Adam, where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) God loved Adam and Eve, but sin had caused separation and would bring death. God acted to intervene by seeking Adam’s confession and then Eve’s. Instead, they blamed others and God. He then killed an innocent animal and clothed them with the bloody skins. He sent them out of the garden under the curse they had brought upon their own lives through disobeying.
But God did not leave Adam and Eve and their children without a remedy. His response was a plan to show His love and mercy through sending His own Son as the second Adam, only without sin. He demonstrated that love by His Son laying down His life blood on behalf of sinners. The greatest love, God’s Son given, made available the greatest deliverance from death to eternal life by greatest number of people who would simply believe on Jesus Christ. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for responding to my great need of deliverance from sin and death. I respond to Your great Love by believing Your Word and receiving Your Son. Teach me to respond to Jesus each day in humble obedience. Amen.
BibleTrek 2026–911 Faith Responders
Week 1–Day 1 Dear fellow First Responders and disciples of Jesus,
Welcome to 2026! I have worked as a pastor for nearly forty years and have worked with many first responders during that time. I began my ministry at Glad Tidings (now Good News) church in Omaha, Nebraska where I worked initially part time visiting the sick in hospitals and homes. I was invited by the Chaplain of Good News jail and prison ministry, Morris Jackson, to do a weekly class in the Douglas County Correction Center. This involved weekly entrance into the jail and spending time there with inmates who had volunteered to attend the life learning program of the ministry. I got to know them and their corrections officers and learn how to cooperate with our Lord to help those incarcerated.
During my time as a pastor, I often visited the incarcerated, helped those returning from jail to reintegrate into society, and ministered to first responders who were a part of our church family. In Owensboro, Kentucky, where I pastored for 14 years, a local police officer invited me to interview with the police chief to become a volunteer chaplain for the city police. I enjoyed doing that for over ten years along with pastoring a church. I would take time to regularly ride along with officers and experience their world. I would be on call for difficult situations like suicides or hostage cases. I regularly visited the county jail and helped recruit a full time Good News chaplain who organized weekly services for the over seven hundred inmates. I became friends with the jailer and many of the corrections officers.
For the past eight years I have served as a chaplain and firefighter with the Rock Creek Fire Department in Jefferson County, Kansas. The men and women that I am serving with and have served with are dedicated, hard-working, and willing servants of those that are hurting and in need. They choose to volunteer and place themselves in harms way as they help others. They experience physical dangers and sometimes emotional and spiritual threats that they need to process and overcome. They deserve our thanks as well as our prayers, encouragement and support.
I am dedicating this year to write devotions for those who serve as first responders. These devotions are meant to help all believers to more fully cooperate with our Lord Jesus, the ultimate example of God’s loving response to sinful man’s deepest need. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13 My desire is to see all first responders become ‘faith responders’, willingly answering those ‘911’ calls of those in need following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His Service, Chaplain John Morse
Thank You!
Dear friends,
Thank you for journeying with me through the New Testament in 2025! It has been a great privilege to share daily what God was speaking to me concerning developing a world view that aligned with His. Each day, a new chapter brought Jesus’ way of looking at life and our mission in this world. Our task was to receive His Word implanted in our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to refocus our thinking and actions to live in a manner pleasing to our Lord. (James 1:21) Faith grows when we truly hear God’s Word and become doers that apply truth daily.
God works on us from the inside out. (Philippians 2:13) He calls out to us, speaking to our hearts and souls with tenderness and love. Sometimes it feels like He is shouting at us through our pains! But it is always His goodness that leads us to make the changes we need to our thinking and consequently to how we live each day. Our attitude determines our altitude! Humble obedience and faith brings contentment and joy as we are learning to trust God. We begin to count it all joy as we endure trials and persecution. We draw near to God and cast all our cares on Him. We are aware of His abiding presence with us in the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Helper brings encouragement, power to choose God’s way, and boldness to stand on God’s promises. The fruit of the Holy Spirit grows daily, helping us to reflect God’s love and goodness to others around us.
God is always working out all things for our good and His glory! (Romans 8:26-28) When we believe this simple truth, our view of life lines up with God’s stated goals. His plans are good and established forever. He has wisdom to work everything for good. He has the power to control all forces, good and evil, and use them for His purposes. He knows everything, past, present, and future. The foundation of His throne is righteousness and justice insuring that everything will be done according to His unchanging standards and Word. We can trust this and rest in Who He is. We know Him as our Father by the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
May God continue to reveal Himself to you daily as you journey on to the next year of adventure!
Love in Christ Jesus, Pastor John Morse