Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

What does it mean to have faith like a mustard seed?  In this verse, Jesus uses an analogy, and I find it interesting that he compares faith to a mustard seed.  I think there are a couple lessons we c...  Read More

How much of our peace depends on something changing?“I’ll have peace when this situation gets resolved.”“When this busy season is over.”“When the relationship gets better.”“When I know what the future...  Read More

God has uniquely fashioned each of us to serve and live for Him.  We all have different personalities, abilities, and spiritual giftedness.  When God combines these things together, we all have specia...  Read More

Have you ever heard the phrase: “keeping up with the Jones’s”? The idea is that if your neighbor or friend or peer has something, you feel the need to have that something as well, or at least equivale...  Read More

I once heard the following line from a stand-up comedian: “On a scale of 1 to 10, parenting is a lot of 1s and a lot of 10s.” This was definitely true of Lauren and my first experience parenting a tod...  Read More

Sometimes I find comfort in being reminded that the Lord is the Lord and there isn't any other god before Him. He is the Lord and no one else has that name. He is God.In the 2nd set of verses He remin...  Read More

There has been a debate in Christianity for centuries over works role in salvation. One camp points to Paul who says to the Christians in Ephesus, “For it is by grace you have been save through faith,...  Read More

A few years ago, I headed out to Millerton Lake with a friend and our sons for a day of fishing. As I stepped off the dock and into the boat, the only thing I told myself was, 'Yeah, this looks stable...  Read More

When I started out in ministry I was a 22-year old, wet-behind-the-ears, fresh out of Bible college, Pastor. I thought I knew it all. I thought I could do it all. Every opportunity for ministry that c...  Read More

On August 1st, my family celebrated my grandpa’s 92nd birthday. It was a good time spent at Yosemite Ranch as we looked to honor the life my grandpa lived. My grandpa was quite the character, talking ...  Read More

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan river and entered the promised land, they encamped near the city of Jericho.  Tensions were high as the people prepared for their first battle with the Canaanite...  Read More

Most of us have encountered the frustration that comes with assembling a furniture item from a box. If not directly, at least second hand, like my daughters watching their dad groan and stomp about in...  Read More

A few years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel.  It was my first time to see and experience the Holy Land.  The time we spent at the Sea of Galilee impacted my life.  To see the places wh...  Read More

You ever have those days where you feel you just can’t do it. Maybe you can do some of it but there is just too much, or it’s too hard, or too out of reach. Whatever it is, your best does not seem to ...  Read More

Had everything gone according to plan, I never would have come to Fresno.It was the spring of my sophomore year of college—time to make summer plans. Internships were a big status symbol at my school,...  Read More

I thought this was such a cool passage. The analogies of the weather and how His word melts and nothing can stand against it. But I think what I loved is how He related it all to the way He guides His...  Read More

Years ago, one of the elders said something to me that has stuck ever since. It went something like this; “You know David, worship isn’t just people singing together in church on Sunday mornings. It’s...  Read More

Do you remember the yearbook section that highlighted those who stand out for their superlatives? It was an exaggerated way to both recognize and celebrate people. They often say things like: Most Lik...  Read More

I’ve been a pastor for many years, and I have seen it happen every year. Sunday morning church attendance drops in the summertime. People sleep-in and choose not to come. Or they say “I don’t feel lik...  Read More

When I was in the police academy, our instructors constantly reminded us that, statistically, the most dangerous thing we would do as police officers was also the thing we would do more than anything ...  Read More

Have you ever wondered why people sometimes don’t get healed when we pray for them?  Especially in light of the promise in James 5:14: “the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord ...  Read More

As summer comes to an end, life starts speeding up again. Parents are buying school supplies, students are checking schedules, teachers are preparing classrooms, and families are squeezing in one last...  Read More

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  James 1:17Today we live in a world that is co...  Read More

July is when we celebrate our nation’s birthday, our independence. We make quite a big deal about independence, and liberty and freedom in this country, especially in July. But why is that? Why do we ...  Read More

The first time I flew by myself was almost disastrous.I was just shy of 15 years old, flying from my home in Dallas to Erie, PA, where I’d catch a ride to a Christian boys’ leadership training camp in...  Read More

Have you ever contemplated how you respond to the saying, "Living in the moment?" I think I have always thought of it as doing something risky or daring. But recently it has taken on a different meani...  Read More

The apostle James in his epistle to the twelve tribes provides multiple instructions and advisements on how followers of Christ should interact with one another. Acting impartially, caring for the neg...  Read More

I don't know about you, but I love pizza. The slow-fermented crust, the sun-ripened sauce, the fromage of mozzarella, and the delicate crown of toppings all assembled to create a decadent symphony of ...  Read More

When I was in fourth grade, my classmates came up with a nickname for me. They called me Teacher’s Pet. I asked them why they called me that. They said, “Because you are respectful to the teacher, you...  Read More

I am a huge Christopher Nolan fan. If you do not know who Christopher Nolan is, he is one of the most acclaimed directors of the 21st century. To get ready to watch his newest release, The Odyssey, I ...  Read More

Can you remember a time when you were a child and your parents disciplined you for doing something wrong?  For most of us, that would be a long list.  My mom was a softie when it came to discipline, b...  Read More

In the quiet but agonizing moments of Gethsemane, Jesus Himself modeled the deepest form of surrender. As He fell on His face before the Father, He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup ...  Read More

God not only has fashioned us and put us together the way we are, but He also designs us to accomplish particular things for Him.  We are, “created in Christ Jesus for good works…”   God has planned f...  Read More

July is when we celebrate our nation’s birthday, our independence. We make quite a big deal about independence, and liberty and freedom in this country, especially in July. But why is that? Why do we ...  Read More

There are many promises in the Bible that can comfort us in times of difficulty. God promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). And we are promised that “for those who love God...  Read More

I don't know why but whenever I think about dying I can get a little fearful. I'm embarrassed to admit that sometimes I wonder, "What if all I have believed in about death and going to be with Jesus d...  Read More

In 2000, I joined a church-planting team in Tokyo. For two years, I struggled with a difficult team leader, wanting many times to give up and go home. During this challenging season, I wrestled with w...  Read More

Simone Biles had been a decorated gymnast for nearly her whole life, leading up to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. I still remember hearing the shocking news that she was withdrawing from the team and all...  Read More

When I was younger – and in much better shape – I used to go on solo backpacking trips in the Sierra mountains.  I would scour the map for a remote lake nestled in a forest and get away for a few days...  Read More

I don’t like soccer. Both my boys played soccer in kindergarten, and from that sport I learned a little bit about their personality and competitiveness. Soccer was explained to both my boys the same w...  Read More