Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

I awakened softly, curled up under the warmth of the covers.  I found myself wrapped gently with the Lord’s love, with His presence.  I lingered, relishing the moment, seeking to grasp His presence.  ...  Read More

I was at the Los Angeles airport talking to the agent at the check-in counter. A tall gentleman behind me interrupted, “Are you Dr. Cecy?” I turned and responded, “Well, yes, I am.” He continued, “I r...  Read More

As I am reading through the book of Leviticus I asked the Lord again, "Why is there a whole book in His Word that is dedicated to explaining all the different types of offerings for sin and how those ...  Read More

I am finding that I need the peace of God more and more as I live each day.  My mind needs to learn to rest in the person and character of our Lord.  Difficult and stressful times are not anything new...  Read More

Some people think the will of God is mysterious and enigmatic – hard to understand.  But this passage makes it crystal clear. While there are puzzling questions in life that require patience and wisdo...  Read More

When was the last time you got away from the city at night, somewhere remote, and looked up at the night sky? If it has been a while, it's time to do it again, to be taken in by the vastness of space ...  Read More

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much above our understanding God is. It’s tempting sometimes to look at parts of the Bible or even at the world in general and think “I would have done things...  Read More

I push the little red button on the black box and the magic begins! The reset button renews the Wi-Fi settings, corrects glitches, refreshes and restores the connection. I love the reset button!There ...  Read More

Have you ever played Two Truths and a Lie? It's a fun get-to-know-you, icebreaker game that I often play in situations when I'm around new people. Let's try it. Here are my three: a) I have been in a ...  Read More

I headed out about 7am, from home.  It was my Monday “get away with the Lord” morning.  I did not tell Lynn where I was going, because I did not know myself!  I had reviewed several destinations in my...  Read More

Permit me to share another reading that has changed my thinking over the years. I hope it helps you as much as it continues to help me. It is entitled: “Dying to Self”.• When you are forgiven or negle...  Read More

Rather than write a fresh devotional, I want to share with you something I read many years ago that quite literally changed my way of thinking. It still does:If God has called you to be really like Je...  Read More

Consider the Lord’s thoughts of love toward each of us today. A love that values us with the very life of God’s Son that was given for us. A love that unconditionally accepts us as a result of this sa...  Read More

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible on prayer.  In my book, it ranks right up there with Hebrews 11:6 and 1 John 5:14-15.  It begins with three mind-blowing promises for those who A.S.K. – ...  Read More

This is one of those verses that for me when I read it, I can easily think, yeah I can do that. But then someone wrongs me, and my thoughts immediately turn to revenge. I think it’s a primitive view o...  Read More

Every year in August I get ready for the fall/winter One Accord Adult Choir season. I try to seek the Lord in order to select music that will serve our church well and also minister to our choir so th...  Read More

Sometimes the Bible has commands that seem impossible. I don’t consider myself a particularly selfish person (does anyone?) but when I think about doing NOTHING from a self-seeking standpoint, I feel ...  Read More

I'm not sure about you but I have a love, kinda love relationship with my family. Some of my family memebers are loud and bolsterous. Some of them are stubborn and REALLY challenging. Some of them are...  Read More

Who is not inspired by the account of the shepherd, David slaying the seasoned, giant warrior Goliath!  David did not shrink in fear before giant Goliath! David knew that God was  bigger and more powe...  Read More

There were 3 young men, full of faith, while surrounded by fear and fire. The King made an edict for every person to bow down and worship his 90 feet tall golden idol …a serious problem for any true w...  Read More

What is an act of grace?  The grace of God worked in the Macedonians to be givers of their means, out of their poverty, to other believers in need.  In this context, it seems to mean giving to others ...  Read More

How familiar the conversations among family and friends have been recently: What would you do if you won…or inherited…millions of dollars?” Their answers were no surprise: “Look what I could do…where ...  Read More

We as humans are strange creatures.  We run faster when we lose our way.  Instead of pausing to regroup, we ricochet from place to place.  We do not pause to orient ourselves.  We usually refuse to as...  Read More

Lately I’ve been feeling the call of Yosemite Valley.  If I don’t visit once a year I start going through withdrawals.  One of the most-breathtaking views on the planet, in my opinion, is driving thro...  Read More

Here in 1 John we see a verse that looks very similar to John 3:16. A summing up if you will of God’s salvation plan for us. However this passage differs a little in that it focuses more on the love o...  Read More

There are so many wonderful proclamations to the Lord in Revelation 4 and 5…“Holy, holy holyLord god Almighty,Who was and is and is to come!"“Your are worthy, O Lord,To receive glory and honor and pow...  Read More

I’m the youngest of five children and I come from a fairly competitive family. Game nights were always entertaining, if not for the game themselves then for the great lengths we’d go to try to win. Ev...  Read More

You may be familiar with the author Stephen Covey and his book, "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." In the book, one of Covey's encouraged habits is, to begin with the end in mind. The idea is that...  Read More

Thankfulness is a powerful and sacred thing, and yet I see it becoming more and more foreign in our culture. We now do transactions, as if hiring someone with money, replaces the need for character or...  Read More

My wide-eyed, startled young daughter stood poised with a black marker by her artwork on the wall. Guess how she answered, when I asked “who wrote with black marker on the wall?” “Not me!” was her lie...  Read More

Why does this thrill me?  Because salvation is not a mere transaction, or a legal document.  It is not a spiritual business deal.  All these are impersonal descriptions of something the law might reco...  Read More

Sometimes God brings to my mind the writings of those whose lives have been deeply used to touch my heart. The following is one such prayer, written by Arthur Bennett as an introduction to his book, “...  Read More

The Apostle Paul was a man of great spiritual stature, but not without faults.  He wanted his readers to know that he had not attained to full maturity in Christ.  Paul saw himself as the worst of sin...  Read More

I’m not being humble when I say that I’m a horrible singer.  I have virtually no musical talent.  So when I worship the Lord, my goal is that the song in my heart will sound better than the song that ...  Read More

I don’t think I have to tell you that we are living in perilous times. We see disaster, strife, depravity, and suffering all around us in various forms. We are bombarded with it on the news every nigh...  Read More

Have you noticed how fear can control you? The fear of the Lord should lead you to obey Him. But, like in the garden, Satan will use fear as a tool to cause you to be afraid of obeying the Lord by con...  Read More

I do not have a green thumb…at all. I don’t think I’ve ever kept a plant alive my entire life. Any greenery that we have around our house is solely due to my wife’s persistence and dedication. I can m...  Read More

Hunger is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as: “A craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient. An uneasy sensation occasioned by the lack of food. It is a weakened condition brought about by...  Read More

How do you feel about opposition? I'm not sure if you heard this story before but in elementary school one of my favorite days of the year was field day. It was a day in which we would compete in a va...  Read More

Representing is something we know all about in western culture: whether you work for Macy’s, Chick-fil-A, Fresno Unified, or represent Campus Bible Church.… carrying something bigger than ourselves is...  Read More