Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

This Old Testament call to love the Lord our God with all our heart has not changed.  Jesus expressed almost the same exact words (Matt. 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27).How might we think about such a ...  Read More

Magnum opus is Latin for what is viewed as the most important work of a person. It is the opposite of what some might see as a failure, a clunker, a debacle…even a bomb! After 72 years of life I have ...  Read More

David begins this psalm with the statement, “I will love You…”  This is the only time in the Old Testament that this Hebrew word for “love” is used to express man’s love for the Lord.  David is respon...  Read More

In a recent sermon I talked about the importance of recognizing the difference between conviction and condemnation.  There are two mistakes we can make in our Christian life – being too hard on oursel...  Read More

When was the last time you took a moment and wondered at all the creation around you. It is really easy to get micro focused in our busy lives and just go about our day to day without ever taking time...  Read More

Here's a brief synopsis of the story of Jonah:The Lord told Jonah to "arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." 91:2) Instead of obeyi...  Read More

All good stories have an element of foreshadowing; a hinting at something that will be important later in the story. In comedy there is an idea called a “call-back” where a joke is made early in the s...  Read More

It’s everywhere.  Above me, below me beside me, on me! WATER, WATER and more WATER!It’s raining…a steady flow. Does it have to rain today!? After a busy time of ministry, my husband and I are touring....  Read More

Who is your favorite "unlikely" hero? Me being a youth guy, a few that come to mind are Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Peter Parker, and Emmet from the Lego Movie. Of course, there are several biblical ...  Read More

Many times believers look at the dire state of our world and say things like, “God you sure got work to do.”, or “God come back and get me out of here!”, or the ever unhelpful critical evaluation of p...  Read More

Perhaps the greatest treasure in our day to day lives in Christ is His having made us free.  Ironically, to most outsiders, this is the one thing we lack as believers!  But in truth we were slaves to ...  Read More

Around 600 BC King Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah and Coniah) was just eight years old when he became King of  Judah. Just eight years old! And he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. Jus...  Read More

As I look back over decades of ministry, I am thankful for the godly people who have helped shape my life and my ministry.  Their impact was felt as they lived out in practical ways their faith, love,...  Read More

Recently I was reading through the Book of Leviticus.  My tendency is to speed through the opening chapters because the regulations for the sacrifices are very detailed and repetitive.  But this time ...  Read More

We just celebrated Easter last week and in the midst of the celebration and joy that we experience in our church services it can be easy to forget just how dark the world is becoming around us. Howeve...  Read More

There are times that I have given my forgiveness to someone and then at a later time something will come up that brings back the sting of that transgression and I remember it all over again.Throughout...  Read More

I’ve had a lot of surprises in life. After growing up on cartoons, I was very surprised to learn that you can’t walk on clouds. After years of drinking V8 with my dad, I was surprised to learn that To...  Read More

I don't know if you ever changed your major in college but I have had quite a bit of experience in that area. For me, it was after I'd been medically separated from the Marine Corps (which I found my ...  Read More

We have just finished Palm Sunday, passion week with Good Friday, the glory of Easter Sunday and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead! We commemorated the most significant event in all of human history!...  Read More

 As we come off the heels of Christ’s Passion week and Resurrection Sunday, what confidence and promise we have to drink in, the very last words Jesus said after the Great Commission and then He ascen...  Read More

God’s sovereign rule cuts through all circumstances, sin and disasters. In Genesis 37-45 Joseph’s life illustrates this beautifully. Swirling throughout the life of Joseph are all the emotions of man...  Read More

Reading 1 -2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles for these past number of weeks has been a sober reminder of the ups and downs of faith. In 1 Samuel 7, we read about the people of God tired of livin...  Read More

There was a day last week I let circumstances get the better of me. I was gearing up for a real “pity party.” I was verging on grumbling but knew I wasn’t having any joy in it. I finally threw up my h...  Read More

Like many other Psalms, this Psalm was written by David. When you look at David’s life it’s no wonder that he was so confident in God. He took out lions and bears as a kid, defeated a giant when all t...  Read More

Waking up this morning, I open my eyes to the reality that the race will continue today!  Another full day of my to-do list, work, house duties, people who need me.  Before my feet touch the floor, I ...  Read More

Have you ever purchased something online and when it arrived it was not quite what you thought it would be? I remember for Alexis and I's five-year wedding anniversary I wanted to do something special...  Read More

What feelings come to mind when you think of being “seen and known?” Is it feelings of comfort and safety? Does it make you feel fear or insecure, or feelings of being valued?As a musician I’ve spent ...  Read More

This is the final of a four part devotion from James 4:1-10.We all have hearts to serve the Lord Jesus.  That’s why you are reading this devotion.  That‘s why your read your Bible, and pray.  That’s w...  Read More

This week we celebrate President’s Day. Well, maybe we get a day off but I doubt if there is much celebrating. We used to hold these national leaders in high regard, even if we disagreed with their po...  Read More

Martha invited Jesus and His disciples to a meal and became distracted by all the preparation.  She wanted to spend time with the Lord, but she had a lot of work to do.  As Martha responded to the str...  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

At the time of writing this, the 2022 Winter Olympics are currently underway in Beijing, and I am always amazed by the talent, poise, strength, and endurance that the athletes display. We are watching...  Read More

I had to read this Psalm over several times to finally realize how personal it was. My first thought was, “Oh Lord, thank you for your forgiveness, there are loved ones that I am so grateful for your ...  Read More

I hurt my shoulder. I don’t know how but it happened. I went to bed fine and woke up the next morning unable to move it without shooting pain. Here’s the kicker, it literally happened on my birthday. ...  Read More

Words! Words! So many words, but not the right words! I am standing in front of the card section in my local store, I am frustrated!  There are no cards that adequately express my deep love for my hus...  Read More

If you've never seen the movie "Finding Dory", I imagine you don't have young children, but the movie is the sequel to Disney's hit film "Finding Nemo". In the original movie, Marlon is a widowed fath...  Read More

What distinguishes something from royalty versus common, the ordinary versus extraordinary, or worthy and less worthy? It has to do with the value of the items or cause, not the cost to attain. It’s r...  Read More

Previously James spoke about the quarrels and conflicts among Christians.  These he said arose from pleasures, lack and envy among the people.  He also declared with should ask God for what we need, i...  Read More

In Jewish history, Leviticus was the very first book taught to children. Wow! I suspect it is the very last Bible book we would teach our children today. Let’s be honest. Leviticus is really a tough ...  Read More

Often, we become so wrapped up in the affairs of everyday life, that we do not spend much time thinking about heaven.  Eternity often is something we have considered to be unrelated to life as we live...  Read More