Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

Even as a child I struggled with the question, “Why am I here?” I remember one “dark night of the soul” at the age of nine when I was afraid I was going to die. I wept before God: “Lord, what do you w...  Read More

If you google “pursue” you will get the following definition, “follow (someone or something) in order to catch or attack them.” That certainly has a negative connotation to it. A secondary definition ...  Read More

I've been reading the major prophets for a bit now and I have to say it isn't very cheerful. In fact, it's been very disheartening and bleak and I can hardly wait to get to Daniel to read about the vi...  Read More

I was part of a seminar about immorality in the ministry, specifically how to prevent immorality, not how to be immoral. It is a poignant reminder of how easy it is to fall into the trap of sin, even ...  Read More

I have been thinking about how important it is that Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, continually interceding for us. Prayer was a key component of Jesus’ ministry to His disciples.  He cont...  Read More

One evening I was leading a Bible Study for young women in my home. One of the women shared that the Bible she carried belonged to her mother who had passed away. Flipping through her mother’s Bible, ...  Read More

One of my favorite sports movies is “Remember the Titans” starring Denzel Washington and Will Patton. The 2000 film is based on the true events of T.C. Williams High School’s 1971 (*spoiler alert) cha...  Read More

I started a small group ministry at my church in Wisconsin. They met in homes every week. The goal for these groups was to give people an opportunity to connect with others from our church on a deeper...  Read More

Once in awhile I like to go to an oldies’ car show.  Lynn and I got an opportunity to do so that fit, so we went to Kingsburg last Saturday.  We purchased a couple of drinks and a cookie from Kuppa Jo...  Read More

There was a time in my life when I thought I was surrounded by death: My father died young, one of many in his family.I was in a war zone at the age of twenty.Four of our babies died in miscarriages.A...  Read More

Last Sunday, my husband Gary and I went for a drive. We had not planned where we would go. We were supposed to go out of town, but a family emergency had kept us close to home. All was well at this po...  Read More

In June of 1980, my family and I moved to Montana.  Little did we know what great adventure and ministry were waiting for us there.  After getting settled in, on a beautiful Montana summer day, we dro...  Read More

I was born again and became a new creation in Christ on February 13, 1993—just two months shy of my 23rd birthday.  I know for a fact that my mom helped pray me into the kingdom, and shortly after my ...  Read More

Have you ever felt timid or shy about your faith with others? Have you ever thought that others might think what you believe and stand for is weird, odd, or silly. I know as a kid I often had these th...  Read More

More and more I wonder about the things I get angry about. There is certainly righteous anger, and there is sinful anger, but sometimes I wonder if there’s a third category; sometimes I wonder if I’m ...  Read More

Growing up in a home with a schizophrenic mother, I learned to be silent. The less I said, the better. Consequently, this protective shell of silence became my norm. People called me shy; I felt it wa...  Read More

When it comes to group projects, are you the type of person who likes to be in charge and figure out what everyone else must do or would you rather sit back and wait for a role to be assigned to you? ...  Read More

A few years ago I was going through some struggles in ministry. I sought out help from two friends of mine who are older pastors. We decided to set-up a one-hour monthly meeting for them to counsel an...  Read More

I recently had my grandson over to help me with some work in the backyard.  We were replacing 180 sq. ft. of overhead lattice.  There was an area on the fascia board of the house which had a tangle of...  Read More

One rainy night, when I was a teenager, I was alone on the night shift at a fast-food restaurant. A customer rushed in and asked to use our restroom. I politely informed him we were not permitted to a...  Read More

Through the years I have often quoted Philippians 3:10, agreeing with the Apostle Paul that I want to know the Lord on a deeper level.  Suffering and a full understanding of Christ’s death on our beha...  Read More

When I was about nine years old, a neighborhood friend of mine probably saved my life. It was a beautiful sunny day during summer vacation. Steven and I were sitting on top of a block wall talking whe...  Read More

The world is doing a great job these days of watering down the gospel and the message of Jesus Christ. In its constant quest for tolerance it is constantly pushing that love and acceptance are the onl...  Read More

I love this verse! It explains exactly what the Word of God does for us! It explains what Jesus meant when He said, "Take, eat, this is My body." (Mark 14:22) and "I am the bread of life… I am the liv...  Read More

I long ago gave up the hope that I would always understand the ways of God. Time and time again I see things that make little sense to me with my earthly vantage point and yet somehow make perfect sen...  Read More

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a tough, no-nonsense kind of dad. I’m a bit old school when it comes to my parenting style. However, I often ask my sons to do things instead of command that they do the...  Read More

I have always looked for teachable moments with my kids with the goal of creating a hunger and thirst for God. One day a lesson came in a most unexpected way. It had been storming for a few days as th...  Read More

Here are a few things that help me grow spiritually, and I hope they can help you, too.1. Connect with other Christians Hebrews 10:25 “...not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of ...  Read More

I started my day early.  I had an appointment at Kaiser Hospital.  While it was only for a blood test, the hospital world is always a little foreboding! It seems a negative.  But the truth is, the blo...  Read More

What do you call three brothers, three sisters, one half-sister and one half-brother—all with the same father? A brood? Blood relatives? The Cecy family! Here are some of my personal observations of g...  Read More

This past week we reflected on the sufferings of Christ and celebrated His resurrection that first Easter morning.  Now almost 2000 years removed from the events, I want to remind us of how significan...  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

We just finished celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the very foundation of our faith! Praise God that He is risen, He is risen indeed! And in light of that momentous event I thought...  Read More

As a young believer I was intrigued with a plaque on a pastor’s wall. It was a rubber kitchen glove. The words below read: “Beware of phony Christians.” Soon after I hear this same pastor say, “Don’t ...  Read More

I grew up near a small town called Grass Valley. It started as a gold mining town and still has a historic downtown area. I spent a lot of time walking up and down these streets over the years. When m...  Read More

During passion week each year I love to think through each day of Jesus’ journey to the cross.Palm Sunday - Jesus officially presented to Israel (Lk.19:29-44; Mt.21:11-17)Monday - Cleansing the temple...  Read More

Have you ever had a near-death experience? It burdens me as I write this to see that there's been another school shooting that took place at a private Christian school Nashville, Tennessee. I can only...  Read More

I spent many years as an executive secretary. (Now they call them Assistants). I was eventually able to type sixty-six words a minute and was also quite adept at shorthand at 110 words per minute. To ...  Read More

Barry McGuire came to our church to speak and sing 2-3 times in Reedley. He tells the story of encountering Arthur Blessit at a gathering.  Barry was partying when Blessit looked at him and spoke to h...  Read More

This is my 72nd Easter celebration—my 32nd in Fresno. For many years we held sunrise services at Woodward Park in North Fresno. On some of those early morning services it was so cold that I could bare...  Read More