Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

Some may look at James’ words here and think they are little nihilistic, but when read in context they are a reminder of how relatively short our lives on earth are, and how foolish it is for us to ma...  Read More

The commissioning of Isaiah is such an inspiring section of Scripture to me. God asks a simple question, “Whom shall I send…?” and Isaiah promptly responds, “Me!” When I was in college, I had a profes...  Read More

“Steadfast” is one of those old English words people don’t use much anymore.  In fact, recently I looked it up in the dictionary because I wasn’t sure what it meant, and I’m glad I did!  It’s made up ...  Read More

The little book of Joel is an interesting read. An unprecedented event happened in Judah that affected all levels of society; a plague of locusts has destroyed all the crops. In any ancient culture th...  Read More

I absolutely love, love, love reading the Book of Leviticus! To me, Leviticus is one of the most fascinating books in the Bible. It provides us with such detailed instruction about what God had given ...  Read More

One of my favorite places in the World is the south shore of the Sea of Galilee. I remember: It is so easy to visualize here what it must have been like during Biblical times. It is quiet, except for ...  Read More

It is such an honor that God gives each of us special giftings that help us function together as one. When we exercise our gifting in the proper way, recognizing and acting upon the verse that comes b...  Read More

Only one of Jesus’ disciples was with Him at the cross: John, along with several women who followed Him and His mother. The Roman centurion was the one to verbalize what they must have been feeling: J...  Read More

In today’s world, where do we go to find relief from the stressors of life? The Apostle Peter tells us to “cast our cares” on the Lord. The word for “care” means to have a division in our mind. It pic...  Read More

In Psalm 73 Asaph the Psalmist is complaining about unbelievers and how they seem to have everything going for them, while his life seemed so full of difficulties. He admitted that his complaining had...  Read More

Question: Have you misplaced your joy in the Lord? Here’s what I mean.I absolutely love Psalm 51. For me, it seems to speak everything into my mind and heart that is ever needed for godliness in this ...  Read More

On any given day we have to manage the normal activities of life. The reality is that we often push ourselves beyond normal human limits. Today we need to be reminded again of the words of the Psalmis...  Read More

Panic attacks, weary hearts, frustrated souls…this is surely the landscape of our city, state and nation right now. And though we are as human as the next citizen…we have a HUGE advantage as God’s peo...  Read More

On this very day 13 years ago, my wife Megan and I were married. Though we became husband and wife that day, we continue to live out that reality every day of our lives. My brother and best-man said s...  Read More

Jesus knew He was about to be ambushed. When we read about how He prayed all night that this “cup” would pass from Him, He was talking about the suffering He was about to experience of being separated...  Read More

The Lord saved me while I was a senior in college. I was preparing to graduate and then immediately go on to earn my Master’s and then a Doctorate in clinical psychology. I had it all planned out. I w...  Read More

These incredible words from the apostle Paul have been powerfully used to give to us a heavenly perspective on the challenges of life this side of heaven. No matter what happens we can fix our eyes on...  Read More

I have a book called, “Today in History.” The book takes each day and gives a list of things that happened on that day throughout the years. For example, on this very day in 1821 Samuel Rust of New Yo...  Read More

In this passage, we see the beginning of the end. Jesus and His disciples had already eaten the last supper, and He was about to be arrested. Jesus obviously felt a lot of anxiety because He was about...  Read More

“Speak Lord, in the Noise and Quiet”If you were honest, do you feel like your soul is noisy or quiet right now? Before you keep reading, pause and consider. This is truly a new normal for us all, and ...  Read More

Certainly applicable in this era of coronavirus, I am challenged by what Martin Luther wrote during the bubonic plague epidemic: "This I well know, that if it were Christ or his mother who were laid l...  Read More

I identify with Martha so much because I’m such a “doer.” During this time there’s so much to be doing and we are rightly concerned with wanting to care for people. But in “doing” I don’t want to get ...  Read More

Our days are filled with opportunities that entice us to invest our time and energy. Each day the tyranny of the urgent cries out for every available moment. With all these voices shouting for our att...  Read More

Imagine being able to travel just sixty minutes into the future and watch ourselves. How might that affect our behavior here in the present? We have an all-knowing, everywhere-present God who knows ou...  Read More

Today might not seem any different from yesterday or tomorrow, but today is unique. We have lots of Monday’s, we even have lots of May 4ths, but only one today. What do I mean? We literally only get t...  Read More

Hearing His Voice in the Midst of NoiseIn recent days I have been encouraging people, young and old, to use these days of being “sheltered in place” to get a lot done. However, there is a downside. Fo...  Read More

“It is the Father’s good pleasure...” Have you ever known that you are experiencing the Father’s good pleasure? Last Sunday, as I watched our leadership I think I experienced the Father’s good pleasur...  Read More

As we read the news, we read about a deadly virus, sorrow and even financial ruin in all the Nations of the World. Many people are suffering. How do you handle the trials this Earth dishes out?  Seek ...  Read More

In life, there are many situations that create stress because of the fear of the unknown. Unless we allow God to handle these situations we will soon find ourselves overwhelmed. It is easy for us to s...  Read More

Such were the painful words of the imprisoned apostle Paul, writing to his child in the faith, Timothy. Oh how they missed each other. I know the feeling! When I was a little boy my parents split up. ...  Read More

Do you sometimes get depressed easily, or even slip into moments of spiritual depression?Unfortunately, I do. It happens way more often than I’m comfortable admitting to, and I find that it tends to c...  Read More

Somewhere around the year 125 A.D. a converted Athenian philosopher delivered to the Roman Emperor Hadrian a defense of the Christian faith which included the following description of his fellow Chris...  Read More

What do you have confidence in? Think about it; on a daily basis we place our confidence in so many things! I have confidence that my alarm will go off, that the light will come on when I flip the swi...  Read More

There are rocks everywhere in the land of Israel.  In the countryside of Israel, I was amazed to see beautiful lilies and roses growing in the crevices and cracks of the rocks.  There is a saying, “I ...  Read More

Since 9/11 we have been keen on saying to active members and veterans of our military as well as first responders (police, fire and emergency services): “Thank you for your service.” In this new crisi...  Read More

Do you remember a few months back when each of our pastors shared their personal testimonies at church in our “Pastoral Callings” series? I likewise shared my personal testimony and my three main poin...  Read More

In ancient times a city set on a hill had an obvious advantage; you could see it from far away. As day turned to night and those in the city lit their lamps, the city became more noticeable. Think abo...  Read More

Some people bunker, many are isolating, but how do you refuge?  You can actually do it physically, emotionally, & spiritually. But the question is, how are you refuging right now? Is it in panic from ...  Read More

Each spring God reminds us of His promise of life. The wild flowers spring forth, the trees come back to life and all nature seems to be reborn. Spring is a celebration of renewal and rebirth. It is a...  Read More

19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “P...  Read More