Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

It is hard to imagine where this whole year has gone.  It doesn’t seem possible that this week we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  I am looking forward to spending time with family.  I am sure you have f...  Read More

There are two mistakes we can make in the Christian life that are equally dangerous: we can be too hard on ourselves, or we can be too easy on ourselves.  The second mistake leads to a life of unrestr...  Read More

Anywhere in this world I think, but especially here in America it is easy to lose sight of the eternal while chasing after the material and temporel. As Christians we are called to follow the cause of...  Read More

Thanksgiving is unique among holidays in that it is food-centric. Other holidays typically include a meal (Christmas dinner, Easter brunch, 4th of July barbeque), but at Thanksgiving, the celebration ...  Read More

Words are interesting. What we think something means isn’t always really what it means. That’s the case here in Exodus 2:24. It might seem strange to think that God “remembered” His covenant. Does tha...  Read More

I was delighted when my new husband felt called by God to become a pastor. My husband and I had no idea what was ahead. Both of us were late converts. As we stepped into the role as leaders we were wo...  Read More

In June of 2017, rock climber Alex Honnold, once considered the best climber in the world, attempted to climb "El Capitan,” the 3200-foot rock face in our Yosemite National Park — without ropes. They ...  Read More

I grew up in a legalistic church. When I was in the high school youth group they said we couldn’t dance, because dancing is sin. When I asked why, they said, “Because dancing leads to sex before marri...  Read More

I told Lynn I was going to go for a walk, which was only part of the truth. It was a Sunday. We had taken a trip to So Cal to visit Lynn’s relatives. It was our first trip overnight together. We staye...  Read More

As I reflect on these verses my mind rushes to a special memory of John Fischer, singing a song he wrote when we were both starting in the ministry. It is called the “All-Day Song.” Perhaps you rememb...  Read More

This year as we come to the month of November, I want to set aside more time to reflect on God’s goodness in my life and to be thankful.  In the United States, we have set aside the fourth Thursday of...  Read More

One of the saddest moments of my life was walking through the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC.  At one point on the tour, the museum highlights how Jews were abducted, packed into train car...  Read More

If you had to pick the darkest day of the year, spiritually speaking what would it be? For me, I would say October 31st, All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, as we know it would be a top contender. It is th...  Read More

When trials come…grief, family conflict, financial upsets… it’s hard to see how God could send those circumstances into our lives. We believe He wants the best for us so how can those things be what a...  Read More

A couple years back we were on a vacation in Southern California. While down there we made a trip to the beach. We walked out on the pier and watched the surfers in the water below. Some were doing am...  Read More

I remember the first time I got into a fishing boat. It wasn't that long ago actually and I went out with a friend and our sons to go fishing on the lake. Initially when getting into the boat the only...  Read More

My window to the world is opened up through the power of the internet. Once again, I wait patiently for my ministry friend to log on. How amazing it is that I can connect with someone in Bucharest, Ro...  Read More

When I was a junior at Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL, a mentor was assigned to me. His name was Ed and he was a seminary student attending Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, whic...  Read More

I read a short story once called "The Monkey’s Paw" by W. W. Jacobs. Three wishes are granted to the owner of a particular monkey’s paw.  But while the wishes are granted as requested, terrible and tr...  Read More

I was in the Chicago area, teaching a community-wide conference. During one of the sessions, a distraught woman approached me and asked, “Dr. Cecy, can you recommend a book for me? My life is falling ...  Read More

One of the things I enjoy doing in the early morning is going out into our subdivision for a walk.  Now I will be honest, I started walking for exercise because I wanted to improve my physical health....  Read More

“Hey partner, how are you doing?” the paramedic said, looking down at me.I was writhing on the floor with excruciating pain radiating through my left side, the unmistakable sensation of a kidney stone...  Read More

As the world seems to descend further into darkness around us, I think it is timely to remember that we as Christians were not guaranteed an easy or prosperous life here on earth. Rather we have actua...  Read More

My parents had a set of stock phrases they used on myself and my siblings growing up. (My guess is that your parents probably did, too.) I still remember many of them: “Obey all the way, right away, w...  Read More

Sin rarely seems like it happens overnight. Sure, a sinful act happens in a moment, but there’s always a backstory, there’s always more to it than just the individual act. Sinful action is the symptom...  Read More

Many times, God uses what has happened in my past or present to drive home a lesson He wants me to learn.This week, God took me back to the time my daughters were little. My daughter stumbled into the...  Read More

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

Without trust it is impossible to be in a healthy relationship. So when trust is broken, how do you rebuild it?When a Christian couple named John and Mary came to see me, John had just found out that ...  Read More

Within a few months of my salvation, I became very zealous for all to receive what I had.  How many church goers, like I had been, did not even know about getting saved?  I did some street witnessing....  Read More

In my travels I have visited several ancient ruins, including the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome, more commonly known as the Colosseum. During those ancient battles, the gladiators would sometimes fight...  Read More

According to the Bible, there are only two kinds of children in the world—the children of God and the children of the devil (cf. 1 John 1:12–13 and John 8:39–44).  That’s a very stark and startling re...  Read More

Living on earth it is often easy to forget about higher things, heavenly things. We can get lost in the trivial, in our day-to-day lives, and focus only on what we can see with our own eyes. This vers...  Read More

This past July, I had the privilege of traveling with Pastor Jim and Karon 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 li...  Read More

One night I woke up at 2am with a start!  A thought struck me, “I should do a Bible Study for my grandkids.” Musing on the thought I drifted back to sleep. In the morning I awoke thinking about my 2am...  Read More

Recently, my family went to a Rend Collective concert. If you’re not familiar with them, they are a great worship band from Ireland. We were all excited to hear one of our favorite bands and couldn’t ...  Read More

I don't know about you, but I love pizza. In fact, my family and I might be single-handedly keeping the industry in business. I kid of course but we do have pizza almost every Friday night to go along...  Read More

Both sides of my family were embroiled on opposite sides in that tragic, American Civil War which was fought April 12, 1861–May 26, 1865.  Here I am today a descendent of the North and the South. On m...  Read More

I am going through Men In Action for the first time. It’s a curriculum written by Dr. Jim Cecy and Michael Wilhelm designed to equip men to lead in the home, the church, and the community. Pastor Jim ...  Read More

I was trained as a teacher and a coach.  It took six years to complete a BA, and an MA and secure a teaching credential.  Trained in physical education, biology, and coaching basketball.  Six years, p...  Read More

As I reflect on these verses my mind rushes to a special memory of John Fischer, singing a song he wrote when we were both starting in the ministry. It is called the All-Day Song. Perhaps you remember...  Read More