Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

Right now, I’m reading through the four Gospels in a way that is called a “Harmony” of the Gospels. The idea is to take the four Gospel accounts and divide them up so that they are all compiled togeth...  Read More

Change is something that is completely normal. Every 12 month period that we call a year has some amount of change in it. We’re only 7 months into 2020 and we’ve seen tremendous change on a daily, som...  Read More

English is the only language I can speak. I’ve taken classes in Spanish and Greek, but I didn’t leave those classes fluent (or even conversational). Since I’ve always been surrounded by others who als...  Read More

Awaken the DawnOver the years, I have had to discipline myself to become a morning person. Instead of a groggy (and, at times, grumpy) “Good Lord, it’s morning!” I now most often wake early to a more ...  Read More

On November 20, 1980, a drill rig was doing some exploratory drilling in a 10-foot deep lake in Louisiana. A few moments later the very large (and expensive) drill rig mysteriously disappeared complet...  Read More

We live in a world filled with the alarming need for security locks, security doors, security cameras, security lights and security dogs (Does our Dachshund/Chihuahua qualify?). I even put fake securi...  Read More

The List of HopeThis morning as I was reading in the Bible, I began thinking about my list. No, it is not mygrocery list. No, it is not my “to do” list at home. It is not even my “to do” list for my w...  Read More

Living a Life of HopeThe Christian life is a life of faith and hope. Romans 1:17 states, “The righteous will live by faith.”  Having become a child of God by faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we ar...  Read More

The Hope of Heaven This year I turned 50 years old and it’s got me thinking a lot about heaven. When I was a teenager I never thought much about the future.  I felt invincible and I lived in the prese...  Read More

Do you ever think about the word “Christ”? It's not Jesus’ last name. Jesus’ beloved disciple, John, compels us here to believe in Jesus as the “Messiah,” synonymous with “Christ.” What does that mean...  Read More

The Bible often tells us to do things we would likely not do without being told. Being patient in tribulation goes against our normal inclinations. Being constant in prayer requires constant effort. B...  Read More

My youngest son, Luke, is completely blind. He has eyes, but they do not see. However, he’s just like any other kid who loves to laugh, play, and do fun things.A few months back our family began going...  Read More

This is what the Lord said to Abraham when Abraham questioned, and Sarah laughed, after the Lord told him that he and Sarah (who were way past childbearing age) would have a son a year from then. It m...  Read More

Today my 7-year-old daughter asked me a question; “How has God always been there?” As we discussed this her response kept coming back to, “But I don’t understand.” We continued to talk, and I explaine...  Read More

Just as a body needs oxygen to survive, a relationship needs communication. Prayer is communicating with God and is more than just a good idea; it is essential in our relationship with Him. Notice tha...  Read More

When our world or our life is in turmoil, God provides a peace that surpasses all understanding.  This peace is an antidote to worry/stress. When the world would be panicking and others are frantic, G...  Read More

This verse is great news! When it comes to power, there’s no one who even comes close to the power of God Almighty. Not only is He powerful, but He is also slow to anger. To get an idea of how great t...  Read More

Do you still find yourself marveling at the work of God? Do you find yourself in awe of who he is? The Bible says in verse 12 that Peter was “marveling” at what he saw that Easter Sunday. What are thr...  Read More

In a perfect world, all would live in peace with each other. It doesn’t take long to be reminded that we do not live in a perfect world. It’s easy to be discouraged by the lack of peace we see on a re...  Read More

Do you ever do things because it’s the right thing to do, but your heart really isn’t in it? Do you ever go through “spiritual Christian exercises" because it’s what Christians are supposed to do, but...  Read More

There is a lot going on in our world today that can cause us to experience anxious moments and worry. Paul encourages us to remember that God is near. He is present, right here and now in our lives.  ...  Read More

The PathMy husband, Jim and I spent sometime this morning planning for a path from our patio to the other side of the yard. We measured. We calculated the cost. This brought my attention to Psalm 119 ...  Read More

Joy! O, sweet blessed joy! I need more joy in my life, don’t you? Of course you do! We all want more joy, need more joy, desire to be more joyful, etc. So, the question then is why don’t we…as God’s c...  Read More

I did not grow up with any living grandmothers. So, to watch firsthand my wife explode with joy over serving our grandchildren is truly remarkable. A brief visit or a lengthy sleepover at Grammy and P...  Read More

What is the role of the believers when the world gets even darker? Is it to complain? To hide? Or to shine? As vessels of the Holy Spirit of God, WE are the one redeeming seed in a fallen world. Our A...  Read More

What are you afraid of?Cruising around the Sea of Galilee in a boat is always a highlight for every Israel tour group my husband, Jim and I lead. For me, getting on the boat is a faith walk. I am terr...  Read More

Seek to Live in His LoveGod's love is a little different. It covers a multitude of sins...yours, mine, and others'. So we should aim to put on His love like a cloak that covers us from head to toe. If...  Read More

I love how the Lord will meet us right where we are! This is where I am at in my daily reading of God's Word. Here the Lord reminded me to fulfill my ministry; what He has gifted me for. So, I want to...  Read More

John the Baptist had a ministry before Jesus. When Jesus came on the scene, John’s influence started to diminish. In John 3:26 some of John’s followers point out, “Rabbi, he who was with you across th...  Read More

What would you be willing to do to get wisdom?  In the New Testament, James teaches that we can ask God for wisdom and he will give it to us generously and without reproach (James 1:5).  But that does...  Read More

I am sitting in my yard marveling at my precious grandchildren. My husband, Jim has inspired them to build a city on a table using sticks, bark, rocks and whatever yard debris they can find.  My heart...  Read More

Like most proverbs, this verse is sometimes easier to put into practice than other times. There are certainly instances when we hear advice and know we should immediately put it into practice, but the...  Read More

As I have had the opportunity to hear the many ways God has been moving and speaking to others in our choir, along with Pastor Charles’s sermon this past Sunday, I am reminded of the certainty of Jesu...  Read More

He is All Around UsGod is like a cocoon of light. His presence is with us regardless of if we notice or not. Many things distract us from noticing but one of the biggest distractions is our own worry....  Read More

Moses, the man of God, wrote these words to all of us earthlings. Even as an old man, he couldn’t be clearer. No matter how young or old we are today, we must all consider carefully his timeless messa...  Read More

Heal Our LandCOVID, then injustice, pain and fires of division?! While the human race is limping and aching, People of God, we have but ONE direction we should go in these times; low and humble under ...  Read More

BETHLEHEM:  This word immediately draws my thoughts to the book of Luke and his description of the Christ-child in the manger. But there is another book that comes to my mind; the book of Ruth.  This ...  Read More

We know that we do not need a building to worship our God. We can worship Him anywhere and anytime. Yet, there is something “lovely” about gathering with the people of God to worship together in one o...  Read More

Before the death of King Saul, David was at a place called Ziklag for 16 months. While he was there, many came to support him instead of Saul to be king of Israel. 1 Chronicles 12 is essentially a lis...  Read More

We’re all familiar with the childhood game of “hide and seek.” It’s a great game because it requires no extra items to play, needs nothing to be setup ahead of time, and is relatively simple to explai...  Read More