Recent Devotions
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” (Colossians 3:23, NKJV) Have you even known someone who seemed to do just enough to get by? No more, no less, just the bare minimum. It happens. A student does only enough to pass the course. An employee fakes busyness but produces little work. We even find them within the church. They show up, sit in the same pew week after week, and then disappear until the following Sunday. There is little actual involvement in the mission of the church. A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE As…
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5, ESV) In II Chronicles chapter 1, we read of the newly crowned king of Israel. The man was Solomon, son of King David, and the…
“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.” (Proverbs 12:3, NLT) Several homes in my neighborhood, including mine, have very tall and very old trees. When the area was developed, the builder saved these beautiful old trees, and I’m glad. Someone had also planted a small, decorative tree…
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“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 KJV At midnight tonight, we will close the chapter on another year. It hardly seems possible this can be true; the year has sped…
“And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Genesis 45:7 Joseph was just a youth when God gave him a dream. Not really knowing what it meant, he told his brothers. This made them truly angry and turned them against him. Even his father, Jacob, though he loved him greatly. thought he was being foolish. God was showing Joseph that He had a special position to fill. But it was not to happen right away. He would have years to wait before he saw the…
Acts 7:8 NLT “He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.’ ” I struggle with having patience. I always open the microwave before it dings, I coax along the red traffic light, and I seriously hate being late. I feel like I am always in a state of busyness, rushing from one task to the next and never setting aside the time needed to listen and rest. The Message translation puts the above scripture like this “He told them, ‘You don’t get to know the time.…
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul years, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2, NIV. Just now in prayer, I said, “God, I miss my time with you.” It is 6:06am and both of my babies (3 and 1 year old) are still sleeping. I relish moments alone with God, but alone time, in general, is fleeting these days. However, throughout my day, I am intentional about spending time with the Lord. It is sometimes amongst laundry piles, a three-year-old trying…
