Today's Devotion
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4 Have you ever stood before something so breathtaking that it silenced you? The vastness of the Grand Canyon, or the thunderous beauty of Niagara Falls can make you stand in awe of Gods creation. That is often humanity’s response when we encounter something greater than ourselves. In the same way, when we enter into the presence of God, worship should naturally follow. We are not just singing songs; we are responding to the holiness, majesty, and nearness of…
“…Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 When God’s Will is Different from Our Will This coming week commemorates the loss of one of my spiritual mentors. Sister Ann, a very influential woman in my life, was diagnosed with an invasive cancer. Prayer about the healing for her body consumed my prayers and I went on extended fasts and memorized every scripture I could find that said the word ‘heal.’ I had dreams of God miraculously healing her spine, eradicating every cell of cancer in her body, leading me to believe they were prophetic. However, on January…
As I watch her excitedly climb the ladder to slide down the other side, I’m gripped with the knowledge that this is a fleeting moment. I see the joy in her upturned face as she talks to the trees, the birds, the flowers, asking them to play. Once again, I experience the firsts, the lasts, the growing, and the changing. I tell her she’s a “big girl” as she carefully, determinedly tries to put on her shoes. I remember this all so well, an echo of what was and what is again. What a blessing to experience childhood a third…
“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, ESV) When my now college-age grand was still pre-school age, she was a very determined child. She wasn’t pushy or mean, just very firm in her likes and dislikes. When she liked something, she really, really liked it—to the point of holding onto her favorites forever. I discovered this when I…
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 Where do they come from? You walk into your bedroom and see something dark and shadowy in the corner that wasn’t there before. Time to get the broom, wrap a dust cloth around it, and carefully wipe the edges of the ceiling and down the corners of the room. Might as well check the rest of…
