Recent Devotions
“That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by…
“He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.’ ” Acts 7:8 NLT I struggle with having patience. I always open the microwave before it dings, coax along the red traffic light, and I hate being late.…
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:4 I’m not the type of person who likes to have plans set in stone, nor am I completely a free spirit. I’m in the middle of “let me know where to be and when, and let’s take…
Readers Loved
“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” Hebrews 11:32-35 After highlighting the stories of several well-known Bible characters, the author of Hebrews realized that he did not have the time…
“Let brotherly love continue.” (Hebrews 13:1) When I’ve been out with friends from church, we are sometimes asked the question, “Are you sisters?” We usually just smile and answer, “No, just friends.” It’s amusing because often there is no physical resemblance between any of us, but the onlooker senses some connection they can’t quite define. When asked the “sisters” question, a more accurate answer might be no . . . but also yes. We are not biological sisters; we are sisters in the Lord. That similarity they sense but can’t pinpoint is the spirit of the God we share. His blood connects…
“Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:3-4, NKJV) Have you ever experienced a situation so sudden and unexpected that it seemed your world changed completely overnight? One day life was good and the next it was…
When I was eight, I wanted to ride my older sister’s ten-speed bike. I didn’t want to ride a kid’s bike; I wanted to be a big kid! One Friday afternoon, my dad unsuccessfully tried to teach me how to ride the ten-speed. After falling off and running into a sticker bush, I gave up. Hurt, bleeding, and crying, I finally gave up my dream of riding my sister’s bike. I remember coming into the house crying and angry about this one obstacle I couldn’t get past. I walked into the house feeling defeated and the scars to prove it.…
