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
Jesus, in Matthew 11:28-30, invites us to release our stress by saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” In the past I have shared my journey of releasing the pressures I place on myself and how I learned to seek after God’s expectations. To be honest, my heart still gets encumbered with stress, but it’s…
When I was eight, Mount St. Helens erupted in fiery fury. Not long after, I read a book about the disaster. It told the story of Harry Randall Truman. This elderly man lived alone in a cabin at the foot of the mountain. The volcano began to rumble inside the earth—a precursor of death and destruction to come. People were ordered to evacuate their homes. But this one older man refused to leave. People pleaded with him to move to a safer place. He said, “If the mountain goes, I’m going with it.” He had lived near this mountain in…
And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Matthew 15:33-37 ESV Sometimes the…
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” Psalm 61:1-3 Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power. I feel impressed to continue the series I started last month, choosing…
