Today's Devotion
“The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” Proverbs 27:7. I don’t know about you, but I love snacks. In fact, I am eating snacks right now; Boom Chicka Pop, to be exact. I try my very best not to buy junk food at the grocery store—not because I don’t want it, but because I know myself. My discipline is strongest in the produce aisle, not in my kitchen at 9 p.m. Think ahead with me to Thanksgiving dinner. The smell of turkey, sweet potato casserole, and pumpkin pie hits you before you…
“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” (Philippians 1:29, NLT) Contrary to what we would like to believe, bad things really do happen to good people sometimes. This becomes evident as we read the Book of Acts and realize the persecution that the early church experienced. Despite the things they faced, even death, they did not waver in their faith or turn back from the Lord. When Paul wrote about the privilege of suffering to the church at Philippi, he did not choose those words lightly.…
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…
