Recent Devotions
Difficult People “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Difficult people! Who hasn’t dealt with one at some point in life? It may have been a boss, a coworker, a fellow church member, or even someone within our family. The problem with such people is that they are— well—difficult. They can make our lives miserable. When such people come into our lives, we must choose how to react. Our response can either escalate the problem or lead to a more peaceful relationship. Dealing in a calm manner without lashing…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Regret! We’ve all experienced it. Sometimes it’s for things we’ve done. At other times, it’s for things we haven’t done but should have. Questions of “what…
“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.” (II Samuel 9:13, NKJV) This is the story of an unlikely friendship, a promise made, a promise kept, and unexpected kindness. You can read the entire story in I…
Readers Loved
“One day a man arrived from Baal Shalishah. He brought the man of God twenty loaves of fresh-baked bread from the early harvest, along with a few apples from the orchard. Elisha said, “Pass it around to the people to eat.” His servant said, “For a hundred men? There’s not nearly enough!” Elisha said, “Just go ahead and do it. God says there’s plenty.” And sure enough, there was. He passed around what he had—they not only ate, but had leftovers.” 2 Kings 4:42-44 MSG One prevailing theme in Elisha’s life is abundance. As I read through the story of his ministry,…
“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12 Forgiven – to no longer hold sin against the person who has sinned against you. The beautiful story that Luke recorded in chapter seven of his Gospel illustrates the forgiveness that the Lord bestows on those who come to Him. The woman who dared to enter the room where Jesus and other men were eating, carried in her hands the most valuable…
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 KJV We can read in 1 Samuel 16:11 that David was “keeping the sheep” and therefore not called in alongside his brothers to greet Samuel. It is important to note King David’s understanding of the role of a shepherd, for David was a shepherd before he was anointed king. David’s unique perspective meant that he understood the way of the wilderness and also the way of the palace. If the Lord is my shepherd, then I must be a sheep. Sheep are timid animals that scare easily. They require a…
Wisdom from Proverbs “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4, ESV) A familiar children’s rhyme declares, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It sounds good, but unfortunately this little rhyme is not true. Yes, sticks and stones can injure us, but so can words. What we say may not leave visible scars, but our words do have the ability to injure another’s spirit. Proverbs 12:18 says words can pierce like a sword. They can cut deep. Perhaps it is because of the power…
