Recent Devotions
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6, ESV) It’s January, the beginning of a fresh new year. For many, it’s a time to reflect and reset. Some make resolutions while others set spiritual goals. Many start a new Bible reading chart, ready to check off the passages read each day. While some do carry through in their determination to “read more, pray more, and do more,” others grow overwhelmed by the fast pace of everyday life and falter in their goals. I think all of us desire to draw closer to…
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 God began his work in my life the moment I was conceived. He continued to work in my life…
“But when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him.” Mark 6:49-50 NLT In this story found in Mark, we can see that the disciples are in quite a predicament. To understand how they…
Readers Loved
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…
Job 42:1-6 MSG Job answered God: “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’ I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head. You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’ I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I’m sorry—forgive me.…
Jeremiah 31:21 MSG “Set up signposts to mark your trip home. Get a good map. Study the road conditions. The road out is the road back.” I’m a big planner, and I like to be prepared for any scenario when we travel. We don’t go too far from home because the unexpected can be too daunting. But when we do take a trip, I have multiple to-do lists that I start weeks/months before we ever leave. When you take a trip, not many people plan for the journey home, assuming it’s the same as the way there. On your travels,…
