Recent Devotions
“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38). And Mary said, “Yes” when the angel came, not knowing all it would mean. For “yes” was only the beginning. “Yes” to giving birth in a cold, dark stable while cows and sheep looked on. “Yes” to a sword that pierced her soul as her Son died on a cross while she looked on. And Mary said, “Yes, let it be.” But do I? Do I say “yes” when God calls to…
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures,they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11). Our children were grown and Christmas seemed to have lost some of…
During this time of year, it may be easy to forget that the bigger purpose behind Bethlehem was Calvary. The purpose of Jesus’ birth was His death. The purpose of the manger was the Cross. It wasn’t as pretty as a department store tree. There were no lights or fancy…
Readers Loved
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, ESV) The longer I live, the more I’m convinced that gratitude is a key element in living a happy life. It’s difficult to be grumpy and grateful at the same time. It’s also difficult to be selfish and grateful. Or angry, rude, or thoughtless and grateful. You get the idea. A thankful spirit is the perfect antidote for a lot of our everyday irritations and attitudes. Someone once compared gratitude to a muscle that grows stronger the more we exercise it. If we…
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him . . . And coming in that instant she [Anna] gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:25 and 38, NKJV) Christmas is a season of longing, hope, and expectation. For some, it is only a time of parties and gift-giving. The true miracle of the season, however, goes back to a distant time and place when…
“Ready or not, here I come!” With these words my stomach dropped, my heart pumped faster, and I tried to steady my breath. I was hiding—hiding in my secret place, and for a moment I was invisible. At times I would peek out from my hiding spot, and I could see my seeker wandering the yard in pursuit of me. If I just stayed in my hiding place, I would not be discovered. As a child, hide-n-seek was one of my favorite games. The challenge was in finding a good hiding spot, the thrill of hiding, and the curiosity if…
“But the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” (I Peter 1:25, ESV) As I was growing up, my parents made a sizeable investment, at least compared to their modest income, to buy my brother and me a set of World Book Encyclopedia. A print version of the encyclopedia may seem old-fashioned in this digital age, but at that time it was an impressive set of books to have on one’s bookshelf. I could pull out a volume, randomly open it, and learn so many fascinating facts. Science, history,…
