Recent Devotions
“And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.” I Samuel 1:6-7 Hannah had a problem. She was barren, which in those days was a sign of reproach. It was not because of any sin in her life that caused her to be that way. Verse six of Chapter 1 tells us that the Lord had shut up her womb.…
“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” John 11:32. Mary had been firmly convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. She had listened to the stories from…
“And Jesus said, somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” Luke 8:46. Twelve long years. Countless doctors and treatments. Considered an outcast because of her affliction. Wondering if things would ever change. BUT then she heard about the Healer, Jesus of Nazareth, who…
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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…
When I sit down to read my Bible, I am not simply spending a dutiful fifteen minutes. Instead, I am on a treasure hunt. With a pencil or highlighter in hand, I read with anticipation, waiting for something to speak to my spirit. Underlining or highlighting those words makes the experience more personal and helps etch them in my heart. This small action trains me to expect discovery—to uncover the nuggets of truth that the Word of God is so rich with. This process came to mind recently as I listened to our administrative assistant address our team. Nastasia shared…
“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10, ESV) How do you turn a nation back to God when it seems to have lost its way? That question seems relevant in our present times. Is revival and restoration even possible? The Book of Ezra offers hope. As we read through its chapters, we discover how one man’s dedication and determination became the catalyst for a nation’s revival. Ezra, one of my favorite Old Testament characters, was a scribe and a…
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” Matthew 19:21 When Jesus was here on earth, His teaching drew crowds of followers. Some followed Him because of the miracles he performed. Others saw Him as the One who would deliver them from the Roman oppressors. It is possible that some just saw Him as a diversion. They listened to His teachings but did nothing about them. The young man in this story, apparently, was hungry for…
