Recent Devotions
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 The “secret place” is more than a hidden location—it is a place of intimacy, trust, and closeness with God. A secret is not shared with everyone; it is reserved for those who are trusted and valued. In the same way, God invites us into a personal relationship with Him where we can be completely honest, vulnerable, and secure in His presence. When someone entrusts you with a secret, they are opening a part of their heart that is not…
“But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). Many families have suffered the heartache of a child turning his back on God. Whether it is a total rebellion against the…
“All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Psalm 25:10, ESV) Do you depend on your phone’s GPS as much as I do? I freely admit that I am directionally challenged. It’s been a lifelong affliction, but I’ve learned…
Readers Loved
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…
“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…
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…
