Today's Devotion
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV) In a recent Sunday morning service, I looked at the familiar faces surrounding me in the pews. I knew many of their trials and their victories. This wasn’t a gathering of strangers. It was the family of God. We love each other and stand by each other in the good times and the not-so-good times. To…
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:8-11. This time of year evokes a deep sense of gratitude because I reminisce my childhood around Thanksgiving and Christmas. In past devotions I’ve shared how I did not grow up with a lot of monetary blessings; some Thanksgiving dinners were baked chicken breasts, rather than a Turkey, and many of my Christmas presents were from the Dollar Store. None of those memories bring me to a place of sadness; rather, I feel so blessed to feel…
“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:3, NIV. Small Beginnings Spring is only a few days away; a time of rejuvenation and new growth. Even the smallest seeds will take root and become a beautiful plant or tree. I used to live in Michigan and I can still remember neighborhoods with tall and mighty oak trees. Their long limbs would shake off acorns during the strong winds that would sweep through during a thunderstorm. I would watch the neighborhood squirrels gather acorns and bury them with precision with…
“Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12, NKJV) When Obedience Becomes Optional Disobedience is defined as a refusal or failure to obey authority. It often begins subtly with excuses, pride, or misplaced emotion and ends in painful consequence. Whether it’s speeding on the road, breaking policies at work, or ignoring God’s commandments, disobedience never leads to blessing. It is the root that separates us from divine favor. The story of Moses in Numbers…
When I was a teenager, I worked at a shoe store. It was, without question, the best job ever. I received 50% off regular stock, and the discount still applied to items already on sale. In other words, it was a teenager’s dream. Let’s say I owned a lot of shoes—easily more than fifty pairs. Honestly, if shoe ownership were a spiritual gift, I would have been operating in my calling. One day, I was helping a mother pick out a pair of running shoes for her little boy. She finally found the perfect pair, and they headed downstairs toward…
