Recent Devotions
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2, ESV) There are some people I just don’t want to sit near in church because laughter seems to bubble out of them at odd moments. Then I feel like laughing too. Laughter is so contagious! Just look at how a baby’s laugh of pure delight can make an entire roomful of people join in. Laughter is healthy too. It helps lower blood pressure and reduces stress. It can also trigger the…
“In heaven I have only you, and on this earth you are all I want. My body and mind may fail, but you are my strength and my choice forever.” Psalms 73:25-26 CEV We are faced with countless decisions every single day. What to eat for breakfast, what to wear,…
“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.” Hebrews 6:18 CEV I know…
Readers Loved
A beautiful old church building in Québec was put up for sale by its founding denomination many years ago. For some time, it has been rented out to people who used this old cathedral, with its cavernous ceilings, crumbling paint, and fabulous acoustics, as a used book and rummage sale. Most recently, a controversial decision was made to tear down what was once a stunning edifice. I was talking with a reporter, and he asked me what I thought about the “destruction of the church.” I said, “As sad as it is that this beautiful building is being lost, the…
“The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground with the waters a wall to the right and to the left. The Egyptians came after them in full pursuit, every horse and chariot and driver of Pharaoh racing into the middle of the sea. It was now the morning watch. God looked down from the Pillar of Fire and Cloud on the Egyptian army and threw them into a panic. He clogged the wheels of their chariots; they were stuck in the mud. The Egyptians said, “Run from Israel! God is fighting on their side and against Egypt!” Exodus 14:22-25 MSG The Israelites were…
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.” Leviticus 20:7-8 We used to sing a chorus in our church, and it came to my mind when I read this verse in Leviticus: A vessel of honor for God A vessel of honor for God Sanctified, holy, that I might be. A vessel of honor for God To sanctify something is to set it apart for God’s exclusive use and purpose. God had chosen Israel as His special people, to…
Motherhood is more than sleepless nights, seemingly endless feedings, and desperation to find a new routine. Motherhood is full of moments of unconditional love. My heart grieves at the thought of a child being torn away from the nurture of their mother. In their vulnerability, who do they turn to for comfort, nourishment, and love? There is no greater honor in my life than to hear my little girl or boy cry, and to be the one who can soothe her tears. It is terrifyingly beautiful to have this weight of responsibility to take care of these tiny humans who…
