Recent Devotions
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them, Genesis 1:26-27. We are created in the image and likeness of God. These words have two very different meanings. Image is displaying God’s glory; it is an outward representation of who God is and when people look at us, they should know that we are His ambassadors. People will see our countenance and observe how gracious we are to others. Likeness is displaying God’s characteristics;…
Grief has a way of halting day-to-day activities, bringing us to a stand still. Sorrow is clothed with a heavy garment; losing a job, breaking up with someone, not getting an offer accepted on your dream home, or the passing of a loved one can overwhelm us with deep emotional…
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away, Revelation 21:4. Not every day is the same; there are days that are mundane, others…
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“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4, NKJV) When James tells us we are to “count it all joy” when trouble comes our way, it seems a difficult thing to do. Trouble and joy just don’t seem like a matched pair. It’s easier to moan and complain about the hard things life brings our way. But how do we find joy? When Saul the persecutor became Paul the…
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, NKJV). Have you ever watched a parent intervene in a childish squabble? With a stern voice they instruct, “Say you’re sorry.” Head down and mumbled, a reluctant “sorry” is finally squeezed out. The other child mumbles a quick “okay” as things are uneasily patched up. Why is it so difficult to say, “I’m sorry. Forgive me.” Perhaps just as difficult is to say a sincere, “I forgive you.” All of us will face both sides of the forgiveness problem at some…
A lonely little piece of land languished between my concrete driveway and a gravel road. It received no shade and flourished, you could say, with weeds and shale. This summer, I decided to turn that hopeless lot into a flower bed. When I started researching what to plant, I logged onto my favorite gardening website and scrolled through the stunning flowers. Rare and beautiful plants in God’s creation produce vivid foliage and eye-catching blooms. None of those would grow in my planting zone, and certainly not in the constant, scorching heat I had for my little slice of perfection. I…
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” Proverbs 16:3-4 ESV I am so thankful for the strength and assurance that I find in God’s word. Life can often be confusing, but I have learned through the years that only God remains constant and steadfast. His majesty never has been and never will be diminished in any way, and He is always near to us. According to Dictionary.com, one definition of “commit” is “to give in trust or charge, especially…
