Recent Devotions
“But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!” (Psalm 68:3, ESV) All fairy tales seem to end with that wonderful line, “And they lived happily ever after.” As a child, we could read that line and then contentedly close our storybook, knowing everything in their lives would now be perfect. We love happy endings—especially our own. Everyone wants to be happy. Some think all is well when life is good and they can enjoy the many pleasures that money can buy. This means that circumstance, rather than any inner quality, defines…
“O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.” Proverbs 23:26 Sometimes I over-complicate things. Okay, most of the time I over-complicate things. I have always struggled with trying to figure out “what does God want from me and for me?” To be…
Job 42:1-6 MSG Job answered God: “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’ I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond…
Readers Loved
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…
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” (Proverbs 4:7, ESV) When I’m not too sleepy to completely open my eyes, I read the small motivational messages printed on the little yellow packets of sweetener I use in my morning tea. One day I learned, “Every day is a new opportunity.” Another morning I was advised to “Replace I wish with I will.” The one that said, “The perfect moment is now” seemed like a good sermon title. These catchy sayings don’t rival biblical wisdom, but some do contain good advice. Still, I prefer…
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” John 14:1-4 We live in a troubled world. When we turn on our radios in the morning or look at the News…
