Whether a studio apartment in the city or a five-bedroom home in the suburbs, our home is our refuge, our safe place from the world. We not only want visitors to feel comfortable, but we want that same level of comfort for ourselves. A lot of physical labor and money…
Recent Devotions
“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13, NKJV) Many things in life excite us — a birth, a first date, reconnecting with an old friend, a wedding, or going on a special vacation. We dream about it, talk about it, and plan for it. The anticipation leading up to that event only adds to our enjoyment. THE REUNION Our family never took fancy vacations. Most of our trips were to visit family. But each year all the aunts, uncles, and cousins would gather for a reunion. Details are fuzzy…
Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18, ESV) Luke 17 tells the story of ten lepers and the encounter that changed their lives. To understand their plight, we need to…
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” (Psalm 143:10, ESV). I was babysitting a friend’s child when the usually charming toddler’s attitude suddenly changed. The bright smiling face assumed a lockjaw position. The head whipped to one…
Readers Loved
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the…
“And when he (Jesus) was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit… But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him.” Mark 5:2, 6. The man introduced in Mark 5:1-20 is possessed by thousands of devils. Many people would probably think, oh no, that poor man, there is no hope for him. Many of us wouldn’t even try to converse with someone so bound by Satan. However, these scriptures tell us that the man didn’t wait for Jesus to come to him. As soon as…
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 The Titanic was designed by some of the most experienced engineers of its time and built with the most advanced technology available. It was considered unsinkable. So when it sank, the world was stunned. What many don’t realize is that during the design phase, engineers proposed using a newer, larger type of davit—equipment capable of lowering lifeboats over the side of the ship. With these davits, the Titanic could have carried…
“When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” Acts 11:23-24, NIV. The above scriptures describe Barnabas perfectly; he was “the encourager,” and it highlights his gift of building others up. When I think about discipleship, I picture Barnabas and John Mark. Paul and Barnabas invited the young John Mark to travel with them on a missionary…
