Recent Devotions
Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God.” (Acts 10:4, CSB) Several years ago, I became a surrogate grandmother to the daughter of friends. We spent a lot of time together as her parents worked many long hours. Although they were not a religious family, they didn’t mind her going to church with me. She loved it. Fast forward a few years to when she was seven years old. As I babysat her one evening, she suddenly stopped…
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (II Corinthians 13:5, ESV) I’m a reader. And a writer. I enjoy both—a lot. I am seldom without a book I’m in…
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” (I Corinthians 9:24, ESV) Cliff Young was a determined man who accomplished what he set out to do. You may not recognize his name. After…
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“And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work” (II Corinthians 5:8, New English Translation). Abundant life. We probably all view what that means in various ways. Does it mean when we serve God we will suddenly become financially well off? (Some call this the prosperity gospel.) Or does it mean life will now be completely trouble free and happy? (Ask the apostle Paul about this one.) Yes, we often do have more money because we are…
“Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.” Acts 9:25 This story in Acts 9 almost sounds like something we would read in a suspense novel. Saul has made some enemies in the city, and they are planning to take his life. Fortunately, he has some friends, who live near the edge of the city and in the night, they put him in a basket and let him down from the window so he can flee the city. Recently our pastor was teaching on this chapter in Acts, and he made…
“Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.” Colossians 3:14 CEV In the coming weeks there is the possibility that people will be more at odds with one another, throwing hate filled words at each other like rocks. The world is in chaos, and the church is being called to arise in the midst of it all. So what should our response be? Love. Our prayer should be that we view others as God views them. We cannot allow ourselves to be forced apart by opposing political views, beliefs and morals. We are called…
The timing of our words, it really is all in motive… “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11, KJV). “The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger” (The Message). Through my own shortcomings I am learning that our words need to not only be kind and true but also need to be the right word at the right time. Sometimes we can choke out the tender plant if we try…
