Recent Devotions
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17, ESV) My mom, with homespun wisdom, would prod her shy daughter (me) to get out there and mix with others. This lady who never saw a stranger in her life would quote loosely from Proverbs 18:24 and tell me, “If you want friends, you need to show yourself friendly.” Solomon may have written that statement thousands of years ago, but there is still wisdom in the message. As four of us sat around the table talking one evening, our conversation drifted to the subject of…
“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.” (Proverbs 22:4) During your school years, you could probably name the student in your class considered most likely to succeed in life. They may have attained a high grade-point average, shown leadership ability, or been popular.…
And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” (I Kings 18:44, ESV) It had been a long day on…
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“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:15-18. This week we have been taking a trip back in time and imagining that we…
Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world” I’m a control freak. I know where everything goes, where everything is (for the most part), who eats what and when, what shoes my oldest likes to wear and what ones hurt her toes.. the list goes on. It sounds like a good thing, and like my home is managed well but it’s actually a struggle for me because I get so caught up in what needs to be done and what’s next on the list.…
“Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.” Ecclesiastes 7:3 I know, this really isn’t a scripture that sounds encouraging but it holds a powerful lesson. Think back over your life and remember all the moments that truly defined and shaped you as a person. Chances are most of them may be trials you had to face, storms you had to weather and battles that needed to be fought. No one enjoys the valleys of life, I know I certainly don’t, but I do know that dark seasons are often the times that God speaks…
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding, in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 Planting For Growth When I was about four years old I remember planting flower seeds on the side of my house. There was an innate awareness to nurture a living thing inside of me, even as a young child. I distinctly remember checking on my plants several times a day, expecting growth to happen instantaneously. I was disappointed when they did not bloom overnight.…
