Recent Devotions
Over the years, I have learned to put my family into God’s capable and loving hands. There have been moments when I got in the way. I thought I knew what was best, only to cause myself and others unnecessary stress and pain. I have had my share of heartache. I experienced moments I didn’t like or didn’t understand—losing loved ones to tragedy or early death, a child with a life-altering diagnosis—opportunities to question what was happening in my world, to feel anger toward God. I will never forget a moment that occurred nearly a year ago, a moment that…
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: The writer of Ecclesiastes made it perfectly clear: there is a time, a season, and a purpose for everything—the good, the bad, the ugly. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1–8.) Just as the earth experiences spring, summer,…
Psalm 15:1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? Psalm 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. Psalm 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his…
Readers Loved
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” (II Thessalonians 3:3, NKJV) I feel like I am a hospitable person, but some of my recent “guests” have been very trying. They entered my home uninvited and proceeded to make themselves comfortable. If I hadn’t taken steps to get them out, I think they may have stayed forever. Has your home ever been invaded like that? First it was a squirrel that chewed its way into my attic. I suspect the large oak tree that overhangs the roof may have given it a good…
“Fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:11) Pop quiz: “What are you most passionate about in life? What excites you and stirs up your enthusiasm?” Many of us will quickly respond, “God,” “family,” “soul winning,” or some other worthy pursuit. Next question: “On what activity do you spend the most time?” It’s possible that this answer will be quite different from the first. Why would this be? Passion has been described as “a strong feeling or emotion.” We may also think of it as fervor, ardor, zeal, or delight. To put it in simply, we find something so compelling…
“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17, NKJV) I enjoy children’s Bible stories—Jonah and the big fish, David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den. There’s the drama of an exciting story and a simple lesson to be learned. (And maybe a few crayons with a coloring sheet too.) But those “children’s stories” are really adult stories with serious lessons to be learned. Would you like to take a walk through a story with me? Grab your Bible, some paper, and…
“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord” (John 20:24-25). When we think about Thomas, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, our mind automatically adds “doubting” to his name. In fact, through the years the term “doubting Thomas” has entered our language to describe anyone who is a skeptic. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “an incredulous or habitually doubtful person.” Can you imagine your name becoming a dictionary entry? A negative dictionary entry. Thomas has been tagged with the name Doubting…
