Recent Devotions
“And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.” 2 Samuel 6:11. Why do you think Obededom’s home was blessed? It is because it was housing the ark of the covenant, the very presence and mercy of God in the Old Testament. However, the ark of the covenant was never designed to be in one man’s home; this was a unique accident that worked out in Obededom’s favor. The purpose of the ark was to bless an entire Nation; Israel. Through this story, we…
It’s finally spring! There’s something powerful about this season, especially the spring equinox, when day and night are held in perfect balance. It marks a shift because darkness no longer dominates, and from this point on, light begins to stretch further into our days. What was dormant starts to awaken.…
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26 Throughout scripture, we learn there are different ways to pray. Intercessory prayer, for example, is…
Readers Loved
As my husband and I walked out of a grocery store, we were greeted by a brilliant sunset. Pastel pink and purple hues merged with the darkening sky. A few nights later, the sky was decorated with a full moon gleaming over the suburban landscape. Each day, God paints the world. His canvas is the earth and sky. We often pass by one of the most accessible sources of inspiration—the beauty of God’s creation. Because we are occupied with responsibilities, it does not occur to us to pause and take in the beauty around us. Our minds are so clouded…
Have you ever been falsely accused of something? It happens. The motive behind such an action may be done out of spite, envy, or the desire to make themselves look better. It hurts when your good name and reputation are unjustly attacked. Those false accusations may cause you to suffer severe consequences—job loss, damaged relationships, serious legal issue, or more. Numerous ones in the Bible suffered from unjust accusations and endured many things because of them. Many of their stories are familiar to us. Joseph refused the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife, so she falsely accused him of attempted rape.…
A few months ago, I decided to give pencil sketching a try. I wanted something relaxing to do occasionally that wouldn’t require much investment. At an art store, I purchased a Pentalic sketchbook, a set of tinted German-made Staedtler pencils, and a high-quality eraser. A few weeks later, I added colored pencils and another sketchbook to my collection of supplies. Lacking sketching experience, I looked at pictures I had and did my best to replicate them with pencil drawings. My husband gives me lavish praise for my little sketches. I appreciate his enthusiasm about my new hobby, but he and…
Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible was an art exhibition that displayed 197 works from the Renaissance period to present day. The exhibit addressed the question of when a work of art is finished. On display were art pieces in various stages of completion leaving behind traces of the artistic process. The “artwork in progress” reminds us of these three attributes of a masterpiece: A masterpiece takes time. Alice Neel met James Hunter by chance and asked him to sit for a portrait. The young man had just been drafted for the Vietnam War and was scheduled to leave within a week.…
