Recent Devotions
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12, ESV) Quiz: Who were Shiphrah and Puah? If you don’t know the answer, don’t feel bad. I didn’t remember their names either. I suppose some would consider them “minor” Bible characters, but these two women exhibited some major integrity. They were the Hebrew midwives who bravely ignored Pharaoh’s instructions to murder any male child born to an Israelite (Exodus 1). The two women would not go…
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24, ESV) Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Five diverse women, but one thread holds them…
“It wasn’t supposed to end like this,” she thought as she made a place for her dying son to rest before the inevitable happened. Her mind wandered to the first time she’d visited this wilderness. Afraid and alone, she’d been carrying the child of another woman’s husband. Life wasn’t what…
Readers Loved
“The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” Proverbs 31:11 Let’s look at this verse in the New Living Translation: “Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” I am a widow, and my husband has been gone for almost twenty years. We had a good marriage and he was a wonderful man. Did he have faults? Of course, he did, but then, so did I. I am so thankful for how much…
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.” 1 Timothy 1:15 As I was reading through this chapter I realized that as Paul preached the gospel, it was infused with his testimony. Gospel and testimony seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. Paul is giving instruction to the people on how to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord, but he is also telling them how God had so mercifully saved him. Paul had done some pretty terrible…
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 I am so glad for the cross of Calvary and the blood that Jesus shed for us there to purchase our salvation. When He bore the stripes upon His back, it was for our healing. Time and space will not permit me to tell of all the times that this scripture has been made real in my life, but I would like to share a few that stand out in…
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 Mount Carmel. Elijah, the lone prophet of the Lord, had faced off against 400 prophets of Baal and another 450 prophets of the grove. Not good odds, but if God is on your side, that’s enough. God’s prophet flung out a challenge. Each would build an altar and sacrifice an…
