Recent Devotions
One of my favorite winter coats of all time was one my mother-in-law purchased for me. She called me one day shortly before lunch to ask me to meet her in another part of town. She had found a coat for me and wanted me to try it on. It took a little maneuvering to get all four kids dressed warmly, in the car, and across the city to the store. But we did it. Why? Because I recognized this gesture as her way of showing that she loved me dearly. She had thought of me, had chosen something special…
In one of the small towns in which we resided, the city ordinances still allow for the burning of leaves, as long as the forecast calls for low or light wind conditions. I was burning some leaves one fall day at about dusk when I had to go in the…
When I was a young girl, my grandfather began showing the early signs of dementia. Although the family helped wherever they could, my grandmother bore the bulk of responsibility for his care. Through all the stages of his decline, I watched as she lovingly endured his confusion, mild hostility toward…
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You open a packet of Hot Chocolate mix, pour it in your cup, add boiling water, and stir. Not as good as homemade-from-scratch, but not bad either. Suddenly, you’re called away for something. When you return, not only is the drink cold, the flavor is now weakened. The contents of a variety of drinks and foods, when left unattended, can separate. To enjoy the best flavors, it’s important to stir it up. Keep it viable. Make it workable. God has given you a gift that is comprised of various layers: Faith, Prayer, Hope, and Joy, to name a few. With…
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) In Luke 17:12-19, Jesus was making his way into the city where ten lepers lived. When they saw Jesus, they cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” The highly contagious leprosy had caused repulsive nodules, bumps and the rotting away of their skin. Jesus healed them and then told them to go to the priest, as was the custom, to be declared clean. Once the priest declared them clean, they no longer had to live isolated. Out of the…
“Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight” (Psalm 144: 1). For a period of fifteen years, I worked for the school system. One of the roles I had to perform was being part of the school’s Safety Team. With the increasing number of school shootings, the Director of Risk Management, as well as members of the district’s security team and police department, joined us in developing an action plan in the event an armed intruder broke into the school. First, in a stressful situation, they showed us the aerial…
It was still dark as Mary made her way along the path to Jesus’ grave in the early morning hours. When she arrived, she saw that the stone was rolled away, and Jesus’ body was gone. Crushed by the weight of her caring she came crying, where is Jesus? When the disciples went home dejected, Mary stayed. And then someone spoke. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Mary begged the stranger through tears to tell her where the body was taken. With just one word, he responded: “Mary.” There was something unique about the way He said…
