Recent Devotions
“So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?” Ruth 1:19-21 Think of the questions that passed through Naomi’s mind as she…
“Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and…
“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.” Ruth 1:1 There are only two books…
Readers Loved
“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;” (Luke 12:35, KJV) I have probably read this verse or heard the phrase “gird your loins” hundreds of times, but today the English Standard Version struck me different. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,” (Luke 12:35, ESV) As a woman, I pack a lot. Whether it’s a “bible bag” for church, bags to go to the beach or multiple bags for a long trip. I usually pack for myself, my boys and for all of those unexpected things. I almost always pack too much. The “just in case”…
“She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” Prov. 31:13-15 The NLT version reads like this: “She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.” Apparently, this lady was well-to-do and had servants to…
“Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” (Daniel 6:3, New King James Version) Certain Bible stories have become so familiar that even young children can recite the basic details. There’s a strong central character, exciting action, and good versus evil with the good triumphing at the end. You can no doubt name several such stories. While they are simple enough for even a young child to understand, we find an “adult lesson” as well. Daniel chapter 6 relates one…
One of the nastiest tasks that I volunteered to undertake at the church we pastored was to bring the aluminum cans home for recycling. You might ask how that could be nasty. All that’s necessary is to toss them in a recycling bin somewhere, right? Well, that would work, IF… Everyone would read and heed the signs! We had two trash cans in that particular area. One is clearly labeled, “ALUMINUM CANS ONLY.” However, what I brought home was a conglomeration of icky trash amidst the cans! Partly because I’m a little particular (okay, a LOT particular) about some things,…
