Recent Devotions
There is one particular area on a route that I used to take regularly that is breathtaking on certain mornings. As the fog is lifting from the river valley, the cattle are grazing in the fields covered in dew. The bluffs above the river are barely visible, with wisps of fog covering them. And the river itself looks serene, as though waking peacefully from its foggy covering. BUT…that same pastoral setting is an entirely different view as you enter the valley at night. When the fog settles over it all, visibility is severely limited. It’s dark, and appears eerily quiet.…
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…
Have you ever been with someone who moved so slowly you almost wanted to walk FOR them?! Lagging behind is usually not a desirable outcome. Others move ahead, and the one unhurriedly strolling gets further and further behind. Sometimes a coach will encourage a player to move a little faster.…
Readers Loved
“The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” Luke 17:5 A few weeks ago at our ladies conference one of the session speakers spoke to us about going deeper. She read a poem titled “Disturb us, Lord” and explained to us the impacts of praying such a prayer. I was hesitant because I knew that asking to be disturbed would not be easy and it wasn’t something I took lightly. I thought I was prepared for what was to come, but I truly wasn’t. You see, when something is disturbed it becomes unsettled, and when…
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17 This time of year, there are lots of opportunities to show mercy and do good deeds for others. Food banks, children’s organizations, churches, etc. are looking for donations to provide Christmas gifts and food for the less fortunate in our areas. Number five on our list is very appropriate. MERCY AND GOOD DEEDS It is not a question of asking God for wisdom as to whether we should get…
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (Psalm 11:7, The Message) Just when we think we have life figured out, something happens that throws us for a loop. In those moments we have a very important decision to make. We can use the situation to either draw us closer to God or allow it to make us weak. God is not out to get us. He only wants what is best for His children. In the end, everything will always work out if we keep our eyes on Him. Prayer: When faced with life’s struggles,…
“And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; II Peter 1:6 The third step in our journey towards becoming more like Jesus is temperance. Just what does that word mean to us? In the 19th and early 20th centuries, one of the larges and most influential women’s groups in our country was a movement called the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. It was a social and political campaign advocating moderation or total abstinence from alcohol, prompted by the belief that drink was responsible for many of society’s ills. I wonder how many of these women would feel…
