Recent Devotions
“Keep it up!” “Atta-boy!” “Good job!” “You’re doing great!” Did you smile, reading those encouraging phrases? Hearing (reading) words of encouragement brings about smiles, grins, and lifted shoulders. Yes, when someone speaks those positive words to you, something changes in the atmosphere around you. Maybe you were feeling dejected, or weary. Maybe you didn’t think you could complete the task. Maybe you felt like a failure. Maybe your “win” column appears much smaller than your “lose” column. You aren’t alone. The spectators are waiting to cheer you on to victory! Their “Atta-boys!” and ” Keep it Ups!” give you much-needed…
Remembering the games of my childhood, I fondly recall playing Blind Man’s Bluff (tag), Pin the Tail on the Donkey, and Taste Test. The commonality of these games is that they require a blindfold to play. Although being blindfolded removes the sense of sight while playing, all your other senses…
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. . . . never avenge yourselves . . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17, 19, 21, ESV) The World of God may have…
Readers Loved
“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me” John 10:14 We’ve all done it before. Hollering out to one member of your family and end up calling out every single name before you finally get to the right one. I am a mom to two young kids and I know I confuse their names at least once a day, usually calling my oldest by her fathers name. We serve a God who knows our voice. Above all the chaos and noise of this world, He recognizes that it is us. There is absolutely no…
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 The New Living Translation reads as follows: “I am leaving you with a gift and peace of mind and heart.” Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt as He looked around at these men He had loved and worked with. There were so many things He wanted to share with them, but the time was growing short. In the New Living Translation, in John 14:30, He…
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called the trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3). Life has a way of throwing curveballs that we are usually totally unprepared for. After tragedy strikes, we are left with what appears to be a pile of rubble and ashes. We may ask, “God, what can be done with this? My life is left in ruins, I’m drowning in…
“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;” Psalm 20:1-2 Many years ago the Lord spoke to my heart from this Scripture, and a few months later I realized why it had been impressed upon me. I faced one of the greatest trials of my life when my husband passed away. It was then that this Scripture came back to me, and I realized exactly what it meant. When I found it hard to pray, the Lord showed…
