Recent Devotions
As my husband and I walked out of a grocery store, we were greeted by a brilliant sunset. Pastel pink and purple hues merged with the darkening sky. A few nights later, the sky was decorated with a full moon gleaming over the suburban landscape. Each day, God paints the world. His canvas is the earth and sky. We often pass by one of the most accessible sources of inspiration—the beauty of God’s creation. Because we are occupied with responsibilities, it does not occur to us to pause and take in the beauty around us. Our minds are so clouded…
Years ago, my husband and I were traveling and stopped for a meal at a restaurant. As we were leaving, I noticed a box beside the register with entry forms for a free meal. I filled one out and dropped it into the box. A few weeks later, I received…
Laundry in Cyprus When my husband and I ministered in Cyprus for three months, our apartment had a brand-new, front-loading European washing machine. After some challenging laundry experiences in other parts of the Middle East, I was grateful to have such a nice appliance. There was just one problem: all…
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“So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.” I Samuel 30:9 David had gone with the Philistine army to fight against Israel, but the Lord had intervened, and King Achish sent him back home. What a tragic scene met their eyes. The city of Ziklag had been burned with fire, and their families had been taken captive. The people blamed David and were threatening to stone him. David was distressed, but his faith in God prevailed. “David encouraged himself in the LORD…
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 24:34) It’s just a box—an empty cardboard box left over from some previous online order that I found in my garage. It’s not very large, only 10 by 13 inches. Allow me a few moments to tell you about the box and what it holds. Recently, a dear friend was freed from the restraints of her weary earthly body. I was tasked with sorting and packing anything of value from her room at the care facility. Truthfully, it didn’t take long. Life has a way of stripping away…
“The Lord is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalms 27:1 It seems as though the world is getting darker and darker each day. Horrors that hid in the shadows for far too long are now being brought to light again, and it can be devastating to see the brokenness of humanity. Humanity as a whole appeared to be sleepwalking for so long, and are only now becoming aware of the chaos that surrounds us. We are broken and lost. So…
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) Psalm 23 is probably one of the most beloved passages in the Bible. Many of us memorized it as a child and have read it innumerable times since. It is a beautiful psalm. This week I began to ponder the first verse. What does it really mean when it says, “I shall not want”? Have you ever stopped to consider that one simple, yet profound, sentence? It didn’t take me long to decide the verse does not mean God will give me whatever I desire. While God has blessed…
