Recent Devotions
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:8-11. This time of year evokes a deep sense of gratitude because I reminisce my childhood around Thanksgiving and Christmas. In past devotions I’ve shared how I did not grow up with a lot of monetary blessings; some Thanksgiving dinners were baked chicken breasts, rather than a Turkey, and many of my Christmas presents were from the Dollar Store. None of those memories bring me to a place of sadness; rather, I feel so blessed to feel…
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. , ESV. For the sake of discretion, I will tell the story like this… in the last twenty years, between the north pole and…
Sometimes I forget what God has done in my life. A few weeks ago in a church service we sang, “When I think about the Lord, how he saved me… it makes me want to shout hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!” I began to weep at the keyboard as I thanked…
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“Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” Psalm 27:7-8 NLT In 1845, William W. Walford composed a beautiful hymn that still contains a great message for us today. I wonder if the author had this verse in Psalms in mind when he wrote the hymn, especially verse 3: Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! Thy wings shall my petition bear To Him whose truth and faithfulness Engage the waiting soul to bless. And…
Age is a number. That is all. But it is not just years. It’s moments in time—strung together like beads on a string. The string is not endless. It’s just so many mornings and so many evenings—sunrises and sunsets. It’s so many cups of coffee, pieces of toast, slices of pie—just so many egg rolls, enchiladas, and schnitzels. So many miles driven, steps taken, lawns mowed, weeds pulled, pencils pushed, timecards punched, degrees earned, dishes washed, and loads of laundry. It’s a certain number of log ons and log ins—of books read, letters written, conversations held, questions asked … and…
“And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.” Genesis 26:19 Every time I read this scripture about a well of springing water, I remember weeding the strawberry patch with my brother on a hot summer day. On the edge of the field, there was a spring. How refreshing it was to lay down our hoes, relax by the spring, and enjoy a drink of cold water. The water was always flowing, clear and cool, no matter how hot the day was. All we had to do was partake of it. Because of a…
One of my favorite words is restore, and a few of my favorite scriptures are Galatians 6:1-2. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness: considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Verse 1 encourages us to restore people who have fallen down spiritually. It also reminds us that we could also fall into the same sin. Verse 2 commands to bear…
