Life Reference: Genesis 1:27, 5:3; Luke 20:19-26 Focus Verse: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself…
Recent Devotions
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17, NKJV) A friend at work had a habit of referring to others as “a good Christian man” or a “good Christian woman.” But he used the term in a very loose way. To him, “Christian” was a basic term that could be used to describe any good, morally upright person. His version of the word had nothing to do with a person’s salvation experience and spiritual life. I understood what he meant, but I did not agree with his…
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25, ESV) Have you ever had to forgive someone and, truthfully, you just didn’t want to? If you’ve lived any time at all…
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:12-13, ESV). I almost always carry…
Readers Loved
“A time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away.” (Ecclesiastes 3:6, NKJV) It’s often said that “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” I always assumed it referred to thrift shopping like garage sales and second-hand stores. However, variations of this saying go back hundreds of years. Because I am of a certain age, I have too many “treasures.” I don’t have space for them. Most have little dollar value, but I find it difficult to let go. Decluttering is difficult because memories are attached to so many items. These…
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, ESV) One summer a few years ago, I was forced to change my route to work. The city planned to replace a small bridge over a creek. I was not happy; that street was the most direct way to my office. Although it probably only added five minutes to my drivetime, I did not look forward to the change in my morning routine. Detours are inconvenient as we find ourselves traveling in unfamiliar areas. I spent several days trying first one street and then another in…
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13. We live in a world where government, the workplace, and even your favorite coffee shop is constantly pushing against spiritual truths. People are not afraid to display what their beliefs are and demand it, but somehow we feel like we need to be silent with our faith. With new bills being passed in senate and the courts legalizing things that use to be against the law, it creates a quandary of what…
“Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14). Does it feel like you are in a perpetual rush, never finding time to “stop and smell the roses”? Our society expects everything instantly. We have microwaves, instant coffee, fast food, and fast lanes. We become impatient when things don’t move quickly. Yet the faster we pace ourselves, the less time we seem to have. As has been humorously stated, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” All of us have observed this phenomenon and, if we are honest, are probably just as guilty as the next person.…
