Recent Devotions
“Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15). I may be one of those rare people who actually enjoys grocery shopping. You will find me wandering the aisles, reading labels, and looking for new items. I also enjoy the array of fresh fruits and vegetables on display, but I pause before buying high-priced, out-of-season fruit. It does not compare with the aromatic sweetness of locally grown summer fruit. growing sweet fruit Our lives also produce fruit. When we allow our lives to be controlled by the Spirit, that fruit may be sweet,…
“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…
Isaiah 40:31 NIV “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” I’ve always loved the idea of being a runner. I often wondered what it must…
Readers Loved
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 1 John 1:1, NLT. Our testimonies are powerful when we share them with others. Every healing, every time God provided a need for you, and every time He made a way where there seemed to be no way is a testimony—your testimony. One of the greatest things we can do in our life is share the love of God with someone. Telling your…
“He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” Psalm 105:16-19 NLT We often begin Joseph’s story with him telling his dreams to his brothers and being rejected by them. But the retelling of the story in Psalm 105 reveals a new twist. In an everlasting covenant, God confirmed that He had…
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1, ESV). Parking garages confuse me. Row upon row of cars and every row looks the same. It’s so easy for me to forget where I parked, especially if I’m gone for a few hours. I need something to jog my memory. For garages with each spot numbered, I snap a quick photo of that number with my cell phone. Otherwise, I try to find some feature to remember, such as “on Level 4 and two rows from the outside wall.”…
“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.” 2 Timothy 4:17 I’ve read a quote by Bob Goff that said, “We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose.” When my young daughter asked me what “purpose” was, I explained that it means every single person has something that they are intended to do with their lives. Something good. Something important. She quickly responded, in her matter-of-fact way, “Daddy has a…
