“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” (John 20:19, ESV) Life sometimes takes unusual twists and turns that cause…
“Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.”Matthew 1:23 NET Emmanuel…God with us. How incredible! Jesus is God with us…always. In every moment. In every struggle and in every battle. He is, always, “Emmanuel, God with…
Someone sent me the following in an e-mail message. It had no title so I entitled it, “If.”
If the economy collapses, He is still my Provider!
If the healthcare is unsustainable, He is still my Healer!
If disaster shall come, He is still my Protector!
If the powers that be strip me of my patriotism, He is still my banner!
If my life should be taken, He is still my Salvation!
He is my God. He is Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life!
Prayer: I am so glad that You are my God and You are the same yesterday, today and forever. The world I live in is so “iffy” it makes it hard to plan anything. You never change. You can handle any “if” that comes along. Amen!
Devotion by Kaye Singleton
“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 in the King James Version of the Bible)
God’s compassion has no end. His desire is not to destroy you, but to restore you. We made mistakes yesterday; last week; last month; last year; but today He is inviting us to start over. He offers us new mercy every morning!
Prayer: I am overwhelmed by your loving faithfulness to me. You see me not as I am, but what You want me to become. Thank you for being patient with me!
Devotion by Julie Long
“Never” was a favorite word used by my children. They often used it to put a guilt trip on me. “Mom, you never take us…” The word “never” means not ever; at no time. Not at all; absolutely not; to no extent or degree. Obviously, my kids didn’t know what…
“And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.” II Kings 5:2
Can you imagine what life was like for this little servant girl. She had been taken away from her family and friends, and the life she had known. Captive of an enemy, servant to his wife, forced to obey every order, even though she was grieving for her family. The Bible does not give her a name nor tell us how old she was.
I would like to think that Naaman’s wife used this little girl well, that she had the food she needed, clothing to wear, and a comfortable bed to sleep in at night. Nothing could really make up for not being with her family.
Whatever her situation, she had not forgotten what she had learned as a child. She remembered the stories of miracles that had taken place at the hand of the prophet, Elisha. So, when her master became sick with leprosy, she went to her mistress and told her about the man of God back in her homeland. She had faith that if he would just go there, he would be healed.
This story shows us that children who are taught to love the Lord when they are small, will remember what they have learned. It gives me faith to believe that my son, who is not serving God at this time, will one day return to the faith of his childhood.
Prayer: Lord we thank you that we can teach our children to know you and to love you, and that you will always be there for them when they call on you.
Devotion by: Anne Johnston
“God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.” (Lamentations 3:22-24 in The Message) Lamentations is written by a prophet who…
The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life. (Job 2:6, NIV) The enemy will fight what he fears. It may sound bizarre but if you are being attacked by the enemy, there is a good chance that you are…
The wilderness is a tough place! It’s a place of barrenness and confusion..where you feel hopeless, discouraged, and oftentimes are tempted to give up. Everywhere you turn, there’s nothing but dry, parched land, as far as the eye can see. You may identify with Job, who felt completely abandoned by…