Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

So many things go on in the life of a believer. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The ups and downs of day-to-day life. While the Christian life often brings great joy and peace, it also includes trial...  Read More

Consider the Lord’s thoughts of love toward each of us today. A love that values us with the very life of God’s Son that was given for us. A love that unconditionally accepts us because of this sacrif...  Read More

Here in Revelation John sends seven letters to seven churches that both praise some churches but also warn against weaknesses. This verse comes from the letter to the church in the Laodicea in which t...  Read More

Growing up, we played a LOT of board games. (Still a favorite hobby, though living with small children makes it difficult.) For some games, we developed “house rules,” additions to the game to make it...  Read More

This has been on my heart so much. I read these verses sometime in the past weeks and I was inspired again by the words “press on.” It’s been a busy time with getting ready for choir to start, and beg...  Read More

I was imagining – maybe a bit irreverently – a conversation in eternity something like this:Jesus:  So, loved one, how are you liking things here in the new heavens and the new Earth?Me:  Lord, it's s...  Read More

Have you ever struggled to figure something out? I fancy myself a person who enjoys solving problems. I’m the guy who enjoys word searches, sudoku, cryptograms, and even the occasional crossword puzzl...  Read More

When I was growing up we always had dinner together as a family. And because my Dad loved salt, there was always a salt shaker on the table. He’d salt his pizza and his French fries. He’d even salt hi...  Read More

It was a day of encounters. It had been a night of disarray. The power went out around 2am. I stumbled around the house in pitch dark. I was trying to remember in my sleep deprived brain where even on...  Read More

Romans 12:12 is an amazing verse.  John Piper calls it “a description of the Christian life,” and I think he’s right.  Here is a strand of three priceless pearls for us to marvel at.  Not only is each...  Read More

We are now 30 days into the new year, with just one more day to round out the first month. As I reflect on the start of this new year, I think about the numerous New Year's resolutions that are made—a...  Read More

Recently, I have been reflecting on God’s grace.  I am realizing in a deeper way how God’s unmerited favor not only brought me to Lord but also is in the process of changing my life to be more like Ch...  Read More

Do you ever have those days where you think “how could God ever love or accept me because of…” The reasons for thinking we are not good enough can often be legion, and the truth is it's true, we are n...  Read More

If you ever have the misfortune to receive an email from me, you’ll notice a few strange words below my email signature. They read Soli Deo Gloria, a phrase in Latin. Why would I include Latin in a pe...  Read More

As I read this I thought growing weary. Sometimes it seems like what we are doing is not having any effect. Laboring doesn't always have quick results. In fact, sometimes we may never know the role we...  Read More

By now, I'm sure we've all heard the New Year's resolution stats, right? Most people don't keep up with their resolutions past February. I personally have been hit-and-miss with mine every year. One o...  Read More

A few years ago, when I was in Israel, I remember taking all kinds of pictures of the Mount of Olives. I had these verses in mind as I pictured what it must’ve been like standing with the disciples as...  Read More

Since November 17, 1971—the day I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior—two passages have risen to become my life verses. The first is Daniel 11:32 “…the people who know their God will display strengt...  Read More

One December we prayed as a family for an opportunity to minister to someone who really needed us this Christmas. As an emergency foster care family, we were fully aware of how many kids needed foster...  Read More

Why do you hurry, since I am eternal? I was getting ready for the man who was coming to tune our piano, moving things out of his way, and getting myself settled in the back bedroom for some Bible time...  Read More

As we draw near to the end of this year, my thoughts turn toward God’s care in my life.  There are many times that I felt all alone.  I may even feel that God is distant when I am dealing with life’s ...  Read More

This week we pause from the routines of life to give thanks for God’s bountiful blessings.  We have so much for which we can give thanks.  We have been blessed beyond anything we deserve…all because o...  Read More

One of the great illusions of our day is that hurrying will buy us more time.  But it just makes us busier.  I read recently that a third of all working adults get less than 6 hours of sleep each nigh...  Read More

This week is Thanksgiving, the forgotten holiday. I call it that because as soon as Halloween is over, anything that wasn’t already themed for Christmas suddenly is, most people start playing Christma...  Read More

This week, we celebrate the classic American holiday, Thanksgiving. As the commercialization of Christmas pushes the season closer and closer to November 1, I firmly believe it’s important to preserve...  Read More

In light of our new mission statement, "Enjoying and sharing the abundant life of Jesus," I have begun praying more about how to reach those that don't know the Lord. When you work at church and most ...  Read More

Who is not inspired by the account of the shepherd, David, slaying the seasoned, giant warrior Goliath!  David did not shrink in fear before giant Goliath! David knew that God was bigger and more powe...  Read More

Shortly after my stint in the United States Marine Corps, I got a job working at P.F. Chang's as a backwaiter. And let me tell you, I loved my time at P.F. Chang’s. To my surprise, it reminded me a lo...  Read More

November is my birthday month. When I was younger I could not wait for November to get here. I was so excited to be getting older. I remember going from 5 to 6, now it took two hands to have enough fi...  Read More

This fifth week in our Rooted class homework we were directed to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us, with no other specifics. Just ask, and wait several minutes. We have done this a couple of times. A...  Read More

Daily our news reporters insist we have something more to worry about personally, locally, nationally and globally…physically, emotionally, financially, socially, and politically. It feels like an imp...  Read More

As a young shepherd boy, David developed a relationship with God.  While tending his father’s sheep he saw God at work in his life.  In fact as David grew to be a leader of Israel, he was stated to be...  Read More

Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant when he said to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth?”  In ancient times, his parable was particularly striking because salt was a rare commodity befor...  Read More

If someone was to ask you “why do you believe in Jesus?” Would you be able to answer them? Have you ever had to give your testimony, your faith story? If someone were to challenge your beliefs, would ...  Read More

Recently, Dictionary.com announced that its annual “Word of the Year” for 2025 was 67... not the number sixty-seven, but the phrase “six-seven.” Depending on your exposure to teenagers, your response ...  Read More

I’ve been reading in Jeremiah about the messages He gave to Zedikiah. He kept telling Zedikiah that if he would submit to Babylon the Lord would take care of him and Judah.We can look at the passages ...  Read More

Waking up this morning, I open my eyes to the reality that the race will continue today!  Another full day of my to-do list, work, house duties, people who need me.  Before my feet touch the floor, I ...  Read More

I have a love-hate relationship with In-N-Out. I absolutely love a double-double with grilled onions, fries light-well, and a Lemon-Up with light ice to drink. But every time I go, the drive-thru line...  Read More

God loves to do new things. He sent Jesus Christ to the cross to die for the sins of the world so that those who believe in Him, accept Him, and follow Him, can be made new (2 Cor.5:17). Who doesn’t l...  Read More

I have been working with a man who had taken a disastrous way in his life. It ruined his marriage, ruined his health and alienated his family. A common story. But then he came to Christ.Because he has...  Read More