Archive for 'Devotionals'

Serving When Called

Serving When Called

When my kids were small, they were enamored with Siberian huskies because … well, they’re sled dogs and they’re cool! They wanted a husky more than anything and mentioned it often (by often, I mean often). After caving in to my daughter (a common occurrence), we found a beautiful blue and brown-eyed husky …

Living and Loving without Fear

Living and Loving without Fear

Fearless love means that your heart is hidden and sacred. Acquiring and sustaining a love for God and wrapping yourself in His mercy is a deeply profound feeling … one which encompasses you and encourages you on a daily basis to displace self-righteousness with unwavering humility …

God’s Open Doors

God’s Open Doors

God opens doors in our lives for various reasons. There can be doors of opportunities and doors that lead us from one season to another. If we are obedient and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we begin develop a clarity to find these open doors and the courage to explore within. Paul spoke of an open doors in …

Finding Contentment in Unfulfilled Desires

Finding Contentment in Unfulfilled Desires

We serve a God who yearns for us to discover His presence and His purposes for our lives as well … even in the midst of our unfulfilled desires. When all of our desires are focused on Him, He will manage them in such a way that in due season, they will be satisfied. I believe this and similar verses are often …

Finding Joy When a Loved One Passes On

Finding Joy When a Loved One Passes On

The passing of a loved one is often a devastating and life-altering event. It conjures emotions from deep within that often prompts thoughts such as “It’s not supposed to be like this … One minute my life was ‘normal’ and it has now become unbearable …” As this new existence begins to unfold throughout the many bouts with …

What Does God Want From Us?

What Does God Want From Us?

I heard a message recently about a couple who, although both were Christians, had differing beliefs on their understanding of God and His will. The husband had always lived with a fear of her understanding of God because it was different. A new neighbor of theirs had a hip operation and asked this man’s wife if she …

All It Takes is a Pebble to Start a Landslide

All It Takes is a Pebble to Start a Landslide

All it takes is a pebble to start a landslide or an echo to start an avalanche. The Holy Spirit doesn’t need much to work inside of us. Just keep surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals and persevering through the trials. We all stumble but He’s there to pick us up every time. That’s the beauty! When we recognize the voice …

Celebrating Christmas After a Divorce

Celebrating Christmas After a Divorce

The holidays can be stressful. There are more activities to attend and more responsibilities to take care of and, as a result, emotions tend to heighten. Holidays after a major family change are even more intense as everyone anticipates what the transition will look and feel like. Your children will probably wonder how the holidays …

Replacing Worry with Prayer

Replacing Worry with Prayer

To lead a joyful and peaceful Christian life, it’s imperative that we let God preside over situations that are beyond your control. Worry and trust do not coexist. When we invite worry in the front door of our lives, our faith will inevitably depart through the back. So we must ask, “Will I trust my worries, or will I trust …

Alcohol and Moderation

Alcohol and Moderation

Is the drinking of wine and other alcohol sinful pleasure, or a healthful life-improving habit? We saw that Christ approved of drinking wine. His actions and words set the example by which Christians are to live their lives. Ecclesiastes 9:7 states “Drink your wine with a merry heart.” Psalm 104 states that God gives wine …

The Narrow Road or the Broad Road?

The Narrow Road or the Broad Road?

The broad road is easy to find and easy to navigate. Do nothing and we’re there. It also easily accommodates us and all our baggage. Bring anything and everything with us…we won’t be crowded out! The narrow road however, does require navigation. We must ask for and accept the will of God and we must seek to follow …

The Fruit of the Spirit: A Blossom that Eternally Blooms!

The Fruit of the Spirit: A Blossom that Eternally Blooms!

A good way to determine how steadfast your faith in Christ is, and how completely you have given your life over to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, is to consider the joyous message we are given in Galatians 5:22 – 25: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith …

Living Transparently

Living Transparently

As the body of Christ, we are called to live in community with one another. The idea of people watching us or knowing about the sin in our lives can often make us feel uncomfortable. Being known by others and being held accountable is necessary however, not only to meet our basic relationship needs, but also to …

GUIDANCE: Dancing with God

GUIDANCE: Dancing with God

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing ‘dance’ at the end of the word. I remembered reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes …

A Father’s Love Letter

A Father’s Love Letter

My Child, You may not know me, but I know everything about you (Psalm 139:1). I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139:3). Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10:29-31). For you were made in my image (Genesis 1:27). In me, you live and move and have your being. (Acts 17:27-28). For you are …

A Life Conformed or a Life Transformed?

A Life Conformed or a Life Transformed?

He suggested I view my life as a puzzle, scattered all over the floor. Each piece representing an aspect of my life. He then asked, “If you are fully prepared to give your life to Christ and truly sincere in your convictions, are you equally as prepared to grab only a handful and ask that only those be fixed?”