Tue Sep 8-Training for Eternity
We live in a world that places heavy emphasis on physical fitness. Gyms are full, diets are trending, and self-improvement is a billion-dollar industry.
Devotional
Devotional
Fri Aug 22-When Siblings Divide
Acts 17:1-9 paints a troubling picture. You might assume in reading that the people at war with one another in this story are believers verses atheists, or at least sworn enemies. But that’s not the case. These are brothers in the faith who just happen to disagree with one another about what they believe God is doing in the world.
Devotional
Wed Jun 25-Faith in the Valley
I am always struck when I read this passage that there is a striking contrast here between the disciples’ mountaintop experience, and the real suffering they are immediately met with in the valley below. There is a tension here, reminding us that our spiritual highs or moments of personal faith aren’t enough – we must be willing to carry Christ’s presence into a hurting world.
Devotional
Mon Jun 9-Compassionate Commitment
Can you think of a time when someone showed you unexpected compassion? Has there ever been a time when you surprised yourself with an act of compassion for someone else? I think about a time at a local grocery store when someone’s card didn’t go through. Most people around looked away awkwardly…
Devotional
Fri May 23-Trusting God’s Hands
Have you ever felt betrayed? When a friend, family member, mentor, or colleague betrays us, the emotional pain can often feel worse than when the one betraying us is a stranger or known enemy. We expect better from the people we care about or count on.
Devotional
Thu Mar 20-What Keeps Us from Beginning Again?
Have you ever been working on a project, when you realized about halfway through that you skipped a crucial step that will most certainly affect the outcome? How easy was it for you to make the decision to start over? Did you begin again?
Devotional
Tue Mar 11-What Distractions In Your Life Pull You Off Center?
I’ll be the first to admit that I can get trapped in my own head a little bit. When my schedule is full and my to-do list overflows, I can become so distracted that I forget silly things: where I put my keys (once they were in the fridge); when I last saw my phone (sometimes I start looking for it while I am talking on it); the message that was communicated to me just a few moments earlier (I’m the queen of “I’m sorry – can you repeat that please?”).
Devotional
Wed Feb 26-Holding Our Worry Wisely
Has anyone ever told you “Do not worry?” Did it successfully keep you from worrying? Yeah, me neither.
Devotional
Thu Feb 13-Identity Received, Not Achieved
Growing up, I wanted to be a thousand things: a teacher, a marine biologist, a doctor, a singer, an astronaut. But what all those very different dreams had in common was that regardless of occupation, I wanted to be the BEST. In whatever I was doing, I wanted to achieve maximum greatness. If I’m honest, sometimes I still do.
Devotional
Mon Jan 20-Let Go of Arrogance
Most of us are not very kind to ourselves. So, I am fairly convinced that when we only read this one verse, we hear it as an encouragement to believe that we are actually enough. We don’t need to look around and worry if others are better than us because God has already given us what we need. That’s an important message.
Devotional
Christmas Eve 2024
Have you ever waited with great anticipation for something, only to have it not work out so well? Maybe it was an Amazon package that never arrived or a present that never made its way beneath your tree. Perhaps it was those medical results that weren’t as positive as you had hoped, the raise you counted on but didn’t get, an empty parking spot at Shoprite yesterday (I hear ya!), or world peace (many of us would probably settle for familial peace, and we don’t always get that either!)
Devotional
Wed Dec 11-The Choices We Make
Oof. Those are some tall orders. It’s hard to think of a single person (myself, included) whose got all these down pat. Frankly, some days I’m lucky if I succeed at one or two.
