Posts with the category “devotional”

Worry: give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. Why is it that we all struggle with worrying. We could find almost anything to worry about if we really wanted to. For myself, I worry about everything. Ever since I can remember I wanted to make friends with anyone and everyone, but I always had the thought in the back of my mind what if they don't want to ...  Read More

This passage in John 14 is packed with some incredible truth, we have to see and understand what is going on. To start, we see one of my favorite verses, which is also a great verse to use when sharing the gospel. John 14:6 "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  Jesus lets us in on a very important truth. He is the only way we can...  Read More

John 14:1-7 holds a very special place in my heart. Whenever I hear it, or whenever I read it, the words bring feelings that are near and dear, a reminiscence that now only lives as a thought and memory in my heart and mind. When I was 14-15 years old, my Great Grandmother came to live with us as her sight and memory started to decline. It was a short but sweet time that I will never forget. As th...  Read More

The word “love” is being tossed all over our culture today. Just Google it, and you will find a thousand examples. Sadly, there are as many twisted versions as there are quotes, memes, and sayings. It has become a very trendy thing to talk about, but not to “be about it.”Jesus understood what he was facing...The Cross. Shockingly, his disciples did not. In fact, they were still consumed with an ea...  Read More

Main Point and Overview:    Have you ever said something over and over to someone, but that person was simply not listening? Or, better yet, have you ever watched a person put off certain responsibilities only to be shocked when the “due date” arrived, and he or she wasn’t prepared? That was the disciples of Jesus! He had been telling them over and over that he came to die for the sins of the worl...  Read More

Hurricane Ike was a deadly and devastating storm that occurred in 2008. Some of the greatest damage took place on the Bolivar Peninsula in Texas, where the storm surge exceeded the island's elevation, leading to an onslaught of flood water and caused extreme coastal change. We were visiting family not too far from that area and decided to take a drive to check out the aftermath of the storm.  It w...  Read More

Back in the early 70’s, Coca Cola’s ad campaign included the jingle “It’s the real thing, Coke is.” It stuck, and to this day for those of us old enough to remember, we make that association. Coke marketed itself as the one, true legitimate cola drink. Some argue that it is Pepsi that is the legit cola, but it really boils down to personal preference. “Legitimacy” has a myriad of applications. Oft...  Read More

I think we can all think of a time when we were betrayed. Whether it was a funny moment or a serious one. Betrayal often brings hurt and pain into our lives. Sometimes when it is a funny betrayal you can get some laughs though. I remember back in my early days of youth ministry, I was betrayed by our Children's Pastor, Matt Hatton, at our previous church. We were having this youth event, and I cam...  Read More

The Cross, the powerful moment where Jesus Christ takes our place and defeats death right then, for good, for all those who believe in him. At times I feel like we have it easier than the apostles as they did not know what was about to happen, where we on the other hand know the full story from start to finish. Every time I read these verses I feel for the disciples and those around Jesus as they ...  Read More

John 12:4-6 “But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it..” What motivates you? What gives you purpose? What is th...  Read More

I have had this reoccurring dream over the years where toward the end of my life I “walk away” from God. It’s been a long time since I’ve had it, but every time I do, I wake up in a panic. Why? Because that is the very last thing I would ever want to let happen in my life. I had one of my closest friends tell me in the last year that he is “proud of me because I have always stuck with the stuff” w...  Read More

Main Point and Overview:     We’ve all seen these kinds of people. The kind that “look, act, and smell the part,” but deep down, they are imposters, frauds. They are smooth with their words to your face, but they “stab you in the back” to others. They are seemingly supportive to your face, but behind the scenes, they are working for their own benefit. Judas was the ultimate example of what “fraudu...  Read More

“The sky is falling!” How well do you remember the fable of Chicken Little, a.k.a. Henny Penny or Chicken Licken? Let me jog your memory; In the story, an acorn falls on Chicken Little's head, and she takes it as a sign that the sky is falling, and the world is coming to an end. She spreads the news—“The sky is falling!” You can imagine the growing rumors, the conclusions, the overreacting, and th...  Read More

In America we have the blessing and honor of living in a democracy where our American responsibility is to vote, but let's take it a step further and look at the Church’s responsibility. I think we tend to mix the two together when it comes to an election year. The church’s responsibility is to not pour our hearts into a candidate but to continue with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We all know what i...  Read More

Do you trust God?   That is a great question that we all need to ask ourselves. We all think that we trust God, but in reality, do we fully trust him? Do we fully trust that he is in control?   I am writing this devotional before our country’s election has actually happened. At this point in time, I do not know who has won. However, I can tell you this. God has always been in control and is curren...  Read More

A hot button topic of conversation in the media and across campuses around the country, if not the world, is who is responsible for the conflict that exists between Israel and Palestine. Many Christians struggle with what is going on, as the violence and carnage on both sides is indeed terrible. Some question the right of Israel to defend itself or even exit. Is the sanctity, or sacredness, of Isr...  Read More

Say it with me… “I pledge allegiance, to the flag of the United St…” Wait! Hold up! Chances are, you could finish the rest of that pledge without thinking twice. Maybe you haven’t heard it for many years, since your days in school, yet you can still recite it without hesitation. There are times when I wish I could recite longer passages of scripture, Christian creeds, or sermon notes with that sam...  Read More

Just a few days ago, I celebrated another birthday. It’s hard to believe how quickly life passes. I’m just grateful that I get to experience life. For many unborn babies, that opportunity is snuffed out before it barely starts. In fact, since 1973 when Roe v. Wade became law, there have been 63 million abortions. What is truly personal to me is that I was born in October of 1973. If you do the mat...  Read More

Main Point and Overview:   Who will you and I be voting for in the upcoming presidential election? While, we all have personal preferences; what if we qualified our decision with Biblical precepts. It is absolutely true that there are no perfect candidates, and this year, some would argue there are no good choices. While that may be true in a sense, there are Biblical principles that should govern...  Read More

As of October 23, 2024, Market Watch reports that 3M (MMM) stock is trading within the following ranges:Price: $131.22 open, $134.04 current price.  1 day range of $134.29–$136.12.  52-week range: $72.71–$141.34.Volume: 2,791,646.I do not know what most of the data means, but I do know that my husband is an avid purchaser and user of a popular 3M product; the infamous Post-it note aka Sticky note....  Read More

Freedom. The word evokes emotion. The United States was established on the principle of freedom. The Declaration of Independence captures the American spirit…what it was and what it can be. For anyone who has ever served in the military, there is a unique bond that exists among those who have defended it. But as the saying goes, freedom has never been nor ever will be free. As Christians, we often...  Read More

Have you ever wanted to be known for your personal achievements and get credit for it? In the sports world, many players are all about their own personal stats rather than caring about the team. They are all about making sure they are great and that they have the biggest contract. They would rather care more about themselves than the team's record. What we are witnessing with the Detroit Lions is ...  Read More

We are all guilty at some point or another, we all have gotten caught up with lowering the bar. May it be settling for an outcome, rather than waiting for the right outcome. I remember when Sarah and I were in the midst of our house searching days during the high interest rate. I found myself finding something about every house we walked into that made it “The” house. Sarah would walk with me thro...  Read More

Five and seven years-old... that’s how old my kids are already! Time goes by too quickly and kids grow up too fast. They are to the age now where they know how to make a really big mess, AND know how and that they should clean it up... However, knowing how-to and if they should is very different from the reality I often live in. Sometimes there is no carrot we can dangle, nor punishment we can thr...  Read More

One of the most awkward moments I’ve found over the years is when I have been in a Bible study group where the leader tells the group: “whoever wants to pray, start us off!” That’s when the awkward silence begins. Who will be the first one to pray? Who is the least concerned with how he or she is going to sound? The leader is calling for someone to take the initiative! Jesus is calling for you and...  Read More

Main Point and Overview:    My pastor told me years ago that every disciple of Jesus should serve the Lord in two ministries – one in which he loves to do, and one in which he doesn’t love to do. His reasoning was that it teaches humility and sacrifice. I never forgot those words. Jesus, in an emphatic display of humility, did what only the most menial of servants were required to do – he washed t...  Read More

Seven. Seven in one day. That’s how many pieces of campaign paraphernalia were in my mailbox today. A presidential election is upon us and with it: a plethora of TV ads, text messages, yard signs, and a lot of campaign mailers as candidates make their final push to communicate their ideas and positions on issues to the voters. According to the Federal Trade Commission, you can decide what types of...  Read More

It has been said that your life is the culmination of the decisions you make. Think of the number of decisions you make every day. From the most routine: “What flavor of chips do I have with my sandwich,” to something with a bit more life impact, “Should I marry this person?” Then there is, of course, the single most important decision that surpasses all of life’s other decisions, “Do you proclaim...  Read More

What is a time you knew something was coming that you were not looking forward to? Possibly your stomach was in knots and your anxious thoughts were overtaking you. Maybe it was a time you knew you were about to get in trouble and a punishment was coming. Maybe it was a time when you knew you were being challenged beyond your comfort zone. Maybe it was a time that you knew would be extremely diffi...  Read More

I hope by now you have seen the streaming series The Chosen. In one of the early episodes, we see Jesus calling Andrew and Simon (Peter) to follow him. During this episode Peter seems to be too busy, he is clearly upset they had not had a good night, and he had come back with empty nets. Peter is so worried about his life here on earth that he did not understand who Jesus was in that moment, even ...  Read More

What does the Gospel of John have to do with the life of Joshua that we’ve just journeyed through for the past couple of months? As I read John 12:20-24, it’s become evident that our two separate sermon series have unintentionally collided as we’ve turned the page back to the Gospel of John. Chapter 12, a pivotal moment in the life and ministry of Jesus. A moment that was here, a moment they’d all...  Read More

It is hard to ignore the similarities between the Jewish people during the Triumphal Entry and Christians today in the world of politics. The Jewish people were longing for the Messiah to come and take down the Roman Empire, to save them from oppression, to give them freedom…. not too far different from Christians today who are longing for a Republican to triumph over a Democrat to save us from al...  Read More

Main Point and Overview:The time had come! Jesus was ready to declare himself to be the Messiah, and he did as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. In that moment, the people celebrated him, but they did so with self-centered motives. They genuinely thought that he was about to bring political freedom to them from Rome. They misunderstood Jesus. So many people do. I hope you haven’t! The fact is th...  Read More

One of the first bits of advice I got when I reported to my first squadron as a young second lieutenant was “Bloom where you’re planted.” At first, I didn’t know what this meant. I clearly must have a had a glazed look in my eyes, so this respectable and experienced NCO began to enlighten this new, naïve, and inexperienced “butter bar.” It’s a good lesson in leadership, and that is to take whateve...  Read More

This week’s sermon devotionals have been on point! The Winning Formula!! Are you like me and found this all to be so relevant, so needed, so simple, and yet so hard to involve God in the details of our lives, circumstances, and crises? The title of today’s devotion, “Do Not Get Contaminated” is another key element to a winning formula.It’s hard to believe that ten years ago we became ever so aware...  Read More

I love my kids and seeing the way they think and process. They always see things from a different perspective and there are a lot of funny moments because of it. Right now, my 5-year-old daughter thinks she is smarter than her mother and me. She has said multiple times now that she thinks and knows she is smarter than us. She is actually a very smart kid, but I thought she was joking at first. I l...  Read More

I love the book of Joshua—we get to read about the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua. Just like any transition of leadership there is always a difference. Joshua pulls everyone together and walks the tribes of Israel through everything they have been through, from Abraham worshipping other gods, to Abraham leaving and following God’s plan. He is trying to make the point that all these ...  Read More

It’s the beauty of a deciduous tree in fall after a long hot summer. Each leaf, changing a beautiful shade of green, yellow, orange, and earth. The glow of a maple in mid-October is so vibrant that you can’t decipher one leaf from another. They all mesh together into a glowing bloom of color. There is so much beauty and promise in the leaves of fall, but that beauty fades, the vibrant colors die, ...  Read More

There is something to be said about a “good day’s work” that leads to satisfying rest. For our series in Joshua, it has all been about God using Joshua as an instrument to fulfill his promise to Abraham, Moses, and the children of Israel. God had said many years before Joshua that Israel would have their own land to raise their own families while worshipping their one, true God. That time had fina...  Read More

Main Point and Overview:The battles had been won, yet peace was only for a season. It’s a great reminder that until we get to heaven, there will be battles to fight for the Lord. For Israel, God had immensely blessed them with a new land after they had overcome their enemies. Now, there was a new enemy to consider…complacency. They had to guard against “forgetting God,” and falling for the cultura...  Read More