Posts by SFNAZ Devotional Team (Page 3)
The Lord’s Return
When will the Lord return? Will it be soon? Will I be ready? As a child, I remember watching the Christian movie, “Thief in the night,” where I saw dramatized the vanishing of Christians and the horrible predicament of those who were not ready, who missed the rapture and now would have to face the persecution of the tribulation. I understood that the Lord could come back at any moment, and I had better be ready… or else. At some…
A Changed Life
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. REVELATION 1:5 – 6 I’d like to share with you about a gentleman I’ve known for more than 20 years. I’ve seen him at his lowest. I’ve seen him when his life was falling apart, when he…
The Verse that Almost Was
At the start of the academic year at seminary where I taught, faculty gathered together, and the president would share our theme verse or passage for the year. In my last year there, the president said he considered sharing Ezek. 36:20-23 but decided on a passage in John. Being the curious type I had to check out the “almost” verses. This is what I found: Ezek. 36:20-23 – 20 ”And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy…
Waiting on the Lord
Have you ever had to wait on the Lord? Two months ago, I injured my hip and knee falling on a flow rider (surf simulator) and since then I have been doing a lot of sitting and waiting… waiting for my body to heal and not being able to do the things that I want. Sometimes the same is true in our spiritual lives. Sometimes we find ourselves in a season of waiting on the Lord and not being able…
Getting Our Attention
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. PSALM 18:16 Three major events lead to the fall of 2015 being one of the most challenging times of my life. Due to an errant business decision, we were forced to file bankruptcy. My grandmother’s boyfriend of more than a decade lost his life in a car accident just days before Christmas and I was denied bereavement leave because he “wasn’t family.” …
Make Disciples
The only verb in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) is matheteuo – “make disciples.” The rest of the verse modifies this verb—or tells us how to make disciples. It is that last thing Christ told us to do before he returned to the Father. So how are we doing at that? On my 21st birthday I went to a Billy Graham Crusade in San Diego. When the invitation came, I went forward, as I wanted to see what happened when…
Striving to be Your Best
I wouldn’t trade my eight years in the Army for anything. My military experience helped shape me into the man I am today. I have very few regrets related to those years, but I do have regrets. Because of my military experience, I enjoy watching military-based movies and TV shows. Most recently I’ve enjoyed watching the series on Fox called Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. If you haven’t seen the show, it’s filmed in the Jordanian desert, not far from…
Faith of a Child
Last week we recognized the first anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. I was privileged to have been ministering to Ukrainian refugees in Poland when the war reached its six-month milestone. A couple of weeks ago the Church of the Nazarene sent out an email that included a video of our compassionate ministry work supporting Ukrainian refugees. Much of the video featured the work of the Sweet Surrender ministry in Poznan, Poland. The last image in the…
Hide-and-Seek
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. PSALM 139:8 – 10 Our little granddaughter loves to play peek-a-boo. It is so cute to watch her hide her eyes behind her chubby little hands. …
Freely Given
We wrapped each and every present with the greatest care. We found the exact bow to go with the wrapped present. It couldn’t have been more fitting. The presents looked absolutely stunning under the perfectly decorated Christmas tree. Each light was placed to shine the right color on each decoration on the tree. The tree couldn’t have looked better. We saw some of these exquisite, decorated trees on Facebook. The owners were so proud of their achievements. Each piece of…
SFNAZ Devotional – 12/15/2022
Snow. For the last two weeks we’ve had a seemingly endless supply of it! It’s beautiful, lending an almost ethereal quality to everything it covers. There’s a peace I experience as I look out my window and see the valley below snuggled in the white blanket of nature. But then I look out the other window and see Rusty in an uphill battle to stay ahead of clearing out snow from our half-mile long driveway so we don’t become marooned…
Saul Meets Jesus
A few days ago, I was doing my devotions starting with 1 Thessalonians. It started with Grace and Peace to you. Then I started wondering how many of Paul’s Epistles start with Grace, Peace, or Mercy. All the first chapters of Paul’s letters start with Grace, Peace, or Mercy within the first seven verses. Most within the first 3 verses. The natural thing to wonder is how many end with Grace, Peace, or Mercy. All of them except Romans &…