Devotional (Page 10)

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…

Dear Church, “you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Cor 12:27 Paul writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.…

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…

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 &…

“Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.” Matt 21:18-19 What if the fig tree was meant to represent our appearance? Sometimes, what matters most to us may be how we appear to others. Sometimes, we…

The Holy Spirit keeps pushing all of us forward.  I for one do much better when I follow His guide.  He is not our co-pilot, but He is the Pilot, the one in charge. If I try to lead it turns out awful. There have been tons of things going on! One of my McDonald girls ended up moving out of their apartment, before their house was ready.  So, all seven of them were at Motel 6.  No microwaves or…

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42-43   One of my many joys of ministry is when brothers and sisters in Christ come together for fellowship, breaking of some bread, prayer, and sharing truths that the Holy Spirit has revealed to them as the read and study God’s Word together. Such is the case every Tuesday as the church staff gathers to discuss our ministries, break…

Ephesians 4:2 “Always be humble and gentle, be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”, There seems to be two kinds of people in the world: those that are never in a hurry and those that are always in a hurry.  The hurried person is already buckled into the car while their unhurried family member wanders around the house looking for their homework, shoes, lunch. Maybe even getting into the car without these…

Recently I was on greyhound to visit my friend in Monroe!  On the way home I had the same bus driver and his son riding along.  The son is about 15ish. We were on our last stop of the day, and the Driver Dad and son were funning with each other.  They were laughing and joking with one another.  In the middle of all of this a passenger got on the bus.  There wasn’t room for the three of them…

In Acts chapters 8 and 9 you find two stories that speak to me about faith, obedience, and transformation. The first one is found in Acts 8, verses 26 through 40, the story of Philip and the eunuch. An angel of the Lord tells Philip to go to a road between Jerusalem and Gaza, which according to Philip is a desert. Now, how many of us like going to desert places? But, according to verse 27, Philip gets up and…

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2 (NIV) We live a life full of change, some good and some bad. The seasons change. I love that we live in an area that enjoys the experience of all four seasons. I am enjoying the crisp cool morning and evenings and the warm afternoons. The leaves move through their process of change yet my flowers…

On one particular Friday I was headed home to get ready for a party we were attending, and then I thought about a Church Family that was at Holy Family. I really need to stop and see them. It won’t take that long! I pull into the parking lot and go inside. I stop at the front counter which everyone has to do because of Covid. At Providence, if you are Clergy and can prove it, then you don’t count…