Mary did you know?
Pentatonix does a great version of the Christmas song, “Mary, did you know?” I always think of this passage when I listen to it. Imagine what was going through Mary’s mind as the angel Gabriel told her she was going to give birth to the Messiah. How she responded is a lesson from which all […]
A Righteous Branch
You can tell a tree is living by the number of new branches that are shooting out in the spring. They show that life is coursing through the stump of the tree, and the root system is excellent. Sometimes those branches shoot out in wrong places and need to be pruned off. Good branches produce […]
His Name Shall Be Called
Baby names are a big thing. Every year the news reports the top names for tots. This year Sophia is the top name for a girl, and Liam is the top name for boys. If you ever had to pick a name for a child, it can be stressful. With one child, we decided as […]
Don’t Miss the Signs
I spent the better part of a weekend installing Christmas lights on our house. Up and down the ladder hundreds of times to get things to look just right. I love this time of year, but it would be easy to rush through the season and miss what is important. Jesus came so that God […]
More Than Conquerors
Did you know that many of the successful people you look up to struggle with success? It’s true. Whether it be an athlete, actor, business owner, or politician, they have a hard time handling it. One of the reasons is that they get to the pinnacle, and it isn’t everything they hoped it would be. […]
What Are You Living For?
Do you ever sit and ponder what your purpose on earth is? Ever ask yourself, “What are you living for?” Many people live their whole lives, never answering these questions. Henry David Thoreau famously said, “People live lives of quiet desperation.” What if you could live for something greater than yourself? The Apostle Paul shows […]
Full of the Spirit of Life
This devotional will run precisely two weeks from Christmas day. I don’t know about you, but the Christmas spirit is in full force. Decorations are everywhere, stores are playing Christmas music, and people are always in a hurry going somewhere. It’s easy to lose the meaning of the season in all of the bustle. It’s […]
Test My Heart
Ever since I turned fifty, I have been inundated with medical and insurance advertisements. My insurance company wants me to get a check-up, my doctor wants me to get a colonoscopy, and AARP wants me to buy their life insurance. Did you know that God desires to examine us as well? He wants to see […]
Be a Willing Example
The adage “More is caught than taught” is truer today than it ever was. There is so much noise and chatter in the world that words have lost their meaning. People may not be listening, but they sure are watching. They want to know if someone is authentic. It is an excellent opportunity for Christians […]
Why Can’t I Stop?
People are struggling in isolation and loneliness with hidden sin they can’t stop doing. Everything they try doesn’t work, and they ask themselves, “Why can’t I stop?” The spiral even further by convincing themselves they are the only ones struggling. Today’s devotion shows us that we all struggle with sin, and we are not doing […]