When the Time is Right
“At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen”—Isaiah 60:22 (NLT). Time seems to pass more quickly as we get older. Andy Rooney, American radio and television writer, once said, “Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.” However, when we’re waiting for something or someone, time seems to creep like a snail crossing a sidewalk. You’ve probably heard the expression, “Hurry up and wait!” We spend a lot of time waiting. Long checkout lines at the grocery store test our patience. Nothing is more frustrating than …
Giving Thanks Everyday for the Ordinary
“[Jesus] gave thanks and broke the loaves”—Matthew 14:19 (NIV). When Jesus performed the miracle of the five loaves and two fish to feed a multitude, it was no ordinary feat. However, before He broke the bread, He lifted it to heaven and gave thanks. In one of my recent morning devotionals, writer Iris Alderson pondered the following as she was kneading and forming dough into a loaf of homemade bread. She wrote, “I couldn’t help but wonder what Jesus was thankful for. Was He thankful for the farmer who planted the tiny grain of wheat? For the sun that warmed …
Do Not Conform, Be Transformed
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will”—Romans 12:2 (NIV). I like refinishing furniture, taking something old and making it look new. However, I haven’t had time to do that lately. My sister mentioned recently she wanted to refinish a used piece she’d found for sale into a coffee bar for her kitchen. Like me, she bemoaned the fact of her busyness and not having time to transform the furniture into something …
Who Does Jesus Christ Say You Are?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”— 2 Corinthians 5:17(NIV). If you were asked to identify yourself, what would your answer be? Would you reply with your name? Maybe your answer would be more detailed. Would you add your vocation or some other title? For example, before I discovered my true identity in Jesus Christ, I identified myself as one of the following: Carol Round—wife, mother, high school teacher. But what if those titles change during your lifetime? Divorce happens. Retirement or job changes happen. Would that leave …
Peace is Found in Jesus Alone
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”— John 14:27 (NIV). While cleaning my house recently, I listened to a talk show interview with a woman in her late 40s, maybe early 50s. The news was up next, and I didn’t want to miss the weather forecast. What grabbed my attention was a statement made by the woman being interviewed. I put down my dust rag so I could focus on the interview. I don’t recall …
God Lives Among Us
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs”— Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT). When it rains, it pours. I’m not talking about the rain that pours from the heavens, but the times when it seems like everything goes wrong. In my situation, my desktop computer bit the dust. I have money in savings for times like these. By the time I purchased the necessary replacements, including a new hard drive and …
When the Rain Overflows with God’s Goodness
“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone”—Zechariah 10:1(NIV). I love the rain, except when it is accompanied by strong winds, lightning, and thunder. Before March 20, 2016, I wasn’t fearful of storms. It was on that day, at exactly 8 p.m., when a tornado hit my house, leaving me fearful of storms. It has taken years to overcome my PTSD. The sun was shining on that March day. I’d just returned from walking my dog when …
Our Redeemer Brings Hope to the Weary
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end. He will stand upon the earth”—Job 19:25 (NIV). After a harsh winter, the sight of a small purple flower poking its head through the still brown leaves of fall brought hope to my weary soul. It was a sign a new season was struggling to emerge, a sign my Redeemer hadn’t forgotten me. Although it has been almost 15 years since I spied that flower on a sunny but chilly Easter afternoon, I recall the joy of spending time with my family. I was hiking with my grandchildren and …
Do You Have a Friendship with God?
“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son”—Romans 5:10 (NLT). In his book, The Pleasure of His Company: A Journey to Intimate Friendship with God, author and pastor Dutch Sheets opens Chapter 15 with the following statement: “I called myself a Christian for seventeen years before I discovered I could have a truly personal relationship with God. Prior to this, I certainly knew Him as God and I definitely knew Him as my Savior. I didn’t, however, …