Daily Devotional

December 31, 2018

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. – Daniel 1:8

As the new year dawns, it is common for ideas to start going through our minds of what we should resolve to change in the next calendar year. Maybe we want to lose weight, exercise more regularly, take more time for our children, read more, etc. For some people, these resolutions...

December 30, 2018

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. – Proverbs 8:34

The magnificent lightning storm began in the early morning with flashes from the north as well as from the mountain range to the east. However, our children slept on, undeterred by the fierce commotion outside. As if nature was angry at the lack of response to its early ...

December 29, 2018

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16

What a wonderful gift we received from God when He gave His only Son that we might have eternal life! The Christmas season is a time of happiness and rejoicing as we remember the great love of God to send us a...

December 28, 2018

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. – Colossians 1:10

As a child, I thought Dad’s habit of jotting down reminders, thoughts, and lists on scraps of paper, was somewhat humorous. What was the point in that? Why bother?

Well, I don’t chuckle about it any more! As I have grown older, I have...

December 27, 2018

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. – 2 Peter 1:4

The Book of 1 Samuel tells of the meeting of two armies. Camped on a mountain on one side of a valley were the Philistines, and camped on the other side were the Israelites. Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, defied the armies of Israel. When he stood up, all the Israelites crouched fearfully in...

December 26, 2018

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

About the time when most people in their mid-fifties were thinking ahead to retirement, my parents adopted two teenage boys from Vietnam. Scarred by the events in their early...

December 25, 2018

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. – John 1:1-3, 14

"Here’s Mary, here’s Joseph, here’s Baby Jesus—that’s Baby God,” my two-year-old daughter solemnly told me as she ...

December 24, 2018

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. – Revelation 22:16

Looking at past Christmas program pictures took me back in time to when my daughter was in the Beginners’ Department at Sunday school. As the Christmas program began that year, she and the other little “stars” twinkled...

December 23, 2018

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14:27

My day at work seemed to drag on forever. Tempers flared, headaches raged, and words were hastily spoken, then immediately regretted. Where was the “peace on earth” that the carolers sang about—the...

December 22, 2018

In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. – Isaiah 30:15

One Christmas I received an interesting card in the mail from an aunt. I was amused because inside it had the words, “Leon! Leon! Leon!” as a musical score. It was actually, “Noel! Noel! Noel!” written backwards.

Around that same time, I went to a choir practice where we were...