Daily Devotional

May 31, 2020

“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” (Proverbs 10:17)

Our two-year-old daughter can be charming, sweet, and intelligent. And that’s not only a parent’s assessment — others comment from time to time that she seems like the perfect child. However, what most people are not aware of is that at home, our daughter can become a different girl altogether! While shy and quiet at church and around people she...

May 30, 2020

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) 

Like many of my contemporaries, I attended college to obtain a degree. We live in an age where a good education is considered of paramount importance. People spend great sums of money and invest years of their lives to obtain diplomas certifying successful completion of a formal course of study.

Other individuals...

May 29, 2020

“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.” (Proverbs 7:1-2)

The value of God’s Word and His wisdom exceeds any other treasure. Don Wolfe, a long-time member of our Portland congregation, was taught that truth by his Christian father. He often testified about how he was taught the Scriptures when he was just a small child being raised by a...

May 28, 2020

“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:10-11)

Sleep is a precious commodity, especially for mothers of young children, but at times it can be dangerous. Recently I was trying to catch a few extra minutes of shut-eye after having been up several times in the night with my infant...

May 27, 2020

“Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.” (Proverbs 4:13) 

Vera Maksimova was born in Ukraine on January 1, 1930. When she was three years old, her mother abandoned her, so she was left with her father and grandmother. Ten years later, she and her grandmother received a notice that her father, who had been serving in the military, was missing in action and presumed dead. 

Although Vera...

May 26, 2020

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.” (Proverbs 3:13-14)

In the mid-1800s, James Marshall was contracted to build Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California. When the mill was nearly completed, it was found that the tailrace, which allowed the mill water to flow back into the South Fork of the American...

May 25, 2020

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) 

The last two years of high school and the following four in college were defining years in my life. Though I had little religious background, part way through high school I understood enough about the Gospel to yield my life to the Lord. As I began...

May 24, 2020

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” – Revelation 22:12

My first house-sitting job came up when some acquaintances of mine were going to be gone for a week or two and asked me to stay at their house and take care of their pets. I was young and single and had no idea what I...

May 23, 2020

“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” – Mark 5:19

We returned to the quaint little restaurant again to see if the old man with the harmonica would be there. The first time we had seen him, we were at the restaurant celebrating my birthday....

May 22, 2020

“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” – Isaiah 1:19

Our family was outgrowing the basement apartment that we rented from my mother-in-law. My husband and I wanted to buy our own home, but we did not know if it would be financially feasible at the time. As I thought about the possibilities of such a purchase, my mother-in-law was...