Daily Devotional

August 3, 2019

“And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.” (1 Kings 6:7)

Have you ever been on or near a building construction site? If so, you will likely agree it is a very noisy place. You may hear the crackling of fire as wood...

August 2, 2019

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.” (1 Kings 4:29)

The heart is a tireless, never-ceasing pump. It begins beating way before an infant takes its first breath, and it continues to beat until the moment of death. Though surprisingly small, this cardiac muscle with life-sustaining power contracts and relaxes about 70 to 80 times per minute, and pumps about...

August 1, 2019

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9)

My childhood friends and I used to talk about wishes. We would ask, “What would you wish for if you had three wishes?” Sometimes we would even ask, “What would you ask for if you had only one wish?” It is amusing...

July 31, 2019

“I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.” (1 Kings 2:2-3)

When I began working in the...

July 30, 2019

“And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.” (1 Kings 1:52)

Actions have consequences. That is a lesson we try early to instill in our children. Not long ago, a first-grade girl was sitting in church with one of her friends. Paying...

July 29, 2019

“And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” (2 Samuel 24:24)

As the anniversary of September 11, 2001, approached, I challenged my sixth grade class to participate in a school-wide “Acts of Kindness” project. Each...

July 28, 2019

“Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” (2 Samuel 23:5)

As my husband carried our luggage to the car, our hostess at the home where we had spent the night shared the early morning traffic report with us. She said that Highway 61...

July 27, 2019

“And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.” (2 Samuel 22:2)

Not too long ago, I was traveling on a scenic highway in the northern region of Washington State. The mountains, the autumn colors, the streams, the clear skies, and the terrain were breathtaking.

Then, while standing on a ridge of solid rock, I noticed something that seemed to be a little out of character. Right in front of me was...

July 26, 2019

“And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.” (2 Samuel 21:10)

I read a story a while ago about a dog in Scotland that had demonstrated an amazing amount of loyalty and faithfulness...

July 25, 2019

“And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. (2 Samuel 20:9)

“If you don’t vote against this grant proposal, I will quit my post as your vice-president!” The woman standing in my office had issued her ultimatum. As president of the academic senate at a large west-coast college, I sometimes have to deal with intractable administrators, irate staff, and...