Daily Devotional

January 13, 2017

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. – Joshua 1:8

The woman sat in the middle of the living room with her legs crossed in a yoga position. Her eyes were closed and she ...

January 12, 2017

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. – Romans 8:14

Coming out of our back hallway, I pushed the button to raise the garage door as I made my way outside to pick up the daily newspaper. The garage door groaned and creaked as it opened, revealing a beautiful, sunny summer morning. Wait, where was the paper? I started ...

January 11, 2017

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. – Hebrews 13:5

Our front driveway adjoins that of our neighbor as the two reach our cul-de-sac. In their driveway, generally there sits a nice-looking, late-model pickup truck—big enough to safely pull their large fifth-wheel trailer. For some time, parked in our driveway was ...

January 10, 2017

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. – Matthew 13:23

One day some years ago, when my children were small, they brought home some seeds. I do not recall where they got them, but they wanted to see what would grow. We agreed that this would...

January 9, 2017

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. – Psalm 32:7

On many occasions as I was growing up, the children around our neighborhood would get together to play. Sometimes it was a game of dodge ball in our front yard—we had a nice corner lot. Other times, there were water fights with water balloons, buckets, or even ...

January 8, 2017

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

As a young boy, I would often spend the night with my grandfather. I remember one such occasion when I was in the first grade. We had gotten up in the morning, and I was watching my grandfather get ready for...

January 7, 2017

And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. – Numbers 11:1

"Oh no, it’s raining today!” “We’re having this for dinner again?” “Traffic is terrible!”

Sound familiar? Among the human race, there is never a shortage of complaints. No...

January 6, 2017

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. – 2 Peter 3:14

The dress was a favorite of all my daughters. When one outgrew it, the next younger would claim its ownership and wear it with delight. Though the dress had been in the family for several years, it still hung gracefully. When worn, it...

January 5, 2017

For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. – Job 5:18

As boys, my brothers and I would often gather caterpillars from milkweed plants and take them home. We wanted to watch them enclose themselves in cocoons and then transform into beautiful Monarch butterflies. It was so exciting to see a butterfly just about to break out of its cocoon!

Sometimes, though, it...

January 4, 2017

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. – 1 Corinthians 3:10

Not too long after we were married, my wife gave me a radial arm saw for a gift. Some years later, my son and I decided that we were going to build a...