Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord Psalm 27:14 (KJV)

“It’s not utterly impossible, but it’s extremely improbable you’ll become pregnant. You might wish to consider an adoption,” my gynecologist suggested after my latest surgery. We took the brochure that she handed to us containing the information for an upcoming adoption seminar.

When we receive unwelcome news it’s so easy to lose heart and forget that God is in control of our lives.

My husband and I realized in our mid-life marriage that the chance of my carrying a child were slim due to age and because of a progressively worsening condition often resulting in infertility. John and I weren’t certain that pursuing adoption was what we wanted to do, but we attended the meeting.

Then we became very enthusiastic about this way of gaining our family. Since we were well above the age limit for an agency adoption, we retained an attorney who specialized in private independent adoption. I did much networking at the hospital where I worked. While letting others know of our desire to adopt, I found I was far less timid than I had expected.

Still, one-and-a-half years elapsed with no real adoption prospects.  Nevertheless, we were still determined and hopeful and continued to get the word out. Then, through divine orchestration, we were eventually successful in adopting a newborn. Now our family was complete, or so we thought.

Then my husband and I discovered that what is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God. Fifteen months after Johnny arrived in our home, I became pregnant at age forty-eight.

There has never been another time when I felt closer to God and sensed His power than during those months while caring for an infant and pregnant with another child.

Today I pray for wisdom as we raise Johnny and Joshua. When some days are rough and I feel the demands of child-rearing, I remember when God answered the desires of my heart in His own time and manner.

We must look to our Heavenly Father for His perfect timing in our life and realize that He knows the end from the beginning. God has his own timetable, and He grows our faith by permitting delays.

Pat Davis is a homemaker and writer living in Philadelphia, PA. Her essays, stories and articles have appeared in The Lookout, GRIT Magazine, The Mennonite, Renewed and Ready, Guideposts, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Blessings for Mothers, God Answers Prayer, Woman Alive, and Woman’s Touch. She has completed an inspirational historical novel. www.patjeannedavis.com
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So again I say, a man must love his wife as a part of himself; and the wife must see to it that she deeply respects her husband — obeying, praising, and honoring him.
Ephesians 5:33 TLB

When I got married, I’ll have to admit I paid little attention to what the preacher said. My goal was to make it though the ceremony without tears, without passing out, and without committing a major faux pas. When I repeated the words, “for better or worse, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do us part,” they were just canned words with little meaning – at least at the time.

Being young and in love can cause us to be short-sighted and naïve. We tend to live in the moment, get caught up in the excitement and romance, and fail to see down the road when romance has a head-on collision with reality.

Saying “I do” meant a lot more than I realized. What I was actually saying was: “I do dishes, I do laundry, I do dirty diapers, I do nursing duty, I do chauffeur service,” and so on. All that “I doing” earned me a BA (bad attitude) until I found out it was part of the package.

Storybook romance paints an unrealistic picture of wedded bliss, perfect relationships, and happily ever after. That’s the better part and most of us think that’s what we signed up for.

The true test comes when we’re faced with the worse. That’s when we have to make a decision. We can turn and run or dig in our heels, call on the love of God to see us through, and give it all we’ve got.

When my husband said “I do,” I’m sure he didn’t expect to deal with bad hair days, difficult in-laws, and PMS. But, for thirty-nine years he’s put up with and loved me through it all – sickness, insecurity, disappointment, tears, and heartbreak. He’s also been there through the laughter and the good times, the joy of raising children, and the thrill of becoming a grandparent. He’s always by my side, sharing my faith, being my friend, and cheering me on to pursue my dreams.

If you want the real thing, invite God to be the Lord of your life and your marriage. He will bless you beyond measure and the better will always outweigh the worse.

Andrea Merrell is a freelance writer and editor with a passion to help others see God’s Word as practical and relevant for ordinary, everyday life. She enjoys writing fiction, articles, and devotions and is featured in Spirit & Heart: A Devotional Journey and Faith & Finances: In God We Trust.  Andrea is a staff writer and Associate Editor for www.ChristianDevotions.us.  She is also a contributing writer and copy editor for www.DevoKids.com, and lives in South Carolina with her husband (and best friend), Charlie. Visit her at: www.andreamerrell.com or www.andreamerrell.blogspot.com.  Read Andrea’s devotions

The Word of God is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. Psalm 19

“Wow,” I thought, as I traced with my finger the crack in the leather spine of my Bible. I’d finally managed to wear out my first Bible. Not my first Bible, in that it was the first Bible I had ever owned. I had owned several Bibles. They did a great job collecting dust on book shelves. But this was the first Bible I had ever read and studied enough to finally crease the spine to the cracking point.

This was a special Bible, given to me by my parents. It had my name embossed in gold on the cover. And, in my Mom’s neat handwriting, it has an inscription inside that simply says it is to me, from them, on the occasion of Christmas, 1998. To me, though, it says much more than that. It says that my parents loved me, despite everything.

You see, that Christmas of 1998 I was going through the latest in a series of self-inflicted low points. My parents had every reason to wash their hands of me. But God put it in their hearts that Christmas to give me a Bible, and they listened.

The Bible stayed in the box it came in for another couple of years, in the bottom of a drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. But on that day when I finally fell to my knees and begged God to help me, the Bible my parents gave me that Christmas called to me from the bottom of the drawer. I pulled it out, and began to read.

Now, a decade later, my old Bible is full of sticky notes, and highlighted passages. There are a dozen different bookmarks scattered throughout with index cards stuffed here and there, and notes jotted in the margins. I suppose I’ll have to start over with a new Bible, but then the “…Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword.” So it will always be new and fresh and alive.

Thanks Mom and Dad, for loving me so much and for listening to the gentle nudge of God that Christmas many years ago. Read Kevin’s devotions

. . . You will find him if you look for him with all your heart . . . Deuteronomy 4:29

The little girl ran out on the platform with her hands holding the hem of her dress as if she were waiting to take a bow. She tiptoed, half skipped, tiptoed again, and then bounced until she reached her appointed spot. The dancers came together in a circle of white.

It was the annual children’s program and all the dancers began to move, keeping a watchful eye on each other, all but the little girl who tiptoed and bounced. She looked toward my section. She twirled then looked toward the left side. All the girls raised their hands gracefully then dropped to the floor, arms stretched forward and heads bent down. All except for one who was looking towards the left side. She held up her head, stretching to look over her shoulder.

I was so curious I finally looked to my right and found the object of the girl’s attention— her mother. She was waving her hand up and down, encouraging her daughter to keep her head down. The girls stood, made a few more turns and exited the platform. Some skipped, others ran—all except one who trailed behind, looking toward the left side.

The Lord spoke to my heart in such an endearing way. Daughter, I want you to look for Me as you dance.

I thought of all the times I have gone about doing what I thought was important—never once stopping to see if He was there with me. I have danced through life, going through the motions, running in circles and not once looked to acknowledge His presence.

Now I try to make a conscious effort to look for the Lord as I go through my dance called life. Whether I tiptoe, half skip, or bounce; I look towards the left side. The amazing thing is that I never find Him on the left—He is always front and center, His gaze only on me.

Set your gaze on the Father who encourages you.

Beth Fortune is from Simpsonville, SC and has a passion for God’s Word. Having served for over 15 years in different capacities of the ministry alongside her husband, she now uses her experiences to teach, lead, and encourage others in their walk with the Lord. She is a freelance writer who has written Bible studies, devotionals, and articles for church and school newsletters. Beth is a speaker for retreats and women’s groups and is actively involved in her church where she serves as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, and leads a variety of Bible studies. She and her husband are empty-nesting with 3 married children, 4 grandchildren and a daughter in college. Read Beth’s devotions.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church…” Ephesians 5:25-29

Husband, does your wife feel like the bride of Frankenstein? If so, for Pete’s sake, read on. Wife, please don’t print this article out and leave it on the counter for your husband to “find.” Just pray for him and leave him in God’s hands. Ephesians 5 is powerful.

After my wedding, I thought I’d become the captain of my little ship. It was my responsibility to be in charge and steer us to a life of victory on the high seas of life. What a dufus! At a men’s conference three month’s into marriage, I learned that Jesus showed us how to lead. Great, I thought. There’s never been a ship captain like Jesus.

I quickly realized Jesus came to serve. He loved us so much that He gave His life for us. The way to “steer” is to humble myself, wash dishes, fold laundry, and encourage my wife when I feel like she should be encouraging me. That ship I thought I should lead—now I know only God can navigate our course. I’m now a very happy first mate.

You might think, “But if I start washing, waxing, and waiting on her, she’ll take advantage of me and I’ll be destined to a life of marital slavery.” It couldn’t be farther from the truth. Your wife will actually respond to your efforts and appreciate you like never before. She’ll stop feeling like the Bride of Frankenstein and begin to feel more like the Bride of Frank, or whatever your name is. Love is not a feeling. It’s a verb. It’s something you commit to doing.

Being a U2 fan, I couldn’t resist naming this article after “Pride in the Name of Love.” But pride and love don’t belong in the same sentence. If you want the ship to sail smoothly, resort to the compass Christ has given. Husbands love your wives and wives, love your husbands. This is what we are commanded to do.

Scott Chaney is the author of the book “Christian Warriors.” He and his wife Janet have three children and make their home in Franklin, TN. Read Scott’s devotions.

“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” Proverbs 18:24 The Message

There’s a saying, “blood is thicker than water,” which means you’ll usually be closer to your “blood” relatives than to your “water” friends.

And I love my family. I really do.

I come from a great legacy of integrity, character … and love. We don’t have great wealth. We aren’t famous for anything. We’re not ever going to make headlines. But we love each other.

My mom has always been prayerfully supportive of me, and has loved me with a true unconditional love (and believe me, in my younger days, I threw out all kinds of conditions). My siblings are great examples of God-honoring people of faith, and they’ve raised genuinely terrific children. Now we have the next generation with my eldest niece’s children. They, too, are being raised to love and honor God—and each other.

There’s only one problem. We live hundreds (even thousands) of miles from each other, and we see each other rarely. Yes, we can call, text or facebook each other, but it’s not the same.

So, God has brought me other families that I love. I really do.

I have an amazing husband who, after nearly 22 years of marriage, is my best friend. He’s my family. He supports me and loves me with a quiet, certain love.

And my other family? My friends. I have a handful of friends to whom I can go—to rejoice—to celebrate—to mourn. These friends really are as close as sisters. They pray for me. They laugh with me. They cry with me.

I’m blessed beyond measure that, when I can’t be with my blood family, I can be with my “water family.”

And water can be pretty thick sometimes.

Sauni Rinehart is a speaker, vocalist, and writer through Triple-E Ministries (www.saunirinehart.com) or visit her blog at http://saunirinehart.blogspot.com. She is also involved in worship arts and women’s ministries at her home church. She and her husband make their home in Eastvale, California.
Read Sauni’s devotions

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17: 7-8 (NIV)

It was May and time to plant some flowers. Choosing a spot near our maple tree, I began to dig and found that the hard spot I hit wasn’t rock, but the tree’s roots! As I cleared away some of the dirt, I was amazed at the size of the roots and how far they had spread.

Jeremiah compared a tree’s strong, well-developed roots to a person who trusts God. The tree sends out roots, able to withstand heat, wind, and even periods of drought. Likewise, the stronger our roots in God, the more we are able to deal with trials, change and disappointments.

Today, it’s not unusual to change jobs several times in the course of a career. Children go off to college and find jobs away from home. Neighbors come and go and we don’t have time to get to know them. Today’s grandparents have a new title; “long distance grandparents.” We wonder if our family will have roots. Jeremiah says, “Yes, you can. Develop intimacy with God. Find security in Him. No worries.” Our root system is developed as we are “watered” with Bible study, prayer and fellowship with other Christians.

My maple tree’s strong root system allowed it to stand strong during our long winter, replenish its leaves in spring and display brilliant colors in autumn. Just like that tree, our strong roots—our growing faith in God—help us stay strong in all seasons of life and spread that faith to our children.

You and your family can have roots, replenish, bear fruit and display brilliant colors no matter where you live or work or how many miles separate you. Take time to develop your prayer life, read the Word, and share the reality of who God is and how He is working in your life. Shed tears and celebrate together as you share prayer requests and answers. The better we know God, we can say as Jeremiah did, “No worries.”

Marilyn Nutter is the author of three devotional books: Dressed up Moms’ Devotions to Go, Tea Lovers’ Devotions to Go, and Diva Delights Devotions to Go. She and her husband are new residents of the Charlotte, NC area. Marilyn enjoys speaking to women’s groups about discovering extraordinary treasures in ordinary days. Visit her website at www.marilynnutter.com. Read Marilyn’s devotions.

“…we must obey God…” Acts 5:29

“Mom,” Kim said, as she re-positioned herself on our brown sectional sofa with notebook and pen in hand, “since this is my first time as a church camp counselor, I’m listing the questions I think the young girls might ask and then beside the question, I’m writing the scriptural answers.”

“What kinds of questions?” I asked my 17 year old. What did she consider worthy of her study?

“We have devotions and discussion every night and they may ask if anyone needs to be saved.” Holding her pen between her teeth, she smoothed her long blonde hair back and pulled it up into a pony tail.

I glanced at her notebook. For that question, she had listed, “For all have sinned,…” found in Romans 3:23, and others.

I prayed, “Lord, help Kim make a difference in the lives of her campers.”

After that weekend, Kim was ready for about 18 hours of sleep, but was exuberant in her spirit.

“It was great, Mom,” Kim yawned as she slid her suitcase into the closet and plopped down on her bed. “I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.”

The next day Kim filled me in on her adventures at camp. She also told me that she had been baptized in water at camp. I was a little disappointed that I had not been able to witness her baptism. After making her decision for Christ last year, she had hesitated when water baptism was mentioned. She would say, “I’m not ready.”

I questioned her as to why she had now made that decision.

“Mom, I always thought that if God really intended for me to be baptized in water, He would let me know. I guess I thought He would say, “Kim . . . be baptized! But when I studied before camp to answer the girls’ questions, I realized it was right there in the word . . . “teach all nations, baptizing them…” He had told me. What was I waiting for? So I did it!

Even though I didn’t get to be there, I was glad to see my first child obey the Lord’s command.
Are we waiting for a personal invitation to obey God’s Word? All of His commands and all of His blessings apply to all of His children. Just obey!

Phyllis Qualls Freeman has over two hundred fifty published devotionals, human interest, and other articles. She is working on her first book. Phyllis loves reaching out to touch those who have long-term, life-altering situations to share God’s love. Married to her college sweetheart for fifty years, they have three children and five grandchildren. Pqfreeman40@yahoo.com Read Phyllis’s devotions.

“. . . so that your children’s children . . . may fear the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 6:1

My son came bounding into the room telling me a story of how Grandad used to hear the air-raid sirens during World War II; how they had to black out their windows, and how they crawled under their desks to practice emergency air-raid drills at school.

I smiled to myself because I treasured these times when my son could hear the stories of the past. Times spent with Grandad always resulted in a story of some kind, and the story always resulted in a lesson about God’s protection or influence in the world. What a great worldview for my son to learn. He could learn a lesson so much better hearing it from Grandad than he could learn hearing it from me.

Deuteronomy 6 is one of the passages that shows us the importance of passing on a worldview of who God is. The whole chapter is about passing down the stories of God’s provision and greatness to our children and grandchildren. The Israelites had many stories of God’s provision and greatness, including the parting of the Red Sea and manna falling from heaven. As generations walked through the wilderness, these stories reminded the young people of the God their nation served.

In our culture today, we have to create these moments for our children. Plan purposeful visits and times when their grandparents or older people from church can pass on Biblical principles and stories of God’s goodness and greatness. This way, they can learn from the stories of old who God is and how He takes care of His people.

Do you have a favorite story about Christ? Find a child and share it. Teach it—pass it on—give a child eternity with Him.

Joanna Shumaker is a writer and free lance photographer. She is published by two other online magazines, Catapult Magazine and Internet Café Devotions. She is also published in Faith and Finances: In God We Trust and her newly released book, Renewing Your Spirit – 30 Devotions of Renewal for Women. She and her husband have been married for nineteen years and have two children. Her heart’s desire is to encourage women to read God’s Word to find purpose for the present and hope for the future. You can see her message of hope and order her book on her blog at www.renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com  Read Joanna’s devotions.

“Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words.  They will be won over by watching your pure godly behavior.” I Peter 3b, 2

Of all the gifts my gracious Lord has bestowed upon me, the greatest of all has to be my dear wife Charlotte.  She is a gem, a pearl beyond measure, and she lights up my life with her love.  She is a living, breathing example of Peter’s instruction to wives in the third chapter of 1st Peter.

Charlotte was raised by nuns in a Catholic orphanage in Augsburg, Germany.  While there wasn’t always a lot to eat in postwar Germany, there was always time for a Catholic education, and the Nuns made sure the lessons sunk in.  As a result, Charlotte has a knowledge of the Bible that I truly envy.  She can rattle off verses, tell you who did what to whom, and deftly connect the dots from Old Testament prophecy to New Testament fulfillment.  She remains a Catholic to this day, but I call her an Evangelical Catholic.  I don’t know if there is such a thing, but if there is, that’s Charlotte.

Charlotte’s greatest gift is the way her light shines as she quietly lives her life.  She is a deputy sheriff, working as the public face of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.  Hers is the first face you see when you walk into the Sheriff’s Office and, as such, she encounters a great many people having a very bad day—from distraught parents with a child in jail, to long-suffering spouses bailing out a mate caught, yet again, driving drunk, Charlotte endeavors to treat them all with compassion.  It’s not always easy.  Some people come in just plain mad at some perceived slight, and Charlotte is the one they unload on.  She does her job well, and she does it with His love.

But it’s Charlotte’s gifts to me that I truly treasure, for she is a wonderful, amazing wife, quietly filling the place as my spouse with light and love.  In the times I have lost my way (and Lord knows, I’ve lost my way more than once), Charlotte has always been there, a light in my dark forest, saying by her love, “Come this way, this is the way out.”   Why God blessed me with this loving woman is beyond my comprehension, but I am so very grateful he did.  By the way she lives her life, she shows me how to embody His love.  I never do it as well as she does, but I keep trying.

Today, April 25th, is her birthday.  And while she will be showered in gifts and cards and well-wishes today, none can ever equal the gifts she has given me through her love and life. Her example is like looking directly into the face of Jesus. Her godly life uplifts me as Christ uplifts the church. How fortunate I am to have two who love such an undeserving soul so much.

Happy Birthday, Charlotte, I love you.

Kevin Spencer lives in Tennessee with his beautiful wife Charlotte and grandson Caleb. A former prodigal son, Kevin is now trying to use the gifts God gave him, and by the grace of God has a life far better than he ever deserved.Read Kevin’s devotions