A Devotion May Be Someone's Only Bible

Peace & Presence

The peace we find in the presence of Christ is like crawling under a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day or feeling the soft breeze on a warm spring morning. Seeking after God is a continual process that grows us into a deep and long lasting relationship with Him. Come into His presence and find peace.

It’s Okay to Be Human

I once saw a news story about a near incident on an airplane.

The plane’s landing gear did not engage. But a brilliant pilot overrode the autopilot and safely landed the plane with all its passengers. No atheists probably flew on that plane. Some might have felt like kissing Mother Earth upon landing. Home in one piece, as my father said.

In these days of robots and automation, we can still read our Bible, which humans wrote. As the psalmist says, God’s words tell us it is okay to be human and care for others.

We have feelings, thoughts, and emotions. And it may take many years to figure out our life mission. At some stage, however, we can devote all our gifts and human foibles to God. God sent us His Son, Jesus, in human form, and we should feel love for our Lord.

God loves us to the moon and beyond—and our critters. Our mission is to pray for our Christian faith and each other. We can all pray for our freedom to continue believing in Jesus.

No robot can replace the great faith of Christianity. For those passengers, their unautomated pilot, and us, it is okay to be human.

What are some ways you show it is okay for you to trust God?  

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and terimakasih0.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



The Aroma of Christ

A mom and daughter came to my house for tea one day and handed me a bouquet of eighteen exquisite long-stemmed roses.

Over the next two weeks, I marveled at the bouquet’s beauty—creamy ivory petals edged with pink that progressed to a velvety burgundy. They stood elegant and upright as if aware of how superior they were. But their glory faded slowly into shriveling, slumping browns. As I removed them from their vases, their strong thorns pierced my fingers.

I reflected on how our earthly cultures love glorious presentations—social, business, and political platforms of showy superiority and success. Like my roses, elegant and elite, but oh, so temporary. Furthermore, those carefully cultivated flowers had an unpleasant odor, which surprised me, for natural roses are famed for their sweet perfume.

As I tossed them into the garbage, I reflected on Paul’s writing to the Philippian church, cautioning his readers not to pursue selfish ambition in their earthly lives. He cited Jesus’ example. Jesus laid down His right to an exalted heavenly throne to become an ignoble human carpenter in a brutally conquered land, choosing to serve others rather than exalt Himself.

I was relieved to remove the unpleasant odor from my home. I also remembered Paul’s description of us as the pleasing aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14–15). As I pursue my career, I need to keep that image in my mind. We all do.

How can you spread the aroma of Christ to others?

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and castleguard .)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



God Cares about the Small Things

It turned out to be another God-appointment. One that only He could have orchestrated.

I came upon the obits of several family members whom I had not seen in many years and wanted to talk with someone to find out what had happened to them. There were only three people I could think of but had no way to contact them.

One of those people was a woman I had not seen in almost fifty years. Her name was Lugene, but I didn’t know her married name or have any idea how to find her. I expressed my desire to the Lord one day as I drove. I didn’t actually ask Him to help me find her, but He knew my heart.

Two days later, I was on my way home from an appointment when I felt compelled to visit Walgreens. As I checked out, the woman behind the counter kept grinning at me as if she had a secret. She finally said, “So how are you?”

That’s when I realized she knew me, but I didn’t recognize her. I glanced at her name tag. Kerry. I had no clue. Embarrassed, I finally said, “I get the feeling I should know you.”

“Oh, you know me,” she said. “I’m Lugene. But I go by Kerry now.”

Tears filled my eyes. God led me straight to the person I needed to find. Only God.

While visiting with some writer friends at a conference, one lady was devastated because she lost the diamond out of her ring. We prayed and encouraged her. God knew exactly where it was and how much it meant to her. Less than five minutes later, she opened her bag and found the diamond. Then God turned around and did it for someone else. He also prevented me from accidentally throwing away my wedding ring—along with a handful of trash—while on a recent vacation.

God is an up-close-and-personal God. He is concerned with everything that concerns us, whether it’s lost keys, a parking spot, or a decision. He even promises to give us the desires of our hearts when we delight in Him.

Whatever your need, ask the Lord. No request is too small or beyond His reach.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Dimhou.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



Somebody Caught the Fish

Two lousy little fish! A whole day of fishing, and all I caught was two fish.

That was little Abe’s thought as he walked toward home, kicking rocks along the way. Up ahead, he saw a large crowd gathered.

Nobody comes this far out of town, he said to himself.

As he neared the crowd, he heard people praising God. Curious, he stopped and listened. Gradually working his way through, he saw people lying all around on beds. Then a man came and touched them. Suddenly, they rose and started running and shouting. He saw folks with crippled arms, hands, feet, legs, and a host of ailments touched and made whole by this man.

Suddenly, someone said to Abe, “This man needs your fish.”     

Still unsure what was happening, Abe gave this person his fish and bread.           

If that man can fix those people’s problems by touching them, I guess Mom will understand, he thought.

Soon, the man who took the fish and loaves returned.

“Here is some of your fish and bread back,” he said, giving Abe more than Abe had given. “Enjoy your meal.”

“That can’t be mine,” Abe answered. “I didn’t have that much.”

“I know,” the man replied. “The master took your little fish and bread, blessed it, and fed this crowd. Around five thousand men, plus their families, are eating because you gave your fish and bread.”

Still not understanding it all, Abe watched as eleven of the man’s friends approached. “Where do you live, young man?” one man asked. “We’re going to carry the leftovers home for you. We need to get going before it gets dark.”

Little Abe gave what little he had to Jesus, who multiplied it and used it to bless thousands.

Are you willing to give your little part to bless others? Remember, this event happened because somebody caught the fish.

What can you give to others? 

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and 822640.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



Expect the Unexpected

A deer in a dove field was not what I expected.

While I didn’t grow up in the country, both sets of my grandparents had. Dove hunting was one part of country life I enjoyed. One of my cousins perched me and another cousin atop his car, spun out through a field—slinging dust and us across the hood of his car—and finally deposited us at one edge of the field. Now that his antics had stirred up everything in sight, we waited for the doves to fly across.

As I lingered, what came wasn’t doves but a cry from a cousin across the field, “Shoot him. Shoot him.”

As I shifted my eyes from the sky to the ground, I saw a large buck thrashing across the field and aiming directly at me. Although I had buckshot in my field bag, I had no time to load it. I shot birdshot, but to no avail. I was expecting doves … not a buck.

Peter’s audience, early believers, was peppered by persecution. Being a Christian in the first century was dangerous—and sometimes life-threatening. If Jesus was persecuted and killed, they shouldn’t expect any less by identifying with Him.

Expectations fill our lives. Spouses expect their spouses to love them, not leave them. Employees expect their bosses to pay them, not fire them. Children expect parents to love them, not abuse them. Landlords expect their tenants to pay them, not wreck their dwellings.

But the unexpected also dots our lives: abuse, wrecks, broken bones, life-altering events, tragedies, financial meltdowns, emotional battles, and attacks from Satan and those who represent him.

We shouldn’t be surprised by the unexpected attacks. We live in a shattered world ruled by an evil person who loves nothing more than to see us turn our backs on God and descend into the pit of bitterness and anger.

Expecting the unexpected, however, helps us respond more healthily. Trusting in a loving God, believing He is in control, and asking Him for strength to face what’s assaulting us is always the healthier approach. God allows nothing that isn’t for our ultimate good.

Think of some ways you can prepare for the unexpected. It’s just around the corner.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Pezibear.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



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