Devotionals for the Heart: Learning how to abide in Jesus Christ

Learning to Abide
A devotional by Jennifer Hamill

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”—John 15:4-5 (ESV)

Sometimes we walk through life believing that we are abiding in Jesus Christ and believing His truths and promises for our lives.

But instead, we are walking in our own strength, hope and wisdom. We get frustrated or discouraged when our prayers seem to go unanswered, when at the same time, the Lord is faithfully providing exactly what we need for that moment.

Have you ever found yourself in a pit of anxiety, anger, or hopelessness because the season in which you are walking and what you are experiencing seems to be tumultuous and full of silence from the Lord?

If so, you are not alone.

Sometimes we can have all the right answers and seemingly be doing all the right things, yet our hearts are not at ease and our spirit is full of confusion, despair, and discontentment. Just because we have the knowledge of God’s promises and Biblical truth does not mean we are truly believing them in our heart and abiding in His peace, hope, and rest. Knowledge and actively believing/abiding in the Truth are not the same. The first is solely based on the mind, whereas the latter is known to the mind, felt in the heart, and accompanied by the fruit of the Spirit and Christ-likeness in our lives.

Unfortunately, it is not a simple flip of a switch for us to understand or know how to truly abide in Christ and all of the promises God has given us. Fortunately, God is committed to the process of completing the good work He began in us, His children. God’s very intention toward us is to teach us how to abide in Truth and depend on Him rather than ourselves; and that lesson requires humility.

According to the dictionary and my own understanding, to “abide” means to remain stable or fixed on something; additionally, to abide means to “accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation).”

Given these definitions, a question to consider is “Does my current life reflect a life of abiding in peace, hope, and rest because I am choosing to abide in God’s promises and the truth of His character? Or does it reflect a life of self-reliance, frustration, and exhaustion?” More simply put, we can ask ourselves, “What type of fruit am I bearing? If others were around me 24/7/365, what fruit would they see and/or experience?”

Some of these “x-ray” questions can simply serve as a resource to take a step back and evaluate if we are truly living in light of the truths and promises of the Gospel.

Recently, I was in a conversation about the heart of gratitude. I found it interesting to consider how sometimes we can say we are grateful for something. But in reality, we are not truly appreciating it and experiencing gratitude on a heart level. Furthermore, we can say we are praying about something. But in reality, we are not surrendering it to the Lord on a heart level.

We naturally love control. But humility and abiding in Christ requires a release of control into the heart posture of faith. This requires us to make a choice. Sometimes we are faced with a decision as simple as, “Am I going to pause, breathe, and take this concern to the Lord who is good, sovereign, and perfect in all His ways, or am I going to keep trying to solve my own problem, research one more thing, ask one more question?”

It is important to remember, though, that abiding does not just happen spontaneously or naturally. It is intentional. It requires intentional time in the Word of God (The Holy Bible), intentional time of prayer, intentional meditating upon Scripture and characteristics of God as well as attributes of God. Furthermore, abiding does not mean that all is wonderful and life is free of hardships. Abiding in God’s faithfulness, love, character, and Truth actually offers our soul a hope, peace, and rest that is unattainable in ourselves, others, or anything else this world has to offer us.

I hope you will take a moment to pause and reflect with the Lord today. How are you truly doing? What are you abiding in? What are your concerns and what are you doing with them? What are you believing about who God is and His character in this moment? Pray through these thoughts and answers. The Lord is for you and is with you; let Him teach you how to abide in Him.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for being good and faithful. Thank You for your perfect provision for this day. Thank You that I can experience true hope, peace, and rest as I look to you and abide in your Truth and promises. I ask for Your help, Oh Lord. Teach me how to surrender, abide, and depend on You. May my heart trust Your good intentions, perfect wisdom, and sufficient provision. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Abide” by Dwell Songs. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Lay It Down” by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jennifer Hamill obtained a Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of Ministry in Intercultural Studies, and a certification in Biblical Counseling. 

Her educational training has afforded Jennifer the opportunity to work with various populations—such as foster care and adoption, refugee women, homeless, under-resourced youth, international students, and local churches. It has been through these experiences that she has seen a need for women of all ages to understand their true identity as a child of God in order to experience the promised abundant life and freedom.

By working as a Biblical Counselor and Coach, Jennifer focuses on helping others discover who God is and to know their true identity in Jesus Christ. Through her professional work and ministry, she helps people learn how to carry out their specific purpose and calling in building God’s Kingdom that is not of this world.

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Connect with Jennifer:
Website: www.rootedandfixed.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rootedandfixed
Email address: rootedandfixed@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we shouldn't compare and compete

How Not to Sabotage Yourself by Keeping Up with the Joneses
A devotional by Desiree Future

“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”—Galatians 6:4-5 (NIV)

Today, I want to share a story with you that will teach you how to take the pressure off yourself when you feel like you need to keep up with the Joneses.

A group of friends planned to travel to Paris (France) for vacation. Isaac, Lennon, Edwin, and Charley had not yet visited this destination. The four men thought it would be a good place to go. Therefore, they booked their airplane flights and hotels then they began saving money.

All the friends held very demanding jobs, so this would be a much needed getaway. Isaac was a supervisor of ten people at a warehouse, Lennon was a plant manager, Edwin was an Accounting Manager, and Charley was a Junior Accountant. Charley was the only one who attended church regularly. Though none were married, they all had financial obligations to meet.

Their itinerary was packed to the brim for their 10-day visit. First on the list was to see the Eiffel Tower, stroll down the cobblestone streets, and visit the many shops along the way. Lennon wanted to take a boat ride to get better views of their destination. It was added to the checklist as well.

After spending 10 fun-filled, glorious days in Paris, it was time to leave. When the group of friends checked in their luggage at the airport, all had heavier bags than they started with when leaving the United States of America for France. Each had purchased many souvenirs for family and friends, as well as for themselves.

Two weeks after returning from their vacation, Charley called each of the other three. It seems he had overspent the money laid aside for the trip. Not having enough savings to pay his rent or car note, it left him in a serious jam.

Isaac, Lennon and Edwin all told him they were sorry but couldn’t loan the money. Charley decided to plead his case to his landlord in hopes he wouldn’t be evicted. Not mentioning his overseas vacation, the scared man explained he would be late with the rent. Thankfully she was understanding and gave him an additional week plus late fees included. Charley prayed the leasing company wouldn’t repossess the new car. After making numerous calls, he was finally able to get an extension on the car lease. Having to make a double payment plus extra high fees would avoid repossession.

Although Charley had saved money for the trip, not enough was stored away. Especially for the unexpected. This gentleman bought items just because his friends did, and the fellow wanted to prove that he had the money to spend as well. Making $57,000 a year in salary as a Junior Accountant didn’t come close to Charley’s six-figure hunger for expensive things. Every extra tourist adventure or object that was added cost more money Charley didn’t have to spend. Not wanting to seem cheap, the young man spent the money—funds that were meant to pay his rent and car note.

Charley was not thinking logically. Instead, his mindset was on how to make it seem like his wallet was bigger than it was. Now, after an exciting trip abroad, Charley found himself in a heap of trouble, having to pay late fees on top of the original amounts due. All in the name of pretending to be someone other than who he was not (a wealthy person).

This reminded me of something I’ve heard about for many years. It was a saying called “Keeping Up with the Joneses”. It means you are trying to compete with others by showing wealth, social status, and possessions. I’ve never been one to try to keep up with the Joneses. There are a lot of people who have more than I do. However, I was raised to understand that what God has given me is for me.

There’s no need for me to go into debt to try and prove my bank account is as big as someone else's. Nor is there a need to put myself in harm’s way so someone else doesn’t get ahead of me. Sometimes, we will find ourselves in situations like this. It may seem like there is no way out. However, this is where we will find God. All we need to do is just ask for guidance. Not only to get out of this jam but to give us knowledge on how not to repeat it.

In life, it’s not about making sure people don’t go higher than you. It’s about helping each other. It’s about praising others when they do well. The reason is that you would want someone to help and praise you, too.

Your gifts that God give to you is for you alone. No matter how big or small, they’re meant for you because God knew you could handle the talent. Keep your focus on your own things and not what someone else has.

Let’s Pray: Father God, please open the hearts and minds of anyone reading this to understand they don’t have to compete with anyone. Help them to see that You gave them something special and that is their uniqueness. Help us to celebrate how you made us and steward well the gifts and talents and money You give us. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Keeping Up With The Joneses” by Lydia Walker. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Desiree Future is a self-improvement blogger at “Hope Faith & A Smile” where she pens inspirational and encouraging posts. 

This blog that she started as a place for her upcoming novel turned into something far more than she expected. It developed into a home for conversations with people from all walks of life. By writing about everyday events that occur in her world she makes her posts very relatable. As some commenters have said, “Desiree talks to us and not at us.”

In 2013, she self-published The Pastor’s Heart, a Christian romance novel. The following year in 2014, she self-published its sequel, It’s a New Season.

Desiree has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2020. She’s also been a member of a writing critique group through her local ACFW Chapter since 2021. Several of her articles have appeared on the official blog for ACFW. In 2022, she became a contributing author in the encouraging devotional, The Courage to Write.

This child of God may not have a church home yet, but God is first in her life.

Desiree is a cancer survivor who calls New Jersey home. She enjoys traveling to different places to spark ideas for her next article. She likes thrifting and going to the theater to see the latest matinee.

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Connect with Desiree:
Website: https://desireefuture.com/
E-mail: desireefuturewrites@hotmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How being a friend of God transforms us

Transformative Love of Friendship
A devotional by Essie Faye

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

—John 15:13 (KJV)

I’ve never known a friendless day and for that blessing, I am grateful.

I was conceived with a bestie and soulmate. I’m an identical twin and we are very close. More than 40 years later, we still talk multiple times a day. We even spend time together multiple times a week if we can. My sister and I have a special bond. It’s the kind of relationship where we understand each other, even without speaking words. We have a close connection that I cannot describe. It’s a family and friend relationship in a class of its own.

Despite our bond of lasting love as twins, nothing compares to the transformative love of friendship with Jesus Christ. Jesus who is sinless, eternal, and sovereign, stepped from His glory in Heaven into our sin-ridden planet (Earth). He wrapped Himself in flesh to walk the earth that He created (Galatians 4:4-7). He became human in order to redeem fallen humanity and reconcile us to God (John 3:16-17). When our sins demanded our death, Jesus sacrificed Himself and died in our place to appease the wrath of God (Romans 6:23).

The love story of the Gospel can be summarized in a few words: God sacrificed His Son to save the ungodly–even His enemies. What amazing love! Maybe some humans would die for those who love them, or even for those whom they love. But Christ died for those who love Him and his enemies who hated Him.

Jesus admonishes His disciples to love one another (John 15:9-17). Loving one another includes caring for one another and bearing each other’s burdens. It includes sacrificing for each other—this is giving up something for the sake of another. Jesus continues His teaching when He said in John 15:13 (NLT), “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” He expounds on the significance of the sacrifice that He would make. Laying down one’s life means sacrificing with all that you are—it is walking in humility and displaying love for your friends, even to your hurt. Then Jesus called His disciples His friends.

Here we see a transition as Jesus calls His disciples friends, whereas prior they called Him Master because they were servants. Christ’s friendship with these men transformed them from inexperienced students of the Bible to holders of God’s Word and later, teachers of His Word. Friendship with Jesus transformed these 12 men He chose to be His disciples and friends. It caused them to, though at first scattered by fear after Jesus was taken by Roman soldiers to start the journey to His death on the Cross, to stand boldly and proclaim the Good News after Christ’s resurrection. His friends had matured in their faith. Now they were ready to take on the mantle of ministry to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the world.

The love of Christ was evidenced by His words and His actions. He was a man of integrity. He always did what He said He would do. Jesus loved His disciples but because of this love, He corrected the disciples when needed (Proverbs 3:12) and taught them truth through grace. Jesus demonstrated the power of God through preaching, teaching, healing, and deliverance. Even today, more than 2,000 years later, his loving friendship still transforms.

Call to Action:

1. Think about it: Are you a friend of God?

2. God wants to be your friend. He is calling you gently with agape love. Will you answer His call?

3. Strive to be like Jesus Christ using friendship as a transformative tool to share His love for humankind around the world.

4. Let your friendship with Christ in your private life spill over into your public life because you never know who needs to experience it.

5. Remember: God’s friendship transforms us so that we can use our friendship with Him to transform others.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for your transformative friendship and love for humankind. You took a step toward us even when we were running far away from You. You pursued us passionately and captured us with Your love. Thank You for never giving up on us. Give us a passion to befriend the friendless and unfriendly people in this world. Help us to shine the light of Jesus Christ into the dark places of this world. May our friendship with You give hope to others, even while it transforms us. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Friend of God” by Israel Houghton. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Selah. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Essie Faye is a woman of faith. 

She’s a bilingual author, educator, speaker, psalmist, and interpreter.

Essie is the author of the “Finding the Love You Deserve” series for women and teens. She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to heal themselves, love and accept themselves, and pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path.

Essie is a Chicago native.

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Connect with Essie:
Website: www.essiefaye.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Read Essie’s YouVersion Devotion Plan here: http://bible.us/r/Abn

Devotionals for the Heart: The matchless love of God for humankind

The Love of God
A devotional by Colette Lawrence

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16 (NLT)

John 3:16 is such a familiar Scripture to many people, but have you ever paused and considered what it truly must have cost God to send His sinless and perfect Son (Jesus Christ) to lay down His life for you and me?

As a parent I can’t truly fathom this—to be faced with losing your only child to save the entire world, knowing how He would be rejected and what He would have to go through, I don’t know if I could let my child be a sacrifice to save even one person, much less the entire world! But that’s why God is God, and we are not.

As we go through this Easter season when we acknowledge the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior (Jesus Christ), sometimes we can miss the true impact of what God has done because we have allowed it to become normal.

We sing the songs and read the scriptures, but if we are honest, sometimes the meaning of what we are singing and reading is lost on us and the magnitude of what Christ has done for us seems trivial. This is because the cares and concerns of this world overwhelm us to the point where we forget or take for granted the sacrifice that was made for us. This was a one-time sacrifice planned before the foundations of the world and born out of God’s love for us and the desire for us to be reconciled and reunited with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Such love!

What is love? In my own definition, it is an emotion followed by the action of someone who has care and concern for us, but that is the natural love of humankind. But the love God expresses towards us is agape love. It is the sacrificial and unconditional love that God has for us. We see this demonstrated in 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT): “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” There is nothing that you and I can do to earn God’s love. We can’t work for it. God’s love is given to us freely.

As I reflect on my own life and the many mistakes I made, and the countless times when I willingly and sometimes unwillingly choose sin over God’s love for me, I used to ask myself, “How could it still be possible for God to love me?” To think that our Lord and Savior who knows the beginning and the end (Isaiah 46:10), and all the choices we would make in between that would hurt His heart, God still made the choice to send His only Son to die for us (John 3:16-17).

We deserve the penalty of what we did (Romans 6:23), but because God loves us, He gave each of us the choice to accept His love or reject it. God knows what the benefits and penalties are, and He gave all humanity the equal choice: Choose eternal life to be reunited with Him in Heaven or choose eternal separation.

Remember: No one else can love us the way the Lord does. His undying love for us is unconditional and perfect. Our love as humans can be fickle and dependent on how we are feeling in the moment. We withdraw it from others when things go awry and bestow it when things are going well. Thankfully, that is not the type of love God has for us! Can you imagine what it would be like to one minute know you are forgiven by God and have the promise of eternal life then the next minute, that blessed assurance is taken away? Who could stand that kind of up and down relationship with the Lord? The good news is that it is not possible for God to change His mind (Numbers 23:19). God’s love for us is constant and steadfast. It doesn’t change whether we think we deserve it not, or whether we did something good or bad. Neither does it change with our life’s situations and challenges.

As we go through this life on Earth, how will you approach Christ’s love for you? Will you choose to embrace and accept what He did on the cross for you, or will you walk away believing it is not possible for God to love you unconditionally?

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, every day is a reminder of what God did for me. This Easter season is dear to me because it is a reminder that the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the King of the Universe and Creator of this world, gave to us His only Son as a living sacrifice in order to save us from our sins.

Our focus should not be on why Jesus Christ died for us, but to acknowledge that He willingly laid down His life for you and me. As we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection, let’s focus more intently on what we read in the Bible and the songs we sing in church to celebrate Christ’s victory over death and our hope of salvation. May this cause us to be reminded that the Eternal King (God and Jesus Christ) loves us unconditionally and forever!

Let’s Pray:

Father God,

Thank You for your love for us. Thank You for sending your Son to die for us even though we didn’t deserve it. We are grateful for your choice to lay your life down for us. We honor and praise you for all you have done and will do for us. Thank You, Jesus! 

In your precious name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Just for Me” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Colette Lawrence is an empowered woman who inspires women to be who they were created to be. Her core message is empowerment. She is an author, certified life coach, podcast host, and trainer with the Maxwell Leadership team. 

Colette believes that an empowered woman empowers others and is powerful in knowing who she is and what she can accomplish. Colette is on a mission to impact the lives of the women assigned to her, whether she is their coach or trainer or shares a word that will transform their lives.

Colette utilizes her Christian principles as the base of all her engagements. She is passionate about fulfilling her life purpose of empowering women to know who they are, rebuild their confidence, and use their voices as tools to uplift themselves and others.

​​She is the founder of the M.E.E. Movement L.L.C., a faith-based empowerment ministry business that helps women of faith rebuild their confidence and use their voice to walk in their purpose through life coaching, mentoring, and empowerment speaking. Colette believes in using the gifts God has given her to help women be who God has called them to be and ultimately fulfill the purpose for which they were created. She lives by Romans 8:28 (NIV), that promises, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

A native of Jamaica, Colette resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is the mother of two beautiful young women, a son-in-love, and two grandsons. Colette enjoys reading, writing, watching good movies, and chatting with her daughters and friends.

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Connect with Colette:
Blog: https://www.colettemarie.online/blog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colettemarie_cm/
Website: https://www.colettemarie.online/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ColetteMarie-cmc
Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2367935
Email: Colettemarieonline@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: What God taught me about making plans

Learning to Plan with Open Hands
A devotional by Cherie Mendez

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.— James 4:13-16 (NLT)

Since childhood, making decisions would always make me feel anxious.

I grew up with the same opportunities as my big sister, but she was more successful than I because when she would make a decision, she would stick with it and work hard to see her goals come to pass.

We both studied at the same ballet school, and while she faithfully went to class, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to continue with ballet or do other things. My sister’s hard work and determination paid off because she eventually became a part of a ballet company. I on the other hand, bounced from one endeavor to another, never sticking anything out. My mother got frustrated with me because I would start and quit everything from gymnastics, to ice skating, to musical theater. As I entered adulthood, I discovered that many people make decisions based on how they feel and what looks best; but as believers, God is calling us to make decisions that line up with His will.

God’s will is “knowable”, but the question is, “Do we want to know His will?” One of my favorite passages is Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

I have always had a tendency to go one of two extremes when it came to making decisions. I would either assume something is okay because it “seems right” without asking God or I would get so paralyzed I would do nothing out of fear of making the wrong decision. The consequences of wrong decisions can be absolutely devastating—that is why God clearly outlines in His Word (The Holy Bible) on how to make decisions aligned with His will.

Here are three ways to make decisions that honor God and keep us on a level path:

Way #1: Read God’s Word (The Holy Bible). God’s will always aligns with His word. Psalm 119:105 (KJV) says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Way #2: Pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) tells us to “pray without ceasing.” That means to always have a heart that is open to prayer and to make prayer a priority.

Way #3: Seek wise counsel. Proverbs 11:14 (ASV) says, “Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”

I am so thankful for the amazing women of God in my life that I have always been able to go to for sound biblical advice. They always know the right questions to ask and steer me to seek answers from the Lord on my own. This has been especially helpful in those “gray” areas.

Thankfully, Jesus Christ did not leave us to figure out everything for ourselves—He sent us His Holy Spirit to guide and counsel us. John 16:13 (NLT) says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”

We all make wrong decisions at some point in our lives, but thankfully we have a God that is always present to help “re-route” us.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that You are always there to keep us on the right path. Thank You for loving us enough to send your Son (Jesus Christ) to make a way when there was no way so we can know and love You and walk in Your light. Thank You for your Word and your precious Holy Spirit. Help us to be guided by You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Order My Steps” by GMWA Women of Worship. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Cherie Mendez is a professional actress and photographer. 

Her passion is to help women understand their true worth and walk in their God-given purpose. After many years working as a Christian in the entertainment industry, she is thankful to be able to share all her learning experiences in her blog posts and on Instagram.

Some of the topics Cherie loves to write about are:

· Coping with rejection

· Finding your purpose and using your talent for God’s glory

· How God always looks at the heart and the meaning of inner beauty

· Understanding that we are all a work in progress and God is not done with us yet

Cherie’s TV credits include The Equalizer, Bull, and Blue Bloods (CBS). She also appeared in the PureFlix film Revelation Road 3: The Black Rider.

Cherie and her husband Jimmy live in Texas. They are thankful to have been married for 30 years. In their free time, they enjoy traveling, photography, and movie night.

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Connect with Cherie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheriemendez/

Devotionals for the Heart: How to use the gifts God gives you wisely

What Are We Waiting For?
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.”

—Matthew 25:15 (NLT)

Having just spent time on an unintended longer layover, time was on my mind.

What should have been about a two-hour jaunt, quickly turned into a six-hour plus time in the lovely Denver airport, Concourse C. Everything went well as we arrived at the gate, having procured our snacks and water for the wait. However, we began noticing wild updates for our upcoming flight with rapid-fire changes to our departure time. Great. Now, we had time on our hands when what we really wanted was to be at our destination with our family.

We toured our concourse and discovered an outdoor area where firepits welcomed weary travelers, a little dog run, and a view of the runway, planes and even the smell of jet fuel. This eased our minds knowing we had a place to escape the four walls of the airport.

But what to do with the unknown amount of time? Be like everyone else and stare at a phone, not conversing with a neighbor, family member, or stranger? No. A thousand times no. We are meant to engage in other’s lives, not a phone.

It was then the airline announcer made life enjoyable. She began giving us trivia about the airline we were traveling on. Now I know things I did not know and can dazzle others with the tidbits. However, it was the thought of what we could/should be doing with our unexpected time. No longer were we to be a certain place, with a certain agenda. In a sense, it was stolen time. What should we do with all of this unexpected time? Squander it? Use it? Waste it?

In the parable Jesus Christ shared in Matthew 25, He was emphasizing what He wants believers to be doing while we wait for end-time prophecies to be fulfilled. We are to be ready and to labor for God’s Kingdom and to serve Him (the King).

The master in the parable passes out talents (bags of money) to three different people: one got one bag, another got two, and still another got five. The size of each bag varied because each of his servants were given the talents in proportion to ability. We are not told what the abilities were, nor who has more abilities. It is here we can go off track and look at the unfairness of the situation, instead of looking at what needs to be done with the bag of money given to each person.

I’m sure you are thinking of your own abilities now or of the woman down the street, in the next pew, or in your office. She has it all together. Surely, she will be given more money. Or the man at the top of the corporate ladder, the dad with the perfect children or the plumber with a thriving business. He too, will be given more than you, or so you may think.

But who is to say this? No one. Only the Master (Jesus) knows this information. We are on a needed-to-know basis. Period. What do we need to know? Well, for starters, we need to look in our money bag and see how much is in there. Whether it’s one, two or five talents, we have been entrusted with money from the Lord with carte blanch on how to use it.

We are not given details on how to use it, when to use it, where to use it or with whom to use it. Rather, we are given the freedom to be creative, resourceful and thoughtful with the means to labor for the King (God). We should not look at what others are given but what we are given then get busy using our talents for God.

I can lose focus and valuable time when I am being distracted by the competition. When I give myself wholeheartedly to the task at hand, I can labor and make a difference. I can be faithful with my bag and have a return ready for my Master.

Let’s return to my story about the extra, unexpected time I spent at the airport in Denver (Colorado). With all that time in the concourse, we had a choice. Grumble and complain or make the most of the opportunity. Use it for God’s Kingdom or for self. We enjoyed talking with others who were in the same boat as us. We got to spend some time with folks we wouldn’t normally talk with. We don’t even know their names, but we knew their story.

Did we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with these people? No. Did we share love? Yes. Understanding? Yes. Compassion? Yes. Sometimes we over-complicate things and forget the simple—just be, love, enjoy. As we find ourselves with unexpected time on our hands, let us use it for the King. Little moments add up to big ones which make a difference in one life or in many.

Let’s Pray: Father God, my desire is to please You by using the talent or talents You have given to me. Help me to stop spending unnecessary time on myself and serving my personal interests. Help me to stop being distracted by the time wasters lurking around every corner. Teach me how to use all my talents for advancing your Kingdom. Thank You that You created me for a purpose, and You have given me the abilities to serve You in every moment, every hour, every season. I love You, Lord. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Time That is Left” by Mark Schultz. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “What Are We Waiting for?” by for KING + COUNTRY. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Little is Much” by Downhere. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Kerry Sue’s life is very full because she is a wife and Marmee to three adult children—two of whom are married—and a new grandson. 

Kerry Sue met her husband in college and served on the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family.

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 24 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s. Whether it’s singing in the church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for four years, and a devotional writer for more than two years.

Kerry Sue feels led to write about finding God’s Sovereignty in our suffering because of her own ongoing journey of more than four years, with the hope to encourage others.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignblog

My review of the CSB Illustrator’s Notetaking Bible

When Momentum Influencers Network (MIN) asked me to review the CSB Illustrator’s Notetaking Bible, I readily agreed because I love reading God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and sharing it with everyone!

Before I share my review with you, I’d like to share a word from Momentum Influencers Network about this product:

Engage with your Creator in a creative way. Enhance your personal Bible study with the CSB Illustrated Notetaking Bible.

This uniquely crafted Bible features a single-column setting with wide journaling margins and line-art illustrations on every page spread. With wide journaling margins, line-art illustrations on every page spread, Scripture art, and more, this Bible will inspire you to engage God’s Word in a fresh and exciting way through meaningful creativity and personalization.

This beautiful Bible provides the perfect place for meaningful creativity and personalization, over time creating an incredible keepsake for your journey. This Bible includes over 600 inspirational line-art illustrations, filigree designs, Scripture quotes, and other unique Scripture art, with space for personal creativity and journaling.

This uniquely crafted Bible features large, easy-to-read 9.5-point type in a single-column setting with wide journaling margins and line-art illustrations on every page spread. Including filigree designs, Scripture quotes, and other unique Scripture art alongside plenty of space for personal creativity and journaling, this Bible will inspire you to engage God’s Word in a fresh and exciting way.

This beautiful Bible provides the perfect place for meaningful creativity and personalization, over time creating an in-credible keepsake for your journey.

~*~

My Review of the Illustrator’s Notetaking Bible:

The first thing I noticed about this CSB “Illustrator’s Notetaking Bible” was the beautiful box cover. I was also surprised by how huge and heavy this Bible was too.

When I took this Bible out of its box cover, I smiled as I felt the smooth, soft leather texture of the front cover, spine and back cover. I like its pretty golden tan color and thought the budding flower imprint in the front cover was lovely and inviting. This all made me want to open this Bible and read it. So, I did, and this is what I discovered:

The interior design has an artsy flair with a flourish of flowers and leaves that decorate the borders of most pages in this sacred book. These designs are simple and open outline inviting the reader to grab some colored pencils and fill in each design to your liking and imagination.

I like how each design on the borders of each book in this Bible align with the Scripture on each page. For example: On page 1 in Genesis there is an outline of the sun, moon, stars, trees, birds, butterflies and a rabbit to support the Creation Story. It is a beautiful feature that also begs the reader to color in each outlined creation.

These beautiful designs do not border every page of this Bible. There are some pages that simply have college rules lines for us to write on. It is a great way to journal your thoughts as you read the Scripture.

There are also Bible verses that are outlined in colorless enlarged texts on the border of some pages that invite you to not only color in those letters but to go deeper in memorizing Scripture. My favorite example of this is on page 1205 which highlights Romans 8:11. The outlined text is artistic with an elegant font that flows down the page.

After the book of Revelation, there is a page that lists a Daily Bible Reading Plan. It looks very comprehensive and not complicated. It seems easy to follow and like you could spend a solid hour with God reading His Word every day as noted.

I found the CSB Concordance at the end to be very helpful and detail-oriented. After that, the final few pages of this Bible contain colorful but dull maps of the Middle East and Northern Africa which is where these Bible stories from Genesis to Revelation took place. I appreciated this informative feature.

Every detail about this Bible was inviting and encouraging me to find a quiet place and read God’s Word more intently. You don’t have to be an artist to appreciate this unique packaging. I think that this design encourages every reader—young and old—to get to know the Author (God) and their Savior (Jesus Christ) as they allow His Holy Spirit to teach the Biblical truths, impart life lessons, give good advice, bestow wisdom, find faith and share hope for our world today that is all found in this beautiful book. It is such a good read that we all need!

~*~
Purchase the CSB Illustrator’s Notetaking Bible here:
https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/csb-illustrator-s-notetaking-bible-large-print-edition-cream-leathertouch-M00101449/005850840

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Enter this giveaway via Rafflecopter (select the link below) for your chance to win one copy of CSB Illustrator’s Notetaking Bible, Large Print Edition. *Note: This giveaway contest is for USA residents only. You must live in the USA to be eligible to win this contest. Here’s the Rafflecopter link for you to enter the contest:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c506/?

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Disclosure: Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Devotionals for the Heart: Life lessons learned on having a good name

Making Space for Godly Relationships
A devotional by Christine Monteiro

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”—Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)

I've read Proverbs 22:1 many times but it never clicked until I experienced it myself.

I used to think that, over time, people will get over anything that ruined your name, and your name will be restored. Maybe that is true when you’re in a larger audience, such as in social media where people will forget quickly when other news fills their feed. But not when you are in a smaller community, meeting people on a daily basis. In those type of environments, it will take a while to make people forget. I asked myself, “What's the cost of keeping your name clean when no one else sees the dirt thrown at it?” It was hard to justify yourself when there were not many witnesses.

About a year ago, I was so disappointed and angry when I thought I had lost a friend. I lost a friendship and I had no idea what I had done for it to end. But eventually, I was okay with it, until I found out what was going on behind my back—that person backstabbing and undermining, manipulating people, and spreading lies. I started to regret that I ignored many red flags from the beginning. My vulnerability innocently led to this pity party friendship, and I thought I could help her out of the pit she was facing. But I was wrong. I wish someone had warned me. It was too late. When the betrayal happened, I was mad at God for letting this embarrassment happen to me. It jeopardized my profession as a coach and my good name.

At first, I felt stupid—like I had been gaslighted, blindsided by someone I thought was a friend. But the betrayal didn't break me, it woke me up. When I chose to leave the relationship, that gave me room to do more things. I became more productive and focused on my future. There was no more room for people who leave me feeling emotionally drained. I had more clarity and more energy. I was finally free to thrive without feeling drained. My pain turned into purpose.

One morning as I was spending quiet time with God, I opened my Bible and a verse caught my attention. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NASB) says “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.” I started to reflect on the relationship I had. Reading that verse gave me a sense of deliberation. I was grateful to finally be out of a toxic relationship. I am done with joining the party of gossiping and slandering people.

I asked God for forgiveness for what I did. I am glad that we have a merciful God who taught me that my name—my character, integrity, peace—was worth more than trying to explain myself to many people, to someone who only wanted control. I stayed quiet and guarded myself. Instead of walking around defending myself, I stayed close to God for my healing process. The most important lesson I learned from this is to wake up daily with purpose. Peace from God gives me the strength to make it through every day.

I learned that I don’t owe everyone access to my life and walking away from what’s toxic isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. My good name doesn’t come from what others say about me. It comes from who I am when God refines my story. When God is on your side no one can be against you (Romans 8:31).

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank You so much for your love and how You have created humankind in your image. I know that You love me for who I am. Only You alone can define me and clear my name because no one could do that. Because you’ve created me according to your image, I know I am worthy in your eyes. Help me to remember my true identity in Jesus Christ. Remind me of my worth as one of your Daughters. Bless me with wisdom in my daily life so I can discern how to choose the right companions—people who will help me grow and draw closer to You every day. Help me to remind myself that my worth is in You and not in this world. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Friend of God” by Israel Houghton. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “What A Friend” by Brian Doerksen. Listen to it here.

~*~

Author Bio:

Christine Monteiro is a certified transformative coach, writer, and keynote speaker who is passionate about helping others navigate the complexities of purpose, personal growth, and resilience. 

Christine’s journey to becoming a coach started four years ago, following the loss of her husband to brain cancer. That experience left her feeling as though she had lost her purpose—a feeling she deeply understands in clients who she works with now. Through self-discovery and training, Christine found the missing pieces in her life and regained her purpose and drive that now motivates her to help others.

Christine coaches her clients from all walks of life—from young adults to retirees—helping them to embrace change, set meaningful goals, and confidently pursue their dreams. She has received training through Creative Results Management and holds credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Christine also has certifications in Positive Psychology and Mental Health Coaching from Yale and Light University. Her diverse approach to coaching her clients combines empathy with strategic insight, helping them to navigate every stage of life.

When she writes, Christine likes to focus on topics like finding purpose, coping with grief, and achieving personal transformation. As she writes, Christine draws from her own experiences as a single mom and empty nester. She enjoys sharing these insights on various platforms to reach a wider audience and foster community support.

When not coaching or writing, Christine spends her time sipping black coffee and swimming in the pool. She has found that having three independent children gives her a privilege to have a lot of “me time” that she didn’t have when they were growing up.

Devotionals for the Heart: Life lessons learned from watching a butterfly

When the Struggle is Worth It
A devotional by by Suzanne Felton

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

The life cycle of a butterfly is sometimes used as a metaphor for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the spiritual transformation of all who put their faith in Him.

The metamorphosis of a crawling caterpillar into a beautiful, soaring butterfly is a powerful picture of Christ’s victory over death and the tomb. It is also an amazing, awe-inspiring thing to observe in nature. I learned a lot the first time I had that chance to be immersed in an outdoor observation one summer when I spotted a monarch caterpillar in our backyard. I watched it munching leaves for several days until there was a small, green, pod—a chrysalis—hanging in the place where the caterpillar had been. It was happening! I knew this was the stage in which the caterpillar was changing into a butterfly. I could not wait to see it emerge! About two weeks later, I noticed a change in the chrysalis. I was so excited that I got a lawn chair and settled in to watch the big event. I was ready to see the new butterfly triumphantly burst out of its tomb and take to the skies.

Much to my dismay, that’s not what happened. There was no bursting forth and there was nothing triumphant about it. Instead, for what seemed like forever (really about half an hour), whatever was inside the chrysalis struggled pitifully to get out through a small crack. It was hard to watch. I was afraid this butterfly had not fully developed and was not going to make it. I felt bad for it and I was tempted to run inside, get some scissors, and help the poor thing out myself, but I decided to let nature take its course.

When the creature was finally out of the chrysalis, it looked nothing like the glorious monarch butterflies I’ve seen in pictures. This was a wrinkled, weak-looking version, like someone had crumpled it up to throw it away. I could not take it anymore. I was sure something had gone wrong, and this butterfly would never fly. I packed up my chair and went inside.

About an hour later, curiosity got the better of me, and I went back to check on the butterfly one last time. What I saw took my breath away. Where the weak, shriveled insect had been before was a gorgeous, vibrant butterfly, wings spread wide and shining in the sun. I had barely processed the vision when the wings fluttered and the butterfly rose into the air, glided across the yard and out of sight.

For Christians, Easter Sunday is a joyful day of victory and celebration. We know that Jesus Christ died on the cross, overcame death, and rose on the third day. We know that He still lives, and that everyone who puts their faith in Him will also overcome death and have eternal life in Heaven. Hallelujah!

However, we might forget this fact of life: Sometimes His path to joy and victory was not glorious or easy to watch. Even before the unthinkable, excruciating physical pain of crucifixion, Jesus was betrayed by one of His closest friends, denied by another, rejected by the masses, convicted unjustly, mocked, and beaten by His captors. To outside observers, it must have looked as though this Jesus, the Teacher who had gained so many followers, was crumpled up, weak, and not going to make it. When His body was sealed in the tomb, it must have seemed like the end. But only a short time later, Jesus was alive again in a radiant, restored body!

It turns out, as I later learned, that a butterfly’s struggle to emerge from its chrysalis is a necessary part of its life cycle. The physical strain as it wrestles its way out is essential for strengthening its muscles and developing its wings. In short, without the struggle, it would never be able to fly.

Christ’s earthly path to the cross was not easy, and He was not eager to suffer. The Bible says that Jesus prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-40) that His Father (God) would take away the burden of what He had to do, but when God did not, He obeyed because He knew that what He would accomplish through his suffering would be far greater than even the weight of the sin of the world. As the Bible tells us, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV). God could have made things easier for His Son, but the struggle was a necessary part of the plan.

Putting our faith in Jesus does not guarantee us immunity from struggles or pain. In fact, the Bible tells us that the opposite is true. Before he was crucified, Jesus told His disciples what was going to happen to Him, and how they would face trouble because they were His followers. Then He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). We will all face difficult times in this life, but, as followers of Jesus Christ, we can remember that our faith is in the One who has overcome it all. The Apostle Paul knew this when he wrote, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NIV). Like Jesus, we can face the struggles of this world because of our hope in the joy that is to come.

This is Holy Week. As we look forward to the joy and celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter, let us not forget that His path to victory was not easy or appealing. Christ’s struggle was a necessary part of God’s plan of salvation. If you are struggling right now, you can put your hope in the One who has overcome death and darkness and wants to give you joy and peace.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, this week we pause to remember the tremendous sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us from sin. Help us to remember that no matter what we are struggling with now, we can have hope because the joy of eternal life with You awaits us. Thank You, Lord, for loving us so much. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Thank You Jesus for the Blood (Live)” by Charity Gayle. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Suzanne Felton has been a writer for most of her life, even before she realized it. 

She has worked in a wide range of settings, from non-profits to science labs to government contracts to educational classrooms, all of which involved writing in one form or another.

Suzanne is amazed by the power of words and now uses her passion and experience to help authors and students as a writing coach. Encouraging others to find the words and the courage to share their stories is one of her greatest joys.

Suzanne’s devotionals have been published in periodicals and blogs including The Upper Room, The Love Offering, Keys 4 Kids, and The Swallow’s Nest. She is also a two-time finalist in the Cascade Christian Writing Contest for poetry.

She is a wife, mother, writer, reader, teacher, deep thinker, and sinner saved by grace. Suzanne and her family reside in Northern Virginia, but Suzanne will always call her native South Carolina home.

Married to her best friend for twenty-five years, Suzanne is active in her church, where she and her husband have served as deacons for over a decade. They enjoy watching sports and visiting national parks with their two teenage sons. Suzanne is also an avid birder, easily and happily distracted by anything with feathers.

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Connect with Suzanne:
Website: https://suzannefelton.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l_suzanne_felton
Email address: suzannefeltonwriter@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How to bear good fruit in God's Kingdom

Fruit Bearing in God’s Kingdom
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

—Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

This morning a friend sent me a video of her little granddaughter reciting Galatians 5:22-23. She couldn’t have been more than five or six years old, but she was perfectly at ease as she quoted God’s word without any coaching. It was a beautiful testimony of her family’s dependence on the Lord and their devotion to teaching their children to memorize Scripture.

That little girl’s testimony convicted me not just because she knew all the words, but because her sweet face was wreathed in smiles as she spoke. She was dancing as she remembered each part, and when she finished her joyful rendition, she looked up adoringly at her parents to make sure she had said it all perfectly.

It convicted me because I realized how seldom God’s fruit of the Spirit in me looks like that young child. And it made me wonder if anyone who knows me would even recognize me if my face was as radiant as the girl in the video appeared. Are the spiritual fruits that the Lord wants me to exhibit evident in my life?

Lately, I’d have to say maybe not.

Why do I let the cares and concerns of daily living defeat God’s invitation to live by the Spirit and to produce His fruit in my life? How do I become so overwhelmed with calendars and schedules that kindness and gentleness rush out of my relationships? What will it take to show me how to dance again in the eyes of my Heavenly Father simply because there is so much joy in His presence? When will I wake up and realize that there is beauty in faithfulness, peace in obedience, and self-control in His strength?

As the Old Testament psalmist asked, “How long, O Lord?” Psalm 13:1 (ESV).

So, instead of whining and complaining about having too much to do, my question to God now is, “Lord, how long do I need to exhibit Your spiritual fruit in my life?” Rhetorical questions like this one deserve only one answer, and the answer is always.

Does God want us to always share His fruit of the Spirit with those in the world around us? Absolutely! How can we do that? One word: obedience. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It’s a great place to start.

Give thanks because our joints are hurting? Sure, and while we’re at it, let’s thank God for the physical therapist who is helping us to feel better. Thank Him for our meager paycheck? Of course! Thank Him for giving us a job.

Is practicing gratitude working for you yet? It is for me. Somehow life seems a little bit more hopeful. Maybe it feels a little more joyful. And maybe obedience is even showing me how to live closer to Christ. If this keeps up, I might turn into that little girl who loves learning God’s Word. My aching joints don’t ache quite as much when I’m dancing!

Whatever our circumstances, our thankful attitudes are steps of obedience to create loving, peaceful, joyful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled fruit for the Lord to multiply as He sees fit.

Jesus Christ, our Lord, cautions us about fruit-bearing in Matthew 21:18-22 (ESV). During the last few days before the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection, He and His disciples were walking one day when they came to a fig tree that was barren, with no fruit on it anywhere. Jesus says to the tree, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” (Matthew 21:19). That tree withered immediately at the rebuke of our Lord.

Let’s not be like that barren tree. In obedience, let us follow Jesus every day of our lives. May we have fruit to share with our brothers and sisters in this world so we can resemble that little girl who gazed up in adoration when she finished her verses. Our Father (God) sees and is glad when we follow Him genuinely.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord God, oh, how we need You! Please show us the places where You ask us to obey. Please forgive us for our gloomy outlooks and for our rebellion against You, too. Lord, we need Your spiritual face-lifts in our lives. Please let us please You, our Savior and our God. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Wanna Bear Fruit (the Fruit of the Spirit)” by CJ and Friends. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why God wants us to seek Him first

See Me First
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”—Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

My husband and I became parents in the 1980s.

This decade was filled with change—disposable cameras, camcorders, and the CD player are just a few. Video stores were becoming popular, and for the first time, you could rent a movie, take it home, and watch it at your convenience. It boggles the mind, but at the time, this was revolutionary.

During the 1990s, video stores began to dominate. They not only offered thousands of movie selections, but you could also purchase snacks, rent video games, and more. When our children were eleven and thirteen, we decided they were old enough to be left alone for the evening. We had a wedding rehearsal to attend and would be gone until about 9:00 p.m. They had dinner, a rental movie, and a smorgasbord of snacks. They were armed with phone numbers to call if they needed us. We prayed for safety and wise decisions and headed for the church. We were gone for about three hours.

On the drive home, we realized we hadn’t heard from the children and assumed all was well—until we pulled into the garage.

A note from our firstborn was strategically placed on the garage door leading into the house. These four words struck fear in this mama’s heart. It read, “See me first, Melissa.” We opened the door, and everything seemed calm. The house was quiet. Nothing was broken or out of place, and then she appeared. Melissa marched down the hall on a mission and headed straight for us as if a duel was about to occur.

The story tumbled out, but her words were clear. The movie we rented was in a hard plastic case, and her brother had difficulty getting it out. Determined to free the video from captivity, he slammed it on the kitchen table, creating a two-inch gash in the wood.

Melissa wanted the facts to be clearly stated—this was not her fault. Nick apologized, and it was clearly an accident. Much to Melissa’s chagrin, we weren’t too broken up about the table. It was old, and we disguised the gash with olive oil and wood stain. Melissa’s note represented more than an act of tattling on her brother. It was a call for justice and comfort. She wanted to be cleared of all wrongdoing.

Children look to their parents for love, protection, and justice. They want to know we’re on their side. When we’ve been treated unfairly, our first instinct is to lash out and vindicate ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I’ve experienced several unjust situations. In each, I wanted to take care of matters by myself.

How do we resist the urge to take care of injustice alone? Who will comfort us? God tells us to seek Him first (Matthew 6:33) and reminds us His steadfast love never ceases, and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

We tend to hold a grudge when we seek justice, and our hearts become bitter. I love this quote from author Joyce Myers, “You can be bitter or better, but you can’t be both.” It’s not our job to deliver justice because we’re not the hero of our story. Our responsibility is to take our need for justice to our Savior (Jesus Christ).

God is the hero of our stories! He forgave us, saved us from sin, and is on our side. Perhaps we can take a tip from children like Melissa and give distracting, unjust situations to God. He loves us and is working all things for the good of His children.

Let’s Pray: Thank You, Lord, for being the hero of our stories. Help us to refrain from taking matters of injustice into our own hands, for You alone are in control. You are just and your faithfulness goes before you. Keep us focused on You and help us to seek You first every day of our lives. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “In Christ Alone” by Keith and Kristyn Getty. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “First” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a Jesus follower, wife, mom, mimi, educator and author. 

She lives with her husband in the beautiful Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are hot, and the winters are a little slice of heaven. Her two adult children and their families live nearby. She considers it a joy to spend time with her family members!

She is a lifelong educator and co-founder of an educational professional development business. After spending her professional life in education, Colleen retired as the STEM Specialist for a large public school district. As she approached the end of that season, God placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith-walk with Jesus Christ.

When asked what makes her faith walk real, Colleen replied, “It isn’t just one thing, but a million little things. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, it’s never just another day.” She says when you give your heart to Jesus, each new day is another opportunity to walk hand-in-hand with Him and begin to know the heart of God. As you become more aware of His presence, stop, take a breath, and watch what God will do.

Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

She has been published online via these websites: Inkspirations, Her View From Home, and Inside Out Worldwide.

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Connect with Colleen:
Website: http://colleenchoward.com

Devotionals for the Heart: God loves the original you He created you to be

Loving My Oddities Like God Does
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Have you ever noticed that the little personal oddities and quirks we bring to our family or friendship group are a lot like the gifts we bring to the Kingdom of Heaven?

Recently, my family—four teens, my husband, and me—went bowling for the first time in ages. Our oldest was home from college on spring break, and we had so much fun. About halfway through, I just started laughing to myself. That’s because every one of our family members has a different style, and they’re all hilarious.

Our youngest, a football player, brings all his muscle power to the table, but he does this little leap at the end that almost makes throwing the ball look like a dance.

Our second youngest walks up to the very edge to the line and then she stands there, swinging the ball vigorously back and forth before launching it. Her sister, our second oldest, does what I can only call “the thump”—sort of dropping the ball and letting the weight of it slowly gain momentum as it rolls toward the pins (more often than not, she hits dead center). Our oldest, the family perfectionist, approaches the game much like you’d expect—with laser precision, which sometimes results in a strike and sometimes not.

My husband brings his boundless enthusiasm to the game, and me? I’m wildly inconsistent. I switch up balls every other turn, trying different weights and finger holes. Sometimes I use my left hand just for variety, and sometimes I get a strike while sometimes it’s a gutter. I’m all over the map.

It occurred to me driving home that it’s much like the different spiritual gifts we all have. A lot of our gifts are really different—some of us are healers, some are teachers, and some encouragers. Some of us are leaders, while some of us serve quietly in the background with as little notice as possible, thank you very much. Others bring infectious joy to a group, while others have deep wells of compassion and mercy.

Can you imagine how boring it would be if every single one of us were the same? If each of us looked the same, spoke the same, and brought the same gifts to the world? How monotonous! How tedious!

Yet sometimes we human beings act like all we want is conformity. We want all our students to act the same way in the classroom and our political leaders to be the same. We think sometimes that there is one standard for beauty instead of celebrating what makes us different.

What makes us different also makes us special. It’s also something God designed on purpose. He likes those quirks, those oddities, those differences. He likes the things about us we sometimes try to conceal, thinking they’re so strange and different. Those are the things he likes best, perhaps.

Why does it take us so long to recognize this? Some of us go to lengths to tuck away and hide the seemingly strange or unique aspects of our personalities or skills or looks instead of simply owning and celebrating them. I speak from experience—I spent a long time molding myself into what I was certain would be “socially acceptable” and “pleasing”, only to finally realize what I liked best about myself were the things that made me different, for they were what helped make me, well. Me. And guess what? Others liked the real me, too, when she finally came out of hiding. Maybe not everyone did, but by then I wasn’t too worried about pleasing everyone else, only about pleasing God.

Sometimes we think there’s one standard of a successful or blessed life, too—someone happily married with children and eventually grandchildren, living their best life with money in the bank and a neat home and investments and a career at a job we’ve worked at all our lives. Yet that doesn’t have anything to do with success. Just like our gifts and our looks, our blessings look quite different, too, and yet all are good!

Today, remember this: God loves you, quirks and all. He loves the real you—makeup free and just waking up in the morning. You are precious to Him because He made you, and you belong to Him.

Consider the words of Psalm 139:1-6 (NIV): “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

And because You (God) love me, because You loved creation in the first place, I, too, can share love with others in your name. Amen, and thanks be to God.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for your great love for the world and for me. Help me to appreciate the quirks and oddities about myself, knowing that You created these differences intentionally and with love and care. Please help me to appreciate the differences of others all around me. All of us were created by You, and You are only and always good. In your holy and precious name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Many Gifts, One Spirit” by Allen Pote. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning journalist, author, blogger, editor, writing coach, and devotional writer with thousands of articles to her name. 

Since 2010, she has served as the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 123 journalism awards during her tenure. Her latest book is Preparing Our Hearts: An Advent Devotional to Draw Closer to God at Christmas.

Jessica has won more than 100 writing awards. She is a seasoned speaker and frequent contributor to Christianity.com, BibleStudyTools.com, and Crosswalk.com, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries, with her work included in many of their devotionals and Bible studies.

She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Brodie holds a Master of Arts in English, and she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in communications/print journalism from Florida International University. Born and raised in Miami, Brodie now lives in Lexington, South Carolina, just outside Columbia. She has also lived in Ohio and in the mountains of western North Carolina. She and her husband, Matt Brodie, have a blended family of four teenage children and stepchildren.

Brodie has written several novels and is actively seeking publication through her agent Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency. Her novel The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis contest for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and her novel Tangled Roots won a third place Foundation Award in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019. She is finishing the third in the series, Hidden Seeds, now.

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicabrodie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie/
Twitter: https://x.com/JessicaJBrodie
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jessicajbrodie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajbrodie/
Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/jessica-brodie
Download her free e-book:
https://www.jessicabrodie.com/ebook-god-centered

Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when you are facing failure in this life

The Biblical Response to Failure
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”—Psalm 73:26 (ESV)

Failure is an unavoidable part of life.

Sometimes we fail publicly, in ways others see and remember. Sometimes we fail privately, when our inner battles leave us discouraged and defeated. In those moments, we are painfully reminded of our limitations. We are not invincible. We are not perfect. We are human.

Asaph, the writer of Psalm 73, knew what it was like to wrestle with failure—not just moral failure, but the kind that shakes the soul. In the earlier verses of that psalm, he confesses to deep confusion and envy when he sees the prosperity of the wicked. He wonders why those who defy God seem to flourish, while those who walk with the Lord often suffer. That emotional and spiritual disorientation was, in a very real sense, a kind of failure—a failing heart, a weary soul, a shaken faith.

But it is precisely in this place of frailty that Psalm 73:26 breaks through with incredible hope: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

I have gleaned four life lessons from this text about how to deal with and live with my own failures. Perhaps you can find value in them too:

Life Lesson #1: God is not surprised by our failure.
We often treat failure as a disqualification, but God sees it as part of our development process. Throughout Scripture, we find faithful men and women who stumbled: Moses struck the rock, David sinned gravely, Peter denied Christ, Paul spoke of his weakness. Yet none of them were abandoned by God. Why? Because our failures don’t define our relationship with Him—His grace does.

Life Lesson #2: Failure is not the end of the story.
God has a way of redeeming what is broken. Our setbacks can become the soil in which deeper trust is planted. Sometimes we need to fail so that we can discover the strength that is not our own. Asaph admits, “My heart may fail.” That’s a confession of reality. But then he follows it with truth: “God is the strength of my heart.” That’s a confession of faith.

Life Lesson #3: In failure, we are drawn to dependence.
When everything is going well, we can easily fall into the illusion of self-sufficiency. But when we fall short, when our strength runs dry, we are brought back to the heart of the gospel: We are not enough, but Jesus Christ is. Asaph calls God his “portion forever.” That’s the language of inheritance, of something lasting and unshakeable. Earthly success fades. Human approval shifts. But the Lord is our eternal portion.

Life Lesson #4: The response to failure is not despair, but worship.
As the psalm progresses, Asaph moves from doubt and confusion to a place of renewed devotion. He ends Psalm 73 by saying, “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works” (Psalm 73:28). Failure can be the doorway to a deeper relationship with the Lord.

So, today, if you find yourself weighed down by failure—whether it’s failure in your walk with God, in a relationship, in a responsibility, or even in your own heart—lift your eyes to the One who never fails. Let Psalm 73:26 be an anchor for your soul. 

Remember: Your failure is not final. God's strength is reliable and it lasts forever. Lean on Him when you're facing failure. Let that be your hope today.

Let’s Pray: Lord of all creation, thank You for Your grace that looks beyond our faults and failures and sees who You are growing us to be. When we fail or falter, restore within us your image. Replenish within us the joy of the Lord. Forgive us our sins and help us to freely forgive others. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Strength of My Life” by Vertical Worship. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson is the Director Emeritus of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries for the North American Division. In this role, he was the friend, advocate and gatekeeper for the profession of chaplaincy among Adventist pastors. 

His new mission is to specialize in personal and personnel development coaching. He journeys with and guides clients, personal and corporate, as they define their goals and grow into their full potential.

His pastoral career began in the Allegheny East Conference where he was ordained.

Subsequently, he served in the Potomac Conference at the Sligo and Seabrook churches. His professional dream was to be a chaplain in the United States Navy. He got to live that dream and achieved the rank of Commander before retiring from Naval service in 2015 with 26 years of service.

Chaplain Anderson has earned four graduate degrees: He earned his Master of Divinity Degree was earned at the seminary at Andrews University. He earned a Master’s of Education from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Sacred Theology from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C.

Chaplain Anderson and his wife Debra have been married for 41 years. They have two healthy, saved and well-adjusted adult children who picked good spouses and delivered four grandchildren.

Adventures through traveling, reading, praying, preaching, teaching and writing are the avenues of ministry and self-care that define his now and his destiny.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address: psanderson75@gmail.com.