Devotionals for the Heart: When God saved me from making a mistake

When God Saved Me from Making a Mistake
A devotional by Terry Overton

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”—Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

Before sunrise, my little dog Bella and I slipped out for an early walk. We wanted to beat the heat and explore more of our new neighborhood.

The world was beginning to stir—the squirrels chattered in the trees, and the chirps of morning birds drifted quietly into the morning air. A cool breeze made it feel like we could go a little farther today. We took our usual path at a brisk pace, but something nudged me to turn down a street I hadn’t explored since the move. Why not? I thought. The wind picked up, chiming a neighbor’s porch bells, and the turn on the road felt like an invitation to adventure.

Though we’d lived here only a few months, the street names were familiar from all the house-hunting listings I’d studied before our move. But the specific sequence of streets between our house and the main road remained a mystery. Curious, I kept going. One street, then another. My fitness tracker encouraged me to push for another mile. Hills seemed to rise beneath my steps, then downhill slopes, but I kept wondering: Would the next street be the one that finally loops back?

Then I saw the sign: No Exit. The next one? Dead End. And finally, just when I was ready to turn back, I saw a street name I recognized—Incline. I looked down that street and smiled. It was suitably named. Breathing heavily, I climbed the hill and remembered why that name stuck in my mind: Months earlier, my husband and I wanted to buy a house on this street, but someone beat us to it. I remembered how disappointed we were to read “Contract Pending.” The interior of the house, the floorplan, the type of flooring, and from what we could see online, the backyard panoramic view, all looked amazing.

But as I passed that house we did not buy, the sun crested over the hill and lit up the view. And just like that, I saw what we hadn’t seen in the online images: power lines cutting across the horizon, rooftops and buildings crowding the distance, and the lake below blocked by newer homes. The view I’d imagined as peaceful was in reality, obstructed and noisy. In that quiet, golden moment, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. God had protected us from a decision we might have regretted.

The view from my yard has always mattered to me, not for the pride of having a nice yard but for the peace it brings. I’ve lived near ponds, lagunas, and resacas—each one a sacred space where I’ve met with God in the early hours. I would pray, read Scripture, and write in these spaces. It’s not just about a pretty yard. It’s about a place where my soul can breathe. It’s a place where I sit with Him, who holds me in His hands, walks with me, walks beside me, and gives me peace.

We didn’t get that house on Incline Street. Instead, we found the one meant for us—an older home with character, nestled between woods, a creek, and a quiet cove that opens to the lake. It’s peaceful. Private. Perfect.

How many times has God saved me from my own missteps? How many times did I think I knew the best route, the best decision, the best next step to take? Too many to count. I’ve made plenty of choices attempting to control what was in His hands, trying to force my own path. However, the walk this morning reminded me: God is always at work behind the scenes. He doesn’t just provide what we want—He gives us what we need, even when we don’t see it yet.

And sometimes, all it takes to see that He provides what we need is to continue to walk one more mile with Him.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

You have provided many blessings and at times I do not realize You are busy working in the quiet. Help me to remember to trust You in all things. You know the best path for my life. Thank You for always holding my hand and being by my side in all circumstances. I pray this in the name of Your Holy Son (Jesus Christ). Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Know the Plans (Audrey’s song)” by Damaris Carbaugh. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology. 

Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean.

She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.

Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels.

Terry’s background in teaching adults and children shine through her stories that often include a character with educational or learning challenges. Her Christmas series, The Oddball Ornaments, features a box of misfit ornaments who first learn the meaning of Christmas and then discover the meaning of forgiveness. In The Underground Book Readers series, one of the main characters is on the autism spectrum yet is one of the leaders of the group of teens. Book one of a new series, The Messiah Brigade, features an awkward middle school nerd who helps his school turn around a bully gang of kids. Adoption and family issues are the focus of her new book, Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel.

Terry lives in Texas and enjoys reading, taking pictures for devotional posts on social media, visiting with her family, playing golf, and writing.

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Connect with Terry:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terry.overton.71653
Author Website: https://www.authorterryoverton.com/
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/overtont

Devotionals for the Heart: When Jesus Christ fed thousands with one meal

When Jesus Did a Miracle with Fishes and Loaves
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”—John 6:9 (ESV)

Sometimes, like this little boy mentioned in the Bible verse above, we might feel like we don’t have much to offer Jesus Christ.

We may look at our life, what we have in our hands, and think that it doesn’t look like enough for God’s purposes. Maybe, as we look around and compare ourselves to other people, we think that we need more. More knowledge, more experience, more of anything to be used by God or to make a difference in His Kingdom.

I struggle with this frequently. I think: “Is my calling worthy enough?” and “Will it please God?”

Dear friend, we are worthy because God is worthy. We are not saved because of anything we could ever do but because of Who He is. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV).

God has callings for each of us. He has placed us in our specific families, neighborhoods, and countries on purpose. Indeed, He has also placed specific people in our life for a reason.

But more than anything we could do for God, He wants us to cultivate a relationship with Him first and foremost, and second, cultivate a relationship with the people He’s placed around us. In Him, we are enough because He is enough. Remember this verse: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6 ESV).

Remember the little boy I mentioned in the beginning of this devotional?

I wish I could’ve been there to watch this scene unfold. What might he have been thinking when he offered his measly meal of five loaves and two fish to the Son of God? Perhaps he stepped forward with a humble heart, fully trusting Jesus could work a miracle with his little offering. Or maybe his heart stuttered and sank when he saw the thousands of hungry faces around him. After all, it seemed it wouldn’t be enough for even a portion of the large and hungry crowd to leave satisfied. But regardless of what he felt, filled with faith or fear, the little boy chose to give Jesus the food he had. It wasn’t much, but it was more than enough for Jesus to multiply.

How many times do we refrain from offering God what we have because it doesn’t seem like enough? Or how many times do we look at our circumstances and think that God can’t multiply our minimal? Now, this is not an excuse to give God less than our best. But what about when our best doesn’t feel good enough?

Dear friend, God isn’t waiting for us to have “enough” before we offer Him what we have. Instead, He wants us to offer Him what we have and watch Him multiply the fish and loaves.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, I often look at what I have to offer You and feel so unworthy. But I know You don’t care about anything I could offer You but my heart. Lord, I give You my heart and trust You to use it for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Fishes and Loaves” by Josiah Queen. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to follow God’s calling to pursue writing seriously. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). In addition to fiction, she also writes devotionals and has been published on other websites. Her prayer is that her readers leave deeply encouraged and more in love with Jesus.

When not writing, Hannah also enjoys being involved with local theater companies, with a primary focus on Biblical theater. She wants to show the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlbensonwrites/

Devotionals for the Heart: God watches over the sparrows and you

God’s Valuable Sparrows
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

–Matthew 22:36-39 (ESV)

While in college, a friend invited me to join a new choir that was forming. Not particularly blessed with any kind of singing voice, I went because there weren’t any tryouts and because some of my friends were joining. In all, 350 students came together to sing.

We were a happy bunch, always full of laughter and fun. There was no pressure, so when I knew there was no way a high C was coming out of my froggy throat, mouthing the words became my way to participate. Lip synching wasn’t even heard of back then, but I was pretty good at it.

Our choir received many invitations to sing, and one festival stands out among all the rest.

It was spring, and the weather was beautiful, especially since the venue was outdoors. The day was warm, but the breeze was cool. We’d been on the stage for a long time, running sound checks, and moving people around a little bit. Then our director surprised us by telling us to take a seat. Those of us who stood on the stage ended up sitting on the floor, and I ended up near the director’s stand.

We waited, and then an elderly woman stood up from her seat in front of us and slowly made her way to the stairs. A couple students helped her up the steps, and then she made her way to the microphone that now replaced our director’s stand. Beaming at the audience in front of her, she turned and looked at all of us behind her. Then she said something I couldn’t hear, but the people in front of her did. Gentle laughter rippled across the arena.

An expectant hush prickled my skin, and then the most wonderful, melodious, rich, and full contralto began to saturate the air around us. She sang about the sparrows, a song we all knew. Listening to her that day was like basking in God’s perfect light, and although I didn’t know God personally at the time, I was drawn into her music.

As she reached the end of the song, she began to speak the words instead of singing them. She said, “I know.” She waved an arthritic index finger at the large crowd, and with all the strength in her, repeated, “I know. I know Who holds the future. And I know…” She cupped her hands as though she held her audience. “That He watches….” She turned to her left and to her right, cupping all of us on the stage in her hands, too. Then with both hands full, she brought them together in front of her and said, “Over we.”

At that moment, something I’d always known but had never crystallized before became solid and real to me. We are all citizens of the world God has created, and it doesn’t matter from what country we originated, what language we spoke, or what color our skin happened to be. We are all held in God’s hands as Ethel Waters demonstrated that day. We, all of us, are the collective “we,” the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. He holds us and He loves us, and He knows every beat of our heart, and every tear, along with every joy.

He truly does watch over “we.”

And we, in turn, love Him. Jesus tells us that we are to care for “the least of these” in Matthew 25:40. He says that our care for others is literally the way to care for Jesus Himself. When we love Jesus, our love for others defines our lifestyle. It’s the things that we do, not just the things we talk about. It’s the true, demonstrable love we show for those around us. Care and compassion motivate us, concern for the lost consumes us, and Jesus Christ’s love compels us.

That day so long ago still touches my heart. Ethel Waters was driven by her love for God’s people. Love brought her to that festival, even though she was quickly approaching her final homecoming. Love assisted her up those steps. Love opened her mouth to share her vision of the Lord, and of His care for each one of us. And finally, her cupped hands symbolically holding all of the people around her, remain a beautiful picture of our oneness in Christ Jesus.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord God, You have told us to love You with everything we are, and to love each other the same way. We try, but sometimes we aren’t very good at loving other people, so we ask You to help us. Show us how to love You better than we did yesterday. Help our love to be so rich and pure that it spills out into the lives of those around us. Help us to love Your children, all of them, in the same way we love You. Thank You. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

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Note from Alexis: Karen’s devotional reminded me of the song “His Eye Is On the Sparrow” and I found an old recording of it by Ethel Waters. 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 you can trust God to meet your every need

A Sovereign God
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” 

–Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

When I was a child, I would always hear adults use the phrase, “God moves in mysterious ways.” When I became an adult, I realized just how accurate this phrase really is.

God never ceases to amaze me with not only His wonderful blessings, but also how He chooses to grant these blessings. Even though there may be countless ways that He chooses to bless His people, the outcome remains the same – He reveals His glory in the blessing and He meets the needs of His people.

In my own life, I recall the birth of my two sons. My pregnancy with my oldest son was almost perfect. I never experienced morning sickness or nausea, and my doctor’s visits were seamless. When it was time for the delivery, I was in labor for about 22 hours. To make matters worse, my baby’s heart rate dropped to an alarmingly low rate for an extended period. My second son was the exact opposite. I was nauseous and extremely lethargic for almost the entire pregnancy. My doctor’s visits were filled with unpredictable news of various complications. When it was time for the delivery, the birth was quick and painless, lasting only about 22 minutes. Although the pregnancy was different each time, the outcome was the same. God blessed me with two beautiful and healthy baby boys!

The Bible is filled with circumstances where God chose to move in different ways while meeting the needs of people. Naaman the leper was told to wash seven times in the Jordan River before receiving his healing (2 Kings 5). Meanwhile, there was a leper who was healed with just a touch (Matthew 8:3). Blind Bartimaeus received his sight immediately (Mark 10:46-52), while the man who was born blind was told to wash off the mud and saliva applied to his eyes before he could receive his sight (John 9:1-12). No matter what method God chose to use, they were all blessed with God’s healing.

I am reminded of the hungry Israelites who were fed with bread from Heaven (Exodus 16:4), and then Elijah who was also famished, but his bread was delivered by ravens (1 Kings 17:6). Regardless of the circumstances, God ensured that their hunger was satisfied.

Whether it’s bringing a baby into the world, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, or feeding those who are hungry; we cannot predict how our sovereign God will choose to move. His ways are far too great. One thing we know for sure is that He will “do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV) because that is the amazing God that we serve.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Thank you for your many blessings in our lives. Although we may not know how You will choose to move, we do know that You are a faithful God, and You will always come through to meet our every need. We praise You for Your goodness. We love You for Your kindness. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn, New York. She was raised in a Christian home in New Jersey. Angela dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized at the age of 12. 

As a child in elementary school, she developed a penchant for writing book reports and entering writing contests. By high school, she was taking advanced placement courses in English and Speech & Creative Writing. Angela’s love for journaling also had its beginnings in high school and it evolved into prayers journals and detailed notes for prospective book ideas. As a result, Angela is the author of a published 40-day devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God. She also wrote a children’s book that is not yet published.

Although Angela wanted to somehow incorporate writing in her life, she is currently a Certified Human Resources Professional. Angela graduated from Rutgers University in NJ with a double bachelor’s degree in Labor/Employment Relations & Sociology. She also has an MBA from Strayer University.

Angela founded a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization called Head to the Sky, Inc. It was formed in order to assist those in prison with their transition into society and to reduce the rate of recidivism in the community. During this venture, Angela received a certification in grant writing from The Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at Rollins College. Angela was very passionate about teaching, training, and sharing the love of Christ in this ministry; but she had to refocus her passion when she and her husband decided to start their family.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 16 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 8) and Ryan (age 3). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her personal mission is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams.

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Connect with Angela:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook fan page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God:
https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/

Devotionals for the Heart: A Life Lesson Learned in a Texas Snowstorm

Nothing Surprises God
A devotional by Kathleen Rouser

“No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

–Romans 8:39 (NLT)

As my husband Jack and I stepped outside of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport terminal, a blast of chilly air hit us. Regardless of the hint of inclement weather, we thought: We’ll still have a good time and find some fun things to do. We’re here to visit our son.

A little abnormally cold weather wasn’t going to ruin my long-awaited special birthday trip. God gave us the window of time where it worked out for all of us. I’d just thought we’d have a break from our usual February dreariness in Michigan. Instead, we met with a record storm of snow and ice.

We had two decent days, so we had some time to see where our son lived and to do a little sightseeing. Then came the ice and unprecedented snowfall. Each day the weather grew more frigid, and the ice and snow continued. In Michigan they know how to handle snow, but in Texas they were completely unprepared—no plows, no salt, water pipes buried too shallow to deal with the freezing cold weather.

We planned on being there for five days, but our return flight was canceled and even our rescheduled flight was canceled, so we were there for ten. Next, we lost water pressure in our hotel room. All stores and restaurants were closed. Amid all of this, our credit card had been hacked and our son got sick. My thyroid medication was running out. I began to ask God, “Why?”

When our first flight was canceled, I started a list of blessings on my memo app to help me keep perspective. Since we were only going to be gone a few days, I hadn’t packed a notebook. I wanted to write my thoughts down on paper. There wasn’t even a notepad in the hotel room, due to COVID-19. I went to the front desk to see if they had anything. The manager brought me a small notebook with a pen. The Lord provided! I could now write down my thankfulness journal.

The hotel brought dinner into the hotel each evening that we were stuck there and unable to get food, while everything was closed. They provided boiled water for brushing our teeth, and we could take pool water up to fill the toilet tank. Somehow, with our few snacks left we had enough to eat. However, for some reason when I awoke in the wee hours of Thursday morning, the day after we lost water, panic consumed me. I couldn’t sleep. Please pardon my dramatic flair, but all I wanted was to return home where they knew how to handle snow, and to not be stuck in a hotel room without running water. Father, I prayed silently, I just want to go home.

Then in His still, small voice He said, "I am your home." Why hadn’t I realized that? What was I worried about? Even if the worst-case scenario happened and I somehow died, I would be with the Lord when He takes me to Heaven (the real home for everyone who follows Jesus Christ). And with that peaceful thought, I returned to sleep.

Later that morning we managed our way through the ice and snow to our son’s house for food and showers and – best of all – to see him. God cared for us in many ways that week. And early on Saturday morning we were finally able to fly to Detroit.

Though our time in Texas didn’t go the way I expected, it didn’t surprise the Lord. It’s a comfort to know wherever I go and in whatever the circumstances, I am home, with my Father (God). As Colossians 3:2-3 (NLT) says, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Let’s Pray: Dear Father, thank you that wherever I go and whatever I do, You are with me. Thank You for providing for me so lovingly, even in times of difficulty. Help me to trust You more with all the details of my life, knowing that each day I can rely on your loving care. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Kathleen Rouser is the award-winning author of Rumors and Promises, her first novel about the people of fictional Stone Creek, Michigan. She is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary Christian romance.

Kathleen is a longtime member in good standing of American Christian Fiction Writers and a current member of Novel Academy. She has loved making up stories since she was a little girl.

She was so enthralled with the books her Mom read to her she wanted to be a writer before she could even read. She’s in the grip of God’s grace and is a fan of the three Cs—cats, coffee, and chocolate.

Kathleen is proud to be the mother of three adult children and mother-in-law to one. She is a former homeschool instructor, a mild-mannered dental assistant, and current Community Bible Study kids’ teacher.

Kathleen lives in Michigan with her hero and husband of thirty-some years, and two sweet cats who found a home in their empty nest.

Her writing is represented by Linda S. Glaz of the Hartline Literary Agency.

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Connect with Kathy:
Website: https://kathleenrouser.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathleenRouser
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rouserkathy/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kerouser/_saved/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7427871.Kathleen_Rouser
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-rouser

Devotionals for the Heart: Provision

God Provides
A devotional by Alexis Newlin

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

–Luke 12:22-24 (ESV)

Have you ever dealt with lack?

In Luke 12:13-21, there is a parable about a rich farmer who had an over abundant harvest one year. Therefore, he decided knock down his current house and build a bigger barn to store up all he can of his crops so that he won’t have to worry about being in need. He builds it and then God comes to tell him that he is foolish, because his time on Earth is now done.

For a while this parable confused me. Isn’t it wise to save up? Isn’t it okay to store enough for ourselves? Why is God chastising him?

I grew up extremely poor, so when I received anything, I would cling to it in fear that I could possibly lose it at any moment. Sometimes that did happen, so I certainly get the mindset of the rich farmer and the urge to hoard things to prevent future poverty. The uncertainty of not knowing if we’d keep our home or have enough money at the end of the month caused a lot of anxiety for me growing up. When I reached adulthood, I swore that I would never have to depend on anyone and that I would always be able to take care of myself.

The problem that I and the farmer both had was a lack of trust in God to provide.

When hard times happened and I had to ask for help, it was a challenge. I felt like I failed. It revealed pride and a serious lack in trust in God. Depending only on myself is not the type of relationship God intended to have with me.

Underneath that parable are the following verses in Luke 12:22-24 (ESV):

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

We are not to worry about anything because God will provide everything. If God takes care of the birds, why wouldn’t He take care of us?

In my times of poverty as a child, God did provide. One time, as my family and I were in the process of being evicted, one of my mother’s coworkers miraculously gave her what she needed to cover the rent. When we needed food, friends would step in and buy groceries. Even in my adult life when I have faced financial troubles, God has, without fail, provided the funding for what I needed. Poverty is hard, but God sees it and will always provide.

In closing, I’d like for you to remember this Bible verse found in Psalm 34:10 (NIV): “The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Help us to remember that with you, we never lack. You see us and know what we need. Thank you for always providing for us. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Alexis is a 36-year-old lover of Jesus, loose leaf tea, roller coasters, writing stories and going on adventures. Originally from Marietta, GA, Alexis now resides in Fresno, CA.

You can always find Alexis outdoors enjoying a walk in her neighborhood, scoping out the newest food truck, hanging out with friends or planning her next trip.

Her church, The Revival Center, and family mean the world to her. They have supported her through the loss of her mother and her own cancer diagnosis.

Alexis enjoys encouraging others by reminding them not to look at what they see, but to always look to God, who is working in the unseen.

Alexis currently writes for several online ministries and launched her first podcast – The Brave Podcast – in January 2020.

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Connect with Alexis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apeachincali/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/apeachincali
Podcast: http://thebravepodcast.buzzsprout.com
Website: www.apeachincali.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Leadership

Shifts and Stages: My Reflections on Leadership 
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“Moses and Aaron walked from the assembled congregation to the Tent of Meeting and threw themselves face down on the ground. And they saw the Glory of God.”

—Numbers 20:6 (The Message)

As a leader, I have been ruminating on two topics: Succession Planning and Generational shifts.

While pondering these topics, I was inspired to consider the leadership of the Old Testament patriarch, Moses. He was challenged by the privilege of leading over a million people through epochs of emancipation, the storming and norming flow of freedom and the responsibilities that come with sovereignty. He then led them into a renewal of spiritual singularity and prepared them for the conquests of nation building.

Over forty years, two generations, Moses led with divinely guided vision. His successes were not without frustration. When his frustrations peaked, there was always a calming conversation with divinity, until one day the conversation came before the conflict.

The fourth book of the Hebrew Pentateuch, Numbers 20:1-12, tells the story of a crucial conversation between Moses and the congregation of the nomadic Israelites. Miriam had died recently so the setting of this conflict is during a time of national grief and literal drought.

Once again, without water, the hoard of people hurled accusations against Moses instead of trusting God to provide for them as He had done previously. The story says that Moses and Aaron retreated to the temple to pray and the presence of God met them there with clear guidance. God said to Moses “Take the staff. Assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron. Speak to that rock that’s right in front of them and it will give water. You will bring water out of the rock for them; congregation and cattle will both drink.” (The Message)

Dutifully Moses calls the community together. Once assembled, for some ungodly reason, Moses deviated from the clear guidance of God. Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses verbally accosted the people, then he struck the rock twice with his staff. Water flowed, but God was not pleased.

In a subsequent and more crucial conversation, God informs Moses and Aaron that they had failed the test of faith by acting with public irreverence. Because of that mistake, they would not be anointed to lead the people into the new phase of their national development.

Ouch! Forty years, two generations of enduring the heights, depth and breadth of leadership were truncated by an inordinate display of old school leadership. I was taught, in my youth, to believe that God is good all the time, but I struggled to see the goodness of God in this situation. I always thought that it was cruel of God, to dispossess a man from the vision that He had given.

Wasn’t it God who put this mantle upon the reluctant Moses? Now, after leading people, many of whom were two generations younger than he was, who did not grow up how and where he did, whose relationship with Egypt was history rather than biography, his moment of frustration was unforgivable? That did not seem good to me, until I read it with different eyes.

Harold Kushner, a prominent rabbi and author of the book titled, Overcoming Life's Disappointments: Learning from Moses How to Cope with Frustration, suggested that God was actually blessing Moses and Aaron. He was protecting them from the inevitable disappointment of seeing fantasy become experience. Rarely does reality match the verdant colors and contours of imagination. Fulfilled fantasies are often accompanied by disillusionment.

No doubt, Moses and Aaron were disappointed, but Rabbi Kushner paints the blessing of disappointment in the following phrase:

“…Moses had been the right leader to bring a nation of slaves out of Egypt and lead them to Sinai, but he would be the wrong leader to take them into the battle for the Promised Land. He was too old, too tied to the way things had been done in the past. God was saying to Moses as He had once bid Moses say to Pharaoh, “It is time to let my people go.” (Kushner 2006 pg. 157)

The moment at the rock near Kadesh is an apt illustration of transitional awareness. God knew that Moses had become old and though physically strong had become worn down and emotionally depleted by burn out. His leadership style was probably three generations removed from the people he was leading. Burned out, and angry, perhaps more with God than the people, Moses defaulted to the same tactic that had worked miraculously with the first generation assuming that it would be as effective for the third generation.

What force had accomplished 40 years before, was no longer an effective motivator. God wanted him to model a kinder, gentler, contemporary and forward leaning modality of leadership. Speaking to the rock, might have been a metaphor for praying with anticipation. Seeing the water flow in response to the conversation may have been God’s method of manifesting effective human connection to His power, much like when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray.

It is always good to know what time it is. It was time for a generational shift. Fortunately, Moses had been grooming some younger people for leadership. He may not have anticipated that the change would come so soon, but he was prepared.

Who and how are you preparing people in your family and field for their turns to lead?

If you are younger, who and how are you choosing and serving your mentors?

Succession planning requires a balance of remembering and forgetting. Generational shifting requires a balance of dreaming and doing. In a subsequent devotional, I will share some thoughts on how those four poles of preparation can be applied in your life. 

For today, I’m leaving you with this nugget of wisdom: Listen to the voice of Divinity (God) and do what you hear.

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps.

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

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

Thankful Thursdays: God's Provision

Thankful Thursdays: God’s Provision 

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for God’s provision!

Over the course of these past five weeks, God has provided answers to my prayers in sweet surprises that I did not expect!

Ever since last year, I’d wanted to attend the Entrusted Women Conference. However, I had not been able to afford the travel fees along with other fees, and I wasn’t able to go over the weekend (it usually takes place on Fridays and Saturdays which conflicts with the time I spend in church and with ministry related events).

But this year, due to COVID-19, most in-person conferences had to be cancelled because of social distancing and protecting people’s health. So it was announced a few months ago this year that the Entrusted Women Conference would take place online. It would be their first virtual conference!

Delighted, I put a note on my calendar earlier this year to pay the registration fee by the deadline in June 2020. I figured that I would have more work that pays well by then and that I’d be able to pay the fee. However, two days before the money was due, I still could not afford it. I saw the note on my calendar and gave a resigning sigh because I thought that there was no way I was going to have the money in only two days. I deleted that note in my calendar and accepted the fact that I wasn’t attending this phenomenal conference for women communicators of color.

However, minutes later, I saw a new post on the Entrusted Women Facebook Group page from the founder Kia Stephens. She said that someone “just paid for a VIP Registration” to the conference. She suggested that anyone in financial need should send a message to her inbox. I noticed that the time stamp on Kia’s post indicated that she posted this message exactly 17 minutes before I read it. I figured that someone else in our group, which at the time, consisted of nearly 800 women, had already grabbed that opportunity. But as a leap of faith, I decided to apply anyway. And minutes later, I received a message from Kia saying, “You got it!” I was overjoyed!

I was also able to attend because the online version of this conference started on a Wednesday and ended on Saturday of that same week. So I was able to attend from Wednesday right up until Friday afternoon. Then since my VIP Membership included free replays until July 11, I had plenty of time after that Saturday of the conference to watch what I missed that took place after sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.

The conference was truly remarkable! I learned so much from the presenters and the workshops were wonderful! I am so grateful to God for making this happen for me! One point that I didn’t mention earlier: For the past five years since attending my first in-person writers’ conference, I had thought deep in my heart that I’d love to be able to attend more conferences. I had prayed about it too. After almost five years of not being able to attend any conferences, God answered my prayers by making a way for me to attend Entrusted Women Conference in June 2020. He also made a way for me to attend a Christian editors’ conference called PENCON in July 2020!

Now about the PENCON 2020 Conference … I wasn’t sure if I would be able to attend this one either because I could not afford it, even with the discount that I was given as a benefit of being their social media person and for serving on the conference planning team. However, at the last minute before the deadline to pay my fee, a family member surprised me with the money I needed! So I paid the fee and attended that conference from July 8 to July 10! It was a blessing.

In closing, please remember these main points:

#1: God knows the desires of your heart. If you delight yourself in Him, He will give you those desires if they are in accordance to His will. Read Psalm 37:4.

#2: God is the giver of good gifts! He wants to bless you! Read James 1:17.

#3: Just when you think all hope is lost, God will provide whatever you need! Read Philippians 4:19. My maternal grandmother used to say, “God may not come when you want Him to but He’s always on time!”

I hope that my testimony has encouraged you to reflect on God’s goodness in your own life. 

Don’t be afraid to tell your story!

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for God’s provision. What are you thankful for?

Love,

Alexis A. Goring, MFA
Founder of “God is Love” blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Confidence

Confidence in the God Who Sees
A devotional by Tema Banner

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” – Genesis 16:13 (NIV)

Let’s talk about the Bible story of Hagar who was an Egyptian slave to Sarai and Abram.

Frustrated that she could not have children of her own with her husband (Abram) and not willing to wait any longer on God to fulfill His promise of blessing Abram with a child naturally through Sarai’s womb and make him the “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:1-8), Sarai gave Hagar to Abram in hopes of producing her longed-for son.

In our time that seems anything but honorable, but it was a common practice in Biblical times. But when Hagar becomes pregnant by Abram, Sarai quickly changes her mind when she feels her position is weakened. She mercilessly mistreats Hagar to the point that Hagar flees. She finds herself in a desolate place, alone and with child.

Imagine the distress and treatment that would cause her to flee to a barren, desolate land. How many times have we found ourselves in such a place?

It may have been our own choices and actions that place us there—I know this is true for me. But for others, it is treatment forced on them. My journey to the barren land has always been driven by my own desires instead of being obedient to God. However, had I not known it before, the last few weeks have shown that many in the country in which I live (United States of America) have been marginalized, mistreated, silenced, and ignored all because their skin is a different color.

But there is hope because Elohim Roi (The God who sees) is our God. He is just and has told us to “act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly” with Him (Micah 6:8).

Despite my unfaithfulness and foolish choices, God saw me in my isolation, and He did not leave me alone. He is ever faithful. How much more will He see those who are mistreated and alone all for the way He created them? He will surely rescue them and deliver them from oppression. He is the God who sees. If you follow Him, you will be part of that rescue by His Holy Spirit working in you and through you.

God told Hagar to return to Sarai, but He also told her that she would give birth to a son. Hagar would find herself back in the desert when Abram, at Sarai’s insistence and God’s agreement, sends her and her son, Ishmael, away. Again, God sees her, alone, afraid, expecting to die for lack of water. He provides for her needs and promises that her son will live and become a great nation.

God always sees us, though sometimes we struggle to feel His presence. It is most often in our times of greatest distress, when situations are beyond our control, when we are at our weakest, that He reminds us that at such times His strength is there to lift us up.

When the world seems the most out of control, have confidence that God is not surprised by any of it and He sees you.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you that You see me, that You love us so much that You sent Jesus, your son, our Savior to rescue us. May your peace and love fill our hearts to overflowing, spilling onto all those who come near. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Writing stories that take the reader on a journey to parts unknown has been a lifelong love for Tema. She enjoys all history and continues daily to hone both her knowledge of history and her writing skills.

God is her guiding light and the reason for every endeavor in her life. She is a member of the South Carolina ACFW chapter as well as an active member of her local RWA chapter, Carolina Romance Writers.

Tema has served as past President and Secretary as well as holding various chair positions. She is the honored recipient of the Harold Lowery Service Award, presented by the Carolina Romance Writers.

God has gifted her with a loving husband, two children and three grandchildren who are the delight of her life. In her spare time, she gardens and digs into genealogy for nuggets to use in her stories.

~*~
Connect with Tema:
Website: https://temabannerauthor.com
Blog: www.temabannerauthor.com/blog
Instagram: Instagram.com/temabanner

Devotionals for the Heart: God Cares

God Cares
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” –Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

Have you ever stood in front of the mirror and admired your best feature? 

In my online dating days, there was often a question about choosing your best feature. Most people base this off of what they get the most complimented on. Mine was my smile. In fact, I prided myself on it.

Statistically, the smile is the first thing people notice. It often indicates our current mood and gives off the signal to approach or get away. I never thought my smile asset would change, but I was wrong.

Stress comes in many forms, especially when we deal with it internally. In the Bible book of Psalm, David tells us to “cast our burdens (or cares) on the Lord” with the following promise that He will sustain us. Why? Because God will never let the righteous be moved (or shaken). To be righteous is to place our complete faith in God, entering into covenant with Him, and by such faith, seeking to live according to His word. I seek to be righteous, but sometimes I stumble in my efforts.

In the past year, I have been stressing about a combination of factors that involuntarily led to my clinching my jaw at random times and grinding my teeth at night. Because of this my teeth have shifted inside my mouth, forcing the lower front teeth to push together, and creating a gap in my upper teeth that I now notice in pictures, especially when I smiled. I was crushed and frustrated. My best asset was no longer working for me!

Recently, I attended a conference where my best asset usually gives me confidence. However, because of my growing problem I was losing it. During one afternoon, I took a nap and literally felt my teeth shifting in my mouth while I slept. After dinner, I had to rush back for a late-night meeting before attending the “worship and write session.” After the meeting, I got a quick look in the mirror and what did I notice? My gap was bigger! I pointed to it and shouted, “Look, Lord, my gap is growing! Make it stop!”

Yes, I felt silly. My moving teeth was a crisis, but only to me. I also know people going through real major health crises that needed more of God’s intervention. So, when I sat down to write during the worship time, I tried to focus on things other than my silly teeth.

In Psalm 5:12 (ESV), David says, “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” As we wrote, two ladies from the conference staff prayed for people. I chose not to go up for prayer, but to write and let God flow through my pen. After the prayer lines were complete, one of the prayer partners gave a word from the Lord and said, “There is someone here who is worried about their teeth...”

I literally burst out laughing and hung my head as I felt the Lord’s shoulder-poking prompt, ‘That means you.’ I walked over to the prayer partner and immediately explained why I felt so foolish, but she immediately reminded me that God cares, even in the small things. He cares about the things we care about. He cares about the righteous who live by faith, but in return we have to have faith in Him to take all our cares.

I had to give God my teeth, which He told me He would fix so it would no longer hinder me. Yes, they are just teeth, but He showed me cares about them as much as I do.

Do you have a need? A growing problem? Small or large, cast your cares upon the Lord. He cares, and He’s ready and waiting to show you just how much.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia. She teaches television production at C.D. Hylton Senior High School.

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is a member of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), ACFW Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

Mirachelle is passionate about awakening creativity and the gifts of God in everyone. She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII, inspired by her time studying theatre education in London, England.

In her spare time, she also writes and directs Christmas and Easter passion plays at Christ Chapel Assembly of God in Woodbridge, Va.

~*~
Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mirachelle77/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

YOU are invited to Bible Boot Camp! It's FREE and available online.

The July 2019 edition of Bible Boot Camp starts on July 1 and continues every morning from 5:00 a.m. (EST) to 5:30 a.m. (EST) until July 31! 

These boot camp sessions are hosted by Pastor Paul Graham via
Full Circle Ministries. 

So "Wake up and stretch your spiritual muscles" every morning this July! 

Join the LIVE sessions here, http://live.fullcircleministries.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: On Worry

Worry is a Distraction
A devotional by Temeka Borden

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” 

– Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

What are you worried about right now—a family member, your job, your health, making ends meet, an upcoming exam, other people’s opinions of you? 

Now, how many times have we worried about something and everything turned out just fine? Speaking for myself, I can say numerous times. 

I think many of us worry unnecessarily, perhaps more than we would like to admit. Thankfully, over the years, I have grown substantially in that area once I finally got it—once I finally realized that worry does absolutely nothing for me.

I have been saying the following for years: Worry is a distraction. Worry is a tool the enemy uses in an attempt to get your focus off of God. Worry is a tool the enemy uses in an attempt to make you forget that the Lord has all power and authority. Worry is a tool the enemy uses in an attempt to dampen your spirit and make you feel all hope is lost. Worry is a tool the enemy uses in an attempt to distract you from your spiritual mission. Simply put, worry is not of God.

The Scriptures remind us to not worry. The Scriptures remind us to not fret. The Scriptures remind us to place all of our trust in the Lord. The Scriptures remind us that if we “seek the Kingdom of God first and His righteousness” then He will take care of us. The Scriptures remind us of how powerful God’s wisdom is. Thus, we are to trust His wisdom, despite how things look. We are to trust His wisdom and be confident and comforted in the fact that He knows what He is doing, even when things don’t quite make sense to us.

I understand that because we are human, we will have our moments. However, we must remind ourselves of who dwells within us. God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) lives in us, and a fruit of the Spirit is peace (Read Galatians 5:22).

When worry tries to seep into your soul, remind yourself of what the Scriptures say about who God is and who you are because of Him. Remind yourself that God has everything under control. Remind yourself that nothing is too hard for our Lord. Remind yourself that all things are possible with God. Remind yourself that God is our Shepherd and that He provides for His sheep.

Just think of the Israelites and how God fed them with manna and quail as they journeyed through the wilderness. He met their needs, and when we continue to place the Lord first, He will meet all of our needs as well.

~*~
Author Bio:

Temeka Borden, better known by her pen name, Positivity Inspires, is an author, speaker, minister, and servant of the Lord. She was introduced to Christ at a very early age and was raised in the church. Her ministry focuses on encouraging Christians to love God first, to love all people, to continually strengthen their bond with Christ, and to study His Word, and live His Word daily.  

After recently experiencing what she describes as the "lowest point in her life," Positivity Inspires wrote the following about herself to serve as an encouragement and reminder of who she is in Christ:

"I am a child of God. He loves me unconditionally. Although I have my shortcomings, He has blessed me with a desire to do what is right. I have been blessed with many natural and spiritual gifts. I am an author. I am a speaker. I am a teacher. I am a runner. I am a drummer. I am a singer (when I’m in the mood), and I have a strong 'fashion sense.' I am loved. My family and friends are my heart, and I know they will support me no matter what. I am educated. I currently have two degrees (one of them a doctorate), and with God’s help, I will complete a third degree soon. I am a multi-state licensed medical professional who completed a specialty residency, which prepared me for the workforce (and made me a FORCE to be reckoned with). I am a leader. I have served in administrative roles and was successful in those positions because I made a difference (with God’s help). I am ambitious, and I know that with God, all things are possible. I know He is going to do great things through me."

Positivity Inspires loves God and she loves people. She strongly encourages others to show kindness, respect, and love to everyone. Positivity Inspires loves and welcomes diversity and flourishes in culturally diverse environments. She also is passionate about giving back to the community, and her favorite mantras are: "Speak Up!" and "Watch God Work!"

~*~
Connect with Temeka:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/positivity_inspires/
Facebook - www.Facebook.com/positivityinspirespage
Twitter - https://twitter.com/PInspires/

Devotionals for the Heart: Stuck

Stuck
A devotional by Heather Martin

The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." ~Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

As a singer, I have spent many New Year’s Eves at various churches sleepily awaiting our turn to sing for the midnight service. As a side note, I am not a night person and I have a hard time staying awake beyond a certain hour, and midnight is very much past that hour for me! 

Anyway, this particular service stands out vividly in my memory. It was a really cold night in Baltimore, Maryland, at an old church. We had gone to this church several times over the years to sing because the Pastor and family were dear friends of ours. We always enjoyed ministering to the youth there. Although it was a midnight service, many of our relatives came out to support my sisters and I as we rang in the New Year in song. The service began with a short sermon that was very inspiring. We were encouraged to think of all the ways God had blessed us during the year and to pray for a year that would be even greater! 

After the sermon, we were asked to come up and sing a few songs and it was timed perfectly to begin the New Year with a bang! When we sang the last song, balloons dropped and confetti flew all around the church. Everyone praised, and thanked God for a new start. It was a wonderful, uplifting way to bring in the New Year. 

After the concert was over, the kind ushers and ladies who’d been assisting us led us to an old elevator. And as I see it, our judgments had to be impaired by our sleepiness for all of us to think it was safe to pile onto an ancient, tiny elevator to reach the basement. As we entered the elevator everyone made jokes about how old it looked and how we hoped we wouldn’t get stuck, yet we all hurried in and pressed the button. Mid-way into our descend, the elevator abruptly stopped! 

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I exclaimed.

I tried not to panic, when meanwhile, an older sister who’d come to support us was freaking out. She was holding my niece, a baby at the time, and saying that she could not breathe. I looked again and she was trying to lift the roof of the elevator and ripping off her sweater. It is funny now, but in those few minutes that we were not moving and could feel the old cords of the elevator bounce, it was quite scary. It only took five minutes for the deacons to rescue us safely from the elevator, but it felt like forever! When we were finally out of that elevator we were so thankful that we weren’t trapped for longer and that no one was hurt.

What a way to bring in the New Year! Our night had mimicked the cycles of life. We started on a high, celebrating and then ended up stuck in an elevator, worried and in the face of danger, then back to safety. Life is always going to be full of ups and downs, highs and lows. Some days you may feel like life is so great, like a New Year’s Eve celebration, like you are flying on top of the world: like getting a raise, a new car, having a baby, getting married, or celebrating a birthday. Other days you may feel like you’re trapped in an elevator: worried, depressed, running out of options, sad because you’ve lost a loved one, facing health issues or dealing with a seemingly impossible situation.

Today I want you to be encouraged that no matter where you are in life, there is one thing that will never change, God is with you all the time. Although life can be unpredictable, He wants so desperately for you to feel His arms of love wrapped around you every step of the way. And we can rest assure that although we can’t see the future, and cannot always plan for these “stuck in the elevator experiences,” He saw it long before it happened and has already made a rescue plan for you. He wants to guide you to safety. 

Won’t you let Him rescue you today?

~*~
Author Bio:

Heather Martin was born the last of six siblings in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by an amazing single mother (Rebecca Trotter) and was taught at an early age to love God and how to sing! She graduated from Oakwood University with a Bachelors Degree in Language Arts Education and later received a Master’s Degree in Education from Kaplan University. 

Shortly after graduating she followed God’s call to minister. She joined the Stellar, Dove, and Grammy nominated gospel group Virtue, which was founded by her two older sisters Ebony Holland and Karima Kibble several years prior. Virtue has used their talents to spread the love of God across the world! They have recorded 7 studio albums and have been the recipients of numerous awards.

God has not only blessed Heather professionally, but personally. She met her husband, Dr. Colin Martin, and they have been married for 14 years. They have 4 children: Colin Jr. 11, Harper 10, Clark, 7, and Charleston 5. In 2016 Heather started an online blog and vegan and allergen-friendly cooking channel called “Chef Mommy.” Heather (Chef Mommy) has cooked with numerous celebrities and top chefs to spread the news of healthy cooking and lifestyle.

In addition to this busy schedule, Heather enjoys, running, reading, writing and spending time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Heather:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTMartin
Instagram for Heather: https://www.instagram.com/thechefmommy/
Instagram for Virtue (Heather’s singing group): https://www.instagram.com/virtuegirls
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chefmommyhm

Devotionals for the Heart: Murphy's Law and God's Provision

Murphy’s Law 

A devotional by Gail Kittleson

When things fail to proceed as we think they should, we often cite Murphy’s Law: “What can go wrong, will.” This saying originated at Edwards Air Force Base in 1949, where engineers often had to resort to trial and error in their forward progress.

We use it all the time, usually scratching our heads at the same moment we say the words. But Thanksgiving is all about those times when Murphy’s Law did not apply. We look back over the year behind us, noting all the blessings that came through to us, in spite of our errors, miscalculations, and poor judgment.

Those times when we looked out in the morning to a glorious sunrise and lifted our hearts in praise to the Creator of all. Perhaps in that instant, we sensed the Almighty very near. That non-Murphy’s Law moment signified the beginning of a day we’d walk through life expecting good things, and put our best foot forward. Just a simple dot in the stretch of time we call a day—that twenty-four hour period when we’re given an opportunity to make a difference.

And we might recall another time when someone patted us on the back and told us that we did make a difference in their lives. That caused us to give thanks—being purposeful is what we all long for—to know that our choices and actions and attitudes matter to someone.

One man who lived a long, long time ago, before Murphy’s Law had been coined, had learned to praise and thank God no matter what. When Habakkuk could see no encouraging signs around him, he still vowed to praise God.

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18, NKJV)

When President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863, his nation was torn by a brutal war that pitted citizen against citizen. On every side, he could have focused on signs of despair. And yet, he called the United States of America to give thanks.

With these examples in mind, oh Lord, fill our hearts with gratitude for all the good we have experienced in 2018.

~*~
Author Bio:

When Gail Kittleson's not steeped in World War II research, drafting scenes, or deep in an edit of her 1940’s novels, she does a limited amount of editing for other authors. 

She also facilitates writing and creativity workshops, both in Iowa and Arizona, where she and her husband like to spend part of the winter in the amazing Ponderosa pine forest under the Mogollon Rim.

Favorites: spending time with grandchildren, walking, reading, meeting new people, and hearing from readers who fall in love with her characters.

Devotionals for the Heart: The Details

God, Are You Listening?
A devotional by Tammy Karasek

God is in the small details as much as He is the big ones of our lives. Scripture proves it. Read Luke 12:22-31 then ponder this: If He tends to the itty-bitty Lily of the valley and feeds the ravens, then why wouldn’t He be concerned about us as well? We worry about issues in our lives and wonder why God doesn’t answer our prayers now. Sometimes we don’t even stop to pray because we think that He wouldn’t want to be bothered with our little things.

I often think God may not be listening or may not be interested in what I need. If I’m honest, feeling unimportant is usually when I’m being impatient for a prayer not yet answered. The answer I want on my time. Through the years I’ve learned that God’s answer may not be what I was looking for and God’s timing wasn’t my timing—thank goodness!

I was reminded this past week that God has perfect timing and cares about those details in my life that are important to me. Three people made comments to me at three different times that were undeniably from God. They were directly related to questions I’d been praying—well, whining about—for several months regarding my writing and the direction in which I should go. In other words, I was searching for my purpose. Can anyone relate? None of these conversations had anything to do with the other except for the common denominator—me. None of these folks knew me, or even knew my story. They wouldn’t have had a clue I’d been praying about these things.

Yet in God’s sweet way, He used each of these three ladies to speak the words that my heart needed to hear. Words that slammed Satan’s lies to the ground faster than a throw down on a wrestling mat. The statements made in all three scenarios were delivered in such a matter of fact way, I was taken aback each time they were said. Realizing I had received answers to these long-term prayers, I just wanted to walk away to go sit and cry.

But first, I needed to ask forgiveness from God for thinking He didn’t care about the details in my life that caused me to worry and question so many things. I needed to see that He, in fact, had been listening to me through it all.

Waiting is never easy. But, oh friend, as those answers come when God chooses to deliver them, you can bet they will be at the perfect time and be just what He wanted for you. They may or may not be as fast as you’d like them and they may or may not be the answer you wanted, but you can guarantee they will be God’s best for you.

I’d like to encourage and challenge you today. If you’re holding back from asking God for an answer or for direction, might I be bold and tell you—ask for it. Then take it one step further, thank Him for the answer He will give you. Yes, have faith that He does answer and thank Him every day until you see that answer.

Step out of the way and let Him prepare you for just the right answer. In just the right time.

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Author Bio:

You’ll find Tammy seeing humor and causing laughter in every aspect of life. Tammy’s past filled with bullying and criticism is the driving force of her passion to always encourage others and share with them the Reason to smile. 

She’s been blissfully wedded to her college sweetheart, Larry, for 36 years, mom to their grown daughter, Kristen and wrapped around the paw of a little puppy named Hattie.

She’s the President of Cross N Pens Christian Writers and a member of ACFW. She will be published in the 2018 Divine Moments book – Cool-nary Moments.
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Connect with Tammy:
Blog - http://www.tammykarasek.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tickledpinktam
Email - tickledpinktammy@gmail.com