Devotionals for the Heart: We are forever safe in God's Hands

Safe in His Hands
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

—Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

Are you an animal lover?

Perhaps you’re a dog lover or a cat lover (most people are one or the other). In my home we have a giant German Shepherd named Captain as well as three cats, Leia, Casper, and our decidedly unique ginger tabby, Finn, who seems to think he’s more a dog than a cat. My love for animals doesn’t just stop with pets. Having grown up in Florida, I’ve always adored common lizards. There’s something about their tiny little mouths and their gentle, watchful eyes that tugs at my heart.

Recently, I was with my daughter and some friends of hers who found a baby lizard. They picked the little fellow up and then passed him from hand to hand, marveling at his size and mannerisms. When he got to me, his poor little body quaked with terror. But after a few moments, as if he decided I was no threat, I saw him visibly begin to relax. His deep breaths began to slow and steady. Finally, we made eye contact, being to being, in a moment of gentle connection.

I felt like, at least for a moment, I was his safe place—his refuge. I certainly wanted to be. Sometimes I feel like that lizard in everyday life. Do you know what I mean? There are days and years, when I think my home or my car is a refuge. Maybe I think the health, auto, and life insurance plans I have are going to keep me or my family safe and protected, or the current peace in my community means I’m somehow immune to tragedy. Maybe I think my body won’t fail me or the money in my savings or retirement accounts will provide for all my needs.

But the truth is those are temporary. Only God is my real refuge.

Think about it—if I’m lucky, my body has maybe 100 years on it, but then what? It breaks down, and then it’s done. It’s not meant to last forever. Neither are any of the things of this world. Animals are born and then they die. Trees—even the oldest of them, giant live oaks or massive sequoias—eventually come to an end, whether from fire or other natural disaster or from human hands. Cliffs erode, earthquakes transform vistas, even islands cave into the seas.

And money? That’s certainly temporary. No matter how much we have while we’re alive, we don’t take it with us. What is eternal is the Lord, period—and if we belong to Him then our souls are eternal as well. But that’s only because of God’s great love for us, not because we have any worth or power on our own. He sent us His Son (Jesus Christ) as our Savior. If we choose to believe and follow Jesus, to repent of our sins and become His disciples then we’re guaranteed eternal life, salvation, and a place in our Heavenly Father’s house—a heavenly home that will last forever.

God provides that shelter, that refuge. Only God, out of the vast and gracious and merciful love He has for all of us. If we choose Him, we will live with Him forever. For a moment when I held that baby lizard on that sunshiny afternoon, I was his temporary refuge. But his real refuge is the Lord, just as mine is.

As Psalm 46:1-7 (NIV) proclaims, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Sometimes I look around me and think the things of this world protect me, but they are only an illusion. They are temporary and impermanent. But you, my loving Father God—Abba, Creator of the Universe—are my true refuge. You are my rock and my salvation. You are my forever home. Thank You for loving me enough, for loving all your imperfect children enough, to be that refuge despite of our shortcomings. Please help me to love You with my whole heart now and forever. Help me to lead others to You as well. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Safe” by Alisa Turner. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Every Moment” by Forever Jones. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Into the Sea (It’s Gonna Be Ok)” by Tasha Layton. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers and her third novel, Hidden Seeds, is out now and is a top release. Jessica has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Jessica is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: What a squirrel taught me about God's love

What a Terrified Squirrel Reminded Me About God’s Love
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.”—Psalm 104:24 (NLT)

Eye to eye outside my front door window, we watched each other. Me, sleepy in my workout clothes, ready to head upstairs to hop on the treadmill. Him, a terrified brown squirrel, clinging to the tree outside my door in terror.

I froze in my tracks, gazing at him. He didn’t move a muscle as his brown eyes locked on mine. I could almost see the thoughts coming from his brain: “Does she see me? Am I in danger? Maybe if I don’t move then she’ll think I’m part of the tree. Wait, is that nut still up there?”

Seconds ticked by. A full minute. I didn’t want to terrify the poor creature further, so in a moment I would slink away, letting him know he was truly safe after all. Yet I couldn’t help but marvel at him. His muscles bunched tight. His luminous brown eyes. The way his fingers, so childlike and delicate, clung to the slender tree trunk. He was a marvel, that squirrel! God’s precious creation. And for a moment, we saw each other. Fully. Finally, guilt set in at how scared I was probably making him, and I broke our eye contact and retreated upstairs.

Yet as I walked on that treadmill belt, I couldn’t stop thinking about that squirrel. About his tender, almost human-like hands. About those wide, chocolate-brown eyes. To God, that squirrel is likely as precious as I am. As you are. As that bird in the sky is. As that lonely man in the alley is, chasing away his demons in a bottle of something toxic. As that angry-eyed girl on the street is, keeping the world at arm’s length with her scowl and her fierce clothing.

All of us, every single one of us, is handcrafted in the image of God. Even the animals are perfectly designed—not necessarily, as humans—in the full image of God, but with that same amount of care and love and painstaking architecture. It doesn’t take much to look around and see God’s love everywhere. Even a leaf, with its delicate symmetry, shows that love, that attention, from our glorious Creator.

Our Father God cares for us, every one of us. Yet what do we do in return?

Sometimes we take that love for granted, becoming so consumed by our own lives and selfish concerns that we forget to be grateful for the breath in our lungs and the simple gift of our bodies. Sometimes we treat other people with disdain or show a complete lack of admiration and care for the world around us. We trash our forests and fill our air with toxins. We push our animals out into increasingly fewer spaces outdoors with overbuilding and urban sprawl. We overhunt and overindulge to our heart’s content. But if we only open our eyes, we will realize that loving God means loving others. It means loving His creation as much as we love ourselves.

Here are a few scriptures that point to God’s care:

- Genesis 1:31 (NLT) says, “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”

- Psalm 24:1 (NLT) says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.”

- Romans 1:20 (NLT) says, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

We have no excuse. So, let’s open our eyes and see God all around us. And in return, let us celebrate His creation—from the animals to the earth to the people around us—with love and deep gratitude.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the great love You have for me and all your creation. Help me honor You with my life and with all the love I can muster. Instill in me a heart of gratitude and care, now and forevermore. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “The Maker” by Chris August. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “For the Beauty of the Earth” by Barlow Girl. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: "God So Loved" by Jaci Velasquez. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers and her third novel, Hidden Seeds, is out now and is a top release. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

Jessica is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Observing animals taught me about peace

Observing Animals Can Teach Us How to Relieve Stress
A devotional by Desiree Future

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

—Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

One day, I was on my way to work early in the morning. I passed a sleeping cat under a tree, looking peaceful. As I walked by, he arched his back in a long stretch.

I crossed the street to find two birds in a tiny puddle of water. One would go for a drink and the other would dip their wing in it. Closer to the neighbor's house were two cats that sat directly beside each other. If it were not for the black patch on one cat, you would have thought you were seeing double. They weren’t playing or anything. They were just casually hanging out in the backyard.

Further down the street, I saw a squirrel inside someone’s gate. At first, it was just walking from one house to another. Then it suddenly hopped like a bunny rabbit to the next house. All the animals I saw brought a smile to my face. They seemed happy and peaceful. I was grateful that I didn’t see the large raccoon I had encountered the previous week.

These amazing creatures that God put on this Earth are examples of what we should be like, in my opinion. Laid back, peaceful, and not a care in the world.

I understand that we have a lot of things going on, whether you’re a single parent or a married couple struggling to make ends meet. Whatever your circumstances are, times are really tough these days. The prices on products in the USA have skyrocketed on everything from food to cars and housing. Yet in many cases, most people’s paycheck amount has remained the same. I understand sometimes it feels like you’re a professional juggler because you’re always balancing many things at once. Not to mention trying to figure out how to make things work with what you have. It’s not an easy task, to say the least. However, you get up every day and focus on finding ways to make things better.

You do it so much that you end up neglecting yourself. Trust me, I’ve been in your shoes, so this young lady understands. But how about you do something different instead of stressing?

What if you acted like the animals that were just relaxing and enjoying life? Take a long nap and rejuvenate your mind and body. Then stretch like a cat after a most enjoyable slumber. Perhaps a nice rest in the yard or park, doing absolutely nothing to release the stress of your struggles. Add a nice book and beverage to enhance this. Or if you really need to get rid of your stress, try playing like the squirrel did. Find an activity like running, painting, or bird watching. Indulge in something that makes you smile from the inside out. You don’t necessarily need to spend money to have a good time. All it takes is a creative mind and the desire to relieve your stress. Some of our greatest examples that show us how to relax in this world are literally in front of us—we just have to open our eyes to see as I saw in the lives of these animals that maintain their peace as the world revolves around them.

A little while ago, my peace was disturbed when my car broke down and I was forced to take public transportation. It was not a happy time to say the least. I got caught in a bad rainstorm on my way home from work once. By the time I got home, I was completely drenched. Another time, I came face-to-face with a raccoon on my way home. These are the kinds of things that will surely stress you out. However, I restarted a jewelry-making hobby of mine that helped me regain my peace. I decided to do it more often and it turned into something I truly enjoy. It relaxes me while I make different bracelets for my friends and myself.

It’s just something about jazzing up an outfit with a one-of-a-kind bracelet that I enjoy creating. Whether it's for a classy event, work attire, or anything else, the joy I get from creating something beautiful eases all my troubles away.

Perhaps today, you too could do something to send your troubles away and restore your peace. Start with God and ask Him in prayer what that looks like for you.

Let’s Pray: Lord, I ask that You wrap your arms around the person reading this. Let them know that the burdens they carry are not for them. But they are for You to carry instead. Give them peace so they can rest. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I’ll Give You Peace” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

~*~
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.

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Sloths

Running with the Sloths
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” –Romans 12:10-12 (NIV)

Every few years a new animal shows up in popular culture and has its moment in the sun.

Have you noticed this? You’ll be walking through a store and for a time, pigs are everywhere—coffee mugs, bookmarks, inspirational prints. Then it cycles to koalas or giraffes or cows. I think llamas are a hit right now. And a few years ago you couldn’t turn a corner without seeing a sloth.

We have this universal love for furry creatures with big eyes, and sloths have the added charm of tree limb perches and super slow movements. They became the adorable poster child for procrastinators and couch potatoes everywhere.

But when we use the word “sloth” with its meaning of “disinclination to labor; spiritual apathy or inactivity” (Merriam-Webster) it gets a lot less funny. In classical Christian teaching, “sloth” is listed among the “seven deadly sins” (Proverbs 6:16-19) alongside greed, lust, gluttony, wrath, envy, and pride. I will admit that while I am guilty of each of things over the course of my life (and possibly just the course of today!) my pet sin—the one I come back to over and over and over again—is sloth. I easily become disengaged from God’s Kingdom work when it becomes hard or when I feel underappreciated or for any number of reasons. I am too often content in my spiritual laziness.

We all will probably have seasons where we will be radically on fire for Jesus Christ and feel consumed with the things of God. It might have been when we were first introduced to the amazing grace and salvation of Jesus or later on in our spiritual walk with God when we’ve had a particularly wonderful experience with Him at a retreat or conference, or maybe just a sweet time of prayer. But eventually, because we are creatures of this world, that fire and zeal can give way to a familiarity with the God’s Word (The Holy Bible) so when you read the Bible you aren’t stirred to action. Perhaps a season of hardship leaves you feeling farther from God than ever.

The worst part might come when you simply don’t care that you no longer care. The enemy would love for you to sit in that pit and stay there because you will no longer threaten him. Seriously, we can’t have that, can we?

Do not lose heart! If you are here, with me, fighting through a season of laziness and apathy, let’s band together and remember a few very important things:

We can do this (whatever God is asking us to do) but we can’t do it alone, so it’s a good thing that God’s Holy Spirit is within us. He gives us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) Laziness is nowhere to be seen in that verse!

God longs to give us what we ask for in His name. He will give you a renewed love and fire to go and make disciples for Him if you simply ask Him!

We are in a spiritual war, whether we like it or not. Lazy soldiers don’t win battles. We need to be willing to stand up, defend ourselves and our fellow soldiers, and occasionally go on the offensive. That doesn’t sound slothful to me!

I’d like to leave you with this charge from Ephesians 5:14 (NASB):

For this reason, it says,

"Awake, sleeper,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you."

Let’s be awake today and get to work. There’s no time to lose.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, please give us all a rekindled love for You, Your Son, The Holy Spirit, and the world you have put us in. Help us show Your love and never be too lazy to go when and where You call us. Forgive us for all the times we waited, procrastinated, or ignored when You asked us to do something. We love You. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.  

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming. 

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting.

~*~
Connect with Glynis:
Website: www.glynisbecker.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckerglynis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisBecker7

Devotionals for the Heart: How to survive loneliness and thrive

Gaining a new perspective by tapping into innocence
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Do you ever get lonely? I used to struggle with loneliness a lot, especially in my teens and twenties. It still rears its ugly head on occasion.

When God created the first man, He knew right away Adam needed a companion. As it says in Genesis 2:18 (NIV), “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” From Adam, God made Eve—a suitable companion, a woman to join with him as “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

I imagine God knew Adam would get lonely with no “kindred spirit,” no fellow human to talk with and share life with. Sometimes, when we’re lonely, upset, or grumpy, a companion is exactly what we need too. Sometimes it takes spending quality time with another person to reset. Often, that’s a spouse or close friend, and it works great.

But we humans can all too quickly lure each other into our own negative mindsets. The “grumpies” can spread like a virus—even worse than COVID. Think about the times you’ve been in a cranky mood and spent time with a friend who loves to gossip. Maybe it’s a laugh at first, but soon you start to feel worse. Crankiness begets crankiness.

That’s when I’ve found spending time with those seemingly “immune” to the grumpies—little kids, cute baby animals, or super-positive ray-of-sunshine friends—can be a big help. The innocence of children can be a balm to many a soul. Perhaps that’s why Jesus was indignant when his disciples rebuked parents for bringing Jesus little children for a prayer.

“He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:14b-16).

Animals, too, can be the same kind of balm. They can sense pain, sickness, and sadness, certainly. But they have a beautiful way of coping with it: they seem to rest in it, accepting the moment with peace.

We can often learn a lot from animals. They were created prior to and independently of humans, given the blessing of God, and instructed to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Genesis 1:22). Clearly they are of value to God—He enjoys them! He made them!

Other people are great. But there’s a unique and treasured beauty to the time we spend with those whose hearts are not tarnished by the world. Spending time with children or animals helps refresh our souls and bring a new perspective on life. Their innocence, authenticity, and simple appreciation of life can be infectious in a very good way.

If you’re struggling in life right now—whether it’s a bad day or a rotten season in your life, whether it’s mental illness or just a temporary period of “the blues”—think about ways you can cultivate that perspective of sunshine and innocence in your life.

Even in COVID, there might be volunteer opportunities at shelters or ways you can serve in your church with young kids. And if not, consider a FaceTime session with a relative or friend with littles, or funny animal videos on YouTube.

Today’s topic, gaining a new perspective by tapping into innocence, is one of 10 included in the free eBook I created to help people shrug off their worries and center themselves in the Lord. Called A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, the book is FREE for anyone who signs up for my weekly blog. Learn more and get your copy here. (If you are already a blog subscriber but haven’t gotten your copy, just email meand I’ll send it to you.)

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the fresh perspective you enable us to enjoy through children, animals, nature, and others who can so quickly brighten any cloudy day. Help us remember that joy is not an emotion but the hope we find in Christ, but also help us understand that choosing happiness—choosing to banish negativity and learning to be content in all circumstances—is a step each of us can make each day. Thank you for walking with us in all things. Help us shine Your light in the world. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian journalist, author, blogger, editor, and devotional writer. For the last decade, she’s been the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 118 journalism awards during her tenure.

She is the author of Feed My Sheep: A 40-Day Devotional to Develop a Heart for Hunger Ministry (2019) and More Like Jesus: A Devotional Journey (2018) and editor of Stories of Racial Awakening: Narratives on Changed Hearts and Lives of South Carolina United Methodists (2018), all from her newspaper’s Advocate Press.

She is a seasoned speaker and contributor to Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and the United Methodist News Service, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries.

Represented by Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency, she is seeking a publishing contract for her two contemporary women’s fiction novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots. The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and Tangled Roots placed in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019.

Married, Brodie has four children and stepchildren and lives in Lexington, South Carolina.

~*~
Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicabrodie.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaJBrodie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajbrodie/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicajbrodie/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shiningthelightjessicabrodie/

Devotionals for the Heart: Life Lessons learned from Jesus Christ

Learning from Jesus
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

–Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Many times, the promise of Jesus Christ in Matthew 11:28 (ESV) comforts us during rough patches in our lives. He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

These beautiful words lift our trembling hearts and fainting limbs when we face fearful circumstances or difficult decisions. We cling to Christ’s promises to provide rest and peace in the storm. He is right there with us.

The next two verses of Matthew 11 continue His directive. In verses 29-30, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Wait a minute. A yoke? Seriously?

When studying westward expansion in the United States, it’s easy to imagine the Conestoga wagons that transported half a nation across the lonesome prairies.

Teams of oxen, mules, and horses pulled each wagon. The success or failure of such a move depended upon the strength and stamina of the beasts that were yoked into the harnesses and hitched to the wagons. As the great migration headed out, the animals strained against the weight behind them until the bulky wagons began to roll. Uphill or down, the long string of emigrants moved farther from their original homes to the places that awaited them at the end of the endless journey they dared to undertake.

If the animals in the trains were yoked properly, they moved unrelentingly west. If they were mismatched, or if the yokes were rough or misshapen, the wagon had to stop. The animals, injured or afraid, simply could not continue until the problem was remedied.

Now let’s go back to Jesus. He tells us to slip into the harness with Him. Walk step-by-step with Him unswervingly; obediently putting one foot in front of the other as we work in tandem with the Lord. Along the way, we learn how to live abundantly. We discover how to let Him lead us, how to grow in faithfulness and love, and how to keep our eyes focused on our ultimate home in Heaven.

Jesus then refers to Himself as “gentle and lowly.” Jesus, the King of all creation, the promised Messiah, the Lord of Lords, and the Savior of the world didn’t pursue fame. His promised rest for His children began after His death on a rough and misshapen cross. After His resurrected body could no longer be contained in a tomb, He rose again! Jesus is Alive! His sacrifice bought our salvation—His gentle rest for our souls. He won the battle over sin and death, and now He calls His believers to “yoke up.”

An “easy” yoke isn’t fluffy; it’s one that fits well. When we take on the yoke of Jesus and go through life beside Him, He uniquely shapes His yoke to fit us. When it’s perfectly suited, whatever work He gives us to do becomes lighter—easier. It’s manageable, and with His help we become productive children in God’s kingdom.

Today, in the middle of our worldwide pandemic, Christ’s call to us is vital.

As we slip into a side-by-side relationship with our Lord, the work that we do becomes more meaningful and more relevant to the hurting ones who surround us.

People everywhere need the rest that Jesus promises, and He allows us to share His gift of hope with them. Yoked with Jesus, He multiplies our frail efforts. We begin to listen with His ears, and to see with His eyes, and to show His love with our hands and our hearts. And always, we focus on Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2 ESV)

What is my response to His yoke?

Let it be, “I’m in, Lord Jesus! Hitch me up!”

~*~
Author Bio:

During this time of quarantine, Karen enjoys reading, writing, and connecting with friends and family via phone calls, texts, emails, blogs, live-streams, and video conferencing. 

She is grateful that the Lord has provided so many ways for humankind to stay in community, even when we are all hunkering down in our homes.

Karen says, “In this unprecedented time, we know that He has prepared us for such a time as this! To God be all the glory!”

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

Devotionals for the Heart: Lessons learned on love for God and animals

On ruling well and loving Fido: Honoring God through National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

If I’m sick, the rest of my family will steer clear and let me sleep, but not my cat. She’ll sit on my pillow and gently knead my head, purring loudly as though she alone can drive the illness away. Instead of me caring for her, dumping food in her dish and scratching her kitty-chin while she gives me sweet-eyes, the tables turn and she’s Mama Cat, tending to her neediest kitten.

My mom’s cat was her superhero when she battled aggressive cancer decades ago and chemotherapy knocked her flat in bed. Today a survivor, she still talks about how Rusty was right there every day, never leaving her side.

It’s not just cats. Dogs and even hamsters and bunnies have this uncanny sixth sense like they know on a wholly different level than we humans do when their loved one is ill and exactly what they need to get well. My cat even looks at me differently when I’m sick like she sees right through me and straight to the illness beneath my skin like she’s some fierce guardian angel there to battle on my behalf with The Evil Flu or The Dreaded Sinus Infection.

It’s both stinking cute and incredibly comforting.

The love we have for animals—and our animal friends have for us—is a beautiful thing and, I’d argue, a biblical call. As Christians, we know Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), and we are commanded to love God above all and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-49).

But who’s to say God doesn’t want us to love our animal neighbors just as we do fellow humans? While humans are made in God’s image for His glory, the rest of creation is also made for God’s glory and pleasure, including animals of the forest, fish of the sea, and our beloved pets. In the Book of Genesis, God created animals, fish, and birds. He saw it was good, then created man and woman to care for them.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’” (Genesis 1:26, NIV).

But “rule” doesn’t mean control with brutality. Rulers don’t get to say “my way or the highway.” Good rulers, godly rulers, are to lead with love and kindness with an end-goal of modeling our ultimate ruler, God. Just because animals are not created in God’s image doesn’t mean they are not important to God, and I believe we are obligated to nurture, respect, honor, and care for them with the same sort of loving care our Father God gives to us.

This week (the first full week in November) is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. It kicked off yesterday, Nov. 4. Animal shelters are places where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals are kept and, often, rehabilitated. Some also help sick or wounded pets and wildlife. While not all shelters are equal, I’ve never seen a shelter or encountered a shelter worker that doesn’t love and care passionately for animals.

In honor of our furry (or scaled, or winged) “neighbors,” I urge you to take a moment today to think about how you can love them in a way that honors God’s love for us, as well as think about how you might be able to love and honor animal shelters, who are tasked to care for these creatures. If you are able, consider adopting an animal from your local animal shelter, or donate or volunteer your time.

After all, God is love. Let’s follow suit.

~*~
Author bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism.

Learn more about her fiction and read her blog at http://jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight.