Devotionals for the Heart: Jesus Christ

He’s here!
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.” 

– Luke 2:9-14 (NCV)

It was a quiet night, just like any other. There were a lot of people in town for the census, but folks who already lived in Bethlehem were going about their usual business, while those just arriving were trying to hustle a place to stay. Joseph and Mary couldn’t even get a room. 

Everyone had traveled a long way, and no one was going to give up their nice warm bed to a couple of late-arriving strangers. The fact that Mary was hugely pregnant was probably the only reason they even got the stable.

Biggest shock of all, when that brand-new baby started yowling, no one even noticed. Israel had plenty of Pharisees, Sadducees, temple leaders, rabbis and students poring over the prophesies who should have known the Messiah was due any day. Surely Mary had a light about her that was beyond the average bun-in-the-oven glow. But the arrival of the Son of God was missed by the entire world.

Well, the angels just couldn’t stand by and let that happen. The entrance of the King couldn’t be ignored. In fact, they couldn’t be quiet about it.

Have you ever seen a period movie where they have a big ball and there’s a servant standing at the door shouting everyone’s name as they walk in? A long time ago, important people wanted to be sure everyone knew when they made their grand entrance. Well, God and the angels felt the same way about the baby Jesus.

First God sent the herald angel (the shouter at the door) to give the good word to the shepherds. Then the band came in. Angels filled the sky, singing, dancing — it was quite a hootenanny.

When something really important happens, like the savior of the world arriving to save mankind, people need to know about it. Similarly, when something really important happens, like Jesus cleaning our hearts and giving us new life, people need to know about that too.

Now let's bring this back to the present day with some questions for you: Has Jesus cleaned your heart? Have you told anyone about it recently? 

Ask Jesus for the courage to tell others about His birth, His death, His resurrection, and the new life you’ve found in Him.

If you haven’t found that new life yet, ask Him for it. After all, Jesus Christ came to Earth just to deliver a free gift to you: the free gift of salvation! What a reason to rejoice!

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications.

Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, Wash., with her hilarious family who keep her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: What Jesus Christ Gave Up to Save Your Soul

He Gave Up Everything
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

 – 2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)

He had it all. As God, Jesus Christ had a whole lot more than just a cool chair in the throne room. Heaven is described as having streets of gold and continual bright light radiating from God. Jesus had ultimate power that created the universe and brought down nations. Crowds of angels sang his praises without stopping. Best of all, he was with his Dad all day, every day.

And then one day, he gave it all up. Instead of being the Son of God, he became the son of a blue-collar carpenter and an average Jewish girl. Instead of gold streets and perfect light, he was born in a barn in the dark of night. Instead of ultimate power, he became a helpless baby. Instead songs of worship, he faced angry critics and crowds shouting for his death. And worst of all, he left his Dad’s house, suffered a beating that would kill any other man, and hung on a cross as his Dad actually turned his back.

Why would he do that? Why would he endure the depths of poverty and degradation and pain and shame when he could have said, “Forget this. I’m out.” He could have hopped off the cross and called down an angel army to obliterate the human race. Why did he give up everything? So he could hang out with you.

Because of our dirty sin, we can’t be near God, but He still loves us. If He wanted to continue to have a relationship with the children He loves, He had to make a way for us to enter his presence. Jesus gave up his riches and power and comfort to clean off our sin and hand deliver our invitation to his house. He’s having a big party that will last forever and wants all of us to come celebrate with Him. We get to enjoy the gold streets, bright light, angel choirs, and the presence of our loving God because the Son was willing to leave it all behind.

That’s how much he loves you and me.

Let’s thank Jesus today for enduring dirt and darkness and pain so that we can join the eternal party at his house and know his boundless love.

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications.

Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, Wash., with her hilarious family who keep her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: On loving others like Jesus Christ loves us

Love Like Jesus
A devotional by Carrie del Pizzo

“But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you.” 

–John 13:34 (CEV)

At first glance, this command can seem truly impossible. Jesus showed His love for us by dying on a cross. Does God expect us to die a gruesome painful death for others? Good news: He already took care of that part, so we can cross it off the list.

That means loving people the way Jesus did isn’t impossible … it’s only really hard.

In the first century, loving others meant being polite to those closest to you: family, friends, business associates. Good people attended synagogue, sacrificed at the temple, and stayed far away from sinners. Somewhere there was someone who did something to help widows and orphans, but only because they had to. Prostitutes and drunkards and foreigners were on their own.

The primary rule was to be clean. If you touched some undesirable person, you couldn’t go into the temple until you performed the ritual cleaning, which could take days. And if anyone saw you with an unclean person, they would assume you too were unclean. They might not do business with you. Their children might not play with yours. They might tell others about who they saw you with and what they thought you were probably doing.

Jesus turned society upside down. He demonstrated over-the-top knowledge of the Scriptures, performed miracles, and spoke messages that were both confusing and wonderful.

But the craziest thing He did was love people. His closest friends were smelly fishermen. He ate dinner with tax collectors. He actually touched people with leprosy, several prostitutes, and a couple of demon possessed guys.

In some cases, Jesus spoke a word to heal someone. But many times, He reached out and touched them. He hung out with them. He visited their homes. He ate their food. He took rides in their boats. He talked, laughed, and cried with them. He did life with these untouchable, undesirable people.

What about us? Sure, we’re nice to our families and church friends. Probably even school or soccer parents and some coworkers. But then there’s the next-door neighbor who doesn’t mow his lawn as often as we’d like. And the guy two cubicles down who voted for the other candidate in the last election. And the young lady who’s facing an unplanned pregnancy.

What if we loved them like Jesus does? What if we chose to do life with those people?

Let’s ask Jesus who needs His love and how He wants us to share it.

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications.

Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, Wash., with her hilarious family who keep her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: Healing

Words of Healing
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them complete power over all demons and diseases. Then he sent them to tell about God’s kingdom and to heal the sick.” 

– Luke 9:1-2 (CEV)

Isn’t that (the words in the Bible verse above) an interesting combination? 

Jesus gave His disciples power and then sent them to nearby cities to talk to people and heal them. If they had power, who wants to hear them talk? Enough chit-chat. Get to the action. Just heal me already.

But what if words could do the healing? Sure, the disciples used words to ask God to heal people or to command demons to leave. And we use words to pray for others. But what if the words themselves had a healing effect on more than just illness?

With Jesus, they can. As surely as words can pierce hearts and break down relationships, words can also be a salve to deep, festering wounds.

Ever been down in the dumps and had a friend say something silly that made you laugh?

That laugh really takes the edge off. Remember the last time you had to deal with a difficult customer or coworker who tore you down and made you feel incompetent? What a lift when your boss pulled you aside and said, “You handled that well.” Or maybe you’ve felt self-conscious about your new haircut and then someone compliments you on your outfit.

We’ve all experienced that flip-flop in attitude when someone’s words give us a new perspective. Imagine that type of change on a God scale: 

· If you’re feeling alone in this big world, God promises never to leave us. Open a Bible and read about this in Deuteronomy 31:8.

· If a parent walked out when you were a kid, rest in the knowledge that we are called sons of God. Open a Bible and read about this in 1 John 3:1.

· If you’re weighed down by the guilt of your sin, Jesus has washed our sins away. 

Open a Bible and read about this in 1 John 1:7.

You see, while doctors have treatments for diseases and injuries, God can perform miracle physical healing. And while we know words to brightens someone’s gray day, God’s Word can restore life.

If you know Jesus, if you have received that life, then Jesus has given you the power to tell about God’s kingdom and heal the sick.

Know someone with some deep wounds that need healing? Introduce that person to your friend Jesus Christ. The results could be life changing — for both of you.

Ask God who around you needs His healing words. If you already have someone in mind, ask God to give you His words and the courage to deliver them.

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications.

Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, Wash., with her hilarious family who keep her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: Commands

God’s Commands
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“And on the next day he arose and went away with them.” 

– Acts 10:23 (NASB)

The Bible is filled with examples of God asking His people to do things that sounded crazy: Noah was told to build a boat when he had never seen rain. Joshua was told to march around Jericho as a way to defeat the city. Gideon was told to face 135,000 Midianite warriors with an army of only 300.

And then we come to this passage in Acts 10. Ancient Jews did not associate with Gentiles, who were considered sinful and unclean. A Jew wouldn’t risk contamination from a Gentile because the purification process could be a lot of work.

So, the earliest Christians were Jews who shared the good news with their fellow Jews. But in this chapter, a Roman centurion named Cornelius reaches out to Peter—unheard of! And Peter willingly goes to him—insane!

Why would these men risk their reputations by defying the accepted standards of their culture? Because they both received clear instructions from God, just as Noah, Joshua, and Gideon had.

My husband and I have received a pretty clear command from God. But while the command is clear, the exact instructions are a little fuzzy.

Last fall (season), God told us to begin volunteering at the local crisis pregnancy center and to prepare the spare bedroom in our home for a young lady and her baby who would need a family. We were given the option to get our foster care license, just in case there was a girl in foster care who needed help. We decided to be prepared even though the maternity home rarely gets wards of the state.

Until today.

There is a young mom who is over 18, but she is struggling desperately. She has no family, no friends, and no place to live. The house parents at the maternity home are the only people who have been kind to her in the last year, so that’s where she went.

Because her situation is so dire, the house parents are faced with finding her a home or calling Child Protective Services. Their call to me is not unexpected. This is what we signed up for. What we didn’t sign up for is the fact she may not want to keep her three-month-old baby and could ask us to adopt.

Whoa! God, we did not talk about adoption.

I paused to think about what we did talk about … a young lady and her baby who needed a family. And that’s us.

Nothing is decided or set in stone or signed into law at this point. But we are earnestly praying about how God wants us to proceed. (Feel free to join in. We covet your prayers!)

Meanwhile, we are remembering these Bible-based truths:

· God used Noah’s boat to save eight people and the animals from a worldwide flood.

· God used the tired feet of Joshua and friends to crumble the walls of Jericho.

· God used the noise of 300 trumpets and broken pitchers to defeat the Midianite army.

· God used two unlikely friends, Peter and Cornelius, to bring the good news of His great love to a desperate and sinful world.

· And God will use my house and my family to share His Love with a girl and her baby.

What “crazy” thing is God asking you to do? Volunteer in the kids or youth ministry? Take in a stranger? Reach out to people you’ve never met?

Prayer Point: Instead of telling God, “No way! I can’t do it,” ask Him if He can do it. (Hint: the answer is always “Yes!”)

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications.

Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, Wash., with her hilarious family who keep her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: Questions

Trusting God with the Hard Questions
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” –John 9:3 (NASB)

When life gets hard, we ask questions. 

Who is to blame? Where did I go wrong? Why is this happening?

Sometimes that’s pretty easy to figure out. You text and drive; you get in an accident. You argue with the boss; you get fired. You cheat on your spouse; you get divorce papers.

Other times, things aren’t so clear-cut. Why does a good employee get laid off? Why do hurricanes and earthquakes kill people? Why does a child suffer through cancer?

When our teenage daughter spent two years dating a non-Christian, my husband and I had a heap of questions. What does she see in this guy? How long will she drag this out? Why doesn’t she see that he’s so wrong for her? Where did we go wrong?

In John 9, the disciples asked Jesus this kind of question about a blind man. They supposed either God had given the man’s parents a blind child because they had sinned, or God knew the man would sin and so made him blind at birth.

Jesus’s answer shocked them. The blindness wasn’t caused by anyone’s sin. This man had been born blind so that Jesus could miraculously restore his sight and point to the Father.

Joseph knew something about this idea. His brothers threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery. Some four decades later, the brothers wisely asked forgiveness of the second most powerful man in Egypt. His answer was astounding. According to Genesis 50:20 (NIV), he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” 

Of course, Jesus faced the granddaddy of all bad days. He was falsely accused, beaten, mocked, and crucified. And he did it while carrying the weight of our sin. He could have snapped his fingers and ended it, but he chose to suffer and die.

He knew the Father had a great plan, one that wasn’t obvious to the weeping, hiding, shaking-in-their-sandals disciples who only saw the bad situation before them.

We’ve also discovered that God has brought some good from our daughter’s poor choice of boyfriend. She’s learned what a bad relationship looks like, what she doesn’t want in a boyfriend, and what kind of good relationship she does want. 

We’re very pleased that her new boyfriend loves the Lord and they want to attend church together. They’ve even made a commitment to purity and have set up boundaries for themselves.

Best of all, she is now very open about her faith. Praise God!

What tough situation are you facing today? What hard fact of life are you trying to explain, reason out, or blame on someone? 

Ask God to walk with you through this trial and then reveal His glory at the end.

His plan may not be clear to you now, but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t have one. Look for ways to glorify Him.

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications. 

Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, Wash., with her hilarious family, who keeps her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: Carrie's thoughts on working for God

Who Is My Boss?
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” –Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

I was recently convicted by this verse.

Six months ago, I left my day job and stepped up my freelance editing work to full time. I didn’t make this move lightly. Freelance is risky, so my husband and I prayed long and hard over the decision. With three hungry teenagers to feed, we had to be sure freelance was the direction God was leading me, not the direction I wanted Him to follow me.

When I did make the move, God immediately seemed to bless my efforts, and I was suddenly making more than double what I had made at my day job.

The trade off what this I was working 12- and 14-hour days, but God took care of me. One of my clients hired a second editor to share the load, and this girl is a dynamo. She has lots of energy, really knows her stuff, and has no family to divert her attention.

As soon as she started with the company, she began making changes to the way we did things … the way I did things. She started trying to teach and train me, despite the fact that I am nearly twice her age and have been editing almost as long as she’s been alive.

Her ideas are good, but are they better than mine? You could argue that both ways, but it would be irrelevant. The fact is that the client likes her ideas.

I was faced with a choice: Edit their words the way they want them edited or stick to my communication principles and drop a paying client who clearly didn’t appreciate my skill.

After balancing my checkbook (sigh), I took it to God. If I stopped accepting work from the client, He would have to send me more work to pay my bills.

And then God reminded me that I am working for Him, not the client. That stopped me in my self-absorbed steps.

I’ve read this passage of scripture many times. Slaves are called to do good work for their masters. I was never a slave, so I figured it just meant I was supposed to work hard and be a good employee for my boss.

Now I’m my own boss and I choose my clients. I still perform my duties well. That’s how you get repeat business. But as a freelancer, I have the choice to run my business the way I like. But if God is my boss, I need to do good work for Him.

I looked inside, at my motives. Was I really trying to be a great editor? Or was I trying to soothe my wounded pride that didn’t like being told by a youngster how to do my job? Ouch.

To be honest, I’m still struggling with this one. I don’t always agree with the self-invented style guide of the other editor. But I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not my job to change her.

My job is to provide my client with quality work and a good attitude. In this way, I am doing my work as though I’m serving the Lord. And that’s my only goal.

What about you? Who are you serving? Do you work for your boss as though he or she were Jesus?

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications. Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, WA, with her hilarious family, who keeps her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: How to tell the gospel story of Jesus Christ

Tell the Story
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“As for us, we can’t stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
~Acts 4:20 (CEB)

The Apostles amaze me. In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John were telling folks about Jesus when they were picked up by the temple guard. The high priest and the Pharisees thought they had solved that Jesus problem when they had him killed, but He was like a bad penny. He always turned up.

So they started arresting people who followed Him. Peter and John were brought before the temple leaders and told very clearly to stop it. Stop telling people about Jesus.

Peter and John’s response is just as clear. Can’t do it. Actually, in the previous verse, they tell the Pharisees, “We’ll let you figure out if we should obey God or you.” Ouch. And then they continue on to say that they can’t stop speaking.

Sometimes I read this and wonder what I’m supposed to do. Should I tell my neighbor about Jesus? What about the cashier at the grocery store? Am I supposed to stop all those cars driving by?

Yes, we should be sharing Jesus with those around us, but I don’t think we need to endanger ourselves. (Especially since the road by my house is a highway.) But I did see someone who “can’t stop speaking” and I think he makes a pretty good modern-day example.

My family recently watched The Greatest Showman (movie) about the life of P.T. Barnum. If you like music, even a little bit, this is a very entertaining movie. I also came across an interview with Hugh Jackman, the star of the film, and Michael Gracey, the director. They tell the story of trying to get the green light to make the movie.

After eight months of work, they got all the studios executives, money people, and decision makers in one room so they could read and sing through the entire script. But the day before, Mr. Jackman had a spot of skin cancer removed from his nose. Because of his eighty stitches, the doctor said, “No singing.”

So, he had to let someone else do his singing for him. He read his lines, acted and gestured, but no singing. Until the song “From Now On.” It was the big number near the end. Like every good story, the main character, P.T. Barnum, stumbled and struggled. But in this scene, he learns from his mistakes and decides to make a change.

The song is very encouraging and moving. So moving, in fact, that Mr. Jackman can’t stop singing. Oh, he tried. Hands on hips, lips pursed, he shakes his head as though telling himself not to do it. But he just can’t hold it in. When he finally opens his mouth, he sings with unbridled passion, the rest of the cast cheers him on, and the room fires up with energy.

Yes, Hugh Jackman is a professional who is well paid for his moving performances. But in that critical workshop, when the entire movie was on the line, this man believed so much in the story they were telling that he could not stop himself from laying it all out there.

At the end of the clip, Mr. Jackman discovers blood trickling down his nose, and the next day he was back in his doctor’s office to get the popped stitches repaired. But from the smile on his face, I’m guessing he didn’t regret his decision for a minute.

And that’s how we need to be about Jesus. We don’t need to stop traffic or strike up conversation with total strangers. But when you’re with someone who is searching for the truth and wondering who this Jesus is, don’t even try to stop yourself from sharing His amazing story.

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications. Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, WA, with her hilarious family, who keeps her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: Unity

Living in Unity
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” –Psalm 133 (NIV)

This Psalm sounds really nice to our American ears. I’ve heard oil was important two thousand years ago half way around the world. And I know it’s important to be nice to people. So, yes, I agree that this passage of Scripture is good.

Sometimes that’s how I approach God’s Word. I like it and it makes sense to me; therefore, I declare it good. (In case you were wondering, God does not need my approval.) But do I really understand what these verses are saying? Let’s look at the oil first.

In centuries past, olive oil had so many more uses beyond tasting great on pasta and bread. It was used as fuel for lamps, lubricant and moisturizer for the hair and skin, medication, and blessing in religious ceremonies.

Olive trees don’t start bearing olives and oil until they are five or six years old, and they don’t hit their real production stride until they are forty or fifty years old. The great news is that, on average, olive trees live about 500 years. So, in ancient times, having mature, fruit-bearing olive trees was a sign of wealth and guaranteed stability.

So how is living in unity compared to such a valuable commodity?

We all know people who worship differently than we do. I’m not talking about cults who go off the rails and leave God behind. I’m talking about people who genuinely love and worship the great big God of the whole wide universe, but they do it more loudly or more quietly than I do. People who dance in the aisles and people who sit on the hard pew. People who shout their praises to the sky and people who wash the floor with their tearful prayers.

We also know people who do some pretty dreadful things while wearing God’s name tag. Noisy groups have protested the funerals of a fallen soldiers. Famous ministers have had illicit affairs. And people with fish stickers on their bumpers have cut off other drivers. These are the things that make the rest of us look pretty bad.

Instead of criticizing each other for worshipping differently, or tearing down those whose sin is public, what if we all worked together to support each other, build each other up, and represent God’s love to a hurting world? I think that’s the pleasant oil and the dew of God’s blessing.

Today, I’m choosing to pray for the other churches in my city. The ones I don’t attend, but whose congregations love Jesus as much as I do. What about you? How can you choose to live in unity with God’s people today?

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications. Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, WA, with her hilarious family, who keeps her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Plans

Is this the plan, Lord?
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I find great comfort in the fact that the great big God of the whole wide universe has a plan for me. My husband and I love that verse so much that we put it on our wedding invitations. Twenty years later, we’re still watching His plans unfold.

But let’s be honest, sometimes I wish God would tell me the plan. I don’t need the whole story with every detail. But an outline would be nice. Maybe a course syllabus or possibly Cliff’s Notes. I haven’t seen any outlines so far, which means some days I wonder.

Last spring, when our exchange student returned to his home country, we began discussing how best to use the spare bedroom. Get another exchange student? Rent to a local college student?

After much prayer and discussion with the family, we felt God’s call. We decided to open our home to an unwed young mother. Our city is home to a fantastic ministry working with young women who become pregnant when motherhood isn’t part of the plan. Well, not their plan anyway.

And so we began preparations for a young lady and her child who need a family to love them unconditionally. If you’ve participated in the foster system at all, you know there are heaps of hoops to jump through for licensing: training, home repairs, CPR certification, etc. We’ve been on a 90-day journey to check all the boxes and we’ve recently hit a brick wall.

With only seven days before our deadline, we learned that we needed to get all five cats to the vet for current vaccinations. (Yes, five cats. Yes, I’m the crazy cat lady.) Even if it were logistically possible to get all the cats to the vet in a week’s time, how could we ever afford the bill?

I’ll be honest—I felt disappointed and confused. Why would God lead us all this way, only to be denied just so close to the finish line? This is your plan, God … right?

In the Jeremiah passage, the next two verses go on to make an important point.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NIV)

Did you catch that? When we pray, He will listen. When we look for Him, we will find Him … when we look with all our heart. That means we have to be serious about the praying and the looking. Not just, “Ok, God, you can step in or whatever.” No, we have to intentionally go to God.

And so we did. Once again, my husband and I prayed about it and sought wise council.

Our licensor checked with her state director to get the complete details on getting our cats “up to code.” Turns out, only rabies vaccinations are required, which is significantly less expensive than all the many cat vaccinations available. Also, we are allowed to get our license while still in the process of dealing with the cats as long as all rabies vaccinations are done before a child is placed in our home.

What felt like a brick wall was just speedbump and we are once again days away from being fully licensed.

What about the plans God has for you? Do you ever double check with Him the way I do? I encourage you to ask Him—He’s listening. And look for Him—you’ll surely find Him.

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications. Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, WA, with her hilarious family, who keeps her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Grace

Grasping Grace
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:8 (NASB)

Grace is a tricky subject. We get the gist of it: We sinned, Jesus died, we’re saved. But do we really understand? I confess that this is one I sometimes struggle with.

I’m told grace is the unmerited, unearned favor of God. The unmerited part seems pretty obvious. I know I’m a sinner. I hear it in my voice when I yell at my kids. I hear it in my mind when I think critical cutting thoughts about someone I don’t like. I feel it in my heart when God tells me to reach out to someone and I stop to debate whether or not I will obey.

The unearned bit is also pretty clear cut. Oh, sure, I’m a decent enough human being, but nothing earth-shattering. I like talking to kids, but I’m no Sunday school teacher. There’s always room for a friend at my table, but I’m not volunteering my weekends to serve meals at the homeless shelter. And I like sharing with you all a few words God has laid on my heart, but I’m not getting my theology degree or seeking ordination to become a great Bible teacher.

But then we come to the mic drop: favor of God.

Merriam-Webster.com says favor means “to show partiality toward,” and gives synonyms of prefer, handpick, adore, cherish.

What? Why?

Let’s think this through. We’re talking about the great big GOD of the whole wide universe. Creator of Heaven and Earth. King of kings, Lord of lords, the Big Kahuna. He knows what I’m like in public and private. He knows where I am and where I’d rather be. He knows what I say out loud and what I’m really thinking. So, if He knows the truth about me, why would he prefer me, handpick me, adore me, cherish me?

Love. The Bible book of Romans tells us that, “God demonstrates His own love toward us …”

This is the time I start thinking that serving friends dinner and writing this little devotional are getting me farther than I thought. I must be doing ok. I’m working pretty hard, trying to be a good person, doing everything I can to be good enough for God, and then His grace fills in the gaps. Right?

Let’s look at the rest of that verse. “… in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s right, Jesus paid the highest price, gave up His throne, gave up His dignity, gave up His life, long before I ever got around to thinking up ways to try to impress Him (as though that were possible). Because my selfishness and dirtiness separated me from God, and because He couldn’t live without me, He died. And in that horrible, gruesome, painful, selfless act, He showed me favor that I could never begin to earn or merit. He made a way for me to be with Him again.

Ok, are you ready for the really great news? He did it for you, too.

Oh, yes, He did. Don’t shake your head at me. I know you’re thinking you’ve made too many mistakes, you’ve blown too many chances, you’ve gotten too dirty.

Or maybe you’ve been trying to impress God. Trying work really hard for Him. Trying to get really clean for Him. Trying to make yourself good enough for Him.

All of that is irrelevant because it’s already done. He already died for you. He already made you clean. He already opened the door for you to be with Him. Because He already loves you.

Did you catch that? Should I say it again?

He already loves you.

You may ask, “What about obedience and service?” Yeah, those are a portion of Christian life, but we’ll get to those later. Today we’re talking about GRACE, something that happened a long time ago.

So, sit back and rest in it for a while. You and I don’t deserve. We didn’t earn it. But God freely gave it to us anyway … because He loves us. Go figure.

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications. Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, WA, with her hilarious family, who keeps her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.

Devotionals for the Heart: Faith, Questions and Obedience to God

Are You Sure, God?
A devotional by Carrie Del Pizzo

“Then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.” ~Joshua 6:4b (NASB)

God asks us to do some weird stuff sometimes, like when the Israelites were entering the Promised Land. God had promised to give their enemies into their hands and guaranteed they would conquer the land. But He wanted them to start by walking in circles for a week?

Or there was the time in Judges 7 when Gideon took 32,000 warriors to meet the Midianite army and God told him to send 31,700 men home because they were too many.

Once as a friend of mine walked down the street, God told him to stick his head in a mailbox and yell as loudly as he could, “God loves you!”

And just four months ago, God told me to leave my stable day job with the steady paycheck.

See what I mean about weird stuff? Sometimes His instructions seem illogical to us. Oh sure, when He says that we should go to the grocery store and get food, that sounds like a fine idea. Or when He gives us a little extra cash and tells us to take a vacation, we’re all over that.

But how do we respond when He tells us to drive out of our way to give someone a ride to church? What do we do when He tells us to volunteer as a Sunday school teacher? Why does our blood run cold when He asks us to share the story of His great love with someone who is lost and hurting?

At times like this, I start to debate with myself. This doesn’t make sense. Surely He didn’t really mean it. He must be mistaken. Yes, I know He created the spectacular variety of people and plants and animals and landscapes. I know He holds every child in His hands and put the sun, moon, and stars into motion. I know He died on the cross to save me and rose again to defeat the enemy. But this time He made a mistake.

Or maybe I’m supposed to obey.

The Israelites obeyed and on the seventh day, as the priests blew their trumpets and the people shouted, the walls of Jericho fell in on the city. When Gideon obeyed, he and his 300 men defeated the Midianite army of 135,000. My friend obeyed by bellowing into the mailbox, but as he turned to continue walking, a face popped over a nearby fence. “What did you say?” That man had been at the point of suicide until he heard a loud voice tell him he was loved by God. 

I, too, obeyed and quit my steady job. Four months later, my freelance business is taking off, I’m getting regular paychecks, and my health is so dramatically improved that my doctor plans to share my story with his other patients as an example of the effects of stress.

So what weird stuff is God asking you to do? Change jobs? Go out of your way? Share His love?

And what if you obeyed?

~*~
Author Bio:

In this world of texts, memes, and emojis, slowing down to truly communicate can feel like straining a muscle you haven’t exercised in far too long.

Seventeen years of business experience across a variety of industries has taught Carrie Del Pizzo the fine art of professional communications. Partnering with corporate executives and entry-level employees alike, she has written and edited major project proposals, direct marketing pieces, sensitive client communications, employee handbooks, and user manuals.

Carrie’s love of literature and story has led her to develop and exercise her fiction writing skills as well. Aside from her personal creative efforts, she also edits for self- and traditionally-published authors and enjoys writing short dramas for church presentation.

Carrie is a wife, mom of three Americans and host-mom to numerous exchange students. Italian-by-marriage means she loves to cook and eat. She lives in Spokane, WA, with her hilarious family, who keeps her in stitches and provides piles of material for great stories.