Devotions
Give and Take – John 19:28
When you step foot into Mother Theresa’s chapel of the Missionaries of Charity, you’ll find no pews to sit in. No chairs or kneelers. The walls don’t have stained-glass windows. The ceilings don’t have fancy florescent lighting either. You probably won’t even see a pulpit. What will catch your eye is a simple crucifix with two words next to it in bold black letters stating— “I THIRST.” For Mother Theresa, you see, these words were [...]
A Little Soul-Care – Isaiah 26:3
The day was cold and dreary, so I decided to distract myself by driving down to the local mall for an hour to do a little window shopping. As I walked along the brightly-lit halls, every store seemed adorned with the same message. Buy ‘this,’ and you’ll take care of yourself best. Wear ‘that,’ and you’ll get the pampering you deserve. Self-care was everywhere. Self-help on full display. I’ve learned over the years, however, that [...]
Hidden for a Purpose – Exodus 33:11
In the book of Exodus, Joshua must have felt this way at times. In this season of his life, he was simply Moses’ assistant. Moses led the people of Israel through the deserts of Sinai. Moses sought God on their behalf, and Moses was credited with supplying (through God’s miraculous provision) fresh water, food, and direction for all the people. Yet Joshua was there with him too. Joshua climbed the mountain with Moses to receive [...]
What Might Have Been – Proverbs 16:9, Romans 8:28
What might have been. Those four words haunt me from time to time. Maybe they do you too. What if I’d stayed in that teaching job? What if I’d stood up for myself in that moment? What if I’d pursued that opportunity instead of letting it pass me by? What if this pandemic hadn’t come? Would life be better now? Would I be happier, more fulfilled? No one can answer these questions. In fact, going [...]
Make It Personal – Hebrews 4:12
On the bookshelf in my office sits a small, spiral-bound flip calendar given to me as a gift for Christmas last year. Its thin paper pages number 365, and on each page a scripture passage is quoted—one verse for each day of the year. What’s unique about this calendar isn’t its coloring or calligraphed font. It’s not the quality of the paper either. The calendar, in fact, is quite cheaply made. Yet it’s special to [...]
You, are Enough – 2 Corinthians 12:9
“You are enough.” The metal sign reads as it hangs by a burlap rope in a tucked back nook of my kitchen. I found it in the clearance isle at Hobby Lobby and thought it would inspire me, motivate me, keep me going on the days when I felt low and it was all too much. The design, after all, matched my style, so I bought it and hung it there, right where I pile [...]
