“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19) When people hear the word gospel, many immediately think about the New Testament — the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While that is true, the message…
Recent Devotions
While helping an elderly uncle sort through a lifetime of accumulated belongings, I came across a small cloth box tucked away among the many possessions. A simple label on the outside caught my attention: “Jewels.” I paused. Truthfully, I felt a little uncomfortable opening it. The box had belonged to a woman named Gracie. I had never met her. She had no children or grandchildren to sort through her belongings after she passed away. My uncle had faithfully helped her during her final years—bringing groceries, picking up prescriptions, and managing practical matters when she could no longer do so herself.…
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord…” (Psalm 37:23) “You won’t have any problems,” he said, “but just in case, this is what you need to do.” I am so thankful I paid attention to the words that followed. It was the last day of our…
“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64.8 For the past few days, we have considered women in the Bible who found themselves broken in body, mind, or spirit. The Lord…
Readers Loved
Proverbs 13:12. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Every single person reading this has felt disappointment in their lives. Disappointment is no respecter of persons, age, or personality. Children, teens, and adults fall victim to this unique facet of heartache. Maybe you feel disappointed right now. Disappointment means unfulfilled expectation. I can think of so many times in my life when my goals, opportunities, or my future did not happen the way I expected. Disappointment floods a persons heart with grief and many times evokes tears. In The Message, the…
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” Psalm 51:10-11 Chapter 12 of II Samuel records the story of Nathan’s visit to David, revealing the grievous sins he had committed. He reminded David that there would be severe consequences because of what he had done. David was convicted. Psalm 51 is his prayer of repentance. The child that was born to Bathsheba became sick. Even though Nathan had warned him that the child would die, David still asked…
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise, For it was grace that bought my liberty. I do not know just why He came to love me so. He looked beyond my fault and saw my need. I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary To view the cross where Jesus died for me. How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul. He looked beyond my fault and saw my need. For the past two weeks,…
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” (Genesis 16:13, NLT) Hagar really didn’t have much going for her in life. An Egyptian slave in the household of Abraham and Sarah, she was far from her homeland. But her life became even more confusing and difficult when her master’s wife suggested she become a surrogate mother to provide them with an heir. God had promised them a child, but Sarah remained barren. This…
