Category Devotional

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,

for His loving kindness is everlasting. Psalm 107:1

Dear friends,

It is with a grateful heart that I write to you today.

As I sat with the Lord this morning contemplating and praying about what to write, I found my mind wandering in gratitude for the beauty of our backyard. It isn’t something you will ever see in a gardening magazine, or even a rustic farm periodical. It is however, a place my husband and I find quite peaceful and relaxing.

I am ever so grateful for the beautiful birds that have come back from a winter break. Their sweet songs bring joy to even the dullest day. So far we’ve seen Robin’s, Cardinal’s, Blue Bird’s, Woodpecker’s and an assortment of other’s I’m unsure of.

Spring has arrived early to northern Indi...

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

I learned at a very early age that in order to be accepted, I needed to conform to what others thought was acceptable. I needed to be more like my sister, more like the popular girls in school, more like just about anyone other than myself. I was ridiculed by many of my peers, but what hurt the most was being ridiculed by my family. I wasn’t like my older sister. She was more feminine; while I was a tomboy from the word go. I didn’t like playing with the other girls nearly as much as I liked playing with the neighborhood boys. I preferred sports over dolls and running around outside to indoor anything.

There were times when I tried to fit in, hoping to be accepted and loved...

 Let me hear Your loving kindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 NASB

You may have heard it said; in order to develop your relationship with the Lord, make sure first thing in the morning, you have quiet time alone with the Him. As a young Christian, I too, heard this many times from well meaning Christians. I chalked it up to them being morning people, feeling I could have my quiet time with the Lord any time of the day. What was so special about the morning anyway?

As time went on and I began to grow in my faith, I noticed that if I did not begin my day with God, then He would easily be left out altogether. More times than I want to admit, I never found or made time to be with Him at all...

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

We’ve all done our share of blaming someone or something else for our poor choices and crazy decisions. Somehow we find it easy to justify our actions if someone else can be implicated too. Blaming others for our poor choices seems to be an epidemic these days. Court rooms and jail cells are filled with people claiming to be innocent. Not me! I didn’t do it! It’s not my fault!

Some blame childhood issues for poor choices. They would do and be better if only they had grown up in a different home, with different parents, in a different city, or gone to a better school. If only this or that, and I would be a better me. If only…

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. John 14:27 NASB

As a little girl watching the Miss America pageant, I remember the contestants and how they spoke of their desire for world peace. A lofty goal I will admit, but a genuine hope for our world. Over time, the “world peace” answer was made fun of by unkind people, but my young heart loved the idea of someone who desired peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

As that same little girl I remember the volatility of my parent’s on again – off again marriage which finally ended when I was about 10 years old...