Category Devotional

They were struggling so. Two men about 50 and 20 years old respectively were trying to push a broken down van while a girl about the age of 12 tried to steer on the snow and ice covered road. I came upon them on my way to work. I looked to see if anyone was stopping to help, someone with a truck that could push the vehicle to safety, or a couple of other men to help manually push. No such luck.

The girl saw me looking her way and began waving in an effort to stop me for help. There’s no way I could, in good conscience, keep driving in a warm car to a warm office. At the time, it was negative 7 with a wind chill of negative 20 degrees! Seeing the slow progress they were making, they could very well freeze to death!

How can I help, I asked, as I walked over to the van...

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

I love Christmas! Every year I look forward to Christmas music, Christmas decorations, Christmas goodies, and yes, like everyone else, Christmas presents. Both giving and receiving.

For many, the giving of gifts, becomes more of a stressful event than a joyful experience. Due to a lack of financial resources, we find ourselves dreading more than looking forward to this magical season. Single parents in particular, especially if the other parent is unavailable, seem to suffer the most.

For much of my son’s young life, Christmas was difficult on me...

Dear friends,

I woke up this morning with a heart over flowing; so thankful for the hearts God allows me to care for. It’s a humbling experience to know, the God of all creation, somehow trusts me with a heart that may be hurting or confused.

I have no idea what I did to deserve such trust, but I want, with all of me, to bring comfort to those He sends my way and honor to Him as the One who trusts in me to follow His lead.

How about you? Has God placed a hurting heart in front of you? Are you struggling with how to respond?

After just a few short hours of meeting, talking with and enjoying a meal together, our young dinner companion ended our time with a warm, sweet hug. Those who know me well fully understand the joy that little hug embedded in my heart 

       • There’s just something about a hug…

One of my dearest friends of over 20 years is a self-proclaimed non-hugger. When our friendship began to blossom she would allow me to hug her once in a while. Since hugging for me is as natural as breathing, especially with someone I care deeply about, the sporadic hugs were, and still are, sweet to this girls soul.

       • Hugs, to me, are like affirmations of worth and value. If I care enough to hug you, it truly means I value your presence and time.  

I recently met a woman whose lif...

I woke up this morning thinking of things I wish I had handled differently. I do that sometimes; over think situations, sometimes even things from years gone by.

I apologized to someone the other day for something I had thought about until it made me nearly ill. It was silly really, and nothing most people would give a second thought to. But not this girl. Nope, for some odd reason, I have a brain that likes to think things to death!

When I brought up the subject to the person I felt the need to apologize to, she nearly wet herself laughing. The thing I felt regret over hadn’t even crossed her mind!

So, as I lay there this morning, over thinking things I probably shouldn’t, I was reminded by my Heavenly Counselor that there is always a next right thing.

In other words, rather than th...