Category: Devotionals
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Stepping In
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, emphasis added). As we prepare to step into the New Year, I have been reflecting on how Jesus stepped into our world. He…
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Love
Advent 2024 “That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17b-19). “I love you…
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Joy
Advent 2024 “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). I’ve been thinking about happiness and joy. I think I have explanation about the difference between the two—an explanation that feels true in my heart. One that helps make sense…
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A Peace Not of the World
Advent 2024 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give I to you” (John 14:27a). My small, simple soul longs for peace. I tend to absorb the emotions of those around me, so when I am surrounded by strife and conflict it leaves…
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Hope in the Word
Advent 2024 “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word” (Psalm 119:114). We look for hope in so many places. Our health. Our finances. We look to important relationships, the government, and even ourselves. The list is endless. But the author of Psalm 119 identified his source of hope as…
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Gratitude Changes our Heart
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity. Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and announce his works with shouts of joy” (Psalm 107:21-22, CSB). To quote Madame Blueberry from VeggieTales, “A thankful heart is a happy heart.” I have tested this and found it to be…
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This I Call To Mind
Lamentations 3:21 says, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope.” The act of “calling” something to mind implies intentional action—a conscious choice on where we focus our thoughts. When my heart grows weary, and hope feels faint, I consciously choose to remember and offer praise for what God has already done.…
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Where Do We Find Healthy Rest?
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Friend, let’s talk about rest. Retreat is not true rest. If we are not careful, we retreat not only from hard things, but we retreat from God. Healthy rest includes space for God, because healthy rest…
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Heart Wide Open
2 Corinthians 6:11: We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. I am feeling called to vulnerability. Called to a higher degree of transparency so that I can offer connection and hope to others. While I don’t think this means baring my soul to every stranger, sometimes God brings someone into…
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Broken and Brave
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). We all have strengths and gifts…