Not all of our offenses result in punishment. Sometimes we receive mercy instead. When we experience grace and mercy, we can extend it to others. It never fails. Something catastrophic always happens when my husband leaves town, and he leaves town kinda frequently. Hmm… Maybe it’s not when he leaves town. Maybe it’s just all… Continue reading Mercy: Receiving and Giving Forgiveness For Our Offenses
The words “chosen” and “beloved” can feel like a foggy memory from a story about someone else we vaguely remember. The Truth is, we are His beloved. For the past few months, I have been doing a personal 8-week Bible study on Ephesians…I’m in week 3. (Don’t judge me). If you read my last devotional… Continue reading Beloved: Accepting Our Position As Dear to God’s Heart
Trust can be extremely difficult. But, drawing close to God can truly bring us out of our comfort zones and into the comfort of His faithfulness. “If you behave, you’ll get some candy.” We’ve all probably used some form of blackmail. Especially if you’re a parent. Most of the time it can be harmless, but… Continue reading Comfort: Learning Who to Trust Will Transform Our Lives
Fear plays out in different ways for different people. How we respond to being afraid matters and can set the precedent for how we live our lives: timid or brave. Fear has played an active role in my life for as long as I can remember. Fear of failure, afraid of being alone, fearful of… Continue reading Afraid: Trusting in God to Overcome Fear and Turn it into Bravery
So often, we place a higher value on the “things” we possess than what they deserve. When we fail to purge our lives of the temporary treasure, we can’t grasp the eternal treasure God has in store for us. Purge… I LOVE this word! I love the action, I love the freedom and clarity. I’ve… Continue reading Purge: Valuing God’s Treasure and Letting Go of Our Own
Sometimes faith is a process, or promises take a while to come true. In the place of waiting, the sweetness of the Presence of the Lord sustains us. One of my favorite things about fall is all the delicious smells and tastes in the air. I love a mouthwatering apple cobbler; a buttery crust, topped… Continue reading Sweetness: Tasting His Presence Through the Process
So often, we find our identity and approval in the things we do. We even believe this to a point of completely depleting our energy. However, our true acceptance comes from God. We can find rest in Him. I had just wrapped up a conference for local ministry teams in our area, was managing a… Continue reading Approval: Looking to God for Our Acceptance and Worth
Certain situations in life beat us down, overwhelming us with discontentment. How do we know if we are to stand and fight, or if we are to flee? Growing up in a Christian home, I was taught to love and be kind to other people. I was also taught to be a fighter. Not with… Continue reading Flee: When it is Time to Run Away Instead of Standing to Fight
When we give the Lord the reins to our life, we relinquish control. And as we let go, He leads and guides us into His blessings. Sometimes, when I pause and consider my life, I am amazed at how the Lord has blessed me. It definitely has not always been this good. But the more… Continue reading Reins: Relinquishing Control to The Lord Who Blesses Us
Shame is inevitable. That is the nature of sin. It can feel impossible to survive, but there is a solution! All we need to do is confess our sins and hand them over to God. A few weeks ago Hurricane Florence came crawling across the Carolinas. The coastal areas of North Carolina were battered by… Continue reading Shame: Handing our Sin to God to Survive the Storm
