Category: Devotionals

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
-Psalm 105:1

Lord, thank you for the infinite blessings in my life and thank you for a voice loud enough to share your blessings with the world.

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Man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
-Timothy 6:11-12

Focusing on the eternal life ahead gives me peace in this transient form. The body is corrupted and destined for death. I do not fear that as I understand that my soul is eternal and has a room waiting in Heaven.

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Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.
-Philippians 4:4-5

Paul wrote these words when he was in jail.

I’ve been blessed with irrational optimism, but Paul’s encouragement is an inspiration.

Lord, I pray to rejoice in you through all my days, the dark and the light.

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As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
-Ephesians 4:1-3

Three years ago I was sitting on the kitchen floor every morning. I was sober for the first time in forever, I was approaching my first anniversary as a widow, and a woman I loved had just ended a secret affair. I started my days with affirmations, prayers, and stretching.

It was a low time and the hard floor seemed like the right place. The kitchen is also the only room I seem to keep somewhat clean and functional.

The floor is a good place to get humble. It was the right place for me to begin rediscovering my self worth. I’m still on that journey of rediscovery, but I am in a better place now. The floor feels like a grounding place more than a metaphor for my life. It is the solid ground of Christ’s love that supports me.

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About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? (which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
-Matthew 27:46

Okay, I’m doing this wrong. I should have started on such-and-such a date, but this is my first devotional journey and I’m doing it in my usual odd-ball way.

That said, there is never a bad time to remember Christ on the cross. It is one of His most human moments, suffering with the full vulnerability of a mind and body made of flesh.

Even Christ questioned the Father’s plan in His pain.

It is powerful comfort to know that we are not alone when doubts enter our minds.

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As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
-1 Peter 4:10

I love how Scripture is filled with reminders of the unique and special way God has crafted each of us.

My gifts for learning and personal connection have given my grief a way of serving others. This is the most unexpected journey, but every day I find myself in the company of the grieving. It is overwhelming at times, but I know this is where God calls me to be.

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Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.
-1 John 5:3

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
-Mark 12:28-31

These are the Scriptures I return to when I’m unclear as to how to best love God.

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Give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you. Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure.
-James 4:7-8

We all worship earthly things at times and each of those things draws us away from God.

The more time we spend seeking God, the closer we come to His eternal love.

We go where our attention goes.

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You must honor the Lord and truly serve him with all your heart. Remember the wonderful things he did for you!
-Samuel 12:24

The Lord has done many great things in my life. It was a miracle that I survived the drinking and recklessness of my twenties. I was sure Mary would leave me after a midday DUI collision, I saw my dreamed-of future family disappear. It was a miracle she didn’t walk away. Another miracle that my continued drinking didn’t lead to self harm and disaster when I lost her.

He was looking after me long before I was honoring Him.

None of my days is expected, each one feels like extra time in a game I was sure to lose.

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We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
-1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Love is the answer to the Christian question of works.

It’s proper to ask how we should act as followers of Christ, but the answer seems ridiculously simple to me: What would you do for the person you love most and who loves you the most? You would listen to them and act accordingly. Jesus tells us to love ourselves and neighbors as we love God. When you act in love, you serve yourself, your neighbor, and God.

Love is not idle, it is kinetic.

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