Category: Devotionals

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
-Zephaniah 3:17

I fall short of being the loving father my sons deserve.

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We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!
-Hebrews 12:2

The natural realm constantly calls for our attention. We live in it for a short time, yet when our gaze is on eternity with Jesus, we are placed in proper alignment with the entire universe, seen and unseen.

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It is the greatest joy of my life to hear that my children are consistently living their lives in the ways of truth.
-3 John 1:4

I’m not comfortable with routine. I attend services, Bible studies, and volunteer events at multiple churches. I jump around, looking for new ways to engage my faith. Sometimes I fear that I’m valuing novelty over understanding, yet I always discover new truths when Scripture is central.

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“Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.”
-Psalm 46:10

Camping is a mix of striving and surrender. Getting packed, ready, and set up is a workout, but it is meant to prepare time to sit back and live simply.

Tonight, surrender looks like a fire in the rain while discussing the personal wonders of faith.

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How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!
-Isaiah 52:7

I’m here to receive the good news and share it. I renew my intention to be the messenger God made me to be.

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Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
-1 Peter 5:2

God has entrusted me with two beautiful boys. He’s also entrusted me with a few folks who listen to me intently. I feel a great responsibility when someone is listening. I try to be careful with my words as I allow myself to explore and make mistakes along the way. I stop to correct carelessness in word or direction. I try to remain as vulnerable and open as I can stand.

I only lead others as much as I can lead myself.

In leading myself, I make an effort to be lead by the Holy Spirit.

I’m blessed by the home education movement that my wife and I joined nearly eight years ago. It has put me in a position to help others free their families from a system unfriendly to their choices. I have found myself leading many into the learning lifestyle and it feels like God’s work. I don’t recruit Christian homeschoolers, but I am never shy about my faith and how it is tied to my desire to be free from the violence inherent in governmental systems.

The home education flock is growing and has many shepherds. It is an exciting time for freedom.

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These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
-Hebrews 11:13

I was promised a lifelong marriage, or so I was convinced.

Earthly promises are shadows in the light of God’s promise.

I have learned how to live in faith and I hope to die in faith.

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Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
-Philippians 4:8

This is the Christian take on manifeststion. Your life will be filled with the things on which you choose to focus your attention. This is why we focus on God.

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Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
-Philippians 2:6-8

Being a parent is a quality lesson in humility. My sons best me in all sorts of ways and often reveal my frailties.

Studying Jesus’s perfect journey as a servant is more humbling. His life as a man was impossibly brave as he strode toward death. As a Christian, I want to model myself after Jesus, no matter how daunting that may be.

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We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
-Ephesians 2:10

This was the first Christmas morning in three years that I haven’t been the lone adult to pour love over my children.

Those three Christmases were hard. Managing gifts, expectations, and travel wore me down each year. In exchange, I greedily ate up every moment of joy my sons experienced without distraction.

I have felt my purpose deeply as the sole caregiver to my sons. The responsibilities have been paid for in kind through our joint healing and ever increasing amounts of love.

I knew it would change as they grew and our relationships evolved.

This year I have a loving partner and her daughter to bring more joy and fun into the day. The help with meals, transport, and holiday chores is immeasurable, but the emotional and spiritual support has made this the best Christmas in years.

I feel the shift in my purpose coming. The boys are more independent every day and I find myself with time to pursue interests beyond the constant work of parenting. The future is exciting as I prepare myself for God’s plan.

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