Category: Devotionals

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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God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
-Ephesians 2:8

In this gift giving season, I keep my eyes on the gift of grace that I have been given.

If not for God’s love and grace, I don’t know how I would be thriving through another year as a single father. I received His gift shortly before becoming a widower. His grace has kept me focused on what is most important, insulating me from distractions, assumptions, and expectations.

As I refocus on the birth of Christ the Savior, I pray for continued focus on His grace.

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We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

The veil is ego. It is how we want to be seen in the world. We cover our faces by figurative and literal means to cover our shame at who we are.

The closer you come to God, the closer you come to yourself. Our true spirit feels no shame. The more we are transfigured into our true selves, the brighter we shine. The need for masks falls away. We need not hide from ourselves or others.

I have been in a deep ego state this holiday season. I am terribly concerned with how some people view me as a father and man. I’m releasing that and deepening my relationship with Christ. For in the end, it is the only relationship that matters.

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To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
-Corinthians 9:22-23

Leaning on Jesus on this short day. This season favors high highs and low lows. The peaks of joy of Christmas celebrations teeter above the stresses of preparation.

The weight of my late wife’s birthday and the desire I have to make Christmas special as a single parent are heavy. I often feel weak and am blessed that Jesus ministers to both my weak and strong parts.

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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
-John 13:34-35

Jesus embraced the outcasts, out groups, and dis-eased. He loved us so much that He died for us (as we each belong in these categories at time) to have life.

I pray for His love to flow through me. The forces arrayed against inclusion, compassion, and mental and physical wellness are great. They are the government, media giants, and millions of foot soldiers. They are selling life on Earth. This is the Devil’s work. This material existence ends in death. The Devil’s biggest lie is life eternal in the mortal realm.

It is an absurd claim, but the prevailing cultural argument appears to be an emotional sales pitch of endless corporeal life. Two years since “SARS-CoV-2” entered the zeitgeist and there has yet to be a focus on individual health, supplements, and proven methods for improved immune systems. A few months ago the claim remained that one cannot “boost” one’s immune system. Then came the equally absurd claim that a wet piece of textile over your mouth can BOOST your immune system.

Lies are not sustainable. The details of the narrative must contradict themselves with each revelation of truth. It’s like a child who hasn’t thought out his excuse for a broken mess.

Back to truth and love. The Devil will do his work and followers of Christ must do our work.

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A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!”
-John 10:10

Love and forgiveness are God’s most abundant offerings. Forgiveness is available to everyone, there is only one rule: Accept Jesus into your heart as your Savior. We change when we let people into our hearts. We change immeasurably when we are open to the Holy Spirit.

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When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
-John 6:5-6

Jesus invites us to participate in the solutions he has laid out.

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