When God Refuses to Give us The Desires of Our Hearts, we must praise Him anyway and trust that He knows what is best for us.
Browsing: Devotionals
One of the greatest decisions you will will probably ever make in your life is whether to sit there, relax and daydream about it or stand up for something you’re not even sure of and take the risk. At some point in your life, you’ve probably had one of those days and maybe you’re still having them. A time when it was really hard for you to surrender a life that’s been familiar to you, something which has eventually become a routine. Maybe you’re being nudged to start a ministry, start a business, write a book, or maybe you’re finally ready to…
“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). Recently, I ran into an old friend I haven’t seen since high school. It was terrific seeing him again and reminiscing on the past. We talked about how a group of us girls abused him when we were teenagers (he was younger than us). He recalled in detail an instance when we made him cry at a youth group lock-in. I just had to laugh because we probably did that! He also…
Tears streamed down my face as I texted by best friend about the catastrophic freak show that was my life the day before. In an attempt to “get ahead of the game” I was preparing some freezer meals. Pinterest puffed up my ego pretty good and I was going for it. That was until the oven caught on fire. That’s right, FIRE! I put the meatballs on the wrong pan and the grease spilled over in my gas oven and caught fire. I was so blessed my husband Donald was in the kitchen at the time. He rushed to get…
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”- Isaiah 41:13 Sometimes we become so dependent on our loved ones that we fail to realize they are human just like us. We expect them to step up to the plate and take on the role of “provider” in our hour of need and we forget that God is our sole provider. When I think back on my adult life, I’ve always had someone to lean on in my time of need; Someone who I counted on to bail me out…
When your troubles seem to get too much to bear, get down on your knees to Pray!
Often times, we may get upset because we feel our fate or destiny is in someone else’s hands. Maybe something has happened to us where we feel that another person is to blame. Maybe you feel you did not get a job because of the actions of someone else. However, God’s word reminds us that He is still in control. In Genesis, Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brothers, but he still had favor with God. He used him to keep food during famine for all of the lands. Joseph also prospered. When he confronted his brothers about what…
When God Makes You Wait, it can seem like an eternity. Every passing moment brings more doubt and less faith.
God is an on time God! It’s a good feeling when God shows up just in time, but the best feeling is when you realize He has never left you!
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3) It crashed to the floor, breaking into an explosion of pieces. Beyond repair. My favorite mug, now being swept into the trash. Broken things are common in my household. If certain broken pieces are able to be fixed, they normally find a temporary home on the shelf, awaiting the super glue repairs. Or maybe just tossed away if unable to be neatly pieced back together and strategically repaired without hint of a patchwork of super glue lines. Often, it takes too much work to fix what is broken. It’s easier…
I wrote this reflection after a field trip I took to a farm with my students in an afterschool program. I hope it blesses you. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation. Isaiah 25:9 The aroma of goat and manure wafted under our noses. Melodies of giggles filled the air and wide brown eyes danced in curiosity. It was a lovely day on the Llama farm. Over a dozen pair of…
For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. -Philippians 2:13 Mary said yes to God even if it meant giving up her youth and her already planned future. Even if it meant risking her reputation and other people’s condemnation, She obeyed God’s will. How often does someone get pregnant by the Holy Spirit? Who would ever believe that her baby was conceived without sin? If it happened today, no one would believe her. When Joseph said yes to God to take care of Mary and Jesus, it also meant sacrificing a quiet simple…
If you’re getting impatient, I encourage you to rest today knowing that He is already at work for your good.
And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. — 1 John 5:14-15 There are two important examples of miracles by Jesus. When Jesus performed the miracle in Cana, He turned the water into wine. When He performed the multiplication of the bread and fish, He used the loaves and fish offered by a boy. Jesus created miracles from what was there. Do you want…
The best time to start building your future is today. The best time to save money is while you have it. It does not matter if you are earning just enough or above the minimum wage. The important thing is to save a portion for your tomorrow. Have an emergency fund. Keep a percentage for your retirement. While the rest of your colleagues are partying hard, work hard, save more, and later on you will be enjoying while everyone else are still toiling. The best way to make sure you will grow old gracefully is to live a healthy lifestyle…
There was a study which suggested that people felt happier and tend to be in better moods on Fridays. We call that the “weekend effect”. Many people anticipate Friday as soon as Monday arrives and then count down the days until it is Friday again and the cycle continues. We often tend to anticipate the future and wish to get through things quicker in order to get to various places or stages in our lives. When we were younger we may have wanted to grow up and become an adult sooner. There may be times where we wish we had…
I am the head and not the tail, I am above and not beneath Deuteronomy 28:13 This verse could not be more timely. Even when you have been taken advantage of, cheated, hurt or forgotten – you are still the head. You are still a mark above the mess in your life because of God. If you have given your life to Christ, you are a part of His kingdom, so no matter what your government does, what your bosses do to you or how bad your circumstances may be, you can rest assured you are in His hands and…
“Do you want to get well?” Jesus asked that question to the paralytic. Would you ask a blind man if he wants to see? Would you ask a beggar if he needs money? Yet, Jesus asked the obvious. Maybe because Jesus thinks that was not what the man really needed. Thirty-eight years of lying on his mat, the man might have been accustomed to his life as a paralytic. Thirty-eight long years might have made him comfortable in his situation, waiting for people to bring him alms. The mat has become his identity. Yet, Jesus asked the man if he…
Are you having a hard time moving on from a relationship or marriage? ‘How To Come Back From Relationship Set Backs’ a book written by Pastor David Cross, can help you recover and move forward from any setback. The book tackles a range of issues such as recovering from hurt, divorce or heart-breaking relationships, getting the ‘snake’ out of your marriage and restoring a house of peace, how to say ‘no’ when your flesh says ‘yes,’ and rediscovering and being revived by the phenomenal healing love of God. Here’s an excerpt from the book: I was going in the bank one day.…
I have four very powerful words for you that I want you to clench tightly to, and cherish forever in your heart no matter what situation you find yourself in when it comes to love and relationships. When this world tries to break you down and you find yourself hanging on to life by a thread, please remember this and let these words be your lifeline: YOU ARE WORTH IT! Can you recall a time in your life when you felt as if you were not good enough, like no matter what you try to do you will never be…
