DEVOTIONS

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Today’s Truth

He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak (Isaiah 40:29 NCV).

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I love a great movie! To me, a movie is great when good wins over evil, nobody gets hurt and everyone lives happily ever after. A bit naive, I know. But I have decided there is enough harsh reality ripping through daily life without paying to see more on a movie screen.


With these criteria in mind, I went to see the movie “Sea Biscuit.” So, there I was, popcorn in hand, minding my own business and enjoying my brief respite, when his words slammed into my soul, yanking me back to the relentless power of truth.


“You don’t throw a whole life away just because it’s a little banged up.”


I was done.


Although I enjoyed the rest of the movie,

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Today’s Truth

Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing (Ephesians 6:21 NIV).

Friend to Friend


Many had left the morning church service, but I remained on the pew. Tears fell as I talked to God.


Father, what is my calling?


It felt like others had this figured out. I wanted to know what God wanted me to do, and yet I had no idea what that looked like. That’s when I noticed a boot swinging down the row from me.


A young teen and his little sister sat quietly. He had long, dark blonde hair that hung over his eyes. She chewed her gum with gusto. I got to know them a few months earlier when they asked for a ride home after church. That soon became a regular occurrence. I’d stop at a drive through

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Today’s Truth

In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words (Psalm 119:55-57 NIV).

Friend to Friend


I’ve always been an athlete. Growing up, I played on different sports teams all year round, but volleyball has always been my jam. I played in college and coached my daughter’s high school team. I’ve been around this game for more than thirty years and I’ve spent more time on the court, on the sand, and on the grass playing and practicing volleyball than most people ever will.


You’d think that after all the hours invested, I’d have the game perfected by now, right?


Not hardly.


There are still times when I shank a pass and hit into the net instead of over the net.


There are still times when I miss a serve.


No matter how much I’ve grown as a player,

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Today’s Truth

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed (Psalm 107:29 NIV).

Friend to Friend


“Is there anything else you need?” the waitress asked. I thought to myself, “Lady, you have no idea.” Every part of me screamed, “YES! I have so many needs!” But instead, I answered, “More coffee, please.”


Have you been there? When the storms of life beat over our heads, our hearts grow anxious against the waves. Thoughts race in competition with truth; worry weasels its way in. The needs are high. We want safety. We need protection and provision.


Psalm 107 unfolds the God stories of various people groups and explains how the Lord transformed their pain into purpose. Each group of people exhibits a character flaw that reveals why their misery came upon them until we arrive at verse

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Today’s Truth

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 NIV).

Friend to Friend


Ah guilt! The gift that keeps on giving. Right?


Guilt is a powerful emotion that can overwhelm and paralyze us. We all struggle with something we have done or not done in our past. We have several ways to deal with past sin. We try to ignore it, explain it away, or do enough good works to cover that sin. Unfortunately, none of those methods will work.


When we ignore sin, it allows condemnation and guilt to build up in our lives, draining us and keeping us from moving forward. There is no explanation for our sin. We simply made the wrong choice. And we could never do enough good works to pay for our sin. But then Jesus came,

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Today’s Truth

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:13-14 NIV).

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Some of my sweetest childhood memories are found in my grandmother’s garden. She’d send me out with a basket and scissors to gather all the flowers I wanted. I’d breathe in the scent of dozens of hyacinths blooming at my feet. Together we’d pick carrots and home-grown corn for the best summer meals I’ve ever tasted.


At my house, I gathered shiny red berries from our strawberry patch. I learned to ride a two-wheeler by the lush bed of daffodils lining our sidewalk. Gardens meant family. Deliciousness. Beauty. Growing up. Gardens held love.


I wanted to create those same moments for my own family. For years I weeded and watered too many plantings to count. Yet my flowers failed to

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Today’s Truth

Be careful what you do, and always do what is right (Proverbs 4:26 NCV).

Friend to Friend


When Dan and I first married, I knew almost nothing about football. In fact, I would often ask, “Honey, who has the ball now?” He was so patient, answering every question without bursting into laughter.


Dan’s favorite football team was the Dallas Cowboys, and his favorite player was Emmitt Smith, their star running back at the time.


During one particular game, Emmitt was playing on grass instead of the artificial turf he preferred. The grass was wet, and Emmett was not playing his best game, falling down two plays out of three. Frustrated with his performance, Emmitt took himself out of the game to change cleats. It didn’t help. In fact, it took three more cleat changes before he found

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Today’s Truth

Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers (2 Chronicles 13:18 ESV).

Friend to Friend 


It’s possible I had never searched the internet more in my entire life.


My dad had become ill and despite the seriousness of his condition, no one seemed to have an answer for what was happening. I felt sure that with the right combination of symptoms and information, I would land on the answer to what was causing the problems. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not come up with a concrete answer. My search proved more frustrating than freeing, and I finished more confused than comforted.


2 Chronicles 13:18 tells us about a king that chose to rely on the Lord in a time of crisis, “Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that

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Today’s Truth

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6 NLT).

Friend to Friend


Harper and I were having a visit on Facetime. This five-year-old bundle of love, my niece’s daughter, was telling me all about her Guinea pig, Skittles. Skittles was her new best friend. He went down the sliding board with her, nibbled on baby carrots at tea parties across from her, and nestled in the mini stroller in front of her during walks. Oh, how she loved Skittles.


“I had a Guinea pig when I was a little girl, too!” I shared. “His name was Oscar!”


“You did? What happened to Oscar?” she asked. “Did you give him away or did he die? Do Guinea pigs go to heaven?”


I was not expecting those questions and wished I had kept my Guinea

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Today’s Truth

So, don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear” (Matthew 6:31 NLT)?

Friend to Friend      


For years, I struggled with the anxious “what if’s,” so my solution was to buy lots of extras of anything and everything. My goal was to be prepared for any uncomfortable or uncertain situation that came my way. In fact, I had a magic three-word phrase that gave me permission: just in case. As I accumulated my just-in-case items like extra toiletries, kids’ clothes or snacks, I found a sense of security in those stockpiles. In fact, those extras propped up the illusion that I had control over my life. Yet, I didn’t actually have control, I just had a closet that was full of stuff and a heart that was full of anxiety and fear.


When

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"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well…" 1 Thessalonians 2:8