For the despondent, one that has lost hope and courage, life is viewed from a lense of gray. Life appears with many troubles, even miserable, everything seems to go wrong, their anxious, foreboding thoughts translate into a life of glass 1/2 empty. (from Proverbs 15:15 NLT, AMPC, MSG, TPT) For the happy heart, those who have the Hope that anchors the soul (Hebrews 6:19), life is viewed through a bright yellow lense. It is a continual feast regardless of circumstances. For tho
I grew up in and out of church. I accepted Jesus as my Savior in early high school, but didn’t really understand what a relationship with Him really meant. As with many young adults, my spiritual life was not a priority. I was too busy having fun in college and setting goals for the future. One day in my late twenties, my mom gave me this Bible and EVERYTHING changed. . For the first time in my life, I decided each morning I would sit down in my favorite white chair with my c
After Jesus resurrection, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the tomb. There, they saw the Angel of the Lord sitting on the stone that had been rolled away. He said, “I know you’re looking for Jesus. He isn’t here. He is risen.” Matthew 28 Headed to tell the disciples the news, Jesus met them and greeted them. To my knowledge, he met these women first -before any others. When they saw him, they ran to him (with focus), grasped his feet (kneeling down in surrender
My devotional pointed me to Psalm 23 on Friday. It is so familiar that I decided to read it in several different versions which often gives me new perspective and meaning. The Passion Translation refreshed my soul. I hope it will refresh you, too. Soak in these words: “The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. That’s wher
Lessons from Jesus feeding the 5000 in Matthew 14:13-21 -Jesus just received news from his disciples that John the Baptist was beheaded. Scripture says that when he heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. It is safe to assume that Jesus went away to retreat and pray after the heart breaking news. Jesus did this often. We, too, can take our sorrows, our worries to God in prayer and rest in him. -But, life, work, ministry goes on in even in heartache. Th
The first thing that came to mind when I saw the next writing prompt #goal is this scripture: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 NIV . Some days I feel like Paul: hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. With Christ, I am not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, not destroyed. My hope can remain strong. It is my anchor. (2 Corinthians 4:7, Hebrews 6:19) . Regardless
When the Lord makes a point to me, He often stresses it several different times. He knows I am stubborn and it takes a minute to sink in. In my first devotional of 2018 in Unshakeable by Christine Caine, the verse was “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you” Proverbs 4:25. Caine says we must stay “laser focused. He wants us to stay the course, and where we focus is where we will go.” Focus. Secondly, in Max Lucado’s book, Anxious for Nothing, I w