Category: Devotionals

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

Sheep are interesting creatures. From birth, lambs learn to follow the other members of their flock, even if it is dangerous. The “following” instinct of sheep is so strong that if led down a path that could be fatal to them, they will follow to their death. The responsibility of a shepherd is to lead his flock safely to “green pastures and still waters” (Psalm 23:2).

If we allow God to be in our lives, He promises to lead us in our daily walk. As it says in Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in His way.” The key to the fulfillment of this verse is following God as He leads.

It really boggles my mind to think that our Shepherd is an almighty God who does not force Himself on us when He easily could. Instead, He waits for an invitation from us to become the Shepherd of our lives. Then, and only then, will He show us and lead us in the paths of His righteousness. We then have a choice as to whether or not we will follow His path or go astray.

Psalm 16:11 also tells us that at God’s right hand are “pleasures for evermore.” What are those pleasures? Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” The pleasures are the desires of the heart that become known when we delight in the Lord. But the verse also mentions the “right hand of God.” What does that mean? According to Romans 8:34, Jesus, the Son of God, is at the right hand of God Himself. Jesus is the source of our joy (1 Peter 1:8)! A relationship with Jesus gives meaning to our lives. It is He who brings joy even in the midst of difficult times. The latter part of Psalm 30:5 states “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” No matter what we face, our lives are more blessed when we belong to Christ.

I have never met one person who ever regretted accepting Jesus’ forgiveness of sins and having Him as their Saviour. Why? Because it is only through Christ that we can have joy in the midst of sorrow; it is the only way we can have peace in a world of turmoil, and it is the only way we can have the promise of eternity at God’s side in His heaven.

Many years ago, when I asked Jesus to become my Saviour, my sins were forgiven, and I became a lamb in His flock. I chose Jesus as my “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), but I did not always follow Him; sometimes I wandered from the safety of His “path of life.” The “fullness of His joy” was then hard to find, but He  always sought me out and brought me back to the safety of His fold (Luke 15). His Word continually reassures me that I am His, and He is mine… forever!

One day long ago, I chose to be a sheep and follow Jesus. One day in the future, I will be in the presence of my Shepherd, face-to-face, and I will bask in His pleasures for evermore!

Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.

(from “Now I Belong to Jesus” by Norman J. Clayton)

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

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Life is full of choices. It takes wisdom to make the right ones. And wisdom… well, that’s found in the Word of God. Take time today to read the Bible, and make the best choice ever… Jesus!

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1

I recently celebrated a birthday, and I am now well into my sixth decade of life. My life continues to be rich with blessings, and I am enjoying the freedom that retirement affords, however there has been a definite change in my life. I have more opportunities to sit back and smell the roses. I have more time to myself for the things I used to long for, like writing and traveling, and although I do tire more easily than in my younger years, I find I have more free time for those afternoon naps! Yes, things have definitely changed for me!

Sometimes I wonder if I have “finished my course.” After all, I am getting precariously close to the “threescore and ten” mentioned in Psalm 90:10. I am no longer in the active work force, and my children are grown with families of their own. Hmm… is my “season” and “purpose under heaven” finally fulfilled?

As I pondered the question of my purpose in this stage of my life, I realized something that really impacted my way of thinking. God isn’t finished with me yet! I am still in the race!! How do I know this? God’s Word says so! Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” God’s work continues in me until Jesus calls me home or comes to take me there. If my work on this earth was finished, God would take me to my heavenly home because there would be absolutely no reason for me to remain here. If I have nothing more to do to serve Him, it would truly be time for me to enter my eternal rest. Wow! That means that I still have a job to do! I am not in retirement from God’s work! God’s plan for my life has not yet reached its end because I’m still here!

Time for me to get busy and go see what He has for me to do today!

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23

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What have you done for the Lord lately?

“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” Luke 5:5-6

In my previous post “I Go A-Fishing,” I wrote of how my granddaughter was unsuccessful in her quest to catch a fish. She fished until nightfall, then retired to the family’s villa. The next day, she was back on the beach, casting her line into the surf. Finally she was rewarded!

We are called to share the gospel with a lost and dying world, no matter how bleak the outlook for success. You never know the impact your words and life have upon people. May we never quit, but remain faithful to the task to which we are called. If we do our part, God will do His part. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

“Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.” John 21:3

My daughter’s family is currently vacationing on the Gulf Coast in Mississippi. They are staying in a house near the ocean and have enjoyed the various activities that beach life affords. One of the fun things they have discovered is surf fishing. Bree, my youngest granddaughter was the first to catch a fish, and she was thrilled! Now, the fishing fever caught on! Everyone found their spot on the sand and cast their lines into the sea. Nearly everyone caught fish except my oldest granddaughter, Ryanna. She was unable to successfully reel in one fish. She did manage to hook “the one that got away,” but it slipped off the hook and escaped back into the surf. In spite of losing this fish, she did not give up. She continued fishing until nightfall, and although unsuccessful still, she planned to return the next day to continue her quest for fish. (I’m sure if her mother would have allowed it, she would have fished throughout the night trying to catch just one!)

This reminded me of our work for Christ. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus is talking to his potential followers, Peter and Andrew, and He tells them that instead of fishing in the Sea of Galilee for tilapia, they will be fishing for the souls of men if they choose to follow Him. The Bible records “And they straightway left their nets, and followed him” (Matthew 4:20).

Often we get “on fire” for Jesus when we first get saved or right after a revival, and we can’t wait to tell others about the Lord. Sadly, for many of us the enthusiasm of winning souls seems to wane after time. It’s so easy to jump on the bandwagon when everyone is experiencing success, as my family fishers did after that first catch. Seeing a wriggling fish on one’s hook is a great motivator to keep on going, but sometimes the fish are not biting. Sometimes it takes a long time to reap the reward of one fish… or one soul.

Do we have the drive to continue fishing when we don’t even get a nibble on our hook? When those with whom we share the gospel are resistant, do we pack up our tackle box and move on? We must have the spirit of the fisherman who doesn’t quit. We must continue to stand on the shore, casting our line into the surf again and again. We are called to share the gospel with those around us, and we must trust God to fill our nets with fish (Luke 5:6).

I love to tell the story, ’tis pleasant to repeat,
What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

(from “I Love to Tell the Story” by Arabella K. Hankey)

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We don’t have much time left before the trump of God will sound, and we will meet Jesus in the clouds. Why not cast your line today and do a little fishing for Christ?

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited has been Yosemite National Park in California. Majestic rock formations like El Capitan and Half Dome are spectacular as they rise above the forest floor. The fragrance of evergreen trees is like a heavenly perfume that lingers in the valley. Often deer can be seen walking through the forests, stopping at the bubbly Merced River for a refreshing drink.

Another beautiful place I’ve been to is Zermatt, Switzerland. Towering above the alpine village is the Matterhorn, one of the most famous of the Swiss Alps. Its snow-covered peak shimmers in the morning light as the sun illuminates the summit with its golden rays. Framed by pine, larch, and birch trees, the picturesque view is breathtaking to behold.

There are other things that I find equally beautiful. The sweet coos of a newborn baby, a sunset over the ocean, twinkling Christmas lights, the wind rustling through the leaves of trees, hugs from my grandchildren, and so much more! I could go on and on listing things that simply delight me in sight and sound, but what I cannot do is imagine what God has for me when I get to heaven.

1 Corinthians 2:9 tells me that what God has for me in my future, I have never seen, I have never heard, nor have I even imagined in my heart! My heavenly future is so amazing that it hasn’t even been conceived in my mind or anyone else’s mind! That tells me that there is nothing here on earth that comes close to the wonderful things that God has for me in heaven!

I can imagine streets of gold, shimmering through the heavenly city. I can imagine a crystal sea, its gentle ripples glistening resplendently in the light of glory. I can imagine the tree of life, its fruit so full and plump inviting me to freely take from it, but in all my imaginings, I am told that I cannot come close to the reality of heaven’s glory.

Imagine that!

The angels so sweetly are singing,
Up there by the beautiful sea;
Sweet chords from their gold harps are ringing,
How beautiful heaven must be.

(from “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be” by Mrs. A.S. Bridgewater)

“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Psalm 73:25

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If you’re wondering whether or not you’ll be in heaven one day, send me a note. I’ll be happy to share with you how you can know for sure you’ll be there!

“O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.” Psalm 30:2

Have you ever “missed the mark”? I have. It often happens when I think I’ve understood something, and I really haven’t got a clue as to what was the intent. When it comes to spiritual things, I often think I’ve “got it,” but later I realize, I didn’t get it at all. Leaning on my own understanding is not always reliable, and just recently I found out that it has led me down the wrong path for many years in a very critical area of my spiritual life.

The Bible says to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17), so I have always incorporated prayer into my Christian life. 1 Peter says we should be “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you,” so I pray. I have prayed for many things, sometimes physical, sometimes spiritual. Sometimes for me personally and sometime for others, but many times the answers didn’t seem to come. I knew in my heart that God could answer my prayers, but I didn’t have the faith that God would answer them.

This made it increasingly hard for me to pray in faith, but I still went through the motions. It was easy to say the words, but I was a prayer warrior whose arsenal was empty and ineffective. My prayers were like spitting into the wind; they just came back to hit me in the face. Needless to say, I was like “a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James1:6), and I didn’t even know it! Oddly enough, I wasn’t angry about the seemingly lack of answers to my prayers; I just assumed that was how prayer was supposed to be. Sometimes my prayers were answered, and sometimes they weren’t. I became that double-minded man that James wrote about, unstable in all my ways (James 1:8), but I was still oblivious to my sad state.

Recently, when I was out of the country, I was able to watch a Sunday school class on my church’s livestream broadcast. The lesson was about stress, and Pastor Jackson spoke from the book of James. He referenced the first part of chapter one, and as he elaborated on it, I realized that I was that double-minded person tossed about by the wind! After this sank in, I listened more intently, and when the broadcast ended, I knew that I needed to change, but how? Read more

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

I love reading the King James Version of the Bible, but I must confess that sometimes its meanings can be difficult to grasp. Take today’s verse. “Stand fast… quit… be strong.” It almost seems contradictory. Of course, it can’t be because the Word of God never contradicts itself. That’s when I remember that old English words often have definitions that are no longer in use today.

Dictionaries often have the “archaic” meanings of words, which is very helpful to me when I am doing my Bible reading. For instance, in this verse, the word “quit” means something quite different today than it did in the 17^th century. Today, it means to stop doing something, but in the 17^th century, the word meant to “behave like.” Ah, now this verse makes sense to me!

Another thing I have found invaluable when doing my devotionals is to read verses in their context. This verse alone has great meaning of course, but with a little context, the application becomes so much more obvious.

In this chapter, Paul is writing to the Corinthian Christians. Basically, he is telling them that it’s going to be a little time before he will be there with them. He mentions that others, like Timothy or Apollos, may be coming, but the exact timing of their arrival is not known. Therefore, Paul is instructing the Christians to watch for his coming, hold on to what they have been taught by him, behave as Christians ought to, and remain courageous in their stand for Christ while they wait for his coming.

Although written to the church in Corinth, this message is applicable for us today as well. We are to be watchful, stand firm in our faith, behave according to the Word of God, and have courage until our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, comes!

Watch… “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42

Stand… “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

Behave… “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” Psalm 101:2

Be strong… “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Like the Christians of Corinth, we have a charge. Soon Jesus will return to us as Paul did to the Corinthians. May He find us watching, standing, behaving, and having Christian courage as we await His return.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13

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Jesus could come today! Be ready!

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2

Recently I listened to the news as they attempted once more to discredit our president and other national leaders. I felt an immense despair within me since this has been ongoing since the elections of 2016, and no end is in sight.

Last week I read an article about a celebrity who made a statement against a certain cultural group. This group spewed so many hateful comments about the actor that he eventually apologized for his “insensitivity.” I was angry that this type of bullying is so commonplace and accepted throughout our nation.

Yesterday I heard about multiple mass shooting locations in Texas and Ohio. Innocent men, women, and children were gunned down in the middle of the day. I was stunned by these senseless acts of violence in our “civilized” country. It was incomprehensible to me and very frightening.

Today, I read the above verse, and I felt my fears begin to subside, being replaced by something that passed all understanding.

I felt peace.

Isaiah 26:3 states, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” I desperately want peace in my life, and this verse tells me how to achieve it. In order to have peace in my life, I must seek it through God. As we get closer to the period of time when Jesus will appear in the clouds to take Christians to heaven for all eternity, the conditions of this world will worsen. The Bible vividly describes what has come to be known as the “last days,” and it is not difficult to see that we are living in those “perilous times” (2 Timothy 3:1-5), but there is no need for me to be afraid. No matter what I read, hear, or see, I need not fear because I walk with Jesus, and He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Jesus promised to never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5), and with Jesus, there is peace.

2 Peter 1:2 says that God’s peace will grow in me as I gain more knowledge of Him, and the way to attain that knowledge is by reading and studying the precious, inerrant Word of God. As I spend more time with Him, in His Word and on my knees, His peace within me will grow more and more!

Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

(from “Wonderful Peace” by W. D. Cornell)

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

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Need peace? Open the Bible!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:13

Last week, I listened to a lesson shared by Dean Hamby, one of the preachers at my church. It focused on the above verse, presenting it in a totally different way than I had previously understood. I had always thought of “temptation” as a huge sinful obstacle in my life, but this time, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to a different meaning.

“Temptation” is anything in me that disappoints God or draws me away from Him. It has been easy for me to use this verse to refer to something obvious, but now I was drawn to examine other things that I never really deemed applicable to my spiritual well-being. When I thought of anything in me that disappointed God, it made me pause and reflect. Have I been disappointing God?

As I did some self-examination, I realized I had allowed temptation to enter and settle in some areas of my life in the guise of “I just don’t have any self-control” (ex: food choices) or “I can’t do that” (ex: areas of service) or “It’s not a big deal” (ex: music choices) in order to control a situation to favor my personal desires. As I lamented over this eye-opening revelation, I had a wee bit of consolation. I was not alone.

Temptations are “common to man.” This means that it is not unusual for me to be faced with the lure of these sinful behaviors because everyone faces similar situations.  However, it is vital to remember that commonality in no way means acceptance. We live in a sinful world ruled by Satan who is compared to a roaring lion, walking to and fro on this earth, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He plots ways to tempt us and draw us from God, and we must fight hard to avoid his snares.

At times, conquering temptations can seem almost impossible, but there is always hope where God is concerned! 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that our God is a faithful God. He has promised to never abandon us (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5), and He promises to “not suffer you to be tempted above that what ye are able.” This means God will never allow you or me to face a temptation that we cannot successfully reject. He won’t leave us alone to make the decision of what to do; His Holy Spirit will always be with us to guide us to the wise and right choice and then empower us to act upon that choice. All we need to do is do it! Sounds easy, but it not always is. Our fleshly nature tends to gravitate toward sin, which I might add can be very pleasurable in its moment, but eventually it will lead to regret, guilt, anguish… this list goes on and on, and none of these are pleasurable by any means.

So, what do we do? We have two choices. We can choose (yes, I said “choose”) to accept the temptation, thereby distancing ourselves from God and engaging in sinful behaviors, or we can choose the “way of escape” that God Himself has provided. He always has a way out for us, but it is up to us to take it. Therefore, we must act wisely, and in doing so, we bring glory to God and save ourselves from the heartbreaking consequences of choosing sinful temptations.

How do we attain the wisdom to choose the right way? That’s a good question with a very simple answer. Ask God for it. James wrote “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). When you ask God for wisdom, not only does He give it to you, He gives it to you “liberally.” That means He gives you a whole lot of wisdom! As you pray and read the Scriptures, you will find wisdom as the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God for you. You will not lack what you need to make righteous, godly choices and to bear up against “the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10). The choice is ours to make. God is faithful to do His part; we must be faithful to do ours.

Choose wisely.

“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26

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What steps can you take today to enable you to choose wisely in regards to temptations you face?

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9

I love clouds. Ever since I can remember, clouds have always managed to capture my attention. My favorite type of cloud is the cumulus cloud. Hanging suspended in a blue sky, these fluffy balls of cotton play hide and seek with the sun and promise fair weather. These clouds can even be entertaining. Churned by turbulent atmospheric winds, they become shapes in which I can “see” a myriad of things from animals to faces to anything my imagination can find in them. Sometimes, I can even see the silver lining when the sunlight shimmers through them.

Many people prefer a clear blue sky, but not me. I don’t recall ever having prayed for a cloudy day, but I may start doing that. The reason is because of the first chapter of Acts. Luke wrote that on the last day that Jesus was on earth, He reiterated His promise of the Holy Spirit, and then as his followers watched, He ascended into the clouds above the Mount of Olives. Right after that event, two heavenly beings appeared and told the onlookers that one day Jesus would return in the exactly the same way he went to heaven… in the clouds!

Can you imagine what it would be like to be laying on your back gazing into the sky picking out different shapes, when all of a sudden there is the sound of a trumpet and Jesus appears? From now on, whenever I see clouds in the sky, I will remember that this might be the day that Jesus returns, and as it says in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” We will be caught up in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

(From “It is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford)

One day this will happen! Until then, keep looking up at the clouds!

“And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10-11

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Are you ready to meet Jesus in the clouds?