Listen

Listen

Charity Ourso
God's Word

My oldest daughter loves her drama class. She enjoys the spotlight, developing her character, and entertaining the audience. One of the most important lessons she has learned in drama class is to pay careful attention to the vision the director is trying to achieve from the cast. If one fails to pay attention then the whole production could go wrong. In essence, many are affected, cues for lines are missed, timing is all wrong and the mood the director is trying to achieve is blurred. Paying attention is critical to the overall success of the play.

Living Water

Living Water

Emily Adams
Encouragement

The story of the Samaritan woman has popped up many times in my life lately. Whether in a sermon, study, or on the radio—The Woman at the Well has continued to knock on the door to my heart.

A Good Example

A Good Example

Susan Partida
Serving

Amid the feverish unpacking of boxes I heard the chime of the doorbell. When I opened the front door I discovered our teenage neighbor standing there with cookies, flowers, and a card in her hands.

An Unexpected Adventure

An Unexpected Adventure

Jan Burkhart
Faith/Trust, Salvation

Nestled in the middle of the Psalms are three verses that describe the blessed life of a believer. The psalmist begins by describing a believer’s heart. Blessed are those….who have set their hearts on pilgrimage (Psalm 84:5). In other words, blessed are those who have a longing in their souls and a determination in their minds to journey through life with Jesus. 

Wild Alarms

Wild Alarms

Jill Hendrix
Peace

While driving out of my neighborhood recently, a fire truck passed me in emergency mode--sirens and lights pulsing. I quickly realized a three alarm fire was occurring when two more trucks zoomed by me.  

Calm My Fear

Calm My Fear

encouraging.com
Anxiety, Fear

As I write this devotion, I am praying the words of our scripture fervently. Our family is facing a situation about which I have many questions, but I am trusting God to calm my fears. 

When our Hearts Shine

When our Hearts Shine

Linda Lesniewski
Holy Spirit

I have a treasure, and so does every other person who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Paul addresses this treasure in 2 Corinthians. He calls it God’s light! He further explains that it’s the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Walk with God

Walk with God

Jill Hardin
Challenge

I can do the math! The Bible says that Enoch lived 65 years, then became a father and walked with God 300 years. Altogether Enoch lived 365 years (Genesis 5:21-23). Like Enoch, raising wee ones certainly drove me to my knees and necessitated a daily walk with Him. The Bible has so little to say about Enoch, but we can see from his place in history that he lacked many faith-building benefits that we enjoy.

The Mirror

The Mirror

Jill Hardin
Obedience

I awoke from my nap in a panic. I was going to be late to rehearsal. I ran to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My mascara was smeared, my lipstick was gone, and one earring was apparently left on my pillow. What did I do? I started making these things right! I began a repair project!

God Whispers – An Old Raggedy Ann Doll

God Whispers – An Old Raggedy Ann Doll

Mitzie Avera
Hope, Love

I am a very sentimental person. One item that is very dear to me is a Raggedy Ann doll. It was a birthday present from my dad when I turned four. I loved Raggedy Ann as a child. My room even had Raggedy Ann drapes, until I got too cool for the drapes. But not the doll.

God Whispers - Through the Tears

God Whispers - Through the Tears

Mitzie Avera
Grief

I didn’t recognize the number, so I let the call go to voicemail. I listened as my cousin’s friend told me to call her as soon as possible. Hands shaking, I pressed the number on the phone. She said, “It is about John.” Her voice cracked as she held back tears. “He had emergency surgery this morning, and he passed away shortly after.” I burst into tears; my only living cousin on my dad’s side of the family had passed.

God Whispers – A Life of Memories Captured in a Quilt

God Whispers – A Life of Memories Captured in a Quilt

Mitzie Avera
Comfort

My mom loved to sew, and she made my clothes when I was growing up. She took such great care in making them that I would often get asked, “Where did your mom buy that dress?” I would proudly say, “She made it for me.”  She would do alterations for friends and family. Her work was so well done that she could have opened her own clothing store. But she charged nothing. She said it was a gift that God gave her that she enjoyed sharing.

God Whispers – In the Waiting

God Whispers – In the Waiting

Mitzie Avera
Hope

Staring at the lab reports, the doctor said, “I just don’t know what to do to help you. Nothing makes sense to me.” He had been studying my condition and found there are several forms of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). The first step is to determine which one I have.  “You are stable now,” he added, “but time is of the essence.”

God Whispers – A Momma Bird and Baby Bird

God Whispers – A Momma Bird and Baby Bird

Mitzie Avera
Fear

I love to watch the birds eat on the bird feeder. One day a momma bird was feeding her little one from the feeder. As the baby sat perched on the fence, the mom would fly a few inches from the feeder to feed the little one. Its little wings flapped as if it was trying to fly to the feeder to join mom, but fear was holding it back. Then mom began to eat at the feeder. Seeing this, the little one squawked as if saying, “What about me?”

A God Who Searches

A God Who Searches

Linda Lesniewski
God's Character, Salvation

Jesus told a short story to a group of grumbling religious leaders to illustrate a poignant point—God will intensely search for those who need His love and salvation. He used a desperate woman, of all things, for his story. She’d lost a coin worth a day’s wage. She had only ten and one was lost. She lit a small oil lamp, the only source of light in her small windowless home, and searched carefully until she found it. She then invited her women friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. Jesus adds in verse 10, “I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God over one sinner who repents.”

Buttons and Triggers

Buttons and Triggers

Karen Sims
Holy Spirit, Temptation

We talk about having our “buttons” pushed when someone says or does something that ignites powerful emotions. An array of ugly feelings burst forth when a sensitive spot in our souls is suddenly triggered. We all know at least one difficult person who provides opportunities for us to do the things we don’t want to do (Romans 7:15). 

God’s Kindness

God’s Kindness

Karen Sims
God's Character

Real kindness isn’t born by pushing harder. Or by squeezing it out like lemon juice. Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. God’s kindness is powerful and generous towards us. Even so, He asks us to bear His fruit. When we bear spiritual produce, we become like Him for His sake.

Keep it Simple

Keep it Simple

encouraging.com
Encouragement

A few months ago we sold our home. We wanted more time to discern what God’s plan was for our future, so we are living in our farmhouse. It is much smaller that our former home, about half the size. Many of our things are in storage because the farmhouse was already furnished. I am realizing just how many extra things I had in our larger home. We are living comfortably with a lot less stuff.

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