“Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 In a devotional this morning, these words stirred my heart with some thoughts I’ve been pondering for some time now: “Like the Israelites, we also choose […]
“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 Today’s devotion in Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, focused on the scourging that carved lacerations on Jesus’ back, contained this quote that stirred my heart: “Sinners have bound the Almighty’s hands, and spit in their Creator’s […]
“O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures… These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.” […]
“The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John […]
“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.” Psalm 116:1 I read a devotion this morning by Charles Stanley that focused on this verse and the beautiful reality that God hears us and cares about the small things in our lives, not just “big” prayer requests. And I’d […]
“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’…Jesus bent down and wrote […]
“The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight.” Proverbs 11:5a “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to […]
“but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” Psalm 147:11 This is why I have no need to fear. My future is not determined by my strength or my ability to get it all right. It is determined by my God who takes pleasure in […]
“The LORD is your keeper” Psalm 121:5a The Lord God, the Most High, is my keeper. And He is a faithful one. Ever-watchful. Constantly aware and active. His goodness and mercy pursue me all the days of my life – days written in His book before even one of them came to be (Psalm 23:6; […]
“Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much.” Luke 7:47a It is not obedience that our Lord ultimately desires. It is love. Obedience flows from that love, so there is expectation of that as well (1 John 5:3), but it is not the core. Love is at the center. […]
In Pleasant Places 