Devotions
Spiritual Growth Through Caregiving: What It Means to Bear Fruit
I love to garden. It is one of the joys of my life to go muck around in the dirt and see God’s beautiful creation up close. It also makes certain parts of the Bible come alive for me. Agricultural symbolism is heavy in scripture. While it made sense to a lot of the audience of the time, many people today don’t understand the deeper meaning.
Speaking Truth in Love: Faith Conversations in Times of Illness and Grief
Since the time of the original sin, people have lived in a broken world. We hear about it every day. Crime, wars, disease—all byproducts of this gap that was created between us and God. Since this is the case, we all understand the natural life cycle. Birth through death, we all have similar milestones that link us together. So the question is, why are we unable to talk about it?
Caregiving Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All: Embracing Your Unique Role
When I think of caregiving, my mind first pictures people that provide full-time, in-home care. But there are many caregivers that do not fit into this category. What ways are they able to share what they have?
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Encouragement for Caregivers: Growing in Wisdom, Not Just Knowledge
I commonly hear my husband get frustrated with two types of people in his workplace. First, the ones that are prideful and won’t admit they don’t know everything. Second, ignorant people that don’t realize they have only skimmed the surface of a topic. In either scenario there is an unwillingness to learn new things and it tends to hinder their work. Hearing him talk about this made me realize that there is an application in caregiving.
When Fear Feels Overwhelming: Trusting God as Your Refuge
Writing these devotionals has brought up a lot of memories, both good and bad, from my time as a caregiver for my youngest child. We knew before she was born that she was going to require multiple heart surgeries in order to survive. Comforting her in the hospital became routine under the circumstances. But that comfort took a different shape as she got older.
Simple Prayers, Powerful God: Trusting the Spirit in Your Weakness
My two teenagers are just a few years from being legal adults and moving out on their own. It has made me start thinking through all the things I want them to know before that happens. Can they do their own laundry? Are they able to cook for themselves? Will they be able to budget their money?
The Promise in the Rainbow: An Advent Devotion of Hope
Here we see an opportunity for humanity to begin again in union with God. The first thing Noah did after his family and the animals left the ark was build an altar to the LORD God and make a burnt offering from every clean animal. “And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man…”
From Shame to Grace: Encouragement for Caregivers This Advent
Here is the darkest moment in history. The serpent tempts and the people listen, then act. Their eyes are opened to good and evil, but instead of being wise like God, they only know the shame of disobedience. And for the first time, when the LORD God is heard walking in the garden, they hide.
Made in God’s Image: Encouragement for Christian Caregivers This Advent
As Advent unfolds—a season of wonder and hope—we need to turn back to the beginning of the story. God’s story of love for his creation begins in that first week with the way he shaped every living thing under heaven with intention. He breathed life into humanity. Each person, including you and the one in your care, bears the image of our Father.
The Branch of Jesse: A Powerful Advent Message of Hope
This prophecy from Isaiah is coming on the heels of destruction—its a sign of hope breaking through despair. A stump amid a forest razed in judgment sits lifeless and forgotten. But God promises new growth and life, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, that will bring forth the Messiah.
Count It All Joy: Finding Strength in Trials Through Faith
I first memorized this scripture in my early twenties. Let me tell you, up to that point in my life, my trials were shallow and few. I listened to this scripture (I had the KJV Bible of CD for my car) as I drove to work every day and wondered at why I would “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Although I believed in the truth of the scripture, I somewhat foolishly thought what is good for thee does not apply to me.
Build Your Life on the Rock: A Devotion on Faith That Stands
Raise your hand if you still remember the song “The Wise Man Built His House upon the Rock?” I admit it has been a minute since I have had little kids underfoot. But I still remember all of the wonderful songs (and hand motions) that I would sing when my kiddos were little. This song was always a favorite—probably because of the ‘crash’ the kids got to act out at the end.