Tag: MOMENT WITH GOD A DEVOTIONAL FOR EVERY BIBLICAL BOOK

  • TURNING OUR LIVES FROM NOISE TO MUSIC

    Reflections on 1 Corinthians “Focus on your relationship with Jesus.” When my friend—whom I had traveled several thousand miles to see—said this, I knew it was the answer to all of my questions. I had been so focused on God’s calling that I had neglected my relationship with the caller, Jesus. My pastor had warned…

  • THE CURE FOR SUFFERING

    Reflections on Romans When I enter my weekly Bible study, I know I’ll hear laughter. Not always from every person, but definitely from John. His laughter is loud and rhythmic—that sort of from-the-gut outburst of emotion. He’ll laugh after a set of worship songs, during a prayer request, or when my two-year-old son runs and…

  • WRITING THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE

    Reflections on Acts of the Apostles Luke recorded years of the early church’s development in his letter to his friend Theophilus (recorded in the books of Luke and Acts). His detailed notes on eyewitness accounts and his own experience bring clarity to the founding of the church and Paul’s ministry. What if he had never…

  • ABIDING IN THE VINE

    Reflections on John’s Gospel “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4 ESV). When Jesus first spoke of abiding in him, the disciples were comforted by his poetry and promise. But then…

  • IS THIS WHERE GOD WANTS ME?

    Reflections on the Gospel of Luke I often wondered whether business in general, and sales-related business specifically, could be amenable to the Gospel. As a 20-something young professional finding success in the business world, I began to feel uneasy about my work. “Can I follow God in this position?” I wondered. “Is this really where…

  • MADE PURE

    Reflections on the Gospel of Mark “Who touched my garments?” Jesus’ voice rises over the chatter. A great hush falls over the crowd. Heads turn left and right, looking for the person in question. One of the disciples pipes up: “You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” Slowly,…

  • HOLDING OUT ON FORGIVENESS

    Reflections on the Gospel of Matthew Last year I was hurt by a close friend, and my reaction was to cause hurt in return. Actually, it may have been the other way around. The entire incident was so passive and internal that it’s hard to say how it all started. Either way, it resulted in…

  • HOT OR ICED?

    Reflections on Malachi Malachi preached to a nation that had forgotten how to worship appropriately; he urges them to wake up and renew a right relationship with the Lord. Do we need a similar reminder? Recently, our worship pastor led a mission team to an orphanage in Haiti. When he returned, he shared something profound:…

  • REALLY MEANING WHAT YOU SAY

    Reflections on Zechariah My sister and I are close in age, and when we were children, we were best friends. But we fought as often as we played together, and many of our afternoons ended in tears. Our fights ended the same way—standing face to face, forced together by a parent. My mother brooked no…

  • BUILDING GOD’S CHURCH

    Reflections on Haggai For the first time in two years, my husband had steady employment. With a 10-month-old baby and a newborn on the way, I clung to the promise of stability. I dedicated myself to readying the nursery, organizing the house, sewing curtains and finding ways to make our lives more comfortable. I guarded…