Wednesday, December 11, 2019

12/9/19-12/13/19 Devo Two - Mary, Did You Know? Pentatonix

This is the second devotional for the week of December 9-13. This video is a music  video by the vocal a capella group Pentatonix. The song is one of my favorites by Buddy Greene. A great way to get focused on what Christmas is all about. He has been doing concerts in the summer at Mount Hermon and will be in concert again this summer June 20th. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.










You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

12/9/19-12/13/19 Devo One - Overcoming Fear

This is the first devotional for the week of December 9-13. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Today's Devotional

Overcoming Fear

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God"



Fear ruled a man’s life for thirty-two years. Afraid of being caught for his crimes, he hid at his sister’s farmhouse, going nowhere and visiting no one, even missing his mother’s funeral. When he was sixty-four, he learned that no charges had ever been filed against him. The man was free to resume a normal life. Yes, the threat of punishment was real, but he allowed the fear of it to control him.

Likewise, fear ruled the Israelites when the Philistines challenged them at the Valley of Elah. The threat was real. Their enemy Goliath was 9 feet 9 inches tall and his body armor alone weighed 125 pounds (1 Samuel 17:4–5). For forty days, every morning and evening, Goliath challenged the Israelite army to fight him. But no one dared come forward. No one until David visited the battle lines. He heard and saw the taunting, and volunteered to fight Goliath.

While everyone in the Israelite army thought Goliath was too big to fight, David the shepherd boy knew he wasn’t too big for God. He said, “the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s” (v. 47).
When we’re gripped by fear, let’s follow David’s example and fix our eyes on God to gain a right perspective of the problem. The threat may be real, but the One who is with us and for us is bigger than that which is against us.

Reflect & Pray

What giant battle are you facing that’s crippling you in fear? How can you intentionally fix your eyes on the living God?
Thank You, God, that You’re bigger than any other giant in my life. I trust You.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

12/2/19-12/6/19 Devo Two - Francis Chan on Loving Jesus

This is the second devotional for the week of December 2-6. This video is an excerpt of Francis Chan preaching on how to know if you are in love with Jesus. He asks the question, "Are you 'in love' with Jesus?" May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.









You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://youtu.be/DQ2wNoDIIh8

12/2/19-12/6/19 Devo One - Spencer Osborne on Joy

This is the first devotional for the week of December 2-6. Spencer Osborne is the High School Pastor of the North Coast Church, Fallbrook Campus (near San Diego). In a world of constant complaining and negativity, Spencer gives a devotion on Joy and how Jesus demonstrated a lifestyle of joy. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.








You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpbaR4As9bMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FFpLjdMTQE

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

11/18/19-11/22/19 Devo Two - Beautifully Burdened

This is the second devotional for the week of November 18-22. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Today's Devotional

Beautifully Burdened

My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:30

I awoke to pitch darkness. I hadn’t slept more than thirty minutes and my heart sensed that sleep wouldn’t return soon. A friend’s husband lay in the hospital, having received the dreaded news, “The cancer is back—in the brain and spine now.” My whole being hurt for my friends. What a heavy load! And yet, somehow my spirit was lifted through my sacred vigil of prayer. You might say I felt beautifully burdened for them. How could this be?

In Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus promises rest for our weary souls. Strangely, His rest comes as we bend under His yoke and embrace His burden. He clarifies in verse 30, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” When we allow Jesus to lift our burden from our backs and then tether ourselves to Jesus’s yoke, we become harnessed with Him, in step with Him and all He allows. When we bend under His burden, we share in His sufferings, which ultimately allows us to share in His comfort as well (2 Corinthians 1:5).

My concern for my friends was a heavy burden. Yet I felt grateful that God would allow me to carry them in prayer. Gradually I ebbed back to sleep and awoke—still beautifully burdened but now under the easy yoke and light load of walking with Jesus.

Reflect & Pray

What are you carrying today? How will you give that burden to Jesus?
Dear Jesus, please take my heavy load and lay upon me Your beautiful burden for this world.

11/18/19-11/22/19 Devo One - Evolution of Worship Music

This is the first devotional for the week of November 18-22. I thought this would be a lighthearted encouragement as you listen to songs written throughout the years. This video is called the Evolutio of Worship Music and is one man singing five parts. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.






You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SaBhN2idbM

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

11/11/19-11/15/19 Devo Two - The Art of Truth

This is the second devotional for the week of November 11-15. The University of Notre Dame attracts scientists, scholars and artists from all fields to pursue truth in their varied disciplines. Renowned Russian artist Maxim Kantor reflects on his work and his fellowship at the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study, an interdisciplinary community of researchers. He is thoughtful and raises some good questions. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.







You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpbaR4As9bMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpbaR4As9bM

11/11/19-11/15/19 Devo One - Our Blessings, His Love

This is the first devotional for the week of November 11-15. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Today's Devotional

Our Blessings, His Love

"To him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever."
Psalm 136:16

In 2015, a woman discarded her deceased husband’s computer at a recycling center—a computer that had been made in 1976. But more important than when it had been made was who made it. It was one of 200 computers hand built by Apple founder Steve Jobs, and was worth an estimated quarter of a million dollars! Sometimes knowing the true worth of something means knowing who made it.

Knowing that it’s God who made us shows us how valuable we are to Him (Genesis 1:27). Psalm 136 catalogs key moments of His people—ancient Israel: how they had been freed from captivity in Egypt (vv. 11–12), journeyed through the wilderness (v. 16), and were given a new home in Canaan (vv. 21–22). But each time a moment of Israel’s history is mentioned, it’s paired with this repeated refrain: “His love endures forever.” This refrain reminded the people of Israel that their experiences weren’t random historical events. Each moment had been orchestrated by God and was a reflection of His enduring love for those He’d made.

Far too often, I allow moments that show God at work and His kind ways to simply pass by, failing to recognize that every perfect gift comes from my heavenly Father (James 1:17) who made me and loves me. May you and I learn to connect every blessing in our lives to God’s enduring love for us.

Reflect & Pray

How can we better remember the Source of life’s blessings? What hinders you from doing so?
Heavenly Father, please don’t allow even one blessing that You’ve given pass by without me recognizing that it came from You, and You alone!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

11/4/19-11/8/19 Devo Two - Do the Next Thing

This is the second devotional for the week of November 4-8. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.

Today's Devotional

Do the Next Thing

"If you love me, keep my commands."
John 14:15

When was the last time you felt compelled to help someone, only to let the moment pass without a response? In The 10-Second Rule, Clare De Graaf suggests that daily impressions can be one of the ways God calls us to a deeper spiritual walk, a life of obedience prompted by love for Him. The 10-Second Rule encourages you to simply “do the next thing you’re reasonably certain Jesus wants you to do,” and to do it right away “before you change your mind.”

Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). We might think, I do love Him, but how can I be certain of His will and follow it? In His wisdom, Jesus has provided what we need to better understand and follow the wisdom found in the Bible. He once said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and will be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (vv. 16–17). It’s by the work of the Spirit, who is with us and in us, that we can learn to obey Jesus and “keep [His] commands” (v. 15)—responding to the promptings experienced throughout our day (v. 17).

In the big and little things, the Spirit motivates us to confidently do by faith what will honor God and reveal our love for Him and others (v. 21).

Reflect & Pray

Why is it important for you to follow through on promptings that line up with Scripture?
How can you seek to live a more obedient life by the power of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit provides what we need to follow Jesus in obedience.

11/4/19-11/8/19 Devo One - Sean McDowell

This is the first devotional for the week of November 4-8. This video will introduce you to our speaker this Friday during Chapel, Sean McDowell. Sean is the son of Josh McDowell who wrote the book Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Both of them are apologists and the theme this Friday is Truth. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.






You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-p9mxh8WM

Monday, October 21, 2019

10/28/19-11/1/19 Devo Two - Braided Together

This is the second devotional for the week of October 28-November 1. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Devotional Image

Braided Together

"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Ecclesiastes 4:12


A friend gave me a houseplant she’d owned for more than forty years. The plant was equal to my height, and it produced large leaves from three separate spindly trunks. Over time, the weight of the leaves had caused all three of the stalks to curve down toward the floor. To straighten them, I put a wedge under the plant’s pot and placed it near a window so the sunlight could draw the leaves upward and help cure its bad posture.

Shortly after receiving the plant, I saw one just like it in a waiting room at a local business. It also grew from three long skinny stalks, but they’d been braided together to form a larger, more solid core. This plant stood upright without any help.

Any two people may stay in the same “pot” for years, yet grow apart and experience fewer of the benefits God wants them to enjoy. When their lives are woven together with God, however, there is a greater sense of stability and closeness. Their relationship will grow stronger. “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Like houseplants, marriages and friendships require some nurturing. Tending to these relationships involves merging spiritually so that God is present at the center of each important bond. He’s an endless supply of love and grace—the things we need most to stay happily united with each other.

Reflect & Pray

What can you do to strengthen the spiritual bonds you share with the important people in your life? How might your relationships change if serving and worshiping God together became a priority?
Dear God, I welcome You into my closest relationships today.

10/28/19-11/1/19 Devo One - Santus Real "Pray"

This is the first devotional for the week of October 28-November 1. This video is called "Pray" by the band Sanctus Real. The lyrics are written below if you'd like to follow along. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.








You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://youtu.be/a_J4I4gsvYA

I bow my head to pray, I don't know what to say
I'm not sure how to fix the things I'm dealing with
I'm in a desperate place, I need to share the weight
But I just don't know how, to let it all pour out
Though I'm silent, my heart is crying
'Cause I was made to come to You
So I pray
God I need You more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray
I failed to find the time, but You've been calling out
I let the days go by as if I could live without
But it's gotta be here now, I won't be pulled away
'Cause it's just You and I, so let the world around us fade
As I pray
God I need You more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray
I'm gonna pray
Will You meet me here right now?
(Father)
I surrender, lay it down
(Father)
And every time I close my eyes
I know that I was made
To lift my hands and pray
I lift my hands and pray
You know my heart, You know my need
And every single part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray
I'm gonna pray
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
I bring willing words and one heart (?)
Take it as an offering
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Mark O. Everett
Pray lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Thursday, October 17, 2019

10/14/19-10/17/19 Devo Two - Student Thanks by Nairi

This is the second devotional for the week of October 14-17. This video is the last in a series of encouraging videos for all the Faculty and Staff in the VCS Conservatory of the Arts. This one is by Nairi Babayan. It has many JH students saying words of appreciation. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.



Click the video above or this link to watch: https://youtu.be/oePzTp1Z2Ik

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

10/14/19-10/17/19 Haystack Prayers

This is the first devotional for the week of October 14-17. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Our emphasis this year is on Prayer, so this is an encouragement toward this theme. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Today's Devotional

Haystack Prayers

"You help us by your prayers."
2 Corinthians 1:11

Samuel Mills and four of his friends often gathered together to pray for God to send more people to share the good news of Jesus. One day in 1806, after returning from their prayer meeting, they got caught in a thunderstorm and took refuge in a haystack. Their weekly prayer gathering then became known as the Haystack Prayer Meeting, which resulted in a global mission movement. Today the Haystack Prayer Monument stands at Williams College in the US as a reminder of what God can do through prayer.

Our heavenly Father is delighted when His children approach Him with a common request. It’s like a family gathering where they’re united in purpose, sharing a common burden.

The apostle Paul acknowledges how God helped him through the prayers of others during a time of severe suffering: “He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers” (2 Corinthians 1:10–11). God has chosen to use our prayers—especially our prayers together—to accomplish His work in the world. No wonder the verse continues: “Then many will give thanks . . . [for the] answer to the prayers of many.”

Let’s pray together so we can also rejoice together in God’s goodness. Our loving Father is waiting for us to come to Him so He can work through us in ways that reach far beyond anything we could ever imagine.

Reflect & Pray

What request can you and others pray for?
How has your faith been strengthened when you pray with others?
Father, help us to pray together even as we work together.

Monday, October 7, 2019

10/7/19-10/11/19 Devo Two - Student Thanks by Marlo

This is the second devotional for the week of October 7-11. This video is an encouraging video for all the Faculty and Staff in the VCS Conservatory of the Arts. It has many JH students saying words of appreciation. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.


Click the video above or this link to watch: https://youtu.be/XIbhY3QHUMI

10/7/19-10/11/19 Devo One - Hang in There

This is the first devotional for the week of October 7-11. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.

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Hang in There!

“...I will strengthen you and help you...”
Isaiah 41:10


My father-in-law turned seventy-eight recently, and during our family gathering to honor him, someone asked him, “What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your life so far?” His answer? “Hang in there.” 

Hang in there. It might be tempting to dismiss those words as simplistic. But my father-in-law wasn’t promoting blind optimism or positive thinking. He’s endured tough things in his nearly eight decades. His determination to press on wasn’t grounded in some vague hope that things might get better, but in Christ’s work in his life.

“Hanging in there”—the Bible calls it perseverance—isn’t possible through mere willpower. We persevere because God promised, over and over, that He’s with us, that He’ll give us strength, and that He’ll accomplish His purposes in our lives. That’s the message He spoke to the Israelites through Isaiah: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

What does it take to “hang in there”? According to Isaiah, the foundation for hope is God’s character. Knowing God’s goodness allows us to release our grip on fear so we can cling to the Father and His promise that He will provide what we need each day: strength, help, and God’s comforting, empowering, and upholding presence.

By:  Adam Holz

Reflect & Pray

How have you experienced God’s provision for you in moments of fear?
How can the support of other believers help you to hang on?  
Father, Your love gives us everything we need to “hang in there.” 
Help us to remember Your promise of strength and to rely upon it each day.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

9/30/19-10/4/19 Devo Two - Student Thanks by Bryce

This is the second devotional for the week of September 30-October 4. This video is an encouraging video for all the Faculty and Staff in the VCS Conservatory of the Arts. It has many JH students saying words of appreciation. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.



Click this link to view the video or just click the video above

9/30/19-10/4/19 Devo One - Catching Foxes

This is the first devotional for the week of September 30-October 4. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Devotional Image

Catching Foxes

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards"
Song of Songs 2:15

The first time a bat invaded our home we dismissed it as a fluke. But after a second nighttime visit, I read up on the little critters and discovered they don’t need much of an opening to pay humans a visit. In fact, if they find a gap as small as the side of a coin they’ll let themselves in.

So I loaded up my caulk gun and went on a mission. I went around the house and closed up every tiny opening I could find.

In Songs of Songs 2:15, Solomon mentions another troublesome mammal. He writes of the danger of “little foxes,” which can “ruin the vineyards.” Symbolically, he’s speaking of threats that can enter a relationship and ruin it. Now I don’t mean to offend bat-lovers or fox-lovers, but keeping bats out of the house and foxes out of the vineyard is a bit like dealing with sin in our lives (Ephesians 5:3). By the grace of God, the Holy Spirit works within us so that we don’t have to “live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). By the Spirit’s power we can resist the temptation to sin.

Praise God that, in Christ, we’re now “light in the Lord” and can live in a way that “pleases” Him (Ephesians 5:8–10). The Spirit helps us catch those little foxes.

Reflect & Pray

When you’re tempted to sin, how can you lean into the Holy Spirit’s power to resist it?
What little foxes can the Spirit help you deal with today?
"God, use Your power to give me the strength to resist sinning and damaging my relationship with You and others."

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

9/23/19-9/27/19 Devo Two - Qualified in God’s Eye

This is the second devotional for the week of September 23-27. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Devotional Image

Qualified in God’s Eyes

"Noah walked faithfully with God."
Genesis 6:9


A technology-consulting firm hired me after college although I couldn’t write a line of computer code and had very little business knowledge. During the interview process for my entry-level position, I learned that the company did not place high value on work experience. Instead, personal qualities such as the ability to solve problems creatively, exercise good judgment, and work well with a team were more important. The company assumed new workers could be taught the necessary skills as long as they were the kind of people the company was looking for.

Noah didn’t have the right resume for the job of constructing the ark—he wasn’t a boat builder or even a carpenter. Noah was a farmer, a man comfortable with dirt on his shirt and a plow in his hands. Yet as God decided how to deal with the evil in the world at that time, Noah stood out because “he walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:9). God valued the teachableness of Noah’s heart—the strength to resist the corruption around him and to do what was right.

When opportunities to serve God come our way, we may not feel qualified for the work. Thankfully, God is not necessarily concerned with our skill set. He prizes our character, love for Him, and willingness to trust Him. When these qualities are being developed inside us by the Spirit, He can use us in big or small ways to accomplish His will on earth.

Reflect & Pray

What character qualities do you need God to develop in you?
Why is your character so important to God?
Dear God, give me a heart that’s willing to serve You in any way.
Equip me in the areas where I lack experience, and fill me with Your Spirit.

9/23/19-9/27/19 Devo One - Student Devo by Jai

This is the first devotional for the week of September 23-27. This video is an encouraging video for all the Faculty and Staff in the VCS Conservatory of the Arts. It is by Jai Sanghrajka and he has his family share about their passion at work and school. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.



Click on the video above or click this link to watch the video:

Monday, September 16, 2019

9/16/19-9/20/19 Devo Two - Don’t Feed the Trolls

This is the second devotional for the week of September 16-20. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Devotional Image

Don’t Feed the Trolls

"Make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace."
Colossians 4:5–6

Ever heard the expression, “Don’t feed the trolls”? “Trolls” refers to a new problem in today’s digital world—online users who repeatedly post intentionally inflammatory and hurtful comments on news or social media discussion boards. But ignoring such comments—not “feeding” the trolls—makes it harder for them to derail a conversation.

Of course, it’s nothing new to encounter people who aren’t genuinely interested in productive conversation. “Don’t feed the trolls” could almost be a modern equivalent of Proverbs 26:4, which warns that arguing with an arrogant, unreceptive person risks stooping to their level.

And yet . . . even the most seemingly stubborn person is also a priceless image-bearer of God. If we’re quick to dismiss others, we may be the ones in danger of being arrogant and becoming unreceptive to God’s grace (see Matthew 5:22).

That might, in part, explain why Proverbs 26:5 offers the exact opposite guideline. Because it takes humble, prayerful dependence on God to discern how best to show others love in each situation (see Colossians 4:5–6). Sometimes we speak up; other times, it’s best to be silent.

May we find peace in knowing that the same God who drew us near while we were still in hardened opposition to Him (Romans 5:6) is powerfully at work in each person’s heart.

Reflect & Pray

How have you witnessed very different approaches being used by God to touch others?
How can you better speak the truth in love?
"Loving God, help me share Your love with others around me."

9/16/19-9/20/19 Devo One - Student Thanks by Riyana

This is the first devotional for the week of September 16-20. This video is an encouraging video for all the Faculty and Staff in the VCS Conservatory of the Arts. It has many JH students saying words of appreciation. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.


Click on the video above or click this link to watch the video:

Monday, September 9, 2019

9/9/19-9/13/19 Devo Two - Better Than Ever


This is the second devotional for the week of September 9-13. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Devotional Image


Better Than Ever

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day"
2 Corinthians 4:16

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a spectacular building. Its architecture is spellbinding, and its stained-glass windows and beautiful interior features are breathtaking. But after centuries of towering over the Paris landscape, it needed renovation—which had begun when a devastating fire caused extensive damage to the glorious old building.

So the people who love this eight-century-old landmark are coming to its rescue. More than a billion dollars has been raised to restore the building. The stone structure must be shored up. The damaged interior and its prized artifacts need to be repaired. The effort is worthwhile, though, because for many this ancient cathedral stands as a symbol of hope.

What’s true of buildings is also true of us. Our bodies, like this old church, will eventually look a bit worse for wear! But as the apostle Paul explains, there’s good news: while we might gradually lose the physical vibrancy of youth, the core of who we are—our spiritual being—can be continually renewed and growing (2 Corinthians 4:16).

As “we make it our goal to please [the Lord]” (5:9), relying on the Holy Spirit to fill and transform us (3:18; Ephesians 5:18), our spiritual growth need never stop—no matter what our “building” looks like.

By:  Dave Branon

Reflect & Pray
Where have you seen the Spirit renewing your spiritual being?
How does the knowledge that our spiritual growth never stops inspire you?
"God, thank You for Your Spirit renewing and transforming us.
Please continue to give us the strength and courage to rest in You."

9/9/19-9/13/19 Devo One - Student Thanks by Isabella

This is the first devotional for the week of September 9-13. This video is an encouraging video for all the Faculty and Staff in the VCS Conservatory of the Arts. It has many JH students saying words of appreciation. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.








You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://youtu.be/AT1zw5OHG80

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

9/3/19-9/6/19 Devo Two - It's Slippery Out Here!

This is the second devotional for the week of September 3-6. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.
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It’s Slippery Out Here!

"Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil."
Psalm 141:4

Years ago, when I was learning to ski, I followed my son Josh down what appeared to be a gentle slope. With my eyes on him I failed to notice he turned down the steepest hill on the mountain, and I found myself careening down the slope, completely out of control. I cratered, of course.

Psalm 141 shows how we can easily find ourselves slipping down sin’s slope. Prayer is one of the ways we stay alert to those slopes: “Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil” (v. 4) is a plea that echoes the Lord’s Prayer almost exactly: “Lead [me] not into temptation, but deliver [me] from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). In His goodness, God hears and answers this prayer.

And then I find in this psalm another agent of grace: a faithful friend. “Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it” (Psalm 141:5). Temptations are subtle. We’re not always aware that we’re going wrong. A true friend can be objective. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6 nkjv). It’s hard to accept rebuke, but if we see the wounding as a “kindness” it can become an anointing that puts us back on the path of obedience.

May we be open to truth from a trusted friend and rely on God through prayer.

Reflect & Pray

What slippery slopes do you gravitate toward? In what ways can you set a guard over your heart?
Father, please keep my feet from straying. Help me to listen to You and good friends.

9/3/19-9/6/19 Devo One - Rene & Laurie Schlaepfer

This is the first devotional for the week of September 3-6. This video is by Rene and Laurie Schlaepfer talking about intentionally managing the “interior dialogue” you’re always narrating to yourself about your life. Rene is the Senior Pastor at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.









You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg2h01Z1EvU

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

8/26/19-8/29/19 Devo Two - Live. Pray. Love.

This is the second devotional for the week of August 26/29. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.

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Live. Pray. Love.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:21

Influenced by parents who were strong believers in Jesus, track star Jesse Owens lived as a courageous man of faith. During the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Owens, one of the few African Americans on the US team, received four gold medals in the presence of hate-filled Nazis and their leader, Hitler. He also befriended fellow athlete Luz Long, a German. Surrounded by Nazi propaganda, Owens’s simple act of living out his faith impacted Luz’s life. Later, Long wrote to Owens: “That hour in Berlin when I first spoke to you, when you had your knee upon the ground, I knew you were in prayer . . . . I think I might believe in God.”

Owens demonstrated how believers can answer the apostle Paul’s charge to “hate what is evil” and be “devoted to one another in love” (Romans 12:9–10). Though he could have responded to the evil around him with hate, Owens chose to live by faith and show love to a man who would later become his friend and eventually consider belief in God.

As God’s people commit to being “faithful in prayer” (v. 12), He empowers us to “live in harmony with one another” (v. 16).

When we depend on prayer, we can commit to living out our faith and loving all who are made in God’s image. As we cry out to God, He’ll help us break down barriers and build bridges of peace with our neighbors.

Reflect & Pray

How can you build a bridge of peace between you and a neighbor? When have you seen your faithfulness in prayer bear fruit?
Heavenly Father, please strengthen us to come together in prayer, fully committed to loving others and living peacefully.

8/26/19-8/29/19 Devo One - Francis Chan

This is the first devotional for the week of August 26-29. This video is by Francis Chan and is a look at the importance of spiritually feeding yourself and staying close to Jesus from Hebrews 5:12-14. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.








You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://youtu.be/JvBtxvmIvt0

Monday, August 19, 2019

8/19/19-8/23/19 Devo Two - Life Changes

This is the second devotional for the week of August 19-23. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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Life Changes

"Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness"
Ephesians 4:24

Stephen grew up in a rough part of East London and fell into crime by the age of ten. He said, “If everyone’s selling drugs and doing robberies and fraud, then you’re going to get involved. It’s just a way of life.” But when he was twenty, he had a dream that changed him: “I heard God saying, Stephen, you’re going to prison for murder.” This vivid dream served as a warning, and he turned to God and received Jesus as his Savior—and the Holy Spirit transformed his life.

Stephen set up an organization that teaches inner-city kids discipline, morality, and respect through sports. He credits God with the success he has seen as he prays with and trains the kids. “Rebuilding misguided dreams,” he says.

In pursuing God and leaving behind our past, we—like Stephen—follow Paul’s charge to the Ephesians to embrace a new way of life. Although our old self is “corrupted by its deceitful desires,” we can daily seek to “put on the new self” that’s created to be like God (Ephesians 4:22, 24). All believers embrace this continual process as we ask God through His Holy Spirit to make us more like Him.

Stephen said, “Faith was a crucial foundation for me changing my life around.” How has this been true for you?

Reflect & Pray

When you look back over your life,
what comes to mind as key moments that prompted change?
What long-lasting change resulted?
"Jesus, You’re alive and working in the world and in my life. 
Help me become more like You day by day as I leave the old self behind."

8/19/19-8/13/19 Devo One - Reggie Coates

This is the first devotional for the week of August 19-23. This video is an introduction to these devotion by Reggie Coates. May these devotions be encouraging and inspiring for you. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post. The comments are what give you credit.







You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://youtu.be/MDEM8r1sduc

Thursday, May 23, 2019

5/20/19-5/24/19 Devo Two - Marvelously Unique

This is the second devotional for the week of May 20 through May 24. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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Marvelously Unique

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made"
Psalm 139:14

Human beings are not special—at least according to the London Zoo. In 2005, the zoo introduced a four-day exhibit: “Humans in Their Natural Environment.” The human “captives” were chosen through an online contest. To help visitors understand the humans, the zoo workers created a sign detailing their diet, habitat, and threats. According to the zoo’s spokesperson, the goal of the exhibit was to downplay the uniqueness of human beings. One participant in the exhibit seemed to agree. “When they see humans as animals, here, it kind of reminds them that we’re not that special.”

What a stark contrast to what the Bible says about human beings: God “fearfully and wonderfully” made us in “his image” (Psalm 139:14; Genesis 1:26–27).

David began Psalm 139 by celebrating God’s intimate knowledge of him (vv. 1–6) and His all-encompassing presence (vv. 7–12). Like a master weaver, God not only formed the intricacies of David’s internal and external features (vv. 13–14), but He also made him a living soul, giving spiritual life and the ability to intimately relate to God. Meditating on God’s handiwork, David responded in awe, wonder, and praise (v. 14).

Human beings are special. God created us with marvelous uniqueness and the awesome ability to have an intimate relationship with Him. Like David, we can praise Him because we’re the workmanship of His loving hands.

Reflect & Pray

What are some practical implications of knowing and believing you’re fearfully and wonderfully made? What are some negative consequences of not believing this?
God created human beings to be like Him.

5/20/19-5/24/19 Devo One - Divine Escape


This is the first devotional for the week of May 20 through May 24. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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Divine Escape

"So from that day on they plotted to take his life."
John 11:53


Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mystery The Clocks features antagonists who commit a series of murders. Although their initial plot targeted a single victim, they began taking more lives in order to cover up the original crime. When confronted by Poirot, a conspirator confessed, “It was only supposed to be the one murder.

Like the schemers in the story, the religious authorities formed a conspiracy of their own. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38–44), they called an emergency meeting and plotted to kill Him (vv. 45–53). But they didn’t stop there. After Jesus rose from the dead, the religious leaders spread lies about what happened at the grave (Matthew 28:12–15). Then they began a campaign to silence Jesus’s followers (Acts 7:57–8:3). What started as a religious plot against one man for the “greater good” of the nation became a web of lies, deceit, and multiple casualties.

Sin plunges us down a road that often has no end in sight, but God always provides a way of escape. When Caiaphas the high priest said, “It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:50), he didn’t understand the profound truth of his words. The conspiracy of the religious leaders would help bring about the redemption of mankind.

Jesus saves us from sin’s vicious grip. Have you received the freedom He offers?

Reflect & Pray

What road are you going down that could take you further away from God?
He offers real freedom. What do you need to confess to Him today?
Give sin room, and it can take over a life.

Monday, May 13, 2019

5/13/19-5/17/19 Devo Two - God's Amazing Hands

This is the second devotional for the week of May 13 through May 17. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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God’s Amazing Hands

"Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God"
Psalm 31:5

Twenty minutes into a flight from New York to San Antonio, the flight plan changed as calm gave way to chaos. When one of the plane’s engines failed, debris from the engine smashed through a window causing the cabin to decompress. Sadly, several passengers were injured and one person was killed. Had not a calm, capable pilot been in the cockpit—one trained as a Navy fighter pilot—things could have been tragically worse. The headline in our local paper read, “In Amazing Hands.”

In Psalm 31, David revealed that he knew something about the Lord’s amazing, caring hands. That’s why he could confidently say, “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (v. 5). David believed that the Lord could be trusted even when life got bumpy. Because he was targeted by unfriendly forces, life was very uncomfortable for David. Though vulnerable, he was not without hope. In the midst of harassment David could breathe sighs of relief and rejoice because his faithful, loving God was his source of confidence (vv. 5–7).

Perhaps you find yourself in a season of life when things are coming at you from every direction, and it’s difficult to see what’s ahead. In the midst of uncertainty, confusion, and chaos one thing remains absolutely certain: those who are secure in the Lord are in amazing hands.

Reflect & Pray

Have you committed your life—your earthly and eternal existence and well-being—to God?
How are you showing that you are trusting Him in good times and bad?
Father, help me to be encouraged knowing that Jesus prayed Psalm 31:5 when He was on the cross. In the midst of pain and suffering, He committed His life into Your hands.

5/13/19-5/17/19 Devo One - A Longing in Stone

This is the first devotional for the week of May 13 through May 17. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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A Longing in Stone

"I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."
Deuteronomy 34:4

“Ah, every pier is a longing in stone!” says a line in Fernando Pessoa’s Portuguese poem “Ode Marítima.” Pessoa’s pier represents the emotions we feel as a ship moves slowly away from us. The vessel departs but the pier remains, an enduring monument to hopes and dreams, partings and yearnings. We ache for what’s lost, and for what we can’t quite reach.

The Portuguese word translated “longing” (saudade) refers to a nostalgic yearning we feel—a deep ache that defies definition. The poet is describing the indescribable.

We might say that Mount Nebo was Moses’s “longing in stone.” From Nebo he gazed into the promised land—a land he would never reach. God’s words to Moses—“I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it” (Deuteronomy 34:4)—might seem harsh. But if that’s all we see, we miss the heart of what’s happening. God is speaking immense comfort to Moses: “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants’” (v. 4). Very soon, Moses would leave Nebo for a land far better than Canaan (v. 5).

Life often finds us standing on the pier. Loved ones depart; hopes fade; dreams die. Amid it all we sense echoes of Eden and hints of heaven. Our longings point us to God. He is the fulfillment we yearn for.

Reflect & Pray

What are your unfulfilled longings?
What places in life are you trying to satisfy with wrong things?
How can you find true fulfillment in God alone?
"The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing—to reach the Mountain,
to find the place where all beauty came from." C. S. Lewis

Monday, May 6, 2019

5/6/19-5/10/19 Devo Two - Someone Who Leads

This is the second devotional for the week of May 6 through May 10. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.

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Someone Who Leads

"As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you"
2 Kings 2:6

Who do you think of when you hear the word mentor? For me, it’s Pastor Rich. He saw my potential and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. He modeled how to lead by serving in humility and love. As a result, I am now serving God by mentoring others.

The prophet Elijah played a critical role in Elisha’s growth as a leader. Elijah found him plowing a field and invited him to be his protégé after God told him to anoint Elisha as his successor (1 Kings 19:16, 19). The young mentee watched his mentor perform incredible miracles and obey God no matter what. God used Elijah to prepare Elisha for a lifetime of ministry. Toward the end of Elijah’s life, Elisha had the opportunity to leave. Instead, he chose to renew his commitment to his mentor.

Three times Elijah offered to release Elisha from his duties, yet each time he refused, saying, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you” (2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6). As a result of Elisha’s faithfulness, he too was used by God in extraordinary ways.

We all need someone who models what it means to follow Jesus. May God give us godly men and women who help us grow spiritually. And may we too, by the power of His Spirit, invest our lives in others.

Reflect & Pray

Who are mentors that are currently building into you or who have built into your life?
Why is it vital for us to mentor others in Jesus?
Father God, thank You for placing people in our lives to challenge and encourage us.
Help us to do the same for others.

5/6/19-5/10/19 Devo One - Come and Get It!

This is the first devotional for the week of May 6 through May 10. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.

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Come and Get It!

"Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live."
Isaiah 55:3


I peeked over the grape-stake fence that encloses our backyard. There I saw folks running, jogging, walking, and shuffling around the track that surrounds the park behind our home. I used to do that when I was stronger, I thought. And a wave of dissatisfaction washed over me.

Later, while reading the Scriptures, I came across Isaiah 55:1, “Come, all you who are thirsty,” and I realized again that dissatisfaction (thirst) is the rule, not the exception in this life. Nothing, not even the good things of life, can fully satisfy. If I had strong legs like a Sherpa (mountain-climbing guide), there would still be something else in my life that I’d be unhappy about.

Our culture is always telling us in one way or another that something we do, buy, wear, spray on, roll on, or ride in will give us endless pleasure. But that’s a lie. We can’t get complete satisfaction from anything in the here and now, no matter what we do.

Rather, Isaiah invites us to come again and again to God and the Scriptures to hear what He has to say. And what does He say? His love for David of old is “everlasting” and “faithful” (v. 3). And that goes for you and me as well! We can “come” to Him.


I was delighted to see this devotional by David Roper. He was my pastor at Peninsula Bible Church while I was in high school and college. He is a wonderful and godly man! - Reggie


David H. Roper

David H. Roper

David H. Roper was a pastor for more than 30 years and now directs Idaho Mountain Ministries, a retreat dedicated to the encouragement of pastoral couples. He enjoys fishing, hiking, and being streamside with his wife, Carolyn. His favorite fictional character is Reepicheep, the tough little mouse that is the soul of courage in C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. His favorite biblical character is Caleb—that rugged old saint who never retired, but who "died climbing." Find books by David Roper

Thursday, May 2, 2019

4/29/19-5/3/19 Devo Two - Praying the Distance

This is the second devotional for the week of April 29 through May 3. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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Praying the Distance

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful"
Colossians 4:2


Kevin wiped a tear from his eye as he held out a slip of paper for my wife, Cari, to read. He knew Cari and I were praying for our daughter to return to faith in Jesus. “This note was found in my mother’s Bible after her death, and I hope it encourages you,” he said. At the top of the note were the words, “For my son, Kevin.” Below them was a prayer for his salvation.

“I carry this with me in my own Bible today,” Kevin explained. “My mother prayed for my salvation for more than thirty-five years. I was far away from God, and I’m a believer now.” He looked intently at us and smiled through his tears: “Never give up praying for your daughter—no matter how long it takes.”

His words of encouragement made me think of the introduction to a story Jesus told about prayer in the gospel of Luke. Luke begins with the words, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).

In the story, Jesus contrasts an “unjust judge” (v. 6) who answers a request merely because he doesn’t want to be further bothered, with a perfect heavenly Father who cares deeply for us and wants us to come to Him. We can be encouraged whenever we pray to know that God hears and welcomes our prayers.


Reflect & Pray

Who’s constantly in your prayers for salvation? How does it help to know of others’ stories of answered prayer?
Abba, Father, thank You that no request is too large or too small for You. Help me to pray faithfully for those who do not yet know You!

Monday, April 29, 2019

4/29/19-5/3/19 Devo One - Mark Lodewyk

This is the first devotional for the week of April 29-May 3. This video is a devotion by Mark Lodewyk given on a Wednesday morning HS devotional time in the theater on April 24, 2019. He was on the team that went to Mexico over the break. Watch this video and let us know what you think by leaving a few sentences as comment below the post.






You can click on the video above or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ALPdSO2k9w

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

4/23/19-4/26/19 Devo Two - Serving the Smallest


This is the second devotional for the week of April 23 through April 26. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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Serving the Smallest

"God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things."
1 Corinthians 1:28

The video showed a man kneeling beside a busy freeway during an out-of-control brush fire. He was clapping his hands and pleading with something to come. What was it? A dog? Moments later a bunny hopped into the picture. The man scooped up the scared rabbit and sprinted to safety.

How did the rescue of such a small thing make national news? That’s why. There’s something endearing about compassion shown to the least of these. It takes a big heart to make room for the smallest creature.

Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a man who gave a banquet and made room for everyone who was willing to come. Not just the movers and shakers but also “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke 14:21). I’m thankful that God targets the weak and the seemingly insignificant, because otherwise I’d have no shot. Paul said, “God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things . . . so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29).

How big must God’s heart be to save a small person like me! In response, how large has my heart grown to be? I can easily tell, not by how I please the “important people,” but by how I serve the ones society might deem the least important.

Today's Reflection

What types of people do you have a hard time valuing? In what ways might God want you to change that?

4/23/19-4/26/19 Devo One - Seeing the Light


This is the first devotional for the week of April 23 through April 26. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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Seeing the Light

"On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."
Isaiah 9:2

On the streets of Los Angeles, a homeless man struggling with addictions stepped into The Midnight Mission and asked for help. Thus began Brian’s long road to recovery.

In the process Brian rediscovered his love for music. Eventually he joined Street Symphony—a group of music professionals with a heart for the homeless. They asked Brian to perform a solo from Handel’s Messiah known as “The People That Walked in Darkness.” In words written by the prophet Isaiah during a dark period of Israel’s history, he sang, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2 kjv). A music critic for The New Yorker magazine wrote that Brian “made the text sound as though it had been taken from his own life.”

The gospel writer Matthew quoted that same passage. Called by Jesus from a life of cheating his fellow Israelites, Matthew describes how Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by taking His salvation “beyond the Jordan” to “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matthew 4:13–15).

Who would have believed one of Caesar’s tax collector thugs (see Matthew 9:9), a street addict like Brian, or people like us would get a chance to show the difference between light and darkness in our own lives?

Today's Reflection

How has the light of Christ affected you? In what ways are you reflecting it to others?

Monday, April 8, 2019

4/8/19-4/12/19 Devo Two - Being Consumed

This is the second devotional for the week of April 8 through April 12. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Your comments give you devotion credit.


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Being Consumed

"When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long"
Psalm 32:3

In his book The Call, Os Guinness describes a moment when Winston Churchill, on holiday with friends in the south of France, sat by the fireplace to warm himself on a cold night. Gazing at the fire, the former prime minister saw pine logs “crackling, hissing, and spitting as they burned. Suddenly, his familiar voice growled, ‘I know why logs spit. I know what it is to be consumed.’”

Difficulties, despair, dangers, distress, and the results of our own wrongdoings can all feel consuming. Circumstances slowly drain our hearts of joy and peace. When David experienced the consuming consequences of his own sinful choices, he wrote, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. . . . My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3–4).

In such difficult times, where do we turn for help? For hope? Paul, whose experiences were filled with ministry burdens and brokenness, wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).

How does that work? As we rest in Jesus, the Good Shepherd restores our souls (Psalm 23:3) and strengthens us for the next step of our journey. He promises to walk that journey with us every step of the way (Hebrews 13:5).

Today's Reflection

What are some of the consuming struggles you’ve experienced? How did you respond? How did God meet you in those difficult times?