Corona Devotionals

So the  Lord  gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.  ( 44)  And the  Lord  gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the  Lord  helped them conquer all their enemies.  ( 45)  Not a single one of all the good promises the  Lord  had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.  ~Joshua 21:43-45 The Lord is faithful .  These verses are the exclamation point at the end of a long paragraph that the Israelites had written with God on their way to the land He promised them: The Promised Land.   God had promised  this land, and God is faithful.  It was the Israelites who were unfaithful along the way, thus delaying the delivery of God's faithfulness, but thankfully and mercifully, our disobedience ...

After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. (48) But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said. ~Luke 19:47-48 hung on every word he said... I think that sums up... me . And I pray that would sum up You . That we would hang on every word Jesus said. Those that followed Jesus then were affected by His words. If we choose to follow Jesus now , we will be affected by His words. The people who heard Jesus teach then wanted to learn more from Him/hear more from Him/and to be in His presence. I pray the very same thing is true of us today when we hear or read the teachings of Jesus...and that we will hang on every word. You can't "hang" on something that doesn't have a foundation, or that is not stable, strong or trusted. But the words of Jesus and His Father are all of those things for us: they are our F...

We have heard the story of Jesus riding on a donkey as he  approached Jerusalem  and how people waved palm branches and chanted "Hosanna".  But even as people cheered Him, Jesus knew  the cross that awaited Him in a week.  And He also knew  that many had not chosen to accept Him, and that they were forfeiting His peace in their lives.  It made Him weep. But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.  ( 42)  “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace.  ~Luke 19:41-42 Jesus  began to weep  because so many  of His children did not understand that He was  the way to peace , and so they lived without peace. Are we living without  His peace today?  He weeps  for us to know His peace . Who do we know that is living without His peace today?  He weeps  for them to know His peace. If we can help others to understand the peace that Jesus br...

Last Saturday we went to a flea market.  My daughter "hit the jackpot" when she found a family selling stuffed animals (the ones she collects!) for ten cents each.  For a grand total of two dollars, she walked away with two big bags and an even bigger smile.  She got blessed!   Fast-forward to Sunday.  As our family scrambled in the morning hustle and bustle of getting ready for church, my husband paused to write our tithe check. Our daughter, ever curious, sat next to him at the table, eating her bowl of raisin bran.  She "took in" the process, and asked a lot of questions as she sought to understand "Who Daddy was giving money to?". Flitting around, I didn't hear the whole thing, but I was aware of my husband explaining to her what the Bible says about tithing.  I found out later that she was listening. If we have been "f litting around" in our spiritual disciplines and "haven't heard the whole thing" about what the Bible says...

S ure enough... We can trust God's word... As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead.   30  “Go into that village over there,”  he told them.  “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.   31  If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32  So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said.   33  And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” 34  And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.”   35  So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.   ~Luke 19:29-35 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jesus knows the events of our lives before they happen. He has plotted them. (... he sent two disciples ahead... you will see a young donkey tied there..Untie it and bring it here....

Yikes! We are being "cultivated"! Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "cultivate" as:  " to prepare and use " (for the raising of crops)/  " to loosen or break up the soil about " (growing plants)/  or " to foster the growth of ".   I hesitate to compare God's people to "dirt", but I can't deny what the Lord is doing with/to/through His people today (and since the dawn of Creation).   And I also can't deny the times recently when I have felt like a pile of dirt, being trampled under the pressures and influences of the world today.  But we must remember (and be encouraged by) the fact that God's cultivation produces  growth. Raise your hand if you feel that God is searching for/raising up/and calling upon us as His children to be " prepared and used "--not for the "raising of crops", but for the "raising of believers" in His Name and to introduce more Christ-followers into His Kingd...

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. ( 2) There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. ( 3) He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.( 4) So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. (5) When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” (6) Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. ( 7) But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. (8) Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” (9) Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself...