Corona Devotionals

I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you...    ( 7)  For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.   (8)  So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord...  ( 9)  For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.   (13)  Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.  ( 14)  Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.  ~2 Timothy 1:5, 7-14 Think back...   Is there someone ?   Do we have a " grandmother Lois " ...

What do we do when disaster (or trauma or diagnosis or fear) strikes?  Who do we trust ?  What do we rely on?  Is faith our foundation, or do we  turn our hearts away from the  Lord  when the going gets tough or we are scared out of our minds? It seems like an easy question... but it's not.    We all know what we should  do ( Trust in the  Lord ! ).  A nd that is what  (I  would say)   I would do...but when life sucker-punches us in the stomach or fate has fear pounding on the door of our heart... what do we do?  Where do we go?  Whom do we trust?  And are we fully aware that the choices we make are the choices that define (and exemplify) the depth of our faith? This is what the   Lord   says:  “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,  who rely on human strength  and turn their hearts away from the  Lord .  ( 6)  They are like stunted shrubs in the d...

Have you ever spent time with someone w-h-o                                                                                                 j--u--s--t                                                                                                                     d--r--a--i--n--s                   ...

Sometimes in training a dog, managing an employee, teaching a student, treating a patient, or raising a child...we see the (poor) results of other methods, and it motivates us on our own methods.   We want to do it right, if we can.  It's almost like life gives us examples of what not to do. I am grateful that we serve a God who does not keep us guessing about the standards that He sets and the guidelines that He gives for us as we seek to live for Him.  The Bible gives overarching themes ( Love one another.  ~John 13:34 ) but it also gets specific too. 2 Timothy Chapter 3 is one of those places.  Paul is teaching (warning) Timothy of the " last days ", when self-focus will be the rule... and care for God and others, the exception.   May the Bible motivate us  to serve God today, instead of self.  All we have to do is look around, and we see  the (poor) results of other methods in people all around us.   We want to do it ...

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.  ( 24)  A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.   ( 25)  Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.   ( 26)  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.  ~2 Timothy 2:23-26 ~~~ Are there any Kenny Rogers fans out there?   I like his songs a lot, and my favorite one...that's easy:   The Gambler .   In it, Kenny Rogers sings about card playing, and he advises that the key to winning and losing is not only in knowing how to read and play the cards you've been dealt...but you must also know how to read the people that you are playing cards with.   You got to know when to hold 'em Know w...

Did your family have a "golden child"?   You know--a kid who could "do no wrong" in the parents eyes?   Was this you? I am grateful to say that our family didn't have a "golden child", or at least I never felt that way.  But some families do, and while of course the parents love each  child, sometimes there can be a favoritism of a certain one for whatever reason. I don't suggest favoring one member or a family over the others, but having a "golden child" within a family unit does happen sometimes, whether we like it or not. God loves us.  God very much loves every single one of us, and He wants all of us to be in His family and become one of His sons or daughters.   For God so loved  the world that he gave  his one and only Son,  that whoever believes  in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  ~John 3:16   The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise...  Instead he is patient  with you, no...