Corona Devotionals

Not to get too personal, but the other night,  I was in pain .  The point and cause of my pain matter not, because (even in my personal discomfort), I thought of so many others (and some of you), dealing with far worse, and persevering through chronic issues of pain and suffering (and not just one night.)  But still, I was disheveled physically, and struggling emotionally because of it.  And the agitation was such that I could not sleep.   At 3:30 AM, wide-awake from pain, I left my bed and came downstairs.  What do we do when life seems unbearable?   It might be pain that we can no longer muster, or sorrow that is too much to shoulder.   What do we do  in those horrible moments and hours?  What can we do?    I grabbed my Bible and sat down on the couch.   Psalm 145 was today's reading.   What do we do  when we can't handle life anymore and we don't know what to do?   I will e...

  For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ( 12) It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ( 13) while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ( 14) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.   ~Titus 2:11-14 ~~~ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ~Titus 2:11 God's grace has appeared to us, and not just to us...but to all, everyone. The grace of God has appeared to everyone , and that grace offers salvation to all people. Salvation ...meaning: the forgiveness of our sins from a God who loves us that much. His (God's) grace has appeared that offers salvation to ME, and to YOU, and to all people. If that doesn't blow-our-mind...then our faith, and ou...

When I was in high school and college, there was a convention every July at a hotel in the business section of our town.  I would see the big hotel marquee that advertised "Pez Toy Show" and "Pez Convention", and I would think to myself: "Who would attend that ?" I saw that sign every July for probably thirteen July's, and I never once had a hankering to "check out" the Pez show. Pez dispensers are little plastic toys that have an internal chute that can be filled with a sleeve of rectangle bricks of tiny hard candy that come in flavors like lemon, orange and cherry.  When we were kids we had a couple Pez dispensers, but they were never of any importance or value to me.  And thus, I wondered every year who would go  to a toy tradeshow centered around Pez dispensers? For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   ~Jeremiah 29:11-13 Do we accept this Bi...

Have we ever used a travel agent?  They do the (travel-detail) legwork for you, in regards to an upcoming trip.  They look into the cost, amenities, routes, and benefits of our travel options.  And they take care of the details in preparing the trip research, reservations, planning, and processes.  Taking care of destination details--that's what a travel agent does.  Even if we usually plan our own trips, we have a travel agent waiting for us in Zechariah  Chapter 8 : It is Zechariah. Even though Zechariah lived about twenty-five hundred years before we did, God speaks through him to speak to us about introducing our upcoming/eventual trip to Jerusalem.  And I am excited to go.  Better yet, as Scripture says.. .I'm determined to go ( Zechariah 8:21). If we are looking for warm weather, coastlines, and fresh dates, figs, olive oil and fish.... Let's take a trip to Israel, and to be more specific...the city of Jerusalem!  But we might fin...

I went to a really good funeral the other day, and I say "good" because the man was really good.  The priest and the speakers during the service mentioned so many good things that this guy was involved in.  For instance, he spent thirty years as an inner-city elementary school teacher and principal...and he loved those kids ...and he made a difference in their lives.   This man had a wonderful wife, two adopted children, and three grandchildren, but in his "free" time he volunteered with his wife for over ten years at   Ronald McDonald House Charities , who provide  programs to give families (of hospitalized children) a welcoming place to stay, so they can focus on caring for their (ill or injured) children.   As a liver transplant survivor, this guy also chose to be a mentor to other transplant recipients . Yes, this man recently died, but he had lived  really well. How are we spending our days?  And how are we preparing ourselves and ...