Corona Devotionals

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."  ~John 3:3 What (in the world) does it mean to be born again ?   Initially we might ask the same question as Nicodemus:   “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”(John 3:4) It's  not a physical rebirth that must take place to "connect" intimately with Jesus, but a spiritual rebirth.  And, I might argue that there is also a mental rebirth that must take place as well--where we move from thinking I  can do it/ I  can control it/ I am the boss...to accepting/realizing/submitting to the Truth that God is truly at the helm in each of those scenarios.  We can take the physical steps, and partake in the religious routines, and many of us have done that for years.  Maybe even our whole lives.  But what Jesus was explaining to Nico...

Fools think their own way is right,  but the wise listen to others.  ~Proverbs 12:15 Have you ever coached? Whether little league baseball, middle school soccer or even a speech and debate team: It's hard to make progress when you have players (or parents!) who " think their own way is right" (Proverbs 12:15). Are you a teacher? School, children's ministry or homeschool--it is almost impossible to teach a concept to someone who " think s that their own way is right" (Proverbs 12:15) and does not accept instruction. If you are a boss, a parent, a community organizer or the leader of anything , you know what it's like to have a fool block the way of progress. Those who (only) think their way is right are called " fools " by the Bible. Fools think their own way is right,  but the wise listen to others.  ~Proverbs 12:15 We are foolish to be unteachable, and God is calling some of us out today. He knows our pride, He sees our stubbornness,...

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ( 3)  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  ( 4)  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.   ~James 1:2-4 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.   ~Romans 8:18 "Suffering" can have a range of definitions, but on any level, there is almost always a heightened degree of gratitude on the other side of it.   Simply put--we need the rain to appreciate the sun... ~~~~~~~~~~ ...Everything about the experience made sense on paper and in my spirit. Our boys were going to camp for a week. Fun, activities, new friends and old...and Jesus. It was a recipe for summer fun, spiritual growth and for letting boys be boys. But the missing ingredient was me. I've never been apart from them for a (whole!) wee...

If you could receive one " good gift " today, what would it be? If you were our 10-year old daughter, it would be a "pop it".  The latest fad-craze for kids, they are flat rubber shapes with bubbles embedded that you can "pop" in or out.  Designed to "calm" children and decrease fidgeting, they are surprisingly satisfying for people of any age to "pop". Our daughter has a lot  of them.  She doesn't need one more.  But...when we passed a mall kiosk the other day and she began presenting her perceived rationalization for getting another  one, something odd happened in my mind and I got a soft spot in my heart. Instead of picturing her messy room and the trails of craft materials that she leaves strewn throughout our house after her latest "invention" has been created, my heart flashed to a picture of her quiet patience as she built a Lego set for hours this week in the conference room of our office as her dad and I worked in...

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. (39) She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. (40) But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (41) “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, (42) but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  ~Luke 10:38-42 Well, Jesus isn't coming to stay at my house, but we do have some family coming into town and I can't wait!  Sibling/cousin bonding, reminiscing, laughter, memories and fun all rolled up into a few days while they are in-state.   "Family" is the "big picture" and the main point, but the "little picture", or should I say the l...

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.  ~Hebrews 13:2 Kindness is contagious.  Love multiplies.  And kindness lived-out changes lives.   Jesus was and is the Ultimate Example of "love and kindness lived-out".  He was kind to those that did not normally receive kindness (publicly-known sinners/lepers/those mentally and physically afflicted/societal outcasts).  Jesus loved the difficult people, the unaccepted people, the lost people: Jesus loved all people.  And by doing so, He changed their lives. How about us?   How are we doing with living-out kindness and love to those around us, and to those that are often overlooked?  Jesus made the effort and took the time.  How can we begin doing the same?   I like real-life examples because they make the "ideal" seem possible and relatable.   I was connected to local-example of l...

The more I read the Old Testament, the more akin I feel to the Israelites. Their adventures, their faith-journey, their bondage (and then their freedom), and their fluctuations between worshiping the Lord and being ungrateful to Him---It is the story of us too! Deuteronomy 26 shares God's "How-To" Guide for a fulfilled life. Of course we each have our unique situations, challenges and blessings, but these verses paint the life of a Christ-follower in broad strokes that all of us can relate to, take comfort in, and be encouraged by. “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, (2) put some of the firstfruits from each crop you harvest into a basket and bring it to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. (3) Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, ‘With this gift I acknowledge to the Lord your God that I have entered th...