Corona Devotionals

Have you ever read the riddles that begin: "You know you're old when...", and then you proceed through the questions to see how many strike-a-chord or "ring true" for you? That's what I thought of (sort of) in reading the Bible today.  God encourages us to make-the-most of our youth (however long we can hold on to it), and He also warns us to remember Him now so that we will also have a memory (and testimony!) of Him later  when we are older.   Check your age!   S ee how many of these  you know you're old when" Bible verses strike-a-chord or "ring true" for you today: Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”   ( 2)  Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.   ( 3)  Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble;...

As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, s o a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.  ~Ecclesiastes 10:1 This proverb is colorful, fantastic, impactful and striking.  Never  would I think to compare the ideas of a  dead fly stinking-up a good-smelling perfume... with silliness and  foolishness  ruining a  w ise and honored  reputation that we have worked hard to establish.   I wouldn't compare those two, but it's an excellent image that makes the point very clear.   I believe the intended  point of this wise saying is to encourage and admonish us to stay-the-course in being responsible, sober-minded, and diligent in serving God, living our lives, and in seeking to be wise. That's the main point, and it may be just what we needed to hear from the Lord today. But that was not the "lesson" that the Lord made clear to me when I read this today.   What "spoke to me" and even stung-my-heart, ...

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  ~James 1:19 The wisest people I know are quiet...but not in a meek way.  In a wise way.  Their words do not spill out like toothpaste that makes a mess and "can't be put back in".   Their opinions do not protrude like an unsightly wart.   They are patient.  They have the wisdom to know that they do not know everything.  They have the wisdom to know that God does know everything, and that He is indeed always working.  Even in ways that we do not understand.  And even in people that we do not understand.   ~~~ A wise person chooses the right road;  a fool takes the wrong one.  ( 3)  You can identify fools  just by the way they walk down the street!  ~Ecclesiastes 10:2-3 The wise are careful with their words. The wise are careful with their actions.  Fools are careless a...

But   seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  ~Matthew 6:33 January 1st is not the only first-day of the year.  Every August and September many people (young and older) have another "first day": Back to school. Just like January, there are fresh starts and aspirations with the beginning of a new school year.  But it also brings intimidations, unknowns, and forced changes.   Much  of back-to-school (new classes, new faces, new seating, new concepts, new teachers, new lockers, new schools) is  out  of our comfort zone. But luckily, God gives us a syllabus today:  But   seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  ~Matthew 6:33 What's a "syllabus"?  I know (generally) because I've just signed about six for my kids in the past few days.  Usually for middle and high school students, they are  a summary of the...

I've been to a few historical forts over the years, including: Fort Macon (Emerald Isle, NC), Castillo de San Marcos (St. Augustine Florida), Fremantle Fortress (Fremantle, Western Australia),  Castillo San Filipe de Morro (San Juan, Puerto Rico) .   Maybe you have too.   They are all surrounded by walls /gates/barriers/ towers   and citadels of some sort or another, and these protective entities are strong , fortified , built-to-last and to endure.  They are constructed for protection and just looking at these  walls and towers ---you can see and experience their strength. When you go inside the  fortified walls  of these places , you feel protected.  Watched over.  Proactively secure.  Safe...even in the midst of crossfire or attack.   Psalm 48 tells us to (not only) consider the fortification, but to  Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem.   Walk around and count the many towers.  ( 13) ...

How bad is it today for us (or for someone we love)? Bad? Desperate? Has the situation festered and become ugly and even stenching, like an open, unattended wound?   We've ignored-it long enough, we've "maybe-it-will-get-better"-ed it long enough.  We have delayed-dealing with it for too long , and the situation/relationship/finances/affliction/attitude has become a monster that has cornered us in every area and seeped into our skin. We're stuck.  Grounded .    ~~~ Then the   Lord   asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”   (4)  Satan replied to the  Lord , “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life.  ( 5)  But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you ...

Ever gotten one of those gorgeous-blue-ocean, white-sandy-beach travel brochures in the mail, or glimpse one online?  Just gazing  at that glossy gallery of palm trees and pristine sand whisks my mind away.  I can hear the Caribbean steel drums playing, and I want to be there . That's how I felt when I read the Bible this morning.  I was in Psalm 48 , but we could turn to many Books of the Bible and find one location spoken of over and over again.  This city is repeatedly described, foretold, and defined as  the city of our God , and the pictures that the Bible paints of it are even more glossy, gorgeous, and inviting than the latest travel-slick that we might receive in our mailbox.   This city is special.  God says so (over and over) and one day,  I want to be there. What's the address?  Where do I want to book a Bible vacation?  Jerusalem. Let's visit there together today, as we take a tour through God's Word and see what H...