Corona Devotionals

Ever happened upon a snakeskin in your yard or on a hike?  Odd, opaque, and papery, it's immediately clear what this "shell" used to be encasing.   But, Why  shed ?   Many reasons actually, the most direct being that we serve a divine and creative Creator, and the second reason being that the snake outgrew that skin. It was his old self , and now...the snake has shed it, moving on. I'm so grateful to God that in His grace , we have shed our old self .   I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless (Galatians 2:21) , no--it has provided every source of meaning in our (saved) lives. ~~~ Oh, my old self ...there are so many things and parts about it that I wish I could just...shed, remove... crucify . Oh,  my old self ... from tongue (the hurtful things I've said), to feet (the poor paths I have chosen), to thoughts, to actions, to pride, to self-will...   Oh,  my old ( sinful) self ... how I wish I could. ..shed, remove...

I was praying for specifics today.  For  my kids, for myself, for our Nation, for future generations.  For me and for you, for strangers and loved ones too. What will they become?  What will become of us?  What's next for each of us?  How will we serve You, where and how , Lord?  Do you have specifics for us, Father?  (I'd like them.) I was praying for details, and callings.  For direction and protection...and specifics. That's what we'd like: the details of life-- Who?  What?  Where?  How? But God's answer (in Scripture) to us today is less-specific about job title, college/career choice, and parenting method...and more concentrated about who we will honor and serve  with our days and lives.  Ourselves or our Lord?   We have examples of both kinds of leaders that have gone before us in life and in Scripture.  We are right now (today) living in service to God, or in service to us. We pray for...

Wake up to a new day in Christ today. The night may have been dark,  but as for me, I will sing about your power  today.    God loves us today with an unfailing love.  See His Light break through our clouds.   Our enemies may have  come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets...   But God guards us and protects us with His Word.  Start today with the fresh start of fresh faith.   If we have felt unsure, unsafe, or in distress : the Lord is our refuge, our  place of safety.   He greets us with His light, with His power , and with His love . ~~~ A soliloquy for so many of us today. A Psalm for some of us today. A prayer for God's people today. Hope for our hours today. Strength for keeping us steadfast today. My enemies come out at night,  snarling like vicious dogs  as they prowl the streets.  ( 15)  They scavenge for food  but go to sleep unsatisfied....

There are the " have to "  day-to-day   responsibilities that we take care of: the  things we have to  do today, and we do them. But then there are the looming  responsibilities/deadlines/pressures of tomorrow.   Things that need to be done , but are not "due".  It's those unknowns that (depending on our mood and stage) can paralyze/smother/stress us.   How will that work out? What if ____? Who will step up? The in-between of "unknown" and "outcome" is called faith, and it's hard. Hard to know if we should be "doing more".  Hard to know if we have "prayed enough".  Hard to know (even though God shows up  every time ), if God will show up this  time. Spoiler alert: He will . But...when?  How?  Through whom?  And, (did we mention, God)... When !?  The "wait" is hard.  It can be frustrating and even emotionally derailing.  If we are worried about the who/what/how of tomorrow, be re...

...Even that question came up only because of some so-called believers there—false ones, really—who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations.  ( 5)  But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.    ~Galatians 2:4-5 Paul was sharing with his church about his (trying/frustrating/limiting) experience with  some "so-called  believers". ( By the way, Paul also shares many encouraging, uplifting, faith-building examples that he experienced with believers .) But Paul was honest and God-fearing on all accounts --he wasn't just verbal on the positives to keep everything nicey-nicey.  (For an alternate example: when I tell a story, I sometimes leave out the messy or complicated facts if they deter or appear to "take-away" from the happy ending or e...

It's Fall and Harvest season in our house!  I love to see pumpkins and mums, to sip apple cider, and to nibble maple cookies, pumpkin muffins, and acorn squash. But for many, October is Halloween season, and for some,   the  fascination with  spirits of the dead  lasts all year long. The growing-popularity and "education" of witchcraft is around us, and I dare say it is gr owing.  But believers  in God (or seekers of Him)  shouldn't be intrigued, enticed or bewitched into seeking guidance  over their lives from anyone but the Lord. But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?   ( 20)  Look to God’s instructions and teachings!   ~Isaiah 8:19 ~~~ Have you been to a fortune-teller, even "just for fun"?  Ever had your tarot cards read?  Or listened as someone told you what the lines on your hands mean?   We shouldn't. I f we are (in any way) asking any...

Our middle son lost his wireless headphones.  Over a year ago. We searched all over, and could not locate them, but he was sure  that they were in the house.  He's pretty meticulous in the memory department, and after retracing his steps and activities from the "time of loss", he was positive  that he would find them somewhere in our house.   And so...here-and-there, now-and-then, and over and over, he has looked.    He also has since bought a new pair of headphones...but he never gave up the search for his originals. Well, we got a new couch the other day, and guess what we found way down  in the old couch's cushions?   The lost headphones.    Oh, the  rejoicing  that our son engaged in!  He knew  they were somewhere.  He even knew they were in our house.  He also knew that they just needed to be found.  And finally, he had found them!   ~~~ Now the tax collectors and...