Corona Devotionals

Years ago, one morning as I began giving my daughter a bit of a back-rub in an attempt to rouse her for school, she rolled over and said matter-of-factly, "My tea cup's full.", and with that, she proceeded to step out-of-bed and into the bathroom. I had to laugh at her little-girl wit and wisdom, but her comment has stuck with me. What a great way to wake up to a new day--with our emotional and spiritual 'tea cup' full. That is my prayer for us today--that we might "wake up" to embrace God's word and promises today, and that we would allow Him to fill our "tea cup" with His light, His love, His joy and His Hope for today. Be filled! ~~~ The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.  ~Psalm 126:3 For the Mighty One is holy,   and he has done great things for me.  ~Luke 1:49 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the...

It's early Spring in Ohio, and so one of our activities is "open up" our camper.  We remove most everything from the inside of it over the winter, so as to avoid attracting bugs and mice, and ( Thank You, Lord ), we found no proof or remains of any winter-time vermin when we unlocked the door.  But what we did find (surprisingly) was four  living  wasps. Slow, and lethargic from winter hibernation, they were easy to scoop up and dispose of, and I did.  But, how did they get in there? I had been the one who had carefully cleaned up-and-out every crevice of that camper last Fall.  And yet, hanging on the cord of the window blinds...a living wasp.  In a side-cupboard...a slow-moving (living) wasp.  And---in an empty drawer...a slow-motion living wasp.   I thought everything was empty and clean when we locked up.  I didn't see any bugs and certainly not any wasps when I shut the door in October.  And yet...here they were. ~~~ It's...

Who said it would be easy? No one who has ever accomplished anything of value ever said that.  They worked hard to be where they are at.   I see little neighborhood kids shooting hoops in their driveway with their mom and dad, and I know that those kids will be good at basketball...if they keep practicing.  They will play on a city rec. team, and then on a travel team, and then they will play for their school or college too: if they keep working hard .    The results will show , but no one said it will be easy. ~~~ I heard a great story about my niece, who wants to go  to sewing camp this summer, but her parents challenged her to earn the money for it.  So, she worked hard  one recent Saturday to make and sell lemonade on her street.  It was work.  It was hot outside.  It was five hours in her driveway at age twelve.  And it earned her $113 for camp.   The results showed, but no one said it would be easy. ~~~ W...

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ...  ( 2)  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.    ~Philippians 2:1-2 Lord, thank you for the (Scriptural) reminder that everything you have given to us... You want us to pass on to others.  Amen. If we are encouraged by knowing You, by Your forgiveness of our sins, and by being united with Christ , then we are called by You to be like-minded  and like-hearted to others.   We ARE  encouraged  by knowing you...and so let us encourage others! Send a note.  Make a call.  Give a compliment.  Look past the surface.  Appreciate the favor.  Extend an invitation.  Encourage another today, having the same mindset as Christ Jesus. ~~~ Therefore if you have... any comfort from his love...  if any tenderness and compassion,  ( 2)  then make my joy comple...

The sounds of my washing machine and clock-chimes were drowned-out by the (first) slow and (then) hurried and frantic cries of some red-tailed hawks in our backyard airspace this morning.   The screeches had drawn my audible attention, but my eyes provided the rest of the story.  There were a couple hawks prowling  around the treetops and calling out, but one big guy had landed atop a squirrel's nest in the tallest tree,  looking for someone to devour.    He was perched.   He was poised. He was about to snatch a squirrel's life. ...Not today, Mr. Redtail.  I love birds very much, but I have also enjoyed watching that squirrel family hop branches and skitter across frozen ground all winter.  I couldn't just watch a hawk steal, kill and destroy  one or more of them. I opened the back door and cupped my hands slightly to produce a couple deep, loud claps, which were enough to cause the ominous hawk to take flight. ~~~ Have you se...

I don't know...we are all adults with good educations or a learned skill.  We have been around long enough to know what we're doing  in life, and experience says that we should also know how to do it well.   I believe most of us do. But it's never a bad idea to review how to live life well. Sometimes I still sing the alphabetical "State Song" (Alabama and Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas...)...just to see if I still can.   Or--during weekly walks or runs, my husband reviews the 66 Books of the Bible and key chapters, verses, and themes from each...just to keep his memory sharp on them (which it is!).   It's never a bad idea to review how to live life well, and so let's review  today.   God gives us guidelines and guardrails to keep us safe, protected, and proactive in following Him and living for Him.  Most of these Biblical principals we already know... b ut it's never a bad idea to review. Proverbs 11:1-31 (1) The Lord detests ...

Ever seen a little kid waiting in excitement  to open gifts  beneath a Christmas tree?  They can not keep still . Ever had a neighbor or friend with a juicy piece of local gossip to share?  They  cannot remain silent.  ~~~ Do we love God?  Do we love Jesus?  Are we affected by Their saving grace over our lives (and deaths!)? Then don't keep still  about it today! ~~~ Do we yearn  for a Heaven without pain/sin/callousness/and sorrow?  Do we yearn to have the heart of God for others?  Do we yearn for God's ways  instead of man's ways?  Do we yearn  for God's Truth and Word over man-made-truth and idle words? Then don't  keep silent  about it today! ~~~   When we are excited(!) or are in-anticipation of something that we are passionate about (like Christmas, a reunion...or JESUS!) then we (naturally)  will not keep still and  cannot remain silent about it. But what's become of our ze...