Corona Devotionals

Does anyone have a paperbag?   Sometimes I read the headlines, or glance at the newsfeeds, or listen to the podcasters and...I feel my pulse quicken and the fight-or-flight response kick in.   I could just-about hyperventilate! I can't be the only one who gets overwhelmed with the world sometimes...   Feeling outnumbered... Afraid to stand...  Intimidated by the intimidators... Does anyone have a paperbag?   ~~~ But when I woke up this morning and looked out my window, there were no (mental/emotional/intellectual/or physical) threats: there were deer.  About four of them, meandering through our yard, with their snoots to the ground and munching on acorns as they ambled.   They weren't stressed.  They were not skittish.  They were not even cautionary.  And they certainly were not on the verge of hyperventilating and needing a paper bag to breathe into.  They were just doing what it was time for them to do: ea...

What's the secret to enjoying life ?  If we want to see many happy days , what's the input for that outcome? The media, magazines, and mega-stars say, "money".   Rich doctors getting richer say plastics and botox. Satan says sex, substances and all fleshly pleasures... when we want, and in any derivation that we desire. But satan only comes to steal and kill and destroy , and those are the eventual results of seeking to enjoy life  without God. But don't be duped: Jesus says, " The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,   and have it to the full" (John 10:10). Jesus came so that (in Him) our lives might be full.  But --how do we get there?  How do we achieve  the pinnacle experience of enjoying life and see ing many happy days ?   Is it possible?   Is it probable? Is enjoying life and see ing many happy days even Biblical ? Yes. And how do we unlock  these deep daily blessing...

Do we ever wonder where to start  in reading the Bible?   Which Book?  ( Romans ?  Mark ?  Genesis ?  Revelation ?) Which verses?   John 3:16 ?  ( For God so loved  the world that he gave  his one and only Son,  that whoever believes  in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  ~John 3:16 )  Romans 3:23 ?   ( ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  ( 24)  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.    ~Romans 3:23-24 )  Isaiah 40:31 ?  (. .. but those who hope in the  Lord  will renew their strength.   They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary,  they will walk and not be faint.  ~Isaiah 40:31 ) Personally, I prefer to read the Bible straight through (one day at a time, of course), but there are times and situa...

My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary the other day.  I love walking down memory lane and remembering the events and emotions and food (weiner schnitzel!) of that day.  Sometimes on our anniversary, we will go out for dinner, and sometimes I make him a special one at home.   But not this year.   Our anniversary date happened to be the only date that worked-out for hosting a team dinner for our daughter's high school soccer team.  You might think that feeding twenty-five young women at our house instead of enjoying a quiet dinner for two might not sound romantic or edifying to our marriage, but it was.   After opening a few thoughtful anniversary gifts to each other,  we got to work.   Him--putting folding chairs around the table and me--prepping mains dishes and sides.   Him-- vacuuming the basement and me--organizing table cloths, silverware and cups. I looked up to see him busily moving-on to his ...

I like to be ready.  I like to  be ready  for Christmas-time.  I like writing Christmas cards and wrapping gifts a bit early.  I love to bake Christmas cookies.  I like to  be ready. I like to  be ready  when I am hosting friends or family or strangers for supper.  I clean up the piles of papers, and shoes, and stuff that inevitably gather in a home.  I vacuum and I cook.  I get ready .  I like to  be ready. However, I am less enthusiastic...but still obedient to what God says in His word to be ready for today: So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too.     For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.   ~ Peter 4:1 Uh oh.   Baking is one thing.  Vacuuming and even the work of washing a floor is another thing.  But God calling us to suffer physically for Him/His nam...

My husband has a green thumb, and he plants and cares for many creative, beautiful, and delicious things in our garden and around our yard.  Most of his plants have a nutritional purpose and he is specific about what seeds he puts in the ground.   But the other day, he was excited to invite me into the garden area to witness something that he didn't plant, but that had bloomed all over. When I walked in, I saw dozens of gorgeous and dainty indigo blooms weaving and waving their way along the wall, in and around other potted plants, and down the full side of the garden area.   With my first glance, I said the first thing/prayer that came to my mind and heart: " May God's glory run over and through us and our lives, just as this plant has done in our garden ". The viney interwoven plant was so plush and alive--it almost seemed fluffy!  And there were so many blooms! “Arise,   shine, for your light   has come,  and the glory of the  L...