Corona Devotionals

Has someone "gotten in our head" or "under our skin" with their negative words about us?  Are we being held back, pinned down, or paralyzed by what someone else says about us, instead of by what God says about us? We can step out of those lies today. We can step away from defeat in our spirit, and into victory in Christ today. Let's step into the Bible and God's truth about us, which is the only truth that matters.  When someone else says that we are expendable and of no value, God says that we are holy and dearly loved. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  ~Colossians 3:12 When someone else says that we are nothing-special, God says that we are set apart. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,  before you were born I set you apart;  I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  ~Jeremiah 1:5 When someone else tells or treats us as unloved, G...

Yesterday was yesterday for us: Leave it. Yesterday was yesterday for our relatives ( ancestors ): We can't change things for them. Today is today: Our faith destiny begins today. ~~~ Yesterday was yesterday for us: Leave it.  At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  ( 10)  Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”   (11)  “No one, sir,” she said.   “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”   ~John 8:9-13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!  ~2 Corinthians 5:17 Yesterday was yesterday for our relatives ( ancestors ): We can't change things for them. In November of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave this message to the prophet Zechariah son of Be...

We were blessed to have the unique opportunity to see Big Boy the other day. Not Big Boy, the cheeseburger. Not big boy, as in a 10-pound baby boy. We witnessed Big Boy No. 4014 in locomotive action! Have you heard of Big Boy No. 4014? The truth is, I had not heard of Big Boy No. 4014. However, I've spoken with many others who were well aware that he was coming through town. His anticipated arrival was broadcast on the news via TV, newspaper, online, radio, and (thankfully for us!), by people too! Big Boy No. 4014 is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. Of the eight remaining Big Boys in existence today, No. 4014 is the only one still in operation.  Twenty-five Big Boys were commissioned exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad, the first of which was delivered in 1941. These massive locomotives were built to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort, normally operating between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Big Boys are 133 feet long and weigh 1.2 ...

In our living room, we have a gray, super-soft, large blanket that technically belongs to our middle child (and he doesn't forget that intended-priority ownership), but that blanket is everyone’s favorite. Our daughter grabs it on TV nights, and our son wraps-up in it for morning cocoa and wake-up video-shorts.   My mother-in-law has been known to use it to cover up during movie-nights at our house, and my husband likes it because it covers his long legs.    After a long Saturday of group-work on a school project,  I have even seen a guest at our home pull it out (from behind the couch where it is stored), wrap up in it, and take a nap! Currently we have family visiting from out of state, and can you guess the preferred blanket for my nephew’s inflatable bed when he lays down his 10-year old body?   Yep--it's the (so) soft gray one! It is a wonderful, often-washed, soft, comforting, big blanket, and many people have been known to enjoy the comfort of it...

We work so hard.  Daily.  Monthly.  Yearly.  ...A lifetime  of hard work is behind most of our names, and the efforts are tattooed in our DNA.  We work  so  hard.  And we should.  The Bible (God) tells us that " Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  ( 24)  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving ( Colossians 3:23-24) ".   We put in the work, and we should. But (sit down and grab a tall glass of iced tea or lemonade), and let the Bible (God's Word!) remind us of what God  also says: Good job .     “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.  ( 20)  The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’...