From Our Hearts

DEVOTION: It is a chilling thought to one day realize that your children are observing your life, logging your activities, and repeating your actions, whether good or bad. I know from personal experience that what I observed from my own father’s behavior served as both a positive and negative influence on my role as a husband and father.

Even though I knew God spoke specifically to women about not gossiping (1 Timothy 3:11 and Titus 2:3), I did it anyway. The Holy Spirit led me to change my heart and empowered the purification process I still continue to go through. I want to be known as a woman who is a friend of women; a woman who is for other women rather than being against them. What did that entail?

DEVOTION: In late fall of 1990, Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm. That meant war. I still remember holding my breath as President George H. Bush addressed the nation on television and spoke the words every military family dreads. He was authorizing the call-up of reservists. Jim was an Army Reservist. As a registered pharmacist, he was assigned to the Medical Service Corps. After 25 years of routine monthly meetings and after Jim finally qualified for army retirement, we were not prepared for what could happen.

DEVOTION: This is normally the time of year every high school, college, and grad student looks forward to; a commencement ceremony to celebrate and applaud their years of diligence and hard work. This year the activities may look a little different, but there are some things that remain the same.

DEVOTION: Jesus tells us in John 13:34, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” What does this kind of love look like? It is a sacrifice of self, which includes our expectations. This can be hard as it’s opposite of how our natural mind, and desires, works. This kind of love involves effort, not mere emotion. It requires action, not just feeling. It comes from God and leads us to being content.

DEVOTION: With every new growing milestone in life there comes a small twinge of fear and uncertainty. Even those who seemingly have it all together will ponder whether or not they are making the right decisions. They may wonder how they will handle all that this new adventure in life will bring and that is normal.

DEVOTION: Our nation, our world, is in His hands. In times like these, we can choose to sit idly by and hope for the best, or we can offer ourselves as a vessel and intercede on behalf of others. So today, in honor of two holidays celebrated in May: Mother’s Day and the National Day of Prayer, observed annually on the first Thursday of May, we want to extend our voices to God on behalf of Mothers on the Front Lines. We ask that you please join us in prayer for these heroes.

DEVOTION: If you’re a mom, your calling is a high and noble one, a momentous stewardship as God entrusts precious children—His special creations—to you! You’ll find encouragement for your own faith journey as you learn how God has comforted, helped, and provided for women in the Bible. Start or end your day with the powerful reminders of God's work in the lives of these women.

DEVOTION: In these weeks and days before Mother’s Day, I want to encourage and equip ALL moms to carry on the good work of raising children after God’s own heart. As a mom, God has graced you with an incredible calling. As you meet your children's needs, know that God has given you a unique position of influence over their lives—you guide their hearts.

DEVOTION: Hannah appears in the Bible during the last days of the judges of Israel when “there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). More than anything, Hannah wanted a son, and when God gave her one, she fulfilled her vow to give Samuel back to the Lord. Her sacrifice was rewarded by God with the births of five more children. Samuel grew up to reflect his mother’s godliness and became a man of prayer and intercession for God’s people all his days.

DEVOTION: Proceeding forward pushes fear aside. Like the snowball that rolls down an incline, you gain speed, mass, and momentum as you step out and do what God asks. Soon you’ll discover your fears have been left behind. What small habits can you begin to form today to create that momentum towards complete trust in Him?

DEVOTION: 

What type of objections have you experienced when sharing the Gospel with other people? What answers do you find most useful to help overcome someone’s skepticism? 

The Christian faith demands we have enough compassion to learn the questions of our generation and go to the Bible for its answers. Lord, give me the hope and faith I need to be a Godly witness during this time. Amen.