She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. – Luke 2:7 (NLT)The Christmas story begins with darkness--metaphorical and physical. The first sign of Jesus' birth is a great light....
Charlaine Martin
"I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. -- Malachi 3:1 (NIV)Have you ever received a gift far better than...
Stacey Barkley
Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- Ephesians 5:20 (HCSB)As my husband and I watched and waited once again for our daughter to come home, fear and frustration filled us. She was an hour late—again. It seemed as if...
“Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.’” —Psalm...
Nicole O'Meara
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, faced horrible circumstances on her journey to India. Bunked in a ship’s cabin infested with cockroaches and rats, she had a choice: complain or...
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." – Psalm 136:1 I've had circumstances where gratitude was the last thing on my mind. I know you can relate to this; we all have experienced situations and circumstances where life hurts, and our emotions...
Amy Olrick
"We boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” - Romans 5:2-4When my husband Jeffrey was a young adult, his mother married a wonderful man named Steve...
Kristen Terrette
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” -- James 1:17 (NIV) Peter Pan is a household name. His character originated in 1902 in the writings of J. M. Barrie, and has since been...
Keri Willis
“But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue...
Anneta Pinto-Young
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.” --Psalms 119:71David spoke in Psalm 119 about experiencing affliction. This is the longest chapter in the Bible. It contains 22 stanzas and is written as an acrostic poem, containing 176 verses. In eight stanzas,...
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14 (NLT)I don’t understand the providence of God.I know what would make sense to me. I have my expectations. I believe my expectations are logical. But this is not what my lived experience...
Treva Barnard
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” -- Psalm 119:105When we think of darkness, we often associate it with fear, uncertainty, or even loneliness. Yet, not all darkness is bad. Sometimes, darkness is where God does His best work, shaping us, preparing us,...
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. -- Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)Lately, I have been reflecting on my life, my faith journey, and the decisions that brought us to this small coastal town in North Carolina....
Shirley Brosius
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” – Acts 17:26 (NIV)I had quit my teaching job to attend seminary and work part time on a church staff....
Karisa Moore
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)It is now 1:51 in the morning, and I have given up on sleep. So, I came downstairs to meditate on Scripture and pray—my go-to habit when I can’t sleep. The...
Lori Altebaumer
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. -- Psalm 119:105 For years we have driven by the entrance to the Capulin Volcano National Monument while on our way to other destinations . . . always looking over and saying how we should go...
Kim Gentry Meyer
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. - John 14:27As Thanksgiving approaches and we begin navigating the holiday season, we look forward to the smells,...
Mary Rooney Armand
“Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” -- 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)The apostle Paul urges Christians to be joyful, encouraging, and live in harmony then God’s love and peace follow.Then means afterward.This verse...
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” — John 4:24I remember winking at God as a child and effortlessly chatting with Him as if He was my invisible friend. There was a picture of me when I turned six in a puffy purple...
Pat Markham
"...and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." – Ephesians 2:6 (ESV)In warfare, higher ground has always been the place of advantage. Clarity of vision from a higher perspective means being able to see what your enemy is planning, allows...