A Final Word (#96 of 365+)

What is it that makes teenagers do crazy things? Is it the surge of hormones rushing through their bodies that make them think they’re invincible? Or is it more a combination of youth and

Amen (#95 of 365+)

We returned from our Christmas vacation just yesterday. Most of our time was spent in and around Cambria, California. Everywhere we looked we saw the goodness of God’s handiwork.

Come Quickly (#94 of 365+)

I’m doing my devotional away from the internet today.
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My Savior Leads Me… and Francie (#93 of 365+)

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Heartbroken Holiday (#92 of 365+)

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The Second Advent (#91 of 365+)

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Christmas Day (#90 of 365+)

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“Come On In!” (#89 of 365+)

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All I Want for Christmas… (#88 of 365+)

We’re all flying to California to spend Christmas with my husband’s dad, stepmom, and granny! We’ll leave early Thursday morning and return late Tuesday afternoon. I’ll pack my Pearls of Great Price devotional book and I'll keep having my daily “devotes” but—just in case we have technical difficulties during the trip—I’m going to prepare and schedule (in advance) daily widgets of songs that I’ve enjoyed listening to lately. Have a Merry CHRISTmas!

Today’s verse is: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Sometimes I compare different translations of the bible to get a broader view of a verse. In place of “Delight yourself in the Lord”, the Message version says, “Keep company with GOD”. This is easy enough to understand. However, it seems the second part of the verse, “He will give you the desires of your heart”, is the most difficult part for many to understand.

When I was single, I enjoyed fellowshipping with other singles at church and in a Christian singles organization. It was natural for me to want to find others who shared the same faith, interests, struggles, etc. I learned a lot of lessons during those years. One of the first tough lessons I learned was not all singles attended church, participated in events, or developed friendships for the same reasons I did. Some of them, and this applied to both women and men, were doing it for the sole purpose of finding a mate. Here’s how I found this out: We started a new bible study series. They wouldn’t attend until they found out if someone else (of the opposite gender) was interested in attending… If some people (of their gender) wanted to get coffee after a movie, they would be non-committal until someone (of the opposite gender) decided to go… When there was an event at someone’s home, they would arrive an hour late and then leave within the hour if nothing interesting had happened… And so on.

I remember a 40-something woman said she felt God had forgotten about her. She thought by now he would have sent the man she was going to marry. After years of faithfully serving the Lord at church even as she struggled with various health issues, he never sent her future mate. She watched as other single women—many who weren’t as interested in bible study or prayer as she was—were finding boyfriends, getting engaged, and having weddings in that very same church! She was obviously confused and hurt by this. She didn’t understand why the Psalm 37:4 formula wasn’t working for her.

Psalm 37:4 isn’t supposed to be the promise of wish-fulfillment. God isn’t a genie in a bottle! Rather, the verse is the promise of fulfillment period. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible said it well, God “has not promised to gratify the appetites of the body, and the humours of the fancy, but the desires of the renewed, sanctified soul”. He isn’t seeking to fulfill our worldly “wants”. Instead, he desires to fill our spiritual need.

Joni explained how in her own life, when she wasn’t healed from the injury that took away the use of her arms and legs, she learned what it meant to delight herself in the Lord according to what Jesus said: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7). The more she let his words fill her life and the more she abided in him, the hungrier she became for his words and his presence. When a quality relationship with the God of the universe—not physical healing or anything else—became what she looked forward to every day, God granted her heart’s desire (a deeper relationship with him). No more wishing upon a star. As she said, she got “the Bright and Morning Star himself”.

Lord Jesus, thank you for sending the rain this morning. You are like rain to my thirsty heart. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” Psalm 42:1. Thank you for your word, and thank you for always being so near. Amen.

Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (#87 of 365+)

Joni shared about her and Ken’s favorite Christmas tradition: To dress in their finest and treat their entire family to an elegant dining experience in Beverly Hills. As she described the beauty of

Apples of Gold (#86 of 365+)

I suspect “The Proverbs 31 Woman” has been the object of veiled scorn among young women for hundreds of generations. She is too perfect! Only a superwoman could rise before the sun

The Most Unusual Christmas Gift (#85 of 365+)

“The LORD will indeed give what is good” (Psalm 85:12)

“‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ —which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew

Anna Leads the Way (#84 of 365+)

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1 NKJV)

About ten years ago I used to drive past a church at the same time

Salvation Is of the Lord (#83 of 365+)

Today, Joni’s devotional was so especially incredible and wonderful that I copied it in its entirety into this post. I couldn’t add a thing to her words. Here it is…

For Your Comfort (#82 of 365+)

Today’s devotional continued with the theme of suffering for the benefit of others. Joni talked about a Christian friend of hers who suffered much from a painful disease and was constantly in and

The More Necessary Thing (#81 of 365+)

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire

Tidings of Comfort and Joy (#80 of 365+)

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:13-14

Jacob’s Ladder (#79 of 365+)

“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night... and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a

We Band of Brothers (#78 of 365+)

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians

Christmas: The Defeat of Darkness (#77 of 365+)

“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13)

Joni reminds again—although “God permits what he hates to

Incline My Heart (#76 of 365+)

“Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:11)

Sometimes my thoughts are elsewhere and I’m not interested in

God Impressions (#75 of 365+)

A few months ago, a dental assistant tried to make an accurate impression of my son’s teeth and gums. They would later pour plaster into the mold to make an exact copy of his mouth. The

Adding Muscle to Our Prayers (#74 of 365+)

“When you received the word of God… you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

You’re a Jewel! (#73 of 365+)

I’m frequently amazed at how much imagery God has left in this world to teach people about him.

Imagine if today a large cathedral was built, stone upon stone,

The Bad News (#72 of 365+)

Our son selected Christianity as the topic of a five-page paper for one of his classes. The assignment was due today, but he waited until Friday night to begin the outline and research. He was up

Worth the Wait (#71 of 365+)

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14)

Lately I’ve heard this saying in the media quite a bit: “Wait for it…

Private Praise (#70 of 365+)

“Do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22)

Joni’s friend Careen has been blessed with a beautiful singing voice. She loves to sing praise songs to God and often does so

Deliver Us from Evil (#69 of 365+)

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13)

I’ve been feeling weak for the past few days. Physically weak. A

Lifesaving Truth (#68 of 365+)

The other day my husband and I were talking about movies. He didn’t understand my strong aversion to zombie films since it fits into the apocalyptic genre and I’m an apocalypse enthusiast. I

In Jesus’ Name (#67 of 365+)

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name… You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14)

I agree with Joni when she says, “These are profound words from

Be of Good Cheer (#66 of 365+)

Depression seems to be more common during the Christmas season than at any other time. This is probably due to associating the season with loss. The most significant type of loss is relational.

The Real Tragedy (#65 of 365+)

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11)

Finishing Well (#64 of 365+)

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith... Do your best to

Yours for a Song (#63 of 365+)

“Victory over the Enemy can be yours for a song!” said Joni. She quotes Amy Carmichael, missionary to India: “I truly believe Satan cannot endure the power of song and so slips out of the

Divine Distastes (#62 of 365+)

“And he could bear Israel's misery no longer” (Judges 10:16)

It seems that one of the most difficult questions asked of

Genuine Contrition (#61 of 365+)

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13)

Last night my husband asked me a simple question at a moment

For a Song (#60 of 365+)

“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” (Psalm 51:15)

Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow and I’m so excited that Christmas

She Did What She Could (#59 of 365+)

When my husband’s little brother visited us at our little apartment for the first time after we got married, I wanted him to feel comfortable enough to spend the night if he wanted to. But I

Thanks but No Thanks (#58 of 365+)

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1)

Since Thanksgiving Day is coming up this week, the subject of

In Weakness, Made Strong (#57 of 365+)

It is human nature to want to hide my faults and shortcomings. I'm not talking about simple physical defects (like the dark spots under my eyes that I try to brighten with make-up) but those big

Sweeter Than the Day Before (#56 of 365+)

The apostle Paul said, “Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11 NIV). Another interpretation of this verse reads, “God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation

Remember (#55 of 365+)

In today’s devotional Joni said, “Emotions are one of the least reliable yet influential forces in our lives… When hardship settles in, dark and brooding emotions can surge over us in a tide of

In Everything... for Everything (#54 of 365+)

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Since I find God faithful in both good and bad situations, giving thanks to him for being there

God’s Idea of Good (#53 of 365+)

Our son is learning that we will give him grace when he makes a bad decision, but if he chooses poorly on purpose (and especially if he has an attitude of defiance about it) there will be

A Warm Spot (#52 of 365+)

The weather is getting colder now that we’re approaching winter. This morning it’s only 31°F. When I let the doggies out, they were very quick to do their business before they ran back inside.

God’s Got Reasons (#51 of 365+)

Remember yesterday’s devotional? Joni lost her spoon again. This time, she was on a mission trip through Africa. She earnestly prayed for God to show her where the spoon was but he “was

The Shovel Spoon (#50 of 365+)

Yesterday my husband and I had a lengthy discussion about the mileage on the car. If we go over the maximum number of miles in our lease agreement we’ll have to pay a per-mileage penalty,

And Can It Be? (#49 of 365+)

The title of today’s devotional is the name of a hymn that seemed especially striking to Joni the morning she accepted Christ. The third verse goes: “Long my imprisoned soul lay fast/Bound in sin

How'd It Go? (#48 of 365+)

Ever have one of those days or weeks when everything went wrong... and then someone asked you, “How’s it going?”...

Caribbean Pines (#47 of 365+)

God is reinforcing the lesson I received from the “Crowded to Christ” devotional two days ago when I wrote, “…every test of faith is also a test of God’s faithfulness [and] an invitation to

Remember Them! (#46 of 365+)

Today is Veterans’ Day...

There’s a special place in my heart reserved for veterans and all

Crowded to Christ (#45 of 365+)

Yesterday I overheard a woman counsel a young Christian lady who was in crisis because of poor choices she had made. She told her God loves her so much that he’s holding a huge heap of

The Interests of Others (#44 of 365+)

I apologize in advance for the following business analogies but at the moment this is the best way for me to mull over some things I’m having issues with this morning. The separation of Church and

Quality and Quantity (#43 of 365+)

Jesus’ first public miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding party (John 2). In today’s devotional Joni said, “This wasn’t the plain label stuff” and one 30-gallon jar “would have

Send Me (#42 of 365+)

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8)

May the Mind of Christ My Savior (#41 of 365+)

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 KJV)

The title of today’s devotional is one of Joni’s favorite hymns.

A Wall of Hostility (#40 of 365+)

“For [Christ] himself is our peace... and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations… to create in himself one new

God Repenting? (#39 of 365+)

“So the LORD relented” (Amos 7:3)

Did God change his mind, or repent of a bad opinion? Does God

Focus in Service (#38 of 365+)

Last night I attended volunteer training for a local ministry and God spoke to me through a guest speaker. She quoted the following verse: “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the

When in Pain (#37 of 365+)

Our extended family is grieving for Kelly, a much loved dog, who died at the age of twelve human years this past Saturday morning. Although she still seemed to be in very good spirits when the

The Devil's Real Weapon (#36 of 365+)

Yesterday was Halloween and I had a chance to spend a couple of hours in front of the TV with my son and niece. We watched a show about haunted places in America, including the scary

The Real Halloween (#35 of 365+)

Last night my husband and I took our son and niece to a local church’s version of a haunted house. A large group of visitors were led through a series of dark rooms, each one revealing its

In Season... and Out (#34 of 365+)

Yesterday on Pastor’s Perspective, a radio ministry of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, they announced The Awakening ‘09 Evangelism Conference to be held October 30 – 31. Speakers

Fighting Fire with Fire (#33 of 365+)

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22 ESV)

No Divisions (#32 of 365+)

“God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal

What Impresses God (#31 of 365+)

I began working in the business world about twelve years ago, at a time when I was in the middle of a divorce and felt completely lost. I didn’t have a college degree or anything impressive on my

Eyes... Blind or Open? (#30 of 365+)

My beloved husband and I had a little disagreement last night. OK, maybe it was a big disagreement because I cried so much I woke up this morning with a splitting headache. Without getting

God's Wedding Ring (#29 of 365+)

There are numerous times the Old Testament foreshadows Jesus Christ. The story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah is one such example. Abraham had faith that God would provide a lamb

Hearts Fully Committed (#28 of 365+)

Recently I overheard a conversation between two of my fellow managers at work. One of the men had just received a text message from his wife. She was going over to a friend’s house for

Therefore... (#27 of 365+)

I shop at an Asian grocery store that is both owned and operated by a sweet elderly Korean couple. The old man always offers to carry something for me and the old woman smiles and gives me

Future Memories (#26 of 365+)

Things didn’t go so well yesterday. We didn’t get reimbursed for the plumber and the water extraction company. The property manager never apologized and never took responsibility for her

A Weaned Child (#25 of 365+)

Our hot water heater exploded last night! Thirty gallons of water seeped into the carpet as we tried to fight off the tide while waiting for help to arrive. Since we live in a townhouse apartment we

Clothed in Righteousness (#24 of 365+)

I completed this devotional during my lunch hour. I woke up too late this morning to have it then so I quickly decided to just get ready for work and do it later during the day. I really, really

The Fear of the Lord (#23 of 365+)

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 23:17)

In other words, “Don’t be jealous. Be zealous”. This verse is a

Take It by Force (#22 of 365+)

These were Jesus’ own words: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it” (Matthew 11:12)

A Prompting from the Spirit (#21 of 365+)

Opera and theater performers are human. They get tired, distracted, and they forget just like the rest of us. So they rely on someone to give them cues to their next phrase or line. This

What Do I Have? (#20 of 365+)

Due to a recent series of events, my husband and I had to share “my car” this entire week. His job requires mobility so of course I understood that he needed possession of the car all day.

The Shiny, Sharp Tool (#19 of 365+)

The shiny, sharp tool Joni is talking about in today’s devotional lesson is the devil’s favorite tool, the one he uses often. Discouragement.

The Lord's Right Hand (#18 of 365+)

The Book of Revelation was written by John, one of the closest friends Jesus Christ had during his earthly ministry. When I did some research about the author I found some facts that were both

When Pain Moves In (#17 of 365+)

The most severe physical pain I’ve known was labor contractions. It was 1993, I was a young first-time mother, and my baby’s father was deployed to Somalia. The pain in my lower back was so

A Triumphal Procession (#16 of 365+)

When I learned last week that October 12th was going to be a school district holiday, I requested to take today off from work so my son and I could be together. Now that I’ve been studying my

The Price of Identifying (#15 of 365+)

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity.” (Hebrews 2:14)

My family attended church together only a few times when I was a

"Doorkeeping" Tasks (#14 of 365+)

In Korea, as in many Asian countries, the surname is placed first in front of a person’s given name. So instead of John Smith your full name is Smith John. Children inherit their father’s family

One with Him (#13 of 365+)

Recently my son has been having issues with something and it has become apparent that he requires counseling. My husband suggests that we take him to our pastor because he relates well to

Real Dignity (#12 of 365+)

I have loved the following words from the Declaration of Independence ever since I had to memorize them in middle school: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are

Hand-Tailored Grace (#11 of 365+)

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." (Jeremiah 1:5)

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one

Jesus' Social Life (#10 of 365+)

Being brought up in a military family afforded me the opportunity to move around a lot and meet all kinds of people. At an early age I developed the ability to make friends with anyone without

God Meant It for Good (#9 of 365+)

After one week of daily devotionals, I can already see a change in my attitude. This morning I spent more time than usual praying and the bulk of my prayers were for other people. I'm not as "woe-

It Could Be Worse (#8 of 365+)

Yesterday I attended an Apologetics and Worldview Conference at a local church. This church hosts a Christian school, and the mascot there is a warrior decked out in knight’s gear. The symbol

Confined Contentment (#7 of 365+)

In the movie The Shawshank Redemption a man named “Red” repeatedly failed to convince officials during parole hearings that he was a changed man and had served his time. He had lost hope

A Lesson in Humiliation (#6 of 365+)

Joni's devotional today referred to a story about a personal humiliation that helped her to see her own sin and hypocrisy in one area of her life. As she said, God "brushes aside our smooth

Waiting in Prayer (#5 of 365+)

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."" Psalm 5:3

In this morning's devotional, Joni told the story of a wheelchair

The God of Hope (#4 of 365+)

I attended a fundraising dinner last night with over 300 other believers. The worthy cause was a local pregnancy help center that serves women who may be facing an unexpected pregancy.

The Exaltation of Christ (#3 of 365+)

My husband awoke at approximately 3:00 a.m. to the sound of our male dog, a Shih Tzu, scratching at a door. Experience told him what that sound meant. He quickly arose and let him out to

Prepare to Meet Your God (#2 of 365+)

I had a vivid dream last night. It ended with me being nestled deep within the warmth of Daddy's arms. Never before had I felt such strength, pure love, and acceptance. Tears flowed down

Job's Trials (#1 of 365+)

Ah, Sunday morning... Alarm clocks across the room or beside the bed don't work well for me, so last night I put my cell phone under my pillow. The loud and vibrating alarm did the trick. I

My first post!

Hello,

I feel sort of like Bilbo Baggins felt when he was getting ready to leave The Shire. Surely my neighbors and co-workers would text rumors about the loss of my sanity if they could read this post