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