Whatever your day holds, you’re deeply loved.
From Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
Holley Gerth is an American Christian author.
When the heart submits, then Jesus reigns. When Jesus reigns, there is rest.
From Jeremiah 29:13-14: “When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart, I will let you find Me, says the Lord.”
Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was a British-born Christian missionary. He spent 54 years in China.
The Son’s obedience was as Redeemer, because He was Son, not in order to be Son.
From John 13:13: “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
There is no greater joy in the Christian life than to trust Him and need no explanation.
From Jeremiah 17:7: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.”
Jack Hyles (1926-2001) was an American pastor, who led his congregation at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana from 1959 until his death. He was well-known for creating a bus ministry to bring people to worship at First Baptist Church.
From Luke 2:8-11: “Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'”
Humble shepherds
Tending flocks at night
Angel sharing great news
Shining from Bethlehem’s light
Minds awaken
Praising with great joy
Hearts filling with wonder
Witnessing love in this boy
Promise fulfilled
Giving thanks to God
Savior comes to rescue
Raising hope, at last unthawed
Darkness conquered
Forgiving man’s sin
Forever, King of Kings
Locking redemption’s linchpin
From Colossians 1:13-14: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
When we lack the peace of God, we should turn to our peace with God.
From Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”
Robert Millen Horn (1933-2005) was a British pastor and Christian writer. He was born to parents who served as missionaries in Ethiopia until 1936 when they fled the country following the Italian invasion.
We cannot afford to be naive about evil–it must be faced. But we cannot be intimidated by it either. It will be used by God to bring good.
From Romans 8:31: “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
Eugene Peterson (1932-2018) was an American pastor, theologian, and Christian author.
Doubts and mistrust are the mere panic of timid imagination, which the steadfast heart will conquer, and the large mind transcend.
From Proverbs 3:5: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968) was an American author and lecturer. Her own journey through blindness and deafness encouraged her to advocate for the rights of others who live with disabilities.
From Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
The headlines read of child pornography, drugs, alcohol, depression, teen-age suicide, murder, abuse and much, much more! Sometimes, we might feel that if we don’t read the newspapers or listen to news reports, we can forget those things are there. We would like them to go away. We would like to forget they exist. Unfortunately, we know they won’t go away, and our hearts are sickened by that painful truth. How are these horrible realities affecting the lives of our precious children? They are not only in the high schools. You can find them in elementary schools, day care facilities, and on street corners everywhere. It breaks my heart to read of the young victims held in the clutches of such evils. More than that, it makes me angry!
The Word of God tells us to be angry and sin not! We should be angry at the evils around our children. These children are a gift from God, but the gift was not free. It came with a price tag of awesome responsibility. How foolish is the parent who takes that responsibility lightly. We are in a battle against Satan. If God is to control our children’s lives when they become adults, we must train them as children. We cannot handle their lives as though they are nothing but toys or play things, and expect God to let us off without answering for it. Our children must be armed for battle by knowing God and His Word. Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness by using Scripture, and we have the power to do the same! How can we allow our children to go out into this worldly battle unarmed? We must teach them what is right, and show them how to have the strength to stand up for it.
A dear friend of mine has shared something very special with me. She also wonders about the effects of the evils of this world on her children. She has always prayed for their lives each day. Since it has become a burden in her heart, she has started praying for their children’s safe future before she goes to bed at night. She goes into their room after they’re asleep, and places her hand on them as she prays. As you touch the child you brought into this world, how can you not feel the great responsibility to pray for their health, their school years, and their adult lives? I challenge you to do this for your children!
It takes an awesome commitment to be a parent; to pray for them at night, to teach them each day, and to live what you teach. Without that commitment, will your child become one of the statistics?
Oh Father, help me feel the burden of responsibility for my children’s lives. Help me to be faithful to pray and teach each one in the way they should go. Show me today where I’ve failed as a parent in the past. Forgive me when I take this position lightly. Help me to live a life that is consistent with what I teach. Father, use my children for Your glory, that Jesus may be seen in them. Amen.
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This devotion is written by my wife, Colleen. It is taken from the contents of her book, BITS ‘N’ PIECES OF MY HEART. Inspired by her own Christian faith and a mother’s love for her daughters, Colleen’s writings feature short stories, devotions, and poetry. These are intended for reading by adults and teens. The final two sections of the book share her inventory of activities and songs to enjoy with young children. Her book is available online at your favorite outlet.
Self-realization leads to the enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work.
From Philippians 3:10: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
Big Sky Buckeye 