Devotional Archives
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Understanding
May 22, 2013
Recently I was with some friends discussing our understanding of God. One person always referred to God using the phrase, “the God I don’t understand.” Another said she was truly glad there was mystery involved ...
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Open For Healing
May 21, 2013
Friends told me that my sudden illness was an allergic reaction, but I didn’t really believe them because I’d never had allergies. Finally, with a high fever and barely able to move, I begged my ...
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No Performance Necessary
May 20, 2013
My granddaughters were to compete in classical ballet. However, before the ballet, we were told that a troupe of five-year-old girls would perform individually. Four girls came on stage, one after the other. Then came ...
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A Different Ending
May 19, 2013
Hours after the Last Supper, the disciples were put to the test — and they failed. They abandoned Jesus when the soldiers came, denied they knew him, and mostly hid while he died on the ...
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God’s Touch
May 18, 2013
We have a new puppy, a Labrador retriever named Holly. We spend a lot of time swinging in the hammock while Holly explores the back yard in the comfort of our presence. If playing on ...
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Measuring Up
May 17, 2013
The Lord has blessed me, enabling me to be a wife, a mom, and a grandmother. However, I have struggled from time to time with low self-esteem. Because I do not have a college education ...
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Calm Shining
May 16, 2013
I was driving to one of our firm’s subsidiaries. It is quite a distance away, but traffic was light. While crossing a bridge, I noticed a significant difference between the landscape behind me and the ...
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Inconvenient Discipleship
May 15, 2013
The Christian ministry where I work serves those in need by giving food and clothing and meeting other basic needs. One Saturday as my husband and I were on our way to a business associate’s ...
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Two Lost Sons
May 14, 2013
I’ve always loved the parable of the lost son because it is a great illustration of God’s limitless grace, mercy, and forgiveness. However, while many see this as a parable about the younger son, the ...
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Life-Giving Water
May 13, 2013
During my college days I was zealous in my studies and my attempts to find work. Yet my spirit felt hungry and dry. While believing that being employed by a first-rate company would bring me ...
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A Letter From Mother
May 12, 2013
My mother died a few days after my fourth birthday. The only knowledge I have of her comes from stories my family tells. When I was a teenager, my dad handed me an envelope. Inside ...
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All Safe
May 11, 2013
I grew up on a farm around many different animals. By far the most labor-intensive of these were the sheep. Caring for the sheep required much more work than taking care of our cattle. The ...
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Run A Little
May 10, 2013
When our son was around six years old, he would sometimes stop as we made our way home from our shop, saying, “Dad, I’m too tired to walk.” I would answer, “Then you can run ...
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Beyond Comparison
May 09, 2013
In our reading for today, Jesus tells of a man who hired different workers at different times of the day: morning, noon, and evening. When it was time for the workers to receive the wages ...
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Spiritual Rehabilitation
May 08, 2013
A number of years ago, I had a heart attack. My doctors performed a bypass operation and then prescribed medication and an exercise regimen. They also suggested I participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program. After ...
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Straw
May 07, 2013
Several years ago, people from the former Soviet republics had to register in Russia or apply for citizenship. The department accepted applications two days a week for three hours. To be received at the 9:00 ...
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Are You Rejoicing Yet?
May 06, 2013
During my summer vacations I work as a leader and trainer for an indoor challenge-and-fitness center. Sunday school classes and birthday parties are held at the center, where participants enjoy rope climbing, obstacle courses, and ...
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Released
May 05, 2013
My daughter-in-law, Megan, grew up with a dog named Buddy, who was kept outside on a cable run between two shade trees. Daily he was released for a taste of freedom. If only Buddy had ...
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Do You Love Me?
May 04, 2013
It is early morning, and I am walking along the shores of beautiful Lake Macquarie. I can easily imagine the scene described in today’s reading and perhaps include myself in the picture. The tired and ...
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Trees Of Life
May 03, 2013
All of my life I have loved trees. As a young girl, I would climb up into them, often with a favorite book in hand. I sat happily among the canopy of leaves — my ...
