READ: PSALMS 32:5; 103:8-14; EPHESIANS 6:10-18; 1 PETER 5:6-11 Are you ever reminded of something bad you did, and just the memory of it makes you feel like you just did it again seconds ago? Sometimes all I remember is the bad stuff. It pops into my mind and hangs out there. I’ve asked God’s [...]

READ: PSALMS 39:7; 119:49; LAMENTATIONS 3:13-26 In the Bible, we see over and over again how the Israelites (God’s people) turned away from God, abandoning His good ways and embracing sin. But God still had a great love for His people, even though they sinned and no longer followed His commands. He often sent prophets, [...]

The Aramean army surrounded Samaria. No one could get out or go in. People were starving since no one could get past the Aramean army. Those outside the gates—lepers who were unclean since leprosy was a fatal skin disease—were also starving. . Four lepers sat outside the gate. Trying to figure out a way to [...]

Love is not just a four-letter word. Sometimes we want to hear someone say, “I love you” and really mean it and show it. My dear husband doesn't say “I love you” very often. When he does say it, I know he truly means it. More than anything, he shows me he loves me. He [...]

I like to feed hummingbirds. As I was researching how to feed them well, I found that many websites say to watch for stragglers at the end of the warm season. This year, we've had a couple stragglers. It's November when I write this, and I am still putting out food and it's still disappearing. [...]

A Pharisee (a Jewish religious leader) named Simon invited Jesus to supper. When Jesus arrived, Simon didn't offer Him water to wash His feet or head. Dirty feet in sandals and itchy heads need water to wash off the dust. It was also customary for the host to offer their guest a kiss on the [...]

When was the last time you lost something? I'm always losing something and frantically looking for it. I usually find what I'm looking for in peculiar places. I once found my driver's license next to my shampoo and my phone in the refrigerator! Whenever I find something I'm looking for, I feel a huge sense [...]

Johnson Oatman Jr. admired his father. Johnson Oatman Sr. was a gifted singer at church and an intelligent businessperson. In many ways, Johnson Jr. followed in his father's footsteps, even working at the family business. But he didn't have all the same gifts as his father. While he loved music, Johnson Jr. wasn't quite as [...]

Noah was a man whose hope was in God. Noah's neighbors must have thought he'd lost his mind. In the middle of nowhere, he built a huge ark—a giant boat. They probably laughed at him and called him crazy. After God shut the doors on the ark and the rain fell for many days, Noah [...]

Jeremiah was just a young man when God called him to be a prophet—a messenger to speak to the people on God's behalf. Jeremiah was to tell the people of Judah to repent of their evil and to follow God instead. Even though Jeremiah felt too young and unqualified, God still used him to warn [...]