Unlocked Archives: nonfiction

  • September 20, 2024

    READ: PSALM 23; JOHN 10:11-18; 14:1-21 I bent down to snatch a wildflower from beside the path and then hurried on. I rushed to catch up once again with my beloved family member—I’ll call him Nash here—who had agreed to let me accompany him on a walk in the woods. I rejoiced to spend rare [...]

  • September 19, 2024

    READ: PSALM 119:11-16, 28, 103-105; JOHN 14:23-27 I love God’s Word, the Bible, and all that He put in it for us. I think it’s so important to commit Bible verses and passages to memory so that we are never without it. Some of the reasons I like to have God’s Word memorized is for [...]

  • September 18, 2024

    READ: EXODUS 3:1–4:17; EPHESIANS 2:8-10; HEBREWS 11:23-29 Do you ever feel unqualified for something God has called you to do? Moses felt unqualified too. In the book of Exodus, God appears to Moses in a burning bush. He calls Moses to lead His people, the Israelites, out of slavery in Egypt. But Moses says, “Who [...]

  • September 17, 2024

    READ: NUMBERS 21:8-9; JOHN 3:1-17; 11:25-27 Do you ever wonder if you’re really saved? Maybe you prayed to ask Jesus to save you, but you keep wondering, “How do I know I really meant it when I asked Jesus to forgive and save me? Maybe I should ask Him again, just to make sure.” These [...]

  • September 15, 2024

    READ: MATTHEW 18:12-14; 25:34-40 Have you ever known a really good pastor? Someone who takes the time to get to know the people of their church, teach them, counsel them, and lend a hand when things go wrong. Someone who goes above and beyond with their wisdom and loving service. Someone who, while they still [...]

  • September 14, 2024

    READ: MATTHEW 9:9-12; LUKE 5:27-32 Have you ever wished you were invited to an exclusive event? A movie premier, a party, or a concert with front row VIP seats? Years ago, I watched interviews with celebrities who talked about the exciting invitations they’d been offered. If only I could be like them, I thought. And [...]

  • September 13, 2024

    READ: PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9; JAMES 1:21-27 Picture this: You’re walking through a beautiful garden, admiring the carefully planted flowers and foliage and appreciating their beauty. Then, you look closer and notice some things that the gardener definitely didn’t plant: weeds! They seem to crop up everywhere, even when we didn’t plant them. In a way, our [...]

  • September 11, 2024

    READ: PSALMS 31:20; 62:6-8; JUDE 1:1, 20-21; 2 TIMOTHY 4:18 It’s hard to feel safe. Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, many of us have grown up with an awareness of terrorism and the need for precautions like metal detectors at airports and large events. Just in case. Maybe you’ve grown up knowing you [...]

  • September 8, 2024

    READ: MATTHEW 25:34-40; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-7 Have you ever visited a friend or family member in the hospital? Maybe you brought some of their favorite games or books or movies. While they might have been happy to see you, maybe they weren’t up for games or movies. It can be discouraging, especially if you visit [...]

  • September 7, 2024

    READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; PSALM 139:13-17 As I was washing dishes recently, I got to thinking about how amazing the human body is…and how great the God who created us is. As I picked up each dish and took care of it, I was grateful for my ability to do that. As I felt my heart [...]