Morning Devotional 2.12.26

โ€œI know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.โ€โ€ญโ€ญPhilippiansโ€ฌ โ€ญ4โ€ฌ:โ€ญ12โ€ฌ-โ€ญ13โ€ฌ โ€ญNRSVUEโ€ฌโ€ฌ I …

Morning Devotional 2.11.26

โ€œAnd God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.โ€โ€ญโ€ญ2 Corinthiansโ€ฌ โ€ญ9โ€ฌ:โ€ญ8โ€ฌ โ€ญNRSVUEโ€ฌโ€ฌ God is able to provide.(God is able to provide. God is able to provide.)Remember that line from the Wizard of Oz, โ€thereโ€™s no place …

Morning Devotional 2.10.26

โ€œAnd not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,โ€โ€ญโ€ญRomansโ€ฌ โ€ญ5โ€ฌ:โ€ญ3โ€ฌ-โ€ญ4โ€ฌ โ€ญNRSVUEโ€ฌโ€ฌ Suffering builds perseverance, or so weโ€™re told. No one wants to suffer, and yet when we must endure it, we are never alone. The lesson? Pray, and look to …

Morning Devotional 2.8.26

โ€œMy brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.โ€โ€ญโ€ญJamesโ€ฌ โ€ญ1โ€ฌ:โ€ญ2โ€ฌ-โ€ญ3โ€ฌ โ€ญNRSVUEโ€ฌโ€ฌ Count it all joy.A surprise international adventure.An unanticipated career pivot.An entirely unexpected inspiration and new creativity.The gift of time.Count it all joy, because God who wrote the past and …

Morning Devotional 2.4.26

โ€œIn everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.โ€โ€ญโ€ญMatthewโ€ฌ โ€ญ7โ€ฌ:โ€ญ12โ€ฌ โ€ญNRSVUEโ€ฌโ€ฌ Known as the Golden Rule, this guidance is framed positively , as opposed to the โ€œyou shouldnโ€™ts.โ€ How much better do we respond to instruction than to admonishment? Let us encourage one …

Morning Devotional 1.31.26

โ€œand let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:โ€โ€ญโ€ญHebrewsโ€ฌ โ€ญ10โ€ฌ:โ€ญ24โ€ฌ โ€ญKJVโ€ฌโ€ฌ Let us provoke one another into love. Isnโ€™t that challenge by which should all be inspired? Letโ€™s encourage one another.There is so much animosity in the world, canโ€™t we strive for better?We must.Lord, hear and receive our prayers. Image …

Morning Devotional 1.29.26

โ€œThere is none holy as the LORD: For there is none beside thee: Neither is there any rock like our God.โ€โ€ญโ€ญ1 Samuelโ€ฌ โ€ญ2โ€ฌ:โ€ญ2โ€ฌ โ€ญKJVโ€ฌโ€ฌ Known as Hannahโ€™s praise, this scripture demonstrates deep, abiding worship, asserting God's absolute supremacy, above all. For me, it is the simple declaration of my ancestors, declaring โ€œOnly God.โ€ Tell me, …

Morning Devotional 1.27.26

โ€œHear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: For in thy sight shall no man living be justified.โ€โ€ญโ€ญPsalmโ€ฌ โ€ญ143โ€ฌ:โ€ญ1โ€ฌ-โ€ญ2โ€ฌ โ€ญKJVโ€ฌโ€ฌ This morning during my meditative practice, the lesson was discipline over motivation. Motivation can wane, but …