A New Year of Opportunities.

I really like devotionals. They’re like little books of adventures with God. I’m completely astonished at how something someone felt inspired to write for a particular day of the year is just the thing I need to hear on that specific day. It just demonstrates the lengths that God takes to communicate with us. It's an opportunity to communicate with the Lord on a personal level.  Devotionals don’t take the place of Bible study but they are great to get me going each day. They help me to focus on God and often are part of a “theme for the day” that the Lord is trying to teach me. So I’m gonna list some of my favorites with a little info about each. Please share your thoughts or your suggestions for devotionals you have used. If you make only one New Year’s Resolution this year then I highly suggest making it to have a quiet time each morning. No matter what the new year may hold for your life it is for sure that if you are focusing on God each day then you will have everything you need to get through it. So, here are some of my favs in no particular order:


Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young: This is my newest find and I have loved it. Readings for each day of the year.

Experiencing God Day By Day by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby: If you have never taken this bible study it is a must. The devotional is a little snippet for each day of the year of thoughts from the book.

My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers: I go through this one almost every year. Everytime I start a new devotional and find I can’t leave this one out so I just read it at night now. It’s profound. It has a years worth of devotions.

Come Away My Beloved by Frances J. Roberts: These are intimate devotions for a weary heart.

Streams in The Desert by L.B. Cowman: Again, this is a good devotional when you are feeling weary. It has entries for each day of the year.

I Come Quietly To Meet You arranged by David Hazard: This is a collection of 40 different devotions from the writings of Amy Carmichael. It draws your heart to the Father as our shelter and peace. Amy Carmichael led an incredible life.

His Passion: Christ’s Journey to the Resurrection: This is a collection of devotions for each day of the year by noted authors through the ages such as St. Augustin, Martin Luther, A.W. Tozer, and Max Lucado. Each day is a close look at the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

Who I Am in Christ by Neil T. Anderson: This is a book of 36 very short chapters each one a focus on who we are in Christ. While I am not endorsing everything Neil T. Anderson has written these devotions are a must to be grounded in your faith. The enemy doesn’t want us to know our true identity or how God really sees us.

Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda. This is set up so that you study a woman each week. You take an intense look each day at a different facet of her life for 5 days out of the week.

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. This isn’t a traditional devotional but I use it so frequently for my quiet time I had to include it. It’s not for everyone. You can google Valley of Vision and find some of the writings online to try it out- it’s an acquired taste.

A Year With C.S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works. I haven’t actually used this one yet just looked at it. It’s on my “want” list. If you are a C.S. Lewis fan it looks good.

Journey Magazine: They’re short and sweet and always relevant plus it’s free! Just pick it up each month by the welcome center in the children’s area.

Well, there’s my list. All of them can be found at Lifeway or Cedar Springs with the exception of The Valley of Vision. So, what do you like to use for your quiet times?

If only......

Racing in my heart and mind are many “why’s” and “if only’s”. In my grief I try to reason what has happened but I find no solice there- only more questions. Struggling to make sense of it all in my finite little mind I do the only thing I know to do brings comfort: I run to my Shepherd. It is only when I am face down before Him that there is any relief. It is here that I can rest in His peace and comfort. The Comforter reminds me that my Lord knows grief and sorrow. Was He not despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief? (Isaiah 53:3) He reminds me of the story of Lazarus in John 11. Jesus was “deeply moved” when He saw His friend’s grief. He even wept with them. I confess my rebellious thoughts and pride. How can I even begin to understand His ways? It is here in this valley that I have to decide if my faith is real or just words I throw around. It is in suffering and sorrow that we enter into a deeper fellowship with Him.


I had pulled out a devotional collection of writings by Amy Carmichael (“I Come Quietly to Meet You”) about a month ago. It’s a favorite of mine and it’s been a while since I’ve gone through it. It has sat there all these weeks but I have only read in it once. Tonight I picked it up after my time of prayer and opened the book up about midway through. The title of the devotion? “If Only….” I’ll leave it for you. Reminded again that the Lord does hear our cries and see our pain. He is close to the brokenhearted. As my sweet friend is rejoicing in the very presence of the Father I too can rejoice. It’s what she would have wanted.

For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit….and to revive the heart….” Isaiah 57:15

In a letter written by Samuel Rutherford, dated 1640, he speaks of how hard it is to be patient if we allow our thoughts to become stuck “down among the confused rollings and wheels of second causes.”

By this he means all the times we say, “If only I hadn’t been in the wrong place,” or “If only I’d gone at a different time.” He means the subtle tempation to link together earthly causes-and-effects. To fight against this temptation, to escape the confused, grinding, second wheels of this “logic,” Rutherford cries to us from across history: “Look up! Look to the master- motion and the first wheel!”

There was a day, for me- October 24- when I stood among three other happy people in Joyous City, outside the door of the house we’d rented for the missions work there- which we’d found locked. We wondered what we should do. The old man who had charge of the key was not there, and the key was not to be found.

We stood a long time in the swiftly gathering twilight, ready to turn contentedly toward home if we could not get in. Just then, another old man hurried up, the huge key of his own courtyard door in hand. “This may open it,” he said hopefully.

There was a moment’s fumbling. The door opened. We went in…

What if the old man had not rushed up at the last moment with a key? What if the key had not worked? There was a pit dug, where no pit was supposed to be. And for me, a crippling fall.

The confused rollings and wheels of “second causes” do not help much here- or anywhere. The Lord allowed it. Therefore, so far as we are concerned, He did it: He, himself. And all the He does is good.

On October 6, eighteen days beofre, a member of our fellowship was at home in London. In a time of prayer, he was suddenly caused to feel that danger was threatening me. He prayed, not the easy prayer of the unconcerned, but the intense prayer of one greatly burdened. A sense of fear tried to overwhelm him, as of terror by night. He continued on until peace came, and he knew that his prayer was heard.

Should we have said that prayer was not answered? It is a petty view of our Father’s love and wisdom which demands or expects an answer according to our desires, apart from His wisdom.

We see hardly one inch of the narrow lane of time. To our God, eternity lies open as a meadow. It must seem strange to the heavenly people, who have reached the beautiful End, that you and I should ever question what Love allows to be, or that we ever call prayer “unanswered” when it is not what we expect.

Isn’t no an answer? Isn’t heaven an answer?

My Father, I cripple myself spiritually by going over and over the “what if’s.” I never saw this as pride- as trying to take your place as Lord and Shepherd… I confess you now as the Master of time and eternity.

Be my Shepherd today, leading me on this “low” road I’m traveling.

The Scarlet Thread

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:25

The last week or two I have had a consistent theme running through my “spiritual filter”. You know, you have those words, thoughts or incidences all with the same theme flowing through them. I know the Lord is trying to show me something. Sometimes it’s obvious and other times I just have to wait for Him to assemble everything together in my simple mind. It all came together this past weekend. We watched Saturday as the baby birds that had been hatched in the flower basket outside our kitchen window learned to fly. It took most of the day and was very upsetting to my younger son (an avid animal lover). He worried and fretted and questioned the momma bird’s love and wisdom in allowing her babies to struggle so. We sat down to discuss the fact that this is how all birds learn to fly. Their wings get stronger as they continue to try and fail until they are strong enoug to actually fly. Without the struggle they would never have the strength to fly. From there we talked about God’s care and after quoting some scriptures and discussing the fact that we have to trust the Lord we prayed for the little birds. Happy that I had not missed the teachable moment, like I so often do, I went on with my day.

I’ve spent the last few weeks being anxious and frustrated over so many things that I have no control over (as if I have control over anything!). Sunday, the Lord again through His word, reminded me how His love and faithfulness are woven with a scarlet thread from the beginning of time, literally from Genesis to Revelation. I love how He will put the same message before me in different ways until I finally “get it”. My thoughts went to all He has done in my life from the beginning- always wooing me. That He is completely sovereign over all. Then I realized why all of this was bothering me so. If I believe that He is sovereign then why am I worried and anxious over anything? Bingo! There it was, the point of my teachable moment with my son was really for me. 

Jerry Bridges, in his book Respectable Sins, Confronting the Sins We Tolerate puts it like this: “The opposite of trust in God is either anxiety or frustration.” He goes on to say, “Anxiety is sin for two reasons. First, anxiety is a distrust of God. Anxiety is a sin also because it is a lack of acceptance of God’s providence in our lives.” In Mark 9, we read of a father whose son is possessed by demons. He seeks out the Lord to heal him. His doubt (worry, anxiety) comes out as he pleads with the Lord, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (v.22) The Lord immediately calls out his unbelief and the man responds “I believe, help my unbelief!” I find it so interesting that the man first went to the disciples and they were unable to cast out the demon. Jesus’ implication was that it was their lack of faith and lack of prayer that prevented them from helping the boy. If you back up to chapter 8, you read about the feeding of the 5,000, the healing of the blind man at Bathsaida, and Peter rightfully declaring the Lord “The Christ.” Chapter 9 starts off with the Transfiguation of Christ where Peter, James and John are present. The Father himself speaks to them and tells them, “This is my beloved son; listen to Him.”(v.7) Yet after all this, still the disciples lacked the faith to cast a demon out of a little boy. How could they not believe He was who He said He was?

I'm not much different. I proclaim to be a believer but when the rubber meets the road I start to falter. So often when struggles come my way I am quick to turn to anxiety and worry. I forget that it is in the trials that our Father strengthens our spiritual wings. My faith can’t (and won’t) grow without testing. (see 1Peter 1:6-9) When I hold onto my worry instead of the Scarlet Thread of the Lord's faithfulness I’m saying “I don’t know if you really are who you say you are.” I’ve lulled myself into accepting my lack of belief as somehow “ok”. It’s not. It’s sin. I’ve also missed the lesson I was supposed to learn in the trial. Jesus desires for us to have a very personal relationship with Him. When I choose to worry and fret I miss the opportunity to know Him better; to learn something new about Him. It’s an opportunity to grow. How different would my life look if I actually lived in that truth? Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief!


Father, thank you for the sweet gift of conviction. Forgive my unbelief. Help me not to miss the lessons in the trials of life. I want to know you more.

My Double Portion

Isaiah 61:1-4,7 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives,and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,and the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning,the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;that they may be called oaks of righteousness,the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;they shall raise up the former devastations;they shall repair the ruined cities,the devastations of many generations.
7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;they shall have everlasting joy.




Their little blond heads bobbed up and down as they ran. Their mouths open with laughter and squealing. It was a beautiful Spring day. When I turned into the driveway the boys begged to get out and run to the house. It was one of their favorite things to do. They were 6 and 3 at the time. Our driveway is long and disappears into the woods before you get to our house at the top of the hill. I was watching them in my rear view mirror with a heart about to burst with joy. It was then that the Lord brought Isaiah 61: 1-4 to mind. It was one of those "God moments" where everything slows down and goes silent and I know He is about to tell me something He really wants me to get. My bible was in the seat beside me and when I got to the top of the hill He prompted me to read Isaiah 61. I know these verses very well after having prayed them daily for most of a year as I went through some very difficult times. Again He said, "read it, the whole chapter"- I had never gone beyond verse 4. As I read from my bible, I came to verse 7 "Instead of your shame their shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy." My boys laughter pierced my thoughts and I looked up to see them now coming up the hill as the Lord said "there is your double portion- your shame is gone- rejoice". I was overwhelmed.



The past two years had been spent dealing with some past issues that I had drug around for almost 11 years. The enemy had convinced me I'd never be free of them. The Lord had brought Isaiah 61 across my path during yet another bible study I was taking hoping this time it would be the one that "took". I had clung to it- praying it almost daily- sometimes with my face literally in my bible as I laid on the floor. Maybe I could somehow breathe it in or absorb it into my brain by osmosis. Then He brought someone across my path who encouraged me to take yet another bible study but this one was different. It was with other women just like me- burdened with the shame and guilt of their past decision- unable to escape it. I went. I remember thinking that this one probably wouldn't help either. I continued to pray the same scripture wanting so bad to have real freedom. Three weeks into the study there it was. Isaiah 61:1-4. It was the first time I felt real hope. This time it "took". This time I finally surrendered my burden not to pick it up again. I felt real freedom. I could breath deeply for the first time in 11 years. That day on my driveway was a "full circle" moment. It was the Lord wiping away any residual doubt that I still held on to that I was indeed fully forgiven. It was His reminder of how much He loves me.



Fast forward 8 years. Yesterday was Mother's Day. The morning was spent at church, one of my most favorite places to be. For so many years I felt unworthy to sit in church, now it is one of the placest I feel most content. I sat with both my boys beside me as we listened to the message our pastor had for us. Speaking out of Proverbs 31 (collective groan from all you out there who automatically start measuring yourself to this super woman) he made mention of the fact that these words were communicated to King Lemuel by his mother. He made the statement that if your mother had been the one to pass on her faith to you then you should thank her. My youngest leaned over and touched my arm. I leaned down to hear him say "Thank you mom". My heart was overwhelmed once again. The Lord has been gracious enough to allow me to be the one who led both my boys to the Lord. I felt it was His special gift to me to remind me of His victory in my life. He brought back the memory of that Spring day in my driveway. Sitting there He once again reminded me that He did indeed give me a double portion instead of shame, as Isaiah 61 speaks of. He is so good. His love still overwhelms me. The more I learn of Him the more I want to know.
..................................I've only begun to scratch the surface.