Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

When I was a young teen I didn't like myself very much. I felt that I was too tall, my feet were too big, I was too shy . . . you name it, I didn't like it! 

When was the last time you were filled with awe? In this world of reckless motion and activity, the opportunity to experience that overwhelming feeling of wonderment and appreciation for God and His power seem to have gotten lost.

One of my favorite old-time country songs is Daddy's Hands by Holly Dunn. There is something so sentimental and comforting in her description of her father's hands that just plucks at the heartstrings. From the lyrics, you get the impression that this father was a strong, hardworking man of faith with a deep love for his family. His self-sacrificing devotion to his children sometimes caused him to take actions that were not always pleasant and easy depending on the circumstances. Yet even when correction was needed, he always had the best interest of his children in mind. The chorus is as follows: Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was crying. Daddy's hands were strong as steel when I did wrong. Daddy's hands weren't always gentle, But I've come to understand. There was always love in Daddy's hands.

What exactly is faith anyway? Often today we throw around sayings like "just have faith," "let faith be bigger than your fears," or "just believe and everything will be fine." Is faith some kind of mystical feeling that we can conjure up in huge portions so that it will overcome whatever obstacle is in our path? If that is the case, some may ask why things  do not always turn out fine? Why do I still sometimes experience the icy grip of terror squeeze my heart when the unexpected happens? What exactly is faith and where do I get it??!? The answer is found in a person, not in an elusive feeling. Friday nights were always exciting for me growing up. It was the start of the  weekend, of course, but also because every Friday night my family would drive to a local elementary school in North Arlington, New Jersey, where we would attend Bible Club. For one hour I would sit enthralled singing songs, participating in quizzes, learning Bible verses, and listening to a Bible story.

Everyone wants to love and be loved! That is why Valentine's Day can be such a bittersweet holiday. Each heart secretly hopes that someone who loves them will declare their affection with a greeting card or some kind of gift. Yet often there are many broken hearts for whom the day comes and goes just like any other day with no special surprises.  This week when I received our office newspaper copy of Antique Week, a weekly antique newspaper, I was reminded again of the fascination with the holiday of love. There was an interesting article about a collector who has gathered many vintage Valentine cards over the years. When she was young she so enjoyed crafting her own special notes for friends and family that she started collecting vintage cards. She has filled a box with them and takes them out a few weeks of the year to decorate her home. What a sweet reminder of years of love shared between sweethearts.

To obey or not to obey. Have you ever asked yourself this question when it comes to God's instructions? I mean, some things are "no brainers" like don't steal and don't kill, but what about the hard stuff? During the beginning days of the Christian church, the followers of Jesus Christ were very effective in sharing the story of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. They had been called to share the message first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. There were many who believed their report, but many others who were not that pleased about the growth of belief. These messengers were given power from God's Spirit Who endowed them with boldness to speak while convicting the hearers of their sin, God's righteousness, and His judgment.