Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

Not a breath of air stirred in the forsaken valley as the cruel sun baked the parched ground with burning rays. There was no movement or sound to be heard except the occasional call of the large black scavengers that circled overhead looking for one last supper. When none was to be found they flew on searching for another place to get their fill.

It was Christmas Eve and our family was asked to light the candles in the front of the sanctuary. There were at least 25-30 of them all neatly arranged on tiers covered with festive fabric. The moment came and John-Keith and Emily were the chosen ones. They took the old-fashioned lighters - the fancy kind with the wick that comes out of the end - and set about their task.

Change, change, change! The world is full of constant change. The seasons change, the weather changes, circumstances change, relationships change, and on and on the never-ending cycle goes.

It was a quiet Friday night. Almost everyone was out attending various activities. John-Keith and I were home alone and decided to spend the evening watching a movie. We chose the much-loved classic, Annie. 

Everyone makes mistakes! Sometimes it is a lapse of judgment. Other times it is a deliberate choice. But each person has moments that he would like to forget.

Today's verse is the first of 10 commandments that God gave to the children of Israel on Mount Sinai. God had miraculously brought them out of Egypt where they had been enslaved for 400 years. In Egypt Pharaoh was considered a god to be worshiped along with many other so-called deities. The Lord wanted His children to understand that He was their master now and demanded their exclusive worship.