Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

“How did you get your name?” I asked the man standing at my desk. His given name interested me and I was curious as to the origin. He explained he was named after his father because of his father’s birth month. The neighbor and midwife had suggested it. Years later it was passed down to the next generation.

There is nothing like your home . . . except the residence of your childhood. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the little house on 24 Stewart Ave. This is the place where I spent my growing years. In my mind’s eye I can still picture my room looking out across the driveway into the neighbor’s yard. I can still hear the birds chirping and the whir of the lawn mowers clipping grass while I lay taking naps as a toddler. Every nook and cranny of that old place has embedded itself in the fiber of my soul. The front step sitting, backyard playing, and neighborhood connecting have become part of who I am.

Have you ever had your mind get stuck? Obviously a healthy individual possesses a strong and healthy brain that functions normally. But I mean getting stuck in a particular mindset. No matter how you think about a situation you keep coming up with the same answers or understanding of the circumstances. Or worse, you have no idea that you are stuck. You think you are right, and just can’t see the scenario from a different person’s perspective. This is the time when you need to ask God to hit the refresh button and renew your mind.

It was the end of an era! Twenty-two years, five children, myriads of smiles and tears . . . This past Thursday our youngest, Abigail Sheridan, graduated from Cedarville High School. It was not at all the typical ceremony and celebration we had anticipated for her graduation day. But thanks to administrators, teachers, friends, and family the day was perfect! My heart was full with the outpouring of support. But my eyes pooled and my throat choked up especially when I saw the crowds lining the street. These spectators of our parade of cars were the icing on the cake. In fact, this parade washed away the rain of disappointment resulting from a COVID–19 graduation.

I’ve always loved babies. They are so cute and cuddly. As these little ones grow, they charm everyone with their cute antics and funny sayings. One of the questions we often ask toddlers is, “How big is baby?” We expect them to stretch their arms wide and respond, “So big!” As the years pass we assume the child will continue to grow even bigger and mature even more. If they didn’t we would know something was wrong. This expectation of growth applies to more than babies and toddlers. It is for God’s children too. Spiritual growth is crucial for Christians.

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you exerted an all out, heart-and-soul effort to attain it? These kinds of goals are few and far between. They take a tremendous amount of time and effort. But seeking the Lord is a pursuit in which the reward is amazing!