Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

“Take shelter! Strong and potentially dangerous storms with possible hail damage have been issued for the following counties . . . .” The alert sounded over the radio the other day while I was driving to a nearby mall. I was now in a dilemma. Should I turn around and go home, or should I continue my shopping trip and hope I could find appropriate cover if the storm actually did hit?

There are some sad statements made throughout the Bible. Over and over again we read words of comfort and promises of God’s blessings, but often we choose to disregard His message. God offers us so much, and then sadly has to say, “ But you were not willing.” This has been a very busy season in my life. Graduations, two sons getting married, work, and the regular rhythm of life have all but done me in. I found it necessary in the past couple of months to take a breather from my regular writing schedule so I could rest my body, my emotions, and my mind. Many of you wondered where I have gone. While taking a break from posting I have had time to study and think without pressure. It has been a time of peace and rest.

Pride can take many forms. Some boast in their strength. Some boast in their knowledge. Some boast in their riches. And still others boast in the bling. The way a person dresses says something about them. Men and women alike spend thousands of dollars accessorizing their bodies in all sorts of ways. Rings, body piercings, colorful hair colors, and tattoos have become all the rage. Often these accouterments are meant to attract attention and make the wearer stand out in the crowd. What is the motive behind our overuse of bling and is it really harmless?

Dear Barabbas, How are you? Oh, I suppose that was not a good question. How could any man condemned to death on a Roman cross be anything but crippled with fear? I wish your present hardships had never happened, but your past decisions have placed you in a very desperate situation. You must have known that participating in rebellions against the Roman government would be very dangerous. Yet you still attempted these treacherous actions and in the process got caught up in horrible terrorist crimes resulting in murder and more. I am sure at the time you thought you were being brave and courageous, fighting for what you believed in, but it is easy to get caught up in emotions and follow them to your fate.

Thousands of voices filled the Indiana Convention Center with the words from Martin Luther’s great hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. I had never heard such a great choir of God’s people joining together in praise of our God. It truly was a thrill, but I almost missed it! Monday morning Dad and I had planned to attend The Gospel Coalition's bi-annual conference in Indianapolis. After some struggling to decide if I should go or not, we decided that Dad would go early in the church van and I would come later.

Throughout history, there has been much talk about a man named Jesus. Many recognize His name or are even able to mention a few facts they have learned through the years, but quite a few have the same question: “Who really is Jesus anyway? This is a good question and the answer holds the key to life itself. From the time Jesus physically walked on this earth, people were pondering His identity, and there were many different opinions. One day Jesus asked His closest followers, “Who do people say I am?” The answers were varied. Some thought He was John the Baptist returned from the dead. Others thought He was Elijah or one of the other prophets.