I confess that I have been guilty of thinking that this verse is meant to be applied individually, to me personally. And when that doesn’t work out so well for me, I end of questioning God and wondering what happened to His fulfilling His word. This devotional today made a lot of sense to me and I don’t know why I didn’t realize this on my own. When we think of it as God addressing the church, then we know that it is indeed true. God is working for the good of everyone, not just me and not just you, but for His entire church. That may mean persecution, but the end result may be many coming to the Lord. It may mean our plans have to change, but we can trust that God will be in the new plan working everything out. I am seeing this verse with a new light and rejoicing in the fact that God isn’t letting me down, not ever! Rather, He is expanding my horizons to see the bigger picture of what He is accomplishing in the world, and I am a small part of His big plan.
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A Friday Prayer
From the YouVersion Daily Refresh 
My additional prayer:
Lord God, I thank you for who you are and for all you have done for me all the days of my life. I bless your name for your goodness and mercy that you have showered on me abundantly. I thank you for your gifts of children, grandchildren friends and other family. These relationships have taught me so much, Lord, about your character and how you want people to be. Thank you, Lord, for being there for me when I was lonely or afraid. Thank you, Father, for being a father to me when mine was not there. I am overwhelmed by your goodness, Lord and your unimaginable and deep love for all of your creation, including me. May I ever be aware of your presence and your desire to bring everyone to you. In Jesus’s Name.
Amen.
Sunday Prayer
My thoughts on this prayer are yes! and amen! I am not a bold person, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, I can be. I love that I can fight fear with faith. That is what I leaned on while we were traveling so far these last few weeks. I leaned hard into the Lord and he calmed me. I even fell asleep in the car yesterday, and I never do that (you can ask my husband). I’m usually so anxious about traffic and weather and the car in general that I just can’t relax. But I actually snoozed. Thank you, Lord! I needed that!
I am praising God that we are home for a while now and we can both rest and recover. Our daughter is traveling home today, my brother and his wife are going to see my sister in NC and then home to CO, so I am still praying for them and their safety.
Have a blessed Sunday and a faith-filled week!
Come Like A Child
Think Like a Child (Daily Refresh, YouVersion, 6-02-25)
Think about the greatest person you’ve ever met. What is it about the person that makes them stand out to you? Maybe it’s their accomplishments, their character, their power or wealth, or the way they handle hard situations.
Now compare that impressive person to a child in your life. According to Jesus, anyone who is truly great in His kingdom will be like that little child. In fact, to even enter into His kingdom, we need to be childlike. Here’s why:
– Children rely on others to meet their needs. Little children instinctively know that they are vulnerable and helpless. They aren’t afraid to ask for help when they need it because they know that help from the right person is their source of strength.
– Children don’t care about acquiring power. They don’t view others as threats to their authority because they don’t have any authority to threaten. Everything a child has is given to them.
– Children know who they belong to. Children know who to run to when they’re hurt, afraid, overwhelmed, happy, confused, or joyful. When they know they are loved, they approach their parent figures with authenticity and confidence. They know they can come just as they are, and receive what they need.
As we grow older, we tend to lose our childlike innocence … but we don’t have to. By surrendering our desires for power, fame, and authority, we position ourselves to receive Jesus’ power and authority. By recognizing that we need Jesus, we are able to let go of the pride that might keep us from His presence. And when we know that we belong to Jesus, we can approach God with childlike confidence.
We don’t have to bring anything impressive to God—we simply need to come to Him.
So today, what would it look like for you to approach God with the humility and confidence of a small child? Perhaps this means honestly telling Him what you need. Maybe it looks like asking Him a deeply vulnerable question. Or perhaps it starts with trusting that He loves you and isn’t mad at you. Whatever step you need to take, know that God is waiting for you to come to Him just as you are.
My Thoughts
I must confess that as I grow older, I have lost my childlike wonder. I remember seeing things differently, as if everything I saw, I was seeing for the very first time. That is how I felt in the presence of our youngest grandson when I cared for him for four months. The wonder in those little eyes as I pointed out new things to him. A squirrel on the back porch fascinated him. A wildflower was a source of delight. I want to be like him, finding wonder and delight in the small things that God has provided for my pleasure.
I also want to be like my other grandchildren, older but who have the complete assurance that their needs will be met and that they can totally rely on the adults who care for them them and love them. That is the kind of assurance and dependence I want in my relationship with God.
I have often read this scripture but didn’t really meditate on what it means to me. Today, I did and I want to be like that child who knows the Father is a good, good Father who wants what is best for me and who is always there for me.
Finishing Well
www.bible.com/reading-plans/53242/day/144
Many of us did not start our lives on the right path, but no matter where or how we started, we can finish well. Instead of being like King Saul who started well and finished badly, let’s strive to be like Paul, who started as Saul persecuting the Christians, but who finished well as a follower of Jesus. Let us all strive to finish well, keeping our eyes on the prize ahead of us.
A Life of Thanksgiving
A Life of Thanksgiving (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 5-19-25)
How thankful are you when you talk to God? The world around us generally doesn’t encourage thankfulness. We’re taught to look after ourselves in order to get what we think we deserve.
And yet—Christians ought to be the most thankful people on earth because we have been given everything by God. James 1:17 reminds us that every good gift comes from Him. This implies that God is always acting in kindness toward us.
Not only has God given us life and breath, but He has also offered us the free gift of eternal life. God made a way for us to have a relationship with Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus. That alone is more than enough for us to live a life of gratitude toward God.
Because of what He’s done for us, our hearts should be in a constant state of thanksgiving. And yet, we often find ourselves complaining because things don’t go the way we want. We grumble because we don’t have the things we think we deserve. And the more that we complain, the more our hearts grow critical and bitter.
Thankfully, Psalm 100 gives us the antidote for grumbling and complaining: thankfulness. Thanksgiving is a spiritual habit that we have to intentionally develop through continual practice. We can practice by taking time each day to talk with God, and to thank Him for all He has done. We can also practice thankfulness by telling others how grateful we are for them.
So the next time you find yourself complaining or grumbling, take a moment to think about the love and goodness of God in your life. Instead of complaining, express how thankful you are for who God is and what He has given you. Keep a list of things you’re grateful for and add to it throughout the week. Watch as your heart and mind begin to be transformed by the simple act of thanksgiving.
My Thoughts
I really needed this devotional today, so I am preaching to myself and not necessarily to you, my readers. I must confess that by the time our long journey to three graduations in nine days was ending, I was grumpy, with a capital G. Nothing my husband tried to do appeased me. I was determined to be miserable. My legs ached, my shoulders hurt, I was too old and too tired for this adventure, and on and on. Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I had been healed after a stroke and should be counting my blessings that I could attend these ceremonies of these very special grandchildren instead of whining about how inconvenient it was for me and my poor body. So, I did an about face and started looking for things to be thankful for, especially my health, even though I was feeling weak and unable to walk another step at times. Thus, I was able to walk more than the length of a football field to our car when the last ceremony concluded on Saturday.
This morning started as usual. I slept in a little later than what is normal for me because I didn’t get in bed until after 2 a.m. Anyway, everything was going well until I picked up my Ipad and sat in my recliner to do my morning devotions. The black screen of death greeted me! I was distraught, but I had my phone so I looked up what “fix” I could do. Well, I thanked God for technology and followed through with the instructions online. Did you know that you can “gently burp” your IPad? Well, I tried that and it didn’t seem to work, so I went to the hard reboot and prayed really hard. Thank the good Lord that it worked and now I am using that IPad to tell everyone how thankful I am that it did.
We have had some tough losses lately. The lady named Verna who led me to the Lord over fifty years ago passed away this weekend. The elderly lady from our former church who allowed us to live with her when a hurricane made it impossible for us to live in our home until electricity was restored passed away last week. Finally, a very dear friend from where I used to teach is on home care for cancer and not doing well, so her loss seems to be inevitable. All of this saddens me, but it also makes me reflect on how good God has been to me throughout these decades I have spent as His beloved child. Healings too numerous to fit on this page, blessings of children, grandchildren, family visits and new friends at new places and a new church.
I have so much to be thankful for that I don’t have time to complain. How about you? Are you in the mollygrubs and need a reality check from the Holy Spirit? Or are you a naturally cheerful and thankful person? That is what I am striving to be as old age has caught up with me, aches have become a constant part of my life, and I know without a doubt that I have already lived more than the majority of my life. That being said, in whatever time God blesses me to continue to live on the earth, I want to remember to be thankful every day, in every way, for everything He is and all He has shared with me.
A good verse to remember is Colossians 2:6-7:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Qualified and Sent
The Messengers of Good News (YouVersion Daily Refresh 5-18-25)
Pause for a moment and reflect on your role as a bearer of the good news. Are you actively sharing the love of Christ with those around you? Are you seeking to be a living testimony of His grace?
You might read Paul’s call to “preach” in Romans 10:14 and think this call is reserved for a pastor, priest, or teacher. But our homes, workplaces, and communities can serve as pulpits of influence when we live surrendered to Him. In these seemingly ordinary spaces, we can share the love of Christ through a listening ear that brings peace to a troubled mind, a helping hand that lifts burdens, or a word of encouragement that rekindles hope.
As a follower of Christ, you are qualified to share this hope and encourage others! What God desires is obedience and willingness to be a vessel of His Word. In the simplicity of everyday interactions, we become vessels of His love and messengers of the gospel.
As believers, we have an integral role in sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit equips you. God chooses and empowers you. And the seeds you sow, even the tiniest ones, have the power to take root and spread the message of salvation.
My Thoughts
As most of my regular blog readers know, I just returned from attending the graduations of three grandchildren. All finished their degrees and are ready for whatever is next in their lives. They are qualified to work in various fields, including mechanical engineering, computer science, math and psychology. What made them “qualified”? First of all, it was the hours that they spend studying and completing courses, with a lot of tests and challenges along the way. More importantly, it was their interest in and dedication to the field in which they are qualified.
All of us who call ourselves Christians are also qualified. We didn’t participate in a big ceremony with a lot of fanfare and “pomp and circumstance.” Rather, most of us were quietly called on the battlefield of life and it happened as soon as we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God planted a seed in us that grew and He wants us to plant those same seeds in others. As the emboldened print says, one does not have to stand in the pulpit to share the good news. You can share it anywhere with anyone who seems discouraged or needy. We just have to be listening for God’s gentle prodding to share. We are already qualified; God equips those He calls and He has called every believer to share the good news, the only news that can set people free from sin and on the road to eternity with Him. Choose someone, anyone, this week whom God has laid on your heart and call them, text them, send them a card. Do whatever you can to be an encourager to the downtrodden. I know it will sound hokey, but most days when I am going out to appointments, I pray that God will put someone in my path who needs a kind word of encouragement and perhaps with whom I can share a tidbit of testimony. He has been faithful each time to do so. People in waiting rooms, those coming in out of the rain, the mom who is overwhelmed with her job and the childcare that she is trying simultaneously to master. God will show you who; you just need to step out and say what the Lord inspires you to say. After all, you are already fully qualified.
We Have Come a Long Way
The Spirit of Truth (YouVersion Daily Refresh 5-17-25)
One of the major promises in the Old Testament is that one day the Spirit of God would dwell within the people of God. Previously, the people of God interacted with the presence of God within the temple.
In fulfillment of Scripture, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort God’s people. This has big implications. It means that Christians have access to the presence of God by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. God’s Spirit is with us wherever we go.
Jesus mentions in John 16:13 that the Spirit of God will guide us into all truth. God desires to be part of our daily journey through life, helping us and guiding us towards what is right.
When we have questions about what direction in life to take, the Holy Spirit is there to help us. When we’re not sure what is right or wrong, the Holy Spirit is with us to bring light to our decision.
Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will speak to us in accordance with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit will also reinforce and help us understand what we read in Scripture.
Throughout this week, make an effort to be mindful of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. Remind yourself that God is with you every day. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and illuminate your path in life, and spend time praying to be comforted and strengthened by God.
My Thoughts
I don’t know about you, but I have come a long way in my faith walk. I started by going to Sunday school with a neighbor to a local Presbyterian church. When I went to college, I sometimes went to my roommate’s Catholic Church, just to see what it was like. I couldn’t really understand much of the service since at the time, most of it was in Latin. Then, I graduated from college, moved into my own apartment, and a neighbor introduced me to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Shortly thereafter, a pastor introduced me to the Holy Spirit and the fact that He lives within me. That…that was the life change I needed to continue my faith walk and to get closer to God.
When I have difficulty making a choice and have to make one in a split second, I depend on the Holy Spirit to guide me. When I am lonely, frustrated, getting angry or depressed about life’s circumstances, if I can just get still for a few minutes and still my raging thoughts, the Holy Spirit will calm me.
One of the things I have purposed to do this year is memorize more Scripture. I confess that I am not very good at it, but I keep plugging along. One of the verses I memorized is John 14:26 which says: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Teaching and reminding are important parts of my life, especially as I grow older and forget things more often. Leaning into the Holy Spirit for help remembering God’s faithfulness when my faith is failing helps me to get through hard times. We all need to be reminded of where we started and where we are now, if only for the sake of learning to be appreciative. I am so glad that God promised the Holy Spirit, fulfilled His promise and now His Spirit lives within me, not in a hokey, woo-woo kind of way, but in a way that is as real and as close as my next breath. I try to be ever mindful of the Holy Spirit in my life and I desire to make choices that would be pleasing to God by following His leading. I hope each of you who reads this post today take time to reflect on the difference the Holy Spirit’s presence has made in your life and take time to thank God for this awesome promise. We have indeed all come a long way!
He’s A Big, Big God
Deep Confidence in a Big God (YouVersion, Daily Refresh, 5-16-25)
Before the telescope was invented, all that was known about the sky above was what could be seen with the naked eye.
Now, thanks to advances in modern technology, we are aware of far-off galaxies, stunning nebulas, and mysterious black holes. Now, we realize that our knowledge was (and still is) severely limited.
There’s something about staring up at a blanket of stars that beckons wonder. There’s something about a watercolor sunset that invites curiosity. There’s something about standing on top of a giant rock—that’s suspended on nothing in the middle of a massively complex universe—that invites worship.
We are merely discovering what God has put here in the first place. And the more we uncover, the more we are filled with awe.
Yes, the heavens remind us of God’s majesty; the skies remind us of His splendor. But they also remind us of how big He is and how small we are. They remind us of His vastness and our limitations, and of His independence and our utter dependence on Him.
So whenever you see a star-filled sky, are stopped in your tracks by a brilliant sunrise, or read about some extraordinary discovery on the fringes of space, don’t forget to praise the One who has created and sustained it all along.
My Thoughts
If this trip of over 1000 miles this week has taught me anything, it has taught me to look around me at the wonderful world that God has given us to enjoy. I have looked at the mountains of PA, the rolling hills there and the beautiful sunset after a mostly rainy day. I have seen the green, mountainous landscape of West Virginia, the flat farmlands all along the way and the beautiful flowering trees and plants. God created and put us here to enjoy it. We see, we are grateful and more than that, God’s creation teaches us to trust. In times of change, like having three grandchildren whom I held as infants graduate from college, it is a good time to remember that God does not and will not change. He is always as close as our next prayer. I am deeply grateful for all that God has allowed me to see and experience. I know that He is a big, big God because of all He has done and continues to do for me.
Today, we head home (yes, that was a big sigh of relief), and tomorrow is the final college graduation of our oldest grandson. God continues to amaze me with the talents he has given these young adults and the way I am certain He will use them if they will let Him. There are a lot of miles on this body and so many steps over the last ten days that I am aching, but God is an awesome God who gave me the strength for each mile and each step, and I am confident He will be with me, showing me new things until He calls me home.
A Difficult Season of Life
Walking Through Trials (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 5-14-25)
Let’s start by debunking a myth: Nowhere in Scripture does God promise us a perfect life, free from troubles. In fact, many times in the Bible, Christ-followers find themselves persecuted, under attack, or facing trouble of all kinds.
In a letter from James to first-century believers, James informs them about the various trials that they will experience in life:
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 NIVWhen we see trials as a means of becoming more like Jesus, then we’ll be blessed by them.
Maybe you can think back to a difficult season of life. Looking back, you might be able to point out how God refined you coming out of it. God is often at work behind the scenes deepening our character and enlarging our capacity, even when we don’t see it.
Maybe you’re going through one of those difficult seasons right now. Take this passage to heart! You can stand firm and persevere—knowing there is a promised reward in heaven. While rewards on this side of heaven are not promised, looking towards our final destination with Jesus gives us hope to endure the trials in the present.
If you’re walking through a difficult season of life, spend some time meditating on the promises of God. He promises to never abandon you or leave you, but to walk alongside you through trials. And at the end of the trial, you’ll be more like Christ.
Take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness and love in your life.
My Thoughts
I will have to keep my thoughts brief today as we are getting ready to travel again, this time from PA to MD, on our way back to Virginia to attend the final college graduation of our oldest grandson. This has been a trial for me in that I don’t like traveling. But the reward has been in seeing the joy on the faces of our grandchildren as they receive that diploma that they have worked so hard for. So, there are some rewards on earth, just not the ultimate one that we are all looking forward to.
The part I put in bold from the devotional is what spoke to my heart today. Becoming more like Jesus should always be our goal. And enduring trials with that goal in mind makes them more palatable if not welcome. No one enjoys going through trials, but they are part of life here on earth and each trial can be considered a preparation for the greater things to come. I think of the things I have been through and realize that I am a different person because of them, a stronger person in my faith because each trial has taught me to lean more on God and less on myself. No matter what you are going through, remember God isn’t leaving you there; rather, He is walking beside you through it.
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