Devotional for kids

“I demand that you love each other as much as I love you.

“And here is how to measure it – the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends.

“And you are my friends if you obey me.” John 15: verses 12, 13 and 14 [The Living Bible]

I felt lonely as a child. I was almost five. I had 13 wonderful sisters and brothers to love me and take care of me. I had wonderful, caring parents who loved Jesus. They met all my needs.

I was never alone. I always had playmates in my sisters and brothers. There was always some excitement going on at our place. In fact, the neighbor kids loved to hang out at our place. It was kid friendly. We had a huge front yard and a thirty acre woods in the back. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kimberly Cash Tate

I’m a practical person by nature. Left to myself, I’ll make sensible choices. Careful, planned, I-can-see-where-this-is-going kinds of choices. College. Law school. Clerkship. Law Firm. I was living my planned life. I could see the trajectory clear to retirement.

But that was all before I knew the Lord.

Ten years ago, He moved me to leave my career (and my “partner” status and six-figure income) and come home. Okay. Not so “practical.” Mortgage needed to be paid. Step of faith required. But I didn’t need HUGE faith. After all, my husband still had his career. At worst, we’d have to downsize our home. So I gave my resignation.

Then God showed up. Big time. Two weeks after my resignation—after that step of faith—my husband got a job offer “out of the blue” that doubled his salary. Out of the blue? Yeah, right. God! Read the rest of this entry »

By Eleanor Ferrer

I have been thinking quite a bit about Mother’s Day and what it entails. Mother’s have a responsibility like no other job. Most Moms are not only responsible for the welfare of their children but are the housekeepers, cooks, personal shopper, financial advisor, banker, chauffeur, organizer, planner, teacher, nurse, and yes sometimes even the warden. While multi-tasking is difficult for some, it’s second nature to Moms. But as a Christian Mom the responsibilities become even greater. Besides having all the responsibilities previously mentioned you now become their spiritual leader, spiritual teacher, mentor, and intercessor. You learn to become a prayer warrior like no other. You take to heart and trust God for verses like Psalm 144:1 “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers to fight.”

I literally have had to stand on that verse as well as many others, however Psalms 144:1 is very special to me. While walking through everyday trials of just trying to raise my family with godly morals, character and true understanding in having a relationship with God, I have had to stand on that scripture. I had to trust in every neurotic prayer I ever said over my children and family. It’s really hard especially when you see the attacks of the enemy and no one else does and they just think you’re over reacting at some incident or you’re just plain crazy. As a Mom who loves God more than anything and who’s made a conscience effort to teach her children about God – I can honestly say it can at times be a very lonely and frustrating life. You need to be sure of who you are as a woman of God, because there are those moments when it’s just that, you and God. Read the rest of this entry »

Q: I have been having my home based business for three years now and I still am struggling how to juggle business and being a mom, wife and house keeper. How do you juggle these? I want to make this a success, but so far it’s only been frustration.

My children are 4 and 2 years old an they are more challenging than most (not as in spoiled, but as in needing more time than the average kid) Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

A: GREAT question. My kids are now 7 and 4, so I now have a little bit of help in my seven-year-old. But, I found something that I had written a few years ago. In it, I listed my kids ages as 4 and 1. I could tell when reading it that I had been very frazzled. I think I lived in a state of frazzled during those years when they were both so small.

My main advice would be to cut yourself some slack. Things will get easier and more manageable as your kids get older.

My practical advice is this:

1. Plan out menus each week. I literally spend about 2 minutes on this. I have a small magnetic dry-erase board that I keep on my refridgerator. Each Sunday, I write out the days of the week and what we’ll have for supper that day. (Lunches almost always consist of sandwhichs or something easy like that since it’s just me and the kids).

Read the rest of this entry »

I have to admit that when I was younger I was not a fan of the “Proverbs 31 Woman.” It didn’t seem likely to me that any woman could possibly live up to the standards found within those verses (Prov. 31:10-31). However, since becoming a wife and mother, I’ve had a change of heart towards this infamous woman. She has become a source of inspiration and I believe there is a lot that we can learn from the example she provides.

Here are a few life lessons that work-at-home moms can glean from this lovely lady in Scripture:

1. Strive to Be a Women of Noble character
“A wife of noble character … is worth far more than rubies.” (v. 10)

It doesn’t necessarily sound like much to be of “noble character” (actually, it sounds rather snooty), but Merriam-Webster defines noble as meaning, “possessing outstanding qualities.” Can you think of someone in your life that fits that description, someone who has “outstanding qualities?” Chances are, this is a person that you love to spend time with and that’s definitely the type of woman I’d like to become.
2. How to Have a Happy Husband
“Her husband has full confidence in her” (v. 11)
Read the rest of this entry »

One of our greatest needs is to know that we are loved. We long to be certain that someone loves us, cares for us, and only wants what is best for us. God wants you to know that He loves you in a way that is too complex for words. You should never spend one day, hour, or minute, without knowing that God loves you more than you can comprehend. His love cannot compare to anything of “this world” and He could never love you anymore or any less than He did at the moment He gave you life.

Not only does God love you enough to give you life, but He loves you enough to give you eternal life. When you lift up your eyes to God and confess sin, He will forgive you and transform your life by giving you hope through Christ that never dies.

God’s love reaches out to the lost and lonely, those who are bound by sin, and sets them free through forgiveness, repentance, and His grace. No matter what we have done in the past, His love toward us remains consistent, committed, and without limitations.

God’s love is freely given, but not always freely received. Many times, we distance ourselves from God because we feel we are not worthy to receive His love. Yet in believing Truth, His Word, we know with all certainty that nothing we do or say can separate us from His love.
We’re promised in Romans 8:39 (NLT), Read the rest of this entry »

Upon entering a new year I ponder on the prior year and remember the good and the bad but most importantly I try to examine whether or not I have grown spiritually over the last twelve months or have I stayed stagnant in my walk with God or worse digressed. I do this every year to remind myself that no matter how long I have been a born again Christian, I still have much to learn and new growth waiting to spring up in me if I would just allow God to continue to water and nurture my life with His living water.

The word “Change” has been coming up a lot lately and I believe that word is from God for me. Do you think that word may also be for you too? One day I was in the midst of prayer and I was praying my usual, “God help me in this particular area” prayer when I felt the Holy Spirit remind me of this scripture;

“And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” NKJV – Matthew 9:28-29.

When I remembered this passage, I immediately responded as the blind men did and said, “Of course I do God!” After some thought I realized God was asking me a rhetorical question and already knew the answer. He wanted me to see myself as I really am which is that I have abundant faith in certain areas but in the areas I struggle with, it is as if I have no faith at all. Yes faith that God can certainly heal or change others but for me, Nah…I will just have to struggle with this the rest of my life. Read the rest of this entry »

More than likely, you’ve questioned God a few times in your life. It is often difficult to see His ways, much less understand them- until you look back and hindsight yields insight. If you find yourself second guessing God, you’re not alone; even the greatest of God’s children have questioned God. But, what they found, and what you will find, is that for all the questions you have for God- He has questions for you too.

If you haven’t read the book of Job, I would encourage you to do so. You’ll find A LOT of suffering and an amazing glimpse of how God works in our lives. After Job has lost everything, his children-through tragic death, his wealth, the support of his wife, and his health, he cried out to a God who seemed to have abandoned him. But, when God answers Him, he is humbled in an instant when he realizes, he is so very small in the scheme of things and God is so VERY big. After God helps him to realize his place in the world, God restores his life and blesses him twice as much as before the tragedies of his life. The greatest blessing was a heart to heart, one on one, experience with the one true God. God wants to bring you to this place too- He wants you to experience Him “one on one,” in a way that will secure your faith in Him forever.

When we talk about questioning God, we can’t help but think of Noah. Now, here’s a man who saw no rain when God told him to build an ark. This wasn’t just trusting God for a year or two-it took Noah one hundred years to build the ark! I’m guessing He must have questioned God from time to time. The important thing is that Noah kept walking forward in faith. If we’re to reap any of God’s abundant blessings in our lives, we must do the same, we must sow a life of obedience. Read the rest of this entry »

by Judy Dippel

Within each of us are God-given gifts and talents, as diverse as the gifts under a Christmas tree. Can you imagine the impact on the world if each of us decided, today, and throughout 2009, to unwrap our natural abilities and begin to take every opportunity to use what we’ve been given? All too often our gifts and skills remain boxed up, because we feel insecure or incapable of allowing our personal and distinctive strengths, shape, size or color to be seen by others, ignoring the purpose and impact of utilizing our gifts.

We can and should use our gifts and fulfill our passions, but we must first recognize them—then we must be willing to unwrap them, and take a risk to let them be seen by others! I challenge you to make that your New Year’s resolution.

What do our gifts look like? The answer—individually unique! For some, their giftedness can’t be missed. They resemble a flamboyant gift box, wrapped in red foil with a perfectly matched bow—naturally attracting people. Yet, right next to the striking, charismatic red box is the exact opposite —a tiny white jewelry-sized box, plain, without fancy wrap or a bow. Like each of us, the small box is as unique and valuable as the other. It simply takes more effort to see all that is inside—another velvet box, holding a precious jewel. Often this “gifting” may not be as easily seen and utilized. Too often it waits quietly, perhaps never allowing its’ beauty to be found and enjoyed. But with encouraging hands and hearts, it is carefully opened, blessing those who can finally feel and experience it. Underneath both of the other boxes is yet another, which represents many people. It’s a flat, squashed, and misshapen. Its’ corners are crunched, and the once blue-flowered gift wrap is faded and torn. The tape is undone and yellow, and for the most part, prefers to go unnoticed, safely hidden from sight. Even though the gifting inside has retained its’ original value, it sits unused, feeling unworthy and in ruin. Tattered and torn, it will remain so until God’s grace and forgiveness rips away the disheveled wrap disclosing the value that is within. Whatever the shape, size, or purpose of our gifts, they are vivid evidence of a loving, living and purposeful God.
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Many years ago, I faced incredible distress and despair as I struggled to let go of my past. Most people have walked down this same path in life. It may be the result of the sins of others, or it might be your own sins that weigh heavy upon you and keep you bound; regardless, the result is still the same- a burden that drains your spirit and turmoil within that keeps you from entering into the rest of God.

As I struggled to walk forward with God, one day, I found myself driving down the road looking in the rear view mirror- focusing on what was behind me. I kept looking back and looking around in my side view mirrors and then, I heard a still quiet voice say to me, “There’s no past in your future.” When you hear words like that, you know right away, you’ve heard from God. I will never forget those words and I hope that whatever it is you’re facing in life today, you’ll accept those words from God as well- “There’s no past in your future.” If we are unable to let go of what lies behind, we’ll never move forward in life. Holding on to the past keeps us from embracing God’s future for us. You see, most of the time God has forgiven us, but we continue to hold on to un-forgiveness in our hearts; we keep bringing up what God has already forgotten. Isaiah 43:18 (NIV) says,

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
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