Category: Devotionals

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Preparing for the Day

A guest post by Karen Castleberry . . .

Bible Verse

“Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you [a]. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting [b].” – James 4:8 TPT

Footnotes:

[a] The Aramaic can be translated “and he will be touching you.”

[b] Or “you double-minded.”

Photo of very inviting armchair with prayer shawl and table lamp next to picture window early morning, still dark outside
Photo by Karen Castleberry

Reflection

The sun had not come up yet as I sat with God near my big picture window that looks out into a dark world. Sitting with God every morning before work had become a precious habit. Sometimes I would have something on my heart to discuss and invite God into the situation. Other times I wanted to curl up in His lap and just be with Him.

One day my alarm didn’t go off. I woke up in a rush to get ready for work and didn’t have time to sit with God. The next day something else diverted my attention. Before I knew it, I fell out of the habit of beginning each day with God. Continue reading “Preparing for the Day”

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Shelter from the Chaos in Life

A guest post by Karen Castleberry . . .

Bible Verse

When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. Psalm 91:1-2 TPT

Reflection

Talking with some of my friends the other day sparked a bittersweet memory of my childhood. When I was a little girl, my aunt separated from her husband and came to live with us with her four children. Our house was bursting at the seams with three adults and eight children. Emotions ran high all the time, which overloaded my sensitive system.

Growing up in a Christian family, I can’t remember not knowing God, yet I had not developed a personal relationship with Him at that time. I didn’t know how to go to God for my refuge in the midst of chaos. Continue reading “Shelter from the Chaos in Life”

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Storms of Life

A guest post by Karen Castleberry . . .

Bible Verse

“… [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity] …” – Hebrews 12:2a AMP

Reflection

I was praying on the phone with Tara, my niece. We were focusing on Jesus and abiding in Him. A very loud thunderstorm blew into Gainesville, Georgia, where Tara was. She was in awe of the majestic power of God in the storm and was enjoying being in the middle of it. She had her eyes on Jesus. Continue reading “Storms of Life”

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Blanket in the Shade

A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .

Bible Verse

“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)

Reflection

I was exhausted and couldn’t rest. Too much work, too little time. Though I tried to deny it I could feel it: the flame of passion I felt toward my ministry work had grown to a wildfire that threatened to burn me out. I needed to rest. But how?

I took a day off but I was restless. A friend told me, “Take a blanket outside in the shade.” Continue reading “Blanket in the Shade”

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The Potter’s Hand

A guest post by Karen Castleberry . . .

Bible Verse

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, ‘Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.'” — Jeremiah 18:1-6 NIV

Photo by Karen Castleberry

Reflection

On the beautiful Soque river in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia sits an old grist mill that has been turned into a store that creates and sells pottery. Entering Mark of the Potter with a group of friends, I was greeted with an amazing assortment of art from the potter’s wheel. Most of the pottery was functional, some was ornamental, and other pieces were just downright fun to gaze upon. Potters used their hands to create each unique piece of art. Continue reading “The Potter’s Hand”

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Peace in the Storm

A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .

Bible Verse

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’

“He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

“The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'” — Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)

Reflection

I have never slept through a tornado watch until last night. We don’t get many tornadoes where I live, but when they do come through, they scare me. I live on a second-floor apartment. No basement, not even a ground floor.

Continue reading “Peace in the Storm”

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Buried in the Snowstorm

A guest post by Karen Castleberry . . .

Bible Verse

Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. — Jeremiah 33:6 (ESV)

Photo by Brittnye Potter

Reflection

During a sudden winter snowstorm, my pansies got buried under the snow. Delicate flowers frozen, it looked like they would not survive. This is how I feel during life’s sudden snowstorms, when I get buried under burdens, freezing my ability to move.

Continue reading “Buried in the Snowstorm”

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A Simple Goal

A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .

Bible Verse

“‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.’” — John 15:4 (NKJV)

Reflection

Winter is a time when we make plans for the rest of the year. Our slate seems as clean as freshly fallen snow. The crisp, cool air is refreshing and makes us feel that we can do things right this year.

Continue reading “A Simple Goal”

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God Is an Oasis

A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .

Bible Verse

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” — Psalm 42:1-2 NIV

Reflection

During a time of crisis, we are so aware of how much we need God. But we may feel it takes time and energy to build our relationship with God. And time and energy are hard to come by during a crisis.

Continue reading “God Is an Oasis”

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