Juneteenth marks the celebration of slavery ending in the United States. When observing this date, one might look at the obvious link between freedom from slavery and freedom from sin through Christ. While that is indeed true, the story of Christ and the slave community goes far deeper than that …

The pursuit of tranquility in the midst of life's tumult can be a formidable challenge. Attaining serenity is a complex task, even when external clamor subsides. Yet, some individuals manage to embrace calmness amidst turmoil. This state of peace is not readily accessible; it demands consistent practice and dedication to master. Today's devotion is to guide you toward discovering that elusive form of inner peace …

We were all given rights. Some of us may have been greater advantages in comparison to others. I know my youngest daughter had lots of things that my oldest one did not. There are times I wonder if she truly understands just how much she got. Today’s devotion resembles that spirt in that there is something we have that we take for granted …

Rage does not sound good. It feels out of control and almost like an out of body experience. No one wants to experience that. However, what if it was not like that at all? What if this rage was controlled? Furthermore, what if it was in response to something to help us survive? Today’s devotion is about one of those instances where rage in fact is a good thing.

When growing up, we all had experiences when we did something and one of our parents looked at us and simply said, “That’s not good enough.” We often walked away frustrated mumbling to ourselves about how unrealistic an expectation they had. Of course, we always did more, and eventually, they were satisfied. How often do we hear that in our head today? Not those situations where we only have time to do so much, but when we do something and deep down know it was not enough? Here’s a story about when we are not doing enough and what to do about it …

Have you ever thought you had a clear understanding of something years ago only to have an entirely different view when you looked at it again? I once had a friend tell me the phrase ‘dually noted’ was correct until an English major corrected me to say, ‘duly noted.’ As we get older, life gets more complex not because we do not understand things. It’s because we do that challenges the way we used to think. That’s what growing is, and today’s devotion is about just that … growing …

Are there situations that always have you frustrated and upset? As a parent, it happens to me frequently. However, there is a balance I have found that keeps me calm even under the most trying of circumstances. This does not mean that I never get upset. It does mean there is something that kicks in when my buttons are pushed to help center my emotions. Today is about building that ‘something’ to keep anger from ruining things …

When we were children, we were often inquisitive about things. Why is the sky blue? Where do babies come from? When can I drive? Those are some of the common things we might ask. My father was a different kind of Dad. He almost never gave me an answer. He would simply say, “You figure it out.” It was frustrating back then. But oh, what a difference maturity makes. There are lots of things that we end up having to figure out. Today’s devotion is about one of those times, and shows how Jesus too has those father-like instincts when teaching us …

We love having days where we can just sit back and relax. Nothing that we need to do or responsibilities to take care of. It seems like all is right in the world. Maybe too right. Have you ever had that feeling that maybe something is wrong in that moment? Not that there is cause worry, but sometimes being comfortable might be a sign that something needs to change. That’s what today’s devotion is about. When comfort may not be where we want to be …

Preparing for the new year should be an exciting ritual. We can reflect on our past year looking at both challenges we’ve faced and overcome and areas where we can look to be better. No matter where you are today, believe that tomorrow always is a brighter day even amid darker times. Today’s devotion I hope will give you some insights how that might happen …

Sometimes we focus too much on what is said and not enough on what it means. For example, when someone says, do not walk across the frozen pond, that does not mean you cannot walk across the bridge above it. You minimize your options when you focus on what you cannot do and can accomplish more by focusing on what you can do. Today’s devotion is an exercise on understanding how sometimes God’s words show a restriction that gives more freedom.

We all set goals for ourselves. Sometimes it is to acquire something. Other times like Christmas, it is to budget for shopping. It could also include building something like a patio deck or home entertainment center. It is important to set clear goals because without them, how would you know if you made progress? If you believe that being a Christian is different, I will argue that maybe you are not doing Christianity right. Here’s why …

Have you ever had someone who you could hear their voice amongst the crowd? My father was someone who I could hear no matter how he talked. A friend remarked in amazement when I heard my Dad call me from the other end of the household. It was a sign not only of keen listening but also respect for who he was. There is another voice we can hear no matter where we are. We just have to listen to Him. It’s a wonderful thing, and that’s what today’s devotion is about …

Growing up, there are some traditional hymnals that I remember even to this day. For example, I can recite ‘Blessed Assurance’ as if it is on my current playlist. In my mind, I even hear the organist playing. It is funny to me now because as I focus on the words, it has more relevancy in my journey of faith than ever before. It gives me comfort to know that is the relationship that I have with God. Where can you find comfort with God? Today’s devotion may give you some insight into that …

In life, we do a lot of counting. We count how much we have in our bank account. We count how many days it is before vacation. Some may even count how many cars they have in their garage (full disclosure, I am not that guy 😊). However, we all have things that were earned, given, and maybe even discovered by accident. All of these have value, and yet, without a conscious effort, we can take them for granted. The love of a spouse. Having both of your parents. Having children. Some people do not have any of those things. But there whether you have little or lots, there is a lot to be thankful for. Today’s devotion will help you understand why …

Have you ever heard the saying, “Sometimes, you don’t choose the moment, the moment chooses you?” I have heard that when there were times either I or an individual was not ready for it. For example, I was ready to go to school for a semester with my mom in a hospital and alone in an apartment. But it molded my character. We all have moments in our life that we are not ready for. But more times than not, we look back to find out we made for that moment. Today’s devotion is about knowing that perhaps now is one of those moments …

When struggling through my early teen years, I often wondered if I would ever be able to reach the lofty expectations had for me. Many of us felt that way. Did we hit the mark? Did we achieve the goals our parents had for us? Here is one many of us heard. Did we do better than what our parents did for us? Too often, we only see our failures. But you know what? Wherever you are in your journey, there is a lot of good you have done! Your parents know this. But guess who else needs to know this? Find out …

You are what you eat. That is a saying from health gurus that goes back to when I was a child. It focuses on the idea that if you eat healthy you will live healthily. I’ve recently discovered that I feel better when I drink more water. This led me to realize something that I do that impacts my mental stability. When I look at social media, I have learned to tune out anything that is either overly negative or glass ‘half-empty.’ It has nothing to do with how well I know them or if they have a political or personal affiliation. It has everything to do with who I am and what I want to put out in the world. Today’s devotion is about putting the right things out by taking the right thing in …

Practice what you preach. Your actions are so loud, I can’t hear what you’re saying. Those are things commonly said when people struggle to match our actions with our words. This has a significant impact on the sharing of our beliefs. You might even have a reputation that precedes an interaction with someone. Thus, it is important that we not only check what we say but also how it represents who we are. Today’s devotion speaks on how words are not always enough to win hearts over …

Everyone wants to win something.  Some people are so hung up on it that they will go as far as to say that second place is ‘the first loser.’  What’s worse, no one wants to feel like they are rewarded for just showing up.  It’s that latter part that bothers people on the topic of someone getting a ‘participation trophy.’  Sometimes, that criticism is totally warranted.  However, what about the child who tries something for the first time and has never gotten anything?  What if something becomes the start of a big thing?  There is something to be said for ‘just showing up’ particularly when there is effort behind it.  Today’s devotion is about how effort, no matter how big or small, leads to greater things …