Category: Uncategorized

Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.
This verse carries me back before the birth of our firstborn. Our nursery theme was sun, moon, and stars, and this verse was situated right over the crib. We were so inexperienced and had such grand plans about our role as parents and what we would teach our children.
Proverbs 24:16 For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
We still think often about what we are trying to teach our children. Primarily, we want them to know our deep love for them, and, more importantly, the deep love our Savior has for them. We want them to learn to lean into Him and trust Him, even when they are terrified or baffled. We want them to realize that mistakes are an invaluable part of learning, that they will make them, and when they do, they need to dust themselves off, draw closer to Him, look for the lessons, and move forward. We want them to understand that God is love, that He is making a way, even when they can’t yet perceive it, that He is with us, always, even when we can’t feel Him, that we can trust Him with our lives, and that we are His hands and feet in this weary world.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for these precious children. Thank You for Your love and guidance as we love and guide them. Help us all learn and draw closer to You when we make mistakes. Help us, no matter what, to trust You, to lean into You, to shine Your light. Clothe us in Your love, grace, and mercy, and help us to share them with all Your people. Draw us closer. Amen.
Phil 3:13 …one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead….
Have a blessed day.

Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised….You always resist the Holy Spirit!”
Looking back at yesterday, I, sadly, come face-to-face with my own shortcomings. The vast majority of our Christmas was by far the best we’ve had in a very long time. If I had gone to bed at my accustomed hour, it would have remained so. But the last hour and a half went downhill quickly, and short tempers and exhaustion made the whole thing worse. I did not, in that time, embrace the imperfections. And every time I awoke in the night, I felt the sting of my lack of grace.
Matt 7:2 For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
All of the verses placed in my path this morning felt like chastisements and warnings—You, Beth, are being stiff-necked. You, Beth, are judging. You, Beth, will be judged. But the still, soft, beautiful voice of my sweet Savior has been whispering repeatedly that His love, His grace, and His mercy are enough to cover ALL of my imperfections and shortcomings, even on Christmas. Thank You, Jesus.
John 12:47b “…For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your mercy, love, and grace—even when we screw up, especially then. Thank You for whispering healing words to my soul and for allowing me to block out the noise and the guilt so that I could hear Your truth. Thank You for Your forgiveness and grace. Draw us closer. Amen.
John 12:46 “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.”
Have a blessed day.

Luke 2:6-7a While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
Reminiscent of yesterday, today’s devotional readings underscore the imperfections of the holy birth. They were not married. They were traveling because of the census. There was no room for them, so the divine birth place was in a stable. With livestock. The first resting place of our Savior was a food dish. Talk about imperfect. I’m not sure it could have been any less perfect if they had been trying. And yet, our Savior was born. Right on time. The angels announced His birth. The shepherds came to see Him. The the many, many, many imperfections did not take away from the glorious news that our Savior was born. There is a lesson in that.
Luke 2:7b She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
I can guarantee that there will be imperfections today. Probably, there will be many, many, many imperfections. Disappointments. Tempers. Folks who should be with us but aren’t. But I pray that regardless of the imperfections we deal with today, that we do not lose sight of the holy infant lying in a manger, who is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for sending Your Son for us. Help us to look past any imperfections and disappointments of this day and celebrate the gloriously imperfect birth of our Savior, who is perfect love, perfect peace, perfect salvation. Thank You for this amazing, undeserved gift and for Your unending love. Draw us closer. Amen.
Luke 2:11 Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
Have a blessed day.

Luke 1:46-48 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant.”
I will admit that I often fall into the trap of the way things “ought to be.” It is easy to bemoan the state of my house, the frustrations of my job, the losses I’ve suffered because things “ought to be” different. But there is prodigious danger in the specter of what “ought to be,” most especially the danger of missing the beauty and grace of what is.
Luke 1:51b-53 …He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
Mary, an unwed, pregnant teen, could have easily bemoaned her circumstances. In the blink of an angel’s visit, her entire world of “ought to be” was shattered. But Mary doesn’t sulk and moan at the life she envisioned, now irrevocably altered. She rejoices and praises God, who “looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant.”
Matt 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the birth of Your Son, a gift utterly undeserved and deeply precious. Thank You for loving us, even at our worst, and for subverting our notions of what “ought to be” through the birth of Your Son, our Savior, to an unwed teenage mother, in a stable of all places, with announcement of the good news to lowly shepherds watching their flocks. Help us to see what “ought to be” through the lens of Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy. Draw us closer. Amen.
Isaiah 9:6 For into us a child is born, unto us a son is given….And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Have a blessed day.

Deut 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
This morning I am rejoicing in the approachable nature of our Savior. He doesn’t hide, reserving Himself for a select few. He patiently waits for us to seek Him, and when we earnestly seek Him, we find Him. He is infinite and multifaceted. His mercies are new every morning (Lam 3:23), and His word is alive and active (Heb 4:12), so even if we have been studying Him and getting to know Him for years, there is always something new to discover.
2 Chron 15:4 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them.
It is true that times of trouble send me seeking Him with renewed focus, for He is always willing to fight for me (Exodus 14:14). It is true that times of sorrow and broken-heartedness cause me to hide in the shelter of His wings (Psalm 147:3, Psalm 91:4). But He isn’t only a Savior for those in distress. 
Jer 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your desire to be in relationship with Your people. Thank You for Your fierce love, Your unfathomable mercy, and Your unending grace. Thank You that we can find You, draw closer to You, when we earnestly seek You. Help us, daily, to seek You. Help us, daily, to spend time in Your word. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 4:31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors….
Have a blessed day.

Heb 2:14a Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. 
In yesterday’s reading I stumbled upon an article entitled “What those who have recently lost someone wish you knew.” What struck me about the title was the word “recently.” My dad has been gone over nine years and my mom almost two, and I still miss them terribly. Christmas is no exception. But this scripture gives me renewed hope.
Heb 2:14b For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.
This scripture is not a telling of the Christmas story, but it is a very important reminder to me that love was born that day in a manger. God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Himself, in human form because He wanted to restore us to Himself once and for all. The Christmas miracle is that this tiny baby was born to willingly suffer and die for us, so that we could be eternally restored to Him. But this story doesn’t end in death. It ends in His resurrection, in His power over the grave, in His fierce, all-consuming love for us.
Heb 2:15 Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, and for the love and hope that was born in a manger, born out of Your deep love for us, and Your desire for a restored relationship. Thank You for relationships that are so powerful that years later we still feel the ache of their absence. Perhaps that ache is a glimpse into Your heart when You think of Your children who are still separated from You? Thank You that death is not the end, that Your love wins, and that Your hope springs eternally. Draw us closer as we anticipate the coming of our Savior, Your Son. Amen.
Heb 2:18 Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested.
Have a blessed day.

1 Peter 4:19 If you suffer for obeying God, you must have complete faith in your faithful Creator and keep on doing right.
This morning, as I read commentary on this verse, there was talk of missionaries suffering for their Savior in foreign lands under harsh conditions, which is definitely applicable, but I feel like even those of us who are never called in that way can learn from this text. A line from John Piper’s commentary resonated deeply: “If we become embittered at life and the pain it deals us, we are not preparing to rejoice at the revelation of Christ’s glory.” 
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters….
We don’t have to be foreign missionaries to understand the pain life deals us. If we are simply trying to follow God’s will for our lives, we are sure to run headlong into pain at some point—the loss of a loved one far too soon, the difficult transition to a new job or routine, the doubts and fears that come from physically relocating, the heartache of betrayal, anger, bitterness, and trying to let it go because it is not of Him nor from Him. Suffering happens as easily here as abroad, but I think the secret to finding His joy is two-fold: 1. Seeking, earnestly, His will for your life, and 2. Seeking to draw closer to Him and trust Him more deeply, no matter the situation.
1 Cor 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, and the knowledge that we can seek You and serve You anywhere. Thank You for wanting the best for us, for wanting us to grow and mature in our faith, in our relationship with You. When we face trials in this life, help us to seek You and to rejoice as we draw closer to You. No matter our circumstances, help us to seek You, always, with our whole hearts. Amen.
Jer 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.
Have a blessed day.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds….
This passage has always been a bit difficult for me because I often equate happiness with joy. Happiness is more earthly, temporary. Joy is more eternal and is rooted in my Savior. And while I still can’t honestly say I rejoice in suffering and trials, I absolutely understand that these difficult periods draw me closer to God in a way that easier seasons can’t.
James 1:3-4 …because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I have waded through wildernesses where the only thing that kept me going was my utter conviction that, even though I could not see or feel Him, I knew that my Savior was present and at work in the situation because of His promises to never leave me nor forsake me. 
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder of Your steadfast love. Thank You for the conviction that You are with me, even in trying times, even when I can’t feel Your presence. In every situation, Lord, help me to cling to Your steadfast love. Give me wisdom and discernment, Lord, and help me tap into the joy that can only come from You. Draw me closer through every trial. Amen.
1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory….
Have a blessed day.

Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
I have mentioned before my deep connection to “why” questions. I seek to understand fully, which means exploring a situation fully. To me, it seems smart to find answers to pressing questions to be sure I am not led astray. But this scene with Zechariah gives me pause. 
Luke 1:20 “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
I don’t consider my quest for understanding to be a sign of doubt and unbelief. I consider the quest for answers to be more a course of due diligence, of making sure I understand. But is understanding the nature of faith? Or is faith more about saying, “Lord, I do not get this, but I trust You, I trust that You’ve got this, even if I don’t understand”?
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the ability to believe in You, Your word, and Your promises even when I do not understand. I believe in You, Lord. Help my unbelief. Strengthen my faith. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way….
Have a blessed day.

1 Samuel 17:37 And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” ….
I love David’s confidence in this verse. He has faced lions and bears while protecting sheep. He knows the LORD protected him during those encounters, and he has every confidence that the LORD will protect him from Goliath as well. David’s attitude is not cockiness. It is total confidence in God.
1 Samuel 17:38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail….
Saul’s clothing David in his, Saul’s, armor reminds me of my fears. “Yes, I trust God, but what about this and this and this? I’d better trust myself, too.” Thankfully, David quickly realizes it is unwise to go to battle in untested armor. Better to go with what works, with what’s tried and true, a pocket full of stones and an unshakable faith.
1 Samuel 17:39-40 …And he tried in vain to go for he had not tested them. So David took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five small stones…. His sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your presence in my life, and for fighting my battles. Help me remember that the fight is not mine, it is Yours. Arm me with an unshakable faith, even in the face of giants. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Samuel 17:46-47 “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand….for the battle is the LORD‘s….”
Have a blessed day.