devotional

1 Corinthians 12 talks a lot about different kinds of gifts, and how they're all distributed. First we have to identify what some of them are. Verses 4-11 say: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to[...]

Last summer I went to Atlanta with some of my friends for a Christian conference. At one point on the way there, we experienced a little turbulence. The funny thing about turbulence is, while you never expect it (on that plane your voluntarily got on)...we know that it's always an in-flight possibility. The definition of turbulent, is something causing unrest, violence, or disturbance. It's characterized by agitation or tumult.  People often talk about God being the pilot, and them being the co-pilot...but quite frankly we don't even belong in the cockp[...]

Isaiah 53:3 says: But he was pierced for our transgressions;he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,and with his wounds we are healed. As we all know, Easter is coming up. As a Christian, this is one of the most joyful and holy holidays that my faith is built on. We recognize the greatest act of love and sacrifice by Jesus Christ for us all. Laying down His life, that we might have eternal life and not be separated from The FatherJesus, who had humble beginnings, being born in a manger, belonging to a blended fa[...]

John 20 talks about the happens after Jesus' resurrection. At this point Jesus had already appeared to some of the disciples, and I want to focus on verses 24-31.  They say: But Thomas, one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Didymus (the twin), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails, and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later His disci[...]

Habakkuk 2:3 says: For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. [Heb. 10:37, 38.] The vision may take awhile to come to pass, but wait for it. It's coming at the appointed time. The dream or promise may take awhile to come to pass, but wait for it. It's coming at the appointed time. Sometimes that's hard to remember, especially when the days seem to keep going by[...]

I was on pinterest the other day, and I saw this quote that read “and if not, He is still good.” Something about that spoke to me, so I had to google it to find out where it came from and what the context was. Some searching lead me to a devotional on the She Read’s Truth website, which was based on Daniel 3.In this chapter of Daniel, we see how Shadrach, Meschah and Abendnego refused to bow and worship the idol created by King Nebuchadnezzar. Verses 13-18 say:    14Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedneg[...]

"Fall down seven times, get up eight." It sounds so simple, but it can be so hard. I believe that the same principle should apply to our lives, if you fall...get back up. If life brings you to your knees, say a prayer and get back up swinging. I don't know about you, but that's the only reason that I'm still standing today. Everytime I got knocked down, I was determined to get back up because I knew that God still had and has more for me to do. Even when I didn't feel like I had the strength to keep going, He got me back on my feet and pushed me onward.&n[...]