Morning Devotion: Denying self is no picnic

My eyelids aren’t happy with me right now. I keep telling them to “Wake up!” I’m very drowsy but I don’t have the option of going back to bed to get more sleep. Well, I could but that would be giving into “self” at a time that I have much to do for others. Including [...]

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Morning Devotion: Swimming with an anchor?

It’s time for a personal inventory. What habits or attitudes do I possess that are influencing others — particularly children — away from Christianity? Of course, it’s important that you ask yourself the same question. For our reason for living is to lead people to Jesus, not away from Him. The cost of persistent failure [...]

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Morning Devotion: Lord, help us

Boy, did I relate to the hurting father described in today’s reading from the One-Year Bible. In Mark 9, a dad brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus’ disciples so that the boy could be delivered from the spiritual and physical torment that certainly also traumatized the family’s life. Jesus was absent when the father and [...]

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Morning Devotion: Painful walls

Oh my. Jordan Lifander is probably feeling today like the poster child for Psalm 40:12. That passage includes these words: “For troubles surround me — too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out.” Here’s the problem Lifander brought on himself. “Jordan Lifander, a former Cedarhurst, Long Island [...]

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Morning Devotion: A much simpler forgiveness

While reading from Leviticus over the past few days, I’ve been reminded of why I’m so glad to be living under the New Covenant rather than the Old. Extensive, detailed instructions are given for gaining forgiveness from God — and spiritual cleansing because of certain physical afflictions. Elaborate sacrificial and hygenic rituals were required, including [...]

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