Face-lifts and Heart-lifts
February 19, 2019 by Cheri Cowell
Filed under Daily Devotions, Life Topics
There are some days when there doesn’t seem to be an end to the bad news. A friend tells you of their child’s struggle with drugs, a co-worker discovers her husband has been cheating on her, a neighbor gets his pink slip at work, and your Mom calls to say your Dad’s doctor is sending him for more tests because he’s worried about something they saw on his x-ray today. Some days it seems like the world is coming apart. Overwhelmed, exhausted, and weary we come home to find there is no solace there, and so in our quiet we cry out to God. We cry out expecting an answer, but often there is only silence. We then begin to wallow in our despair. There is, however, a way out of this deep distress. What is it?
Being Noticed
February 16, 2019 by Cheri Cowell
Filed under Daily Devotions, Worship
I’ve been traveling for several weeks, so when someone at church said to me, “I’ve missed you, where have you been?” it felt good. It felt good to be noticed. I wonder how many people come to church each week wondering if anyone noticed them? Is that why they stop coming, because no one noticed them? Every person is not only noticed by God but also loved deeply by Him. You are loved by Him and noticed by Him. He knows when you are missing-in-action, when you are hiding because of shame, or like me, just away and coming back.
Busy As Ants
February 14, 2019 by Cheri Cowell
Filed under Daily Devotions, Humorous
“As boring as watching ants,” the saying goes. I believe the person who created this saying has never watched ants. Have you? They are fascinating.
I was weeding the other day and came across an ant bed. As I paused to watch them I was struck by how busy they were, each one doing their own thing, not caring what the other ants were up to. They seemed to be driven by a natural instinct to forge ahead no matter what obstacles were laid before them. To test this theory, I created a large log barrier in their path, and without missing a step they discovered ways around the obstacle. They continued in their pursuit of food and other things, which they dutifully carried into their home. God wants us to be more like ants, dutifully carrying out our jobs in spite of the obstacles that may come our way.
Hidden but Known
February 12, 2019 by Cheri Cowell
Filed under Daily Devotions, Life Topics
Whatever is done in secret, the saying goes, will be shouted from the rooftops. During the recent corporate scandals, many found out that what they thought were hidden in boardrooms, conference rooms, and smoke-filled rooms on Wall Street, were not. Sure they rode the wave, until that wave came crashing in around them. Many of us have said, “They deserve whatever they get.” But if we are honest, we know we’ve done the same thing.
Busybodies
February 9, 2019 by Cheri Cowell
Filed under Daily Devotions, Personal Growth
What was your first job? Mine was at a coffee shop. I sold coffee beans and cups of coffee and cappuccinos. I loved that job. My boss was a terrific lady and I enjoyed helping people find just the right coffee for their tastes. There was always something to do, like redesigning store displays, packaging and shipping orders, or tidying up the store when we weren’t busy. At this first job I also had my first encounter with a lazy co-worker. This co-worker was certainly busy. She was busy talking and it seemed she knew everything about everyone. The Bible calls these people busybodies, and cautions us about spending too much time with them.
