Stuck in the Mud
January 15, 2019 by Gina Stinson
Filed under Daily Devotions, Personal Growth
It had rained all month long. Literally. I was discouraged and worried that my tender garden, planted just 13 weeks earlier wouldn’t be able to absorb much more rain. I decided it was time to venture out into my soppy, muddy garden and inspect the damage. I slipped on a pair of old flip-flops, grabbed my garden hoe, gloves and pail, and trotted to the back of the property where my garden was planted.
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When Peace Eludes You
January 12, 2019 by Gina Stinson
Filed under Daily Devotions, Family
By Gina Stinson
Do you know someone who has been through a devastating circumstance and yet, through it all, they have had a peaceful countenance? I’ve heard it said that the depth of your true relationship with Christ is revealed by how you handle things when they fall apart. I’ve known some real peace-filled people who have managed to rest in the arms of Jesus during life-altering challenges…and then I’ve known people like me.
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Be and Do
January 10, 2019 by Gina Stinson
Filed under Daily Devotions, Worship
By Gina Stinson
Christ was always busy doing the work of His Father. Whether he was performing miracles, learning from the priests in the temple, spending time in the Garden with the disciples, sharing a meal of remembrance or dying on the cross. He was busy…doing the will of God. In the world that we have made for ourselves, it’s difficult to imagine living such a singular purposed life (after all, there’s a mortgage, jobs, kids, pets, stuff, bills, schedules), yet as Christians it’s the singular purpose of JESUS that should keep us focused on finding a way through all that…to share Christ with others.
Daily Resolution
January 3, 2019 by Gina Stinson
Filed under Daily Devotions, Worship
By Gina Stinson
The last few years I haven’t made New Year’s resolutions. I used to make the common resolutions as I switched to a new calendar – lose weight, read my Bible more, spend less, get more organized – and each year, somewhere around January 15th, I realized I’d already failed. I beat myself up, did some pretty degrading self-talk and sometimes even tried again. But, with only a few exceptions, I would eventually give up. What a disappointment!
For a couple of years I conveniently ignored all the hype regarding resolutions and just opted for a resolve-free year. That was a commitment I could keep. That worked well, until I realized what God’s Word had to say about New Year’s resolutions.
When Your Children Hurt
January 2, 2019 by Gina Stinson
Filed under Daily Devotions, Family
By Gina Stinson
My seven year old has extreme stage fright. She takes after her mother. Recently, after practicing for four months on a Christmas musical, purchasing the traditional formal attire for such an event, and spending some extra time getting ready, she almost didn’t make it up on stage. As the children filed in to step onto the stage, I noticed her usually light complexion was a rosy shade of pink. At first I thought, she is just a little flushed. Then I saw the look that accompanied the blush. She was frightened out of her mind. Tears were streaming down her face. She wanted her mommy. She was scared!
I tried to encourage her to go ahead and get on the stage with the other forty children. She reluctantly continued up the steps. When she got into place she was still sobbing and looked like a frightened kitten. For a couple of moments, I wanted to step in and rescue her, make it all better, let her step out of the program, but rational thinking got the best of me and I decided to wait a few minutes and see if she could regain composure. And then it happened.
