Don’t Forget To Back Up!
December 5, 2024 by Kathy Carlton Willis
Filed under Daily Devotions, Humorous
By Kathy Willis
I’m not good at backing up my van. Okay, I admit it! I try to use my mirrors, and I move my head around to visualize things, but I’m still awkward at maneuvering the car in reverse. There are some parking lots and parking garages that do not allow enough wiggle room, let alone parking room. I’m a novice.
On the other hand, I’ve noticed our new puppy enjoys going in reverse as much as she enjoys moving forward. All that’s missing is the back-up horn blaring a warning: “Watch out for Jazzy, she’s backing up!” She doesn’t even look where she’s going; no mirrors to consult. She just reverses her footsteps in the same locations as when she was moving forward. It works. She’s a pro!
I’m programmed to advance, not retreat; to progress, not regress. Most of my leadership training focused on one point: moving forward. We studied goal setting, becoming a visionary, striving for success—but nothing was ever said about the need to go in reverse every once in a while.
I’ve had a life-journey reversal this week. I can see how it will be good for me. Reversals cause me to reflect and to grow. They cause me to evaluate what is really important in my life. They keep me humble and grounded. Success without trials only produces empty victory, full of shallow egotism. Real growth happens when life says, “Go back. See what you missed. Learn from it.” Backing up allows us to see things in the proper perspective.
Sometimes the object we must go back to is our “first love.” Revelation refers to the church that lost her first love. They were challenged to return; to back up and find where they lost it. When I lose something, I have to retrace my steps, and remember what I was doing when I last had “it.” I’m making a fresh commitment to remember my First Love (Jesus), and to accept reversals as they happen, knowing they will conform me into His image.
Author Quote: “Don’t forget to back up” is not just a motto for your computer, but your life!
“Thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works,” Revelation 2: 4b-5a KJV.
Today’s devotion is by Kathy Carlton Willis, wife to Russ, pastor’s wife to many, author, editor, publicist, and speaker. Kathy Carlton Willis Communications encompasses her many passions. Learn more about how she desires to “Shine the Light on Him and His” at: http://kcwcomm.blogspot.com/ or http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/.
WINDOW WITH A VIEW
November 20, 2024 by Cynthia Ruchti
Filed under Daily Devotions, Humorous
By Cynthia Ruchti
Just beyond our bathroom window, Adam and Eve Barnswallow built a nest on top of a wooden shutter. As the season progressed, we watched the parents tend the nest and warm their eggs. Eventually little fluff-heads attached to massive, always-open beaks peeked over the edge of the nest.
When my then five-year-old granddaughter Grace was at our house one day, I took her by the hand to show her the incredible sight. Six now-adolescent barn swallow babies were crammed into a tiny mud-and-fiber nest. Grace took such delight in watching the mom fly back and forth with nubbins of insects for her children. We mocked their bird voices as we watched the beaks open and close.
God Can Do It!
November 9, 2024 by Kathy Carlton Willis
Filed under Daily Devotions, Humorous
By Kathy Carlton Willis
I was reminded this week just how big our God is. I knew, I just KNEW that God had something around the corner for us. I had guesses as to how He might take care of us and show us a glimpse of His love. But I didn’t REALLY know. In fact, I had no clue just how powerful God is to change our outcome.
I think what I’ve experienced can be called “mustard seed faith.” I had a little bit of faith. I had faith enough to think mustard seed-sized things might happen. But God took my little bit of faith and honored it by showing me just how BIG He is. WOW!
Who Decided?
October 18, 2024 by Cynthia Ruchti
Filed under Daily Devotions, Humorous
Who decided wrinkles are unattractive and to be avoided at all costs? What if we’re thinking backward on this issue?
Where is it written that a baby’s skin is the ideal? What if the skin of a baby is really under-done and the ideal is a mature-looking face? What if we looked at a baby’s soft, flawless complexion and thought, “Oh, that’s too bad. Well, give it time.”
Nothing In My Ears
I have a great deal of respect for the medical profession. My mom was a nurse and some of my favorite doctors are…doctors. But I can’t be the first to wonder if some have excess wax build-up in their ears that inhibits their ability to listen. (Same principle might apply to car repairmen, husbands, and children.)
