I Dream of…Genealogy?
September 25, 2024 by admin
Filed under Daily Devotions
I love to write suspense. Out of nothing—poof. I dream and worlds appear. It’s fun to make up characters. Maybe my protagonist should have purple highlights, drive a Karmann Ghia, and walk with a limp. And the food! I can whip up grilled pork roast, guilt-free Alfredo sauce, and crème brûlée. The setting? Antarctica. Or a planet of my own making, complete with talking chimera. Whatever I do, one thing is certain: My plot must hold readers captive so they neglect the laundry, the bathtub, sleeping, and breathing. The last thing I do if I want to tell a dramatic story is include a long list of names in my story’s climax. That would be like rolling the credits as the main action in a movie. Yet leave it to God to break all the rules when breathing inspiration into the best-told stories of all time.
Ending with a genealogy is exactly what He did through the human of the Book of Ruth. And once we “get” what He’s doing, we have to admit He has provided an utterly dramatic landing. The readers of “Ruth” lived in a world before moving pictures. No photos; only drawings. When a loved one died, the bereaved had no hope of ever seeing that person’s face again. The only thing left was a memory, and a name. So for the descendants of Abraham, genealogy ruled. What might seem anticlimactic to us thrilled the readers of Ruth’s story. Why? The last name on that list was King David.
What Ruth could not have known, but those who heard her story would have quickly discerned is that God blessed her long after her death. She was the grandmother of the greatest earthly king ever. And it keeps getting better: Much later Matthew records her name in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. A Moabite girl with the wrong pedigree was grafted into the royal tree. And all because she embraced the Lord as her God and showed loyal love to a helpless widow.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You that You love mercy and justice and humility, and You care for the needy and the vulnerable. Thank You that You are able to do far beyond what we can even ask or imagine if we trust in You. Glorify Yourself through my life that I might shine forth something of Your glory.
“These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David,” Ruth 4:18-22 NET.
Today’s devotion is by Sandra Glahn, Th.M. She is an adjunct professor, Christian Education and Pastoral Ministries, at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), her alma mater while currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Aesthetic Studies (Arts and Humanities) at the University of Texas at Dallas. Her books include The Coffee Cup Bible Study series and the medical suspense thriller, Informed Consent (Cook). She and her husband, Gary, have been married over thirty years and have a daughter who joined their family through adoption.
Reminders
September 22, 2024 by Gina Stinson
Filed under Daily Devotions
God has a gentle way of reminding us that He is in control. Last month in Beaumont, Texas a tornado popped up without any warning. The TV weathermen all tried to figure out how they didn’t see it coming. One of them finally admitted that sometimes things were out of their control.
Sometimes?
Giving God control of all things…big or little makes life a little less stressful. When you aren’t in control, your only obligation is to do what you’re told—to obey. Well, that’s exactly how it is with God. People ask “How do I know what God is telling me to do; how do I know what to obey?” When you begin reading God’s Word you become familiar with His voice, His commands, His Words, His direction. It doesn’t mean that you’ll never go another way, but it does mean He will guide you if you give Him control. Just like the weathermen in Beaumont, don’t be surprised when God pops in and does something unexpected. It’s just a reminder that in this world of crazy control freaks and manipulators, He really is still in charge of everything!
PRAYER: Thank You Father for Your guiding hand that controls my life. Help me to submit to those things You allow and to learn from the valleys and the mountaintops.
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power,” Psalm 150:1 KJV.
Today’s devotion is by Gina Stinson, wife to Bruce, mom to Savannah and Tucker and publicist assistant for Kathy Carlton Willis Communications. In her spare time you can find her blogging, gardening and working in her community and church. Check out her blog http://journalinggina.blogspot.com
Are You Listening to God or Goliath?
September 20, 2024 by admin
Filed under Daily Devotions
David had a choice in 1 Samuel 17. He could believe the promises of Goliath or God. “The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you are coming after me with sticks?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, ‘Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the field!’ “But David replied to the Philistine, ‘You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel’s armies, whom you have defied! This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand! I will strike you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land. Then all the land will realize that Israel has a God and all this assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves! For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will deliver you into our hand,’” 1 Samuel 17:43-47 NET.
As you know, it was Goliath who became buzzard meat.
We have a choice, whose promises will we believe: our enemy or our God?
“You’re a loser, a worthless failure” or “You’re a child of God.”
“You can’t do it” or “I will give you strength.”
“You’re out of work and you’re going to starve” or “I will provide for you.”
“You have six months to live” or “In Me, you have eternal life.”
“Your prodigal children are lost” or “I will guide them home.”
“No one loves you” or “I love you unconditionally.”
“You’re alone” or “I am with you.”
We have a choice whose promises will we believe: the loser or the winner?
PRAYER: Father, as we face our individual Goliaths today, may we believe Your promises, rather than the giant’s. “For the battle is the Lord’s.”
Today’s devotion by James N. Watkins is reprinted by permission from www.jameswatkins.com copyright © 2009. He is the author of fifteen books, including Squeezing Good Out of Bad, and over two thousand articles. He has spoken across the United States as well as overseas.
Living it Up RV Style
September 18, 2024 by Gina Stinson
Filed under Daily Devotions
My family is in the midst of a move. Our problem isn’t unique. Our previous home hasn’t sold and we aren’t in the position to purchase another home until that happens. Meanwhile God has provided us a wonderful RV for our family to live in during the waiting game. Going from a modest middle class home to an RV has been easier than I ever imagined. Albeit small, the home comes equipped with all our necessities. Air conditioning, hot water, refrigerator and other kitchen appliances and even two televisions! Wow…home sweet RV home. We’ve moved a week’s worth of clothing in and our toiletries and a few toys for the kids and we are set to make it for a while.
With all the modern conveniences we thought we had it made. I made advance preparations with groceries and toilet paper. We even waited one day before we moved in with the kids. Last Saturday night was our first night to spend the night. The kids were excited. We took our first showers, ironed clothes for the next day and took care of bedtime routines. Everyone was snuggled in bed. We all fell asleep, slumbering like babies….until 2:00 a.m. when out of nowhere the loudest train ever made barreled through the city train tracks, located right behind the RV spot. As you can imagine we were immediately awakened and nearly horrified. None of us had given thought to a train. We hadn’t prepared ourselves for the enormous noise and whistling.
The next night at bedtime, we talked about the train with the kids. We reminded them it would be loud and we assured them that nothing would happen to them. We went to bed prepared and even expecting of what was to come. That night when the train came through, the children slept through the same terrifying noises that woke them the night prior.
Isn’t that so like trusting children? Children who trust their parents, who believe they will be taken care of. Shouldn’t that be how we are with our Heavenly Father? Shouldn’t we trust his guidance? Shouldn’t we know that He will take care of us? No amount of noise, hardship, disease, pain, divorce or finances can keep us from His care. Thankfully we can sleep easy when we trust in Him.
PRAYER: Thank You Lord for the sweet slumber You offer Your children when we rest in You. Thank You for protection and peace even in the midst of loud noises and big trains.
“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet,” Proverbs 3:24 KJV.
Today’s devotion is by Gina Stinson, wife to Bruce, mom to Savannah and Tucker and publicist assistant for Kathy Carlton Willis Communications. In her spare time you can find her blogging, gardening and working in her community and church. Check out her blog http://journalinggina.blogspot.com
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.)
