Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

When was the last time you thought about how amazing God’s grace is?  We often think of grace as “God’s undeserved favor,” and that is certainly true!  But what does undeserved favor mean?  In the Bib...  Read More

What an amazing concept that we can approach the throne of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the very creator and ruler of the universe. Understand that in monarchal traditions normal people cannot...  Read More

Many of the questions and issues that come up in working with teenagers are rooted in questions of identity and purpose: “who am I” and “why am I here?”  For teenagers, finding an answer to these ques...  Read More

We are are now beginning our 40 Days for Life campaign as we partner with Right to Life. We have many volunteers from our Campus Bible family volunteering to pray on the sidewalk in front of Planned P...  Read More

This charge given to Christ’s disciples is so inspiring. He starts out commanding his disciples to love one another and then gives a description of the ultimate expression of love—to give your life fo...  Read More

Have you ever thought you were set on something only to change your mind? Well, let me say, that I have had quite a bit of experience in that area. After I'd been medically separated from the Marine C...  Read More

Peace is something people pursue. And this verse talks about perfect peace, which is the peace of God. It only comes when our minds are steadfast and focused on Him. We experience it when we fully tru...  Read More

“You shall be holy men to Me” (Exodus 22:31). This is God’s statement to Moses, for all Israel. Such a command! We often see it as a performance call. Maybe an impossible call. But we are to look deep...  Read More

While in Bethlehem a shopkeeper gave me a small antique juglet. The Certificate of Authenticity pointed out this antiquity came from the Late Bronze Age, around the time King David reigned.Such a simp...  Read More

I grew up on a farm in Northern Califonia, 18 miles north of Chico.  I attended a small Elementary School where there were nine kids in our class.  When it was time for recess, we would run out the cl...  Read More

I was born again and became a new creation in Christ on February 13, 1993 – just two months shy of my 23rd birthday.  I know for a fact that my mom helped pray me into the kingdom, and shortly after m...  Read More

When I read the Gospels, I am always struck by how often—and how easily—Jesus is interrupted. So many of Jesus’ miracles happen after what we’d probably consider a disruption to His schedule. In Matth...  Read More

A while ago I was reading in 1 Corinthians and there was a passage that talks about the Spirit of God. For some reason the way this translation worded it gave me a much different perspective than I’ve...  Read More

This is a beautiful passage that breaks up nicely into three distinct sections, giving us a message of good news and hope, an explanation of what that good news does for us, and finally some instructi...  Read More

There are many pros and cons to online shopping. One of the biggest cons is that you don’t get to physically touch the item that you’re purchasing. Have you ever purchased something online and when it...  Read More

The moment I gently took my baby in my arms, my life changed forever! She gazed into my eyes and we knitted together. As I tenderly held her, my tear-filled eyes poured all my love into her soul. It w...  Read More

What does it look like to live out the gospel in your neighborhood? God has placed you at your job, your school, and your neighborhood and has surrounded you with non-Christians.Are you a Christian? I...  Read More

Sometimes it is the backyard with the Lord we need.Sometimes the quietness and restfulness.Sometimes just beauty (Psalm 27:4).Sometimes just to linger with You.Sometimes just simple life and pleasures...  Read More

I know many who begin a Bible Reading Plan with the New Testament. Some do this for reasons I have heard too often:“It’s much shorter.”“It’s more familiar.”“It’s much easier to read.”“It’s much easier...  Read More

As God’s children, we are of incredible value to our Heavenly Father.  We may never understand totally the value He has placed on us.  A value that caused God the Father to send His Son to die in our ...  Read More

Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is fascinating. I am often struck by how Jesus refuses to write off the Samaritan woman as unworthy of his time and attention. Not only is she a S...  Read More

When I was younger – and in much better shape – I used to go on solo backpacking trips in the Sierra mountains.  I would scour the map for a remote lake nestled in a forest and get away for a few days...  Read More

While Jesus was speaking to a crowd, one of the crowd asked Him to command his brother to divide his brother’s inheritance with him. This is what Jesus is responding to in this verse but it also cause...  Read More

I love these words. First that His word can be found and it can change the state of our heart. It lets me know that there is great hope for those that either don’t know the Lord or that have walked aw...  Read More

One day I pulled out my old Betty Crocker Cookbook. I took off the thick rubber band holding all the pages together. A couple pages floated to the floor. It is worn, torn, and stained but still very p...  Read More

Joshua 4:5b–7 - “5 …'Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelit...  Read More

Valentine’s Day is usually a celebration for couples to show their love for one another. But how often do you think of Valentine’s Day as a day to remind us of God’s amazing love for us? A lot of sing...  Read More

Day 11. My misery meter (0–10) has been mostly in the 7–10 range. My hernia surgery seemed to go well. My recovery, however, has been an ordeal both physically and emotionally.  I have had some high m...  Read More

Want to start a fight—a virtual holy war among a number of denominations? Just move a ladder that has been leaning for hundreds of years against a second story window at the Church of the Holy Sepulch...  Read More

As we have just completed another year, I would like to wish you and your family a blessed and joyous New Year.  Looking back over the past 365-days, I marvel at how quickly the year has gone.  A lot ...  Read More

It’s official – we have a toddler. My daughter Lottie is fifteen months old, and she is walking/talking up a storm. Every day is a new word or a new discovery. It’s a joy to see her personality start ...  Read More

Over the years I’ve heard people make some pretty ridiculous New Year’s resolutions.  A few that stand out to me are:I will think of a password other than “password” or “hello.”I will do less laundry ...  Read More

Most cultures have a special way to usher in a new year. Koreans list their sins on kites and cut the strings to allow their sins to just fly away. The Japanese ring bells to atone for sins. We Americ...  Read More

Three years after establishing our lives in Reedley, we bought our second home. It was new. In fact, it was not even built yet when we made the decision. So we were able to work with the builder and c...  Read More

Every year during the New Year’s holiday we fly back to Chicago to visit both Jenn’s side and my side of the family. There’s something special about ringing in a new year surrounded by those you love ...  Read More

I get so intrigued by the behind-the-scenes features of a movie that I like. It really lets me know some of the intricate details of the movie’s creation. As a leader, I am always intrigued by how muc...  Read More

This week we pause from the routines of life to give thanks as a nation for God’s bountiful blessings.  We have so much to be thankful for as a nation.  We have been blessed beyond anything we deserve...  Read More

What does it mean to have faith like a mustard seed?  In this verse, Jesus uses an analogy, and I find it interesting that he compares faith to a mustard seed.  I think there are a couple lessons we c...  Read More

Had everything gone according to plan, I never would have come to Fresno.It was the spring of my sophomore year of college, which meant it was time to make plans for the summer. Internships were a big...  Read More

I love watching Christmas movies. I love the warmth I feel when I’m watching them. Maybe because there is usually some element of cold that causes them to wrap their hands around decorated cups of hot...  Read More