Archives For Devotionals

These posts can serve as an opportunity for a devotional with your walk with Christ for the day, the week, or even the month.

Why Would We Fear Good News?

Cory Johnson —  May 17, 2013
Fear - Good News?

Photo by chezzzers

I am joining several high school students in reading through a gospel (or multiple) as we are spiritually preparing to take our lives on mission to the Czech Republic this summer. I’m probably behind the rest of the group, and thus found myself in Luke 2:8-21 this morning.

It reads:

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” (v. 8-11)

These shepherd guys were just out doing their job, when all of sudden an angel appears, shining the glory of the Lord around. The Bible says that great fear filled them. Why would great fear fill them? I mean, shepherds are known for being able to protect their flock from some of the fiercest apex predators (see David in 1 Samuel 17). So why would great fear fill them now? Continue Reading…

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Marveling at Jesus

Guest Post —  May 8, 2013

This is a guest post by Jordan Shirkman. Jordan blogs at The Point of Impact. He is passionate about helping people discover tools and wrestle with ideas that will enable them to live lives for Jesus that will outlast their days. He'd love to connect with you on Twitter or Facebook.

Jesus - Marveling

Photo by hdkam1

I had heard the Grand Canyon was an inspiring natural wonder. It’s a must see among nature’s most impressive sights.

For some reason, I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around it. I believed what people had said–that it was magnificent and amazing. I knew the Grand Canyon had to be stunning. But it was hard to picture a giant hole in the ground changing my life.

I imagined it would be like a giant cereal bowl–deep, circular, and with minor remains of Fruity Pebbles scattered about.

When I was in high school, my family took a trip out west and I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Canyon itself.

That was the day I realized I would never become an FBI sketch artist. My mental renderings were way off from the verbal pictures others were trying (and valiantly) painting for me. I simply couldn’t envision anything like this wonder of the world. Continue Reading…

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The Little Lady’s Hand

Guest Post —  April 1, 2013

This is a guest post by Chris Howard. Chris says "I am thankful to be alive in Christ and want to make much of His name. I am a husband to my beautiful wife Jessica and a father to my sweet daughter Clara. I always enjoy a great conversation, telling a good story, and reading a book I can't put down." You can contact him on Twitter and Facebook. If you are interested in writing a guest post, check out the guidelines here.

Hand - Little Lady's Hand

Photo by Bram & Vera

The Little Lady’s hand used to terrify me.

When I was a boy, one of the older neighborhood kids liked to scare me with a broken-off Barbie doll arm. He would stretch the tiny, plastic arm toward me, promise me the “Little Lady’s hand was going to get me”, and chase me up the block. Though I really feared his size and strength instead of the doll’s arm, the thought of enduring another round of running from the “Little Lady’s hand” would often keep me from going outside to play.

Today, I don’t feel the need to sprint from the room when my 15-month old daughter Clara comes toward me with her plastic baby doll. But, the sight of any toy plastic arm still reminds me how fear got in the way of experiencing what I enjoyed most. Continue Reading…

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It Pays To Pray

Guest Post —  March 19, 2013

This is a guest post by Chris Howard. Chris says "I am thankful to be alive in Christ and want to make much of His name. I am a husband to my beautiful wife Jessica and a father to my sweet daughter Clara. I always enjoy a great conversation, telling a good story, and reading a book I can't put down." You can contact him on Twitter and Facebook. If you are interested in writing a guest post, check out the guidelines here.

Pray - It Pays to Pray

I used to get paid to worry.

When I developed software several years ago, it was my responsibility to figure out what could go wrong with a program and code to make it bulletproof.

It didn’t always go as planned. I would think a program was ready-for-prime-time only to find I had missed something, often resulting in lost sleep wondering about other potential problems I’d have to fix before meeting an important deadline. The worry was worth it, I reasoned, because at least I was getting paid to do it. Continue Reading…

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Lessons From Cambodia

Cory Johnson —  March 4, 2013
Cambodia - Lessons

Photo by @vr8ce

I recently had a chance to chat with one of my dearest friends, Alf Evans. Alf and his wife, Kelly, have followed God in obedience and moved their family to serve in Cambodia. Their mission is to help rescue and restore children out of sex trafficking and in to a new life in Jesus Christ. The task is, to say the least, HUGE. However, they, and we, believe and hope in the truth that our God is BIGGER.

During our conversation, Alf was telling me of some girls who had been rescued out of sex trafficking. These girls had been brought out of unthinkable bondage and shown freedom and the beginning of a new life. He went on to say that for several they continue to voluntarily go back into the very bondage they were freed from. The same hurt and damage that they were liberated from they walk back into with open eyes. Continue Reading…

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Your Identity In Christ

Mike Mobley —  February 13, 2013
Identity - Thumbprint

Photo by ITnok

I recently wrote an article over at 121 Community Church’s website. Here is an excerpt:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

As we enter into a relationship with Christ, at that point, our entire identity changes. We become new creations as the Word says and the old version of ourselves passes away. The rest of the time we spend here on earth and really for eternity is about glorifying God and making much of Him as we enjoy Him to the fullest.

The love of Christ now controls us. Since He died for us, we no longer live for ourselves but for Him, who for our sake died and was raised (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Being that our identity has now changed, this rightfully so takes time. It’s not a matter of just flipping a switch and then us understanding what this identity is, but it’s a lifelong process after we come into a relationship with Christ.

As we read His word spending time at the Table for Two and pray to God throughout the day, the Holy Spirit will lead us to repentance of our old ways and to walk in the newness of life. God will direct us on what it means to have a new identity.  We can be sure that life will never be the same and that it is well worth it.

You can read the rest of the article here: Your Identity In Christ

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