PresbyCan Daily Devotional

1 Corinthians 16:14 – Your every action must be done in love. (HCSB)

Recently, a post on social media caught my eye. The picture was of a bunch of groceries and doodads in shopping bags. Above the picture were the words, "Grief Groceries".

The story was about a woman who had lost her loved one. A friend called her and ensured that she was going to be home. The friend then came and dropped off a bag of groceries — easy foods to prepare and enjoy, including cookies, ice cream, pasta, and such. The friend didn't ask if she needed anything, but she just brought some items that she knew the woman could use.

That sounded like a great idea. When my father died in August, friends and family came by to express their sympathy. It was all very nice. Of course, there were people who brought food — cake, cookies, chips, chicken salad, bread, and jugs of sweet tea.

I remember my cousin Jamie coming in with a big pan of chipped barbecue meat that he had taken the time to make. After a few long days, that barbecue meat was the best thing that we had received. It froze well and was enough for many meals and sandwiches.

The food was Jamie's expression of love.

Our verse today is a general reminder to do everything with love. As Christians, we are called to live lives full of love, to be nice to others, to be respectful, and to put others first.

It can be easy to be distracted by our own challenges and forget about the needs of others around us. God calls us to love as He loves us, and to serve others with humility and compassion.

Let's strive to live out this verse in our lives, doing it all in love and being a light to those around us.

Love God; love people.

Prayer: Dear God, there is so much from Your Word that we need to learn and apply in our daily lives. One thing in particular is to love others as You love us. It is not always easy for us to do that, because we are human. Lord, help us to overcome those hurdles that keep us from loving others like You love us unconditionally. Amen.

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Romans 5:5 – Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (NKJV)

One of my windows faced the main street, and I could see the foot traffic that passed by. Parents waited with their children for the school bus, and apartment residents waited for a taxi, Uber, or the city bus.

A very thin young man with blonde hair captured my attention. He was small of stature and very frail looking, in his late twenties, I would think. His face looked worn and tired, and from the sound of his cough, he didn't appear to be in the best of health. He wore a pair of shiny, white patent leather shoes that stood out, because one doesn't normally see that kind of shoe worn. That's how I began to refer to him by the name, "Tiny Shoes".

Seeing him broke my heart, and that day, I began interceding for him. I saw him only a few times after that. I wish that I could have met him personally. I have cried countless tears over Tiny Shoes. He touched my heart so deeply! I prayed with my whole heart that Tiny Shoes would be in heaven.

John 17:20 – I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word. (NKJV)

In this verse Jesus says that He is interceding for His disciples and for people of all generations who would come to put their faith in Him. If there is someone you are interceding for, this is a very comforting verse.

We intercessors know how humbling, important, and serious it is to intercede on behalf of someone, whether or not we know them personally, for it is God's love within us that draws, compels, and enables us to pray.

If we are not sure that the person we are interceding for is saved, we can pray for their salvation, for God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV), and we know that He hears our prayers.

1 John 5:14-15 – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (NKJV)

I continue to pray that one day, I will see Tiny Shoes in heaven. If you are interceding for someone, please do not stop. Jesus knows their whereabouts and their spiritual condition, and He is able to reach out and touch them wherever they may be, in His perfect way and in His time.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, with joy and hope, we look forward to seeing in heaven those for whom we have interceded. Lord, we thank You also for all the intercessors who prayed for us, because of Your love poured out in their hearts by the Holy Spirit, and now, by Your divine grace, we lovingly call You Father God. Amen.

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A PresbyCan devotional that I recently wrote focused on the beauty of words and language as a vehicle for praising God. As regular PresbyCan readers know, each day's devotional includes a hymn of the day. I don't always listen to the hymn, but the day on which my devotional was posted, I was surprised to note how neatly the hymn dovetailed with the theme of my devotional. I sent an email to Robin, our PresbyCan editor, expressing my amazement in this seeming coincidence. To my further surprise, Robin explained that his editorial staff had not specifically chosen this hymn to pair with my devotional. He responded, "Give the credit to God. That selection was made back in December of 2012, and repeats every year on January 21st!"

This happenstance brought to mind numerous other "coincidences" that I have later realized were evidences of God intervening in the ordinary affairs of my life. Have you ever faced danger or a challenging situation, only to have it resolved in a way that you never could have imagined? I can remember many times when God worked mightily on my behalf, sometimes even when I wasn't aware of it. I once received an anonymous gift to help pay my college tuition. Another time, my husband and I found a blank envelope on our doorstep containing $100 to help with our immediate financial need. There have been times when an inch or a split-second one way or the other made the difference between safety and danger. I know that these happenings were not simply coincidental or of my own doing. Maybe I could view them as a tiny glimpse of heaven to remind me that God is always at work in my daily life, performing everyday miracles to show that He holds me firmly in His hand.

2 Kings 6:14-17 — So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Oh, sir, what will we do now?" the young man cried to Elisha. "Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. (NLT)

Elisha's young servant would have missed seeing the chariots of fire — the angelic army that God had sent to protect them — had God not opened his eyes. Let's keep our spiritual eyes sharply peeled lest we miss God's everyday miracles on our behalf.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank You for the everyday miracles You perform for our benefit and for our spiritual growth. May we always be watchful and encouraged to see You working on our behalf. Amen.

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Matthew 23:27 – What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs — beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. (NLT)

"Come, look at this," my wife said.

Gardening is in my blood. I suppose that I inherited it from my two grandfathers who farmed. When spring comes, I want to plunge my fingers and hands into the dirt and plant vegetables and flowers.

I've lived in some places where gardening came easily. I had areas in the yard that were tillable and received enough sun to grow plants. But for one four-year stretch, we lived in an unsuitable-for-gardening patio townhome. Four crepe myrtle trees lounged in our backyard, and the neighbour's larger crepe myrtle overshadowed ours. Only a couple of hours of sunlight ever reached the yard.

I tried gardening anyway. Nothing except a few cucumbers produced. Our last year in this home, I tried one more time — a single tomato plant designed to grow in a pot. It had two small tomatoes on it when I bought it, but apparently no more until the hottest part of the summer, when I gave up on it and stopped watering it, letting the vine die.

Then, one day, my wife called me to the window. Hanging at the top of the shriveled vine, I saw it: one small red tomato. Although it looked dead, evidently enough life existed to produce one small tomato.

Appearances don't always tell the truth. They didn't with the religious authorities of Jesus' day — the ones He wrangled with on more than one occasion, even calling them hypocrites — a serious charge. Jesus compared them to graves with pretty headstones. Jesus knew what lay in the hearts of most of those religious leaders: death.

No matter how hard we might try to avoid it, what's on our inside will emerge on the outside. How we think and feel will come out through actions and words. Jesus wants both to match, but the only way that can happen is for the inside to be clean.

Jesus washes our insides through forgiveness, but we must keep them clean by spending time with Him daily, and by nurturing the faith that He gives us with spiritual disciplines like meditation on God's Word, prayer, and hanging out with other believers.

Hypocrisy is a common charge made against Christians. We don't want our names to be added to that list, and we sure don't want to stain God's name. There are many techniques that we can try in order to keep up good appearances, but they are useless if our actions belie them. We should make sure that our actions keep up our good name as Christians.

When we nurture love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, they will appear on our outside in ways that benefit others.

What are some ways to let our actions tell others who we are?

Prayer: Father, help us to let our actions and attitudes reflect our walk with You. Amen.

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I'm still reading the Peanuts cartoons, even though no newspaper has carried them since Charles Schulz died in February, 2000. I am especially still learning from … Lucy. Yes, Lucy! One strip that I just found has Lucy looking skyward and declaring in the first frame, "Poets tell us that the answers to life can be found in the stars." Then appear two more frames of stargazing, with the final frame having Lucy declare, "Stupid poets!" For once, I am with Lucy. When I survey the stars at night, I see the handiwork of God, but I turn to the Bible to find the answers to life that I seek and crave.

Astronomy is a legitimate science that Christians should be encouraged to study, since it reveals the wonder of God's created universe and makes us exclaim with the hymn writer,

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
       – How Great Thou Art, Carl Boberg, tr. Stuart Hine

On the other hand, astrology is built upon the premise that what is important in life can be found in the stars.

Isaiah 47:13 – All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. (NIV)

There are millions who open their newspapers or go online first thing in the morning, turn to their horoscope, and check their month and sign, to determine what kind of day is ahead, based on the alignment of the stars. Being the cynic that I sometimes purport to be, I'd ask the Dr. Phil question, "How's that working for you?" Dr. Phil is probably less cynical than I am, and he actually goes on to say, "When I ask that, I genuinely mean it. How is what you're doing working for you? Are you getting what you really want and need?" Or does it just deflect you from your real purpose? It is best said in today's verse, "All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!"

The Bible is where I turn when I am seeking the answers to life. So, what is my response to the night sky? Maybe it is actually best said in the words of Psalm 8:3-5 (NRSV), the prayer that I offer for this day:

Prayer: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honour." Amen.

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2 Corinthians 4:18b – For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (NLT)

Every afternoon when I walked into the house, things had disappeared. Our possessions shrank by the day.

Well … not really. We were moving, and my wife was doing most of the packing while I taught school during the day. Since I didn't see all that she packed, it appeared as if the things in our small patio townhouse — and the home itself — diminished daily.

But in the process, I discovered something else. Although I had enjoyed all the things that she packed away, I could live without them. They were not items that I must have to survive: food, shelter, clothing. In fact, I didn't miss some of the things at all and probably didn't until my wife unpacked them at our new home.

Over the years, through all our moves, we've left some things packed up. At a later move, we unboxed them to discover that we had forgotten that we even had those items. The old saying, "Out of sight, out of mind", holds.

When I was young, I held things closely and relationships a little more loosely. But as I've aged, I realize that I have put too much stock in things. I've now learned to hold people closely and things loosely. People may sometimes disappoint us, but things will always let us down in the end because of their temporary nature. Items may have aesthetic, financial, or sentimental value but are never worth more than people. Even when they possess family value, the thing is never more important than the person. If the person has died, the things left behind merely remind us of the person and give us sweet memories.

I now want to open my hand and pass things along instead of clinging to them. Every Christmas — and sometimes in between — I pass a family heirloom to my children and grandchildren. I also tell them the story of the person from whom it came and anything else that I know about it.

Even the finest things deteriorate. They can also be lost or stolen. People are of eternal worth because God made them in His image. Jesus said to love Him above all else and then our neighbours as ourselves. Relationships: that's what life is about. They are a part of the treasure that we store in heaven.

The most important thing that we cannot see is the relationship that we build with God through our faith journey. We can enjoy the things that God allows us to have, but we must remember that we won't take them into eternity. One by one, like the belongings that my wife packed, they will vanish. Only what we have built with God and others will follow us into our eternal abode.

How can you remember the temporary nature of things so that you can put your focus in the right place?

Prayer: Father, help us to hold things loosely and You and people tightly. Amen.

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Deuteronomy 31:17-18 – On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, "Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?" And I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods. (NIV)

My granddaughters love to play hide-and-go-seek. They will spend hours at it, if I am willing to play with them. When it is my turn to seek them out, I discover their hiding spots quickly.

When it is my turn to hide, however, it often takes them a long time to rout me. Sometimes, they don't find me. I just appear before them, and they jump up and down demanding where I was. I leave them in a quandary, though, keeping my hiding place a secret for another day.

Sometimes, we, too, are in a quandary. We are perplexed over things that we see happening in our world and in our lives. We wonder: is God hiding from us? Much like the Israelites, we ask, "Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?" It's a very valid question in light of the state of world affairs, as well as the continuing decline within the church.

We live in a day and age when the truth of Scripture is distorted to come into line with the desires of sinful man. We want what we want, and if God is not going to agree with what we want, then we will twist His Word to make it say what we think and want it to say. In light of this, is it any wonder that the world and the church are in a quandary, and that various disasters strike almost daily? For when we hide our faces from God, God, in turn, eventually hides His face from us.

So, amidst this quandary, for those who seek, what shall we do to find our God?

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 4:11a,12a – Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business … so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders. (NIV)

1 Peter 3:15a – But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (NIV)

Seek and you will find. (Matthew 7:7 NIV)

Prayer: Father God, may we continue to find You as we seek to apply the truth of Your Word and the living Christ to our hearts and to the actions of our daily lives. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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As a young camp counsellor at Gracefield Christian camp, near Ottawa, Canada, I really enjoyed canoeing. I practised my J-stroke, carefully loaded the flat-bottomed aluminum canoes, and even learned how to right a tipped canoe in deep water. To carry it, I learned how to balance the craft on my thighs and get it up on my shoulders, so as to walk it through the portage trails between lakes when on a canoe trip. The trouble was that I wasn't strong enough to carry the canoe very far by myself! Halfway down the trail, I had to put the canoe down gently, and one of the fellows continued carrying it to the next launch.

There are times when a heavy heart that condemns us with guilt, regret, and bitterness is like carrying a load that is too heavy for us, and we struggle along with it until we are forced to stop.

1 John 3:20-24 – If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (NKJV)

When our hearts condemn us, we become confused and discouraged in our Christian faith. What a joy it is to know that when we believe the truth and act accordingly, it shows to Whom we belong! God changes our hearts as we speak, act, and think differently. New growth becomes apparent to ourselves and those around us as we obey Him. Old guilts and regrets and bitterness fall away and stop controlling our thoughts, as we confidently come to God with our requests. Think of how confident the apostles Peter and John were as they spoke to the crowds at Pentecost! Their past failings and guilt had no more power over them to prevent the ministry. We, too, can confidently speak to God, for our belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, leads to an obedient life. Our prayers are unselfish, and we spend more time in prayer because we love Him.

So, how can you lighten the load that you're struggling along with today? Do you feel the confidence of a believer who gives the struggle over to God and accepts the strength that you need and desire? Come to God with a new confidence today, and give Him control of your life. He has given us the Holy Spirit to encourage us and carry the load with us.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You have given Your own life for ours, so that we can bring our requests to You and receive Your answers. Amen.

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Philippians 2:12-13 – What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I am separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. (MSG)

At ages fourteen and nine, my sister Tracey and I were invited to spend the summer without our parents at our grandparents' homes, one in North Carolina and the other in Georgia, USA.

Mom and Dad always had one rule for whenever we were not with them: "Behave, be polite, and tell the truth." Their goal for us was that we would act right always, and that we would be and do better than we did when we were with them.

Mom was worried that we might be too much for our grandmas. Dad assured her that they had taught us well and that we were good girls.

He was right. So, off we went, and overall, we were well-behaved.

If we paraphrase today's Scripture reading, the apostle Paul is giving us the same sort of instructions that our parents gave us: "Act right. Do good. Follow my teachings. Be happy to live a life for God. And do it the same way you have been doing it since we started this journey together." And then, he adds, "Even when we are not together."

That's how we are called to live, putting God first.

It is as though Paul had said, "Be your best self onstage and offstage."

Be who God has made you to be at all times — basic instructions for a successful life as God's child. Although Paul was separated from his friends at Philippi, and we girls were separated from our parents, we Christians are never separated from God. We are always in His presence, so "Behave, be polite, and tell the truth!"

Prayer: Dear Lord, we don't know everything, but You do, and we trust that. Help us always to behave as You would have us do. Amen.

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Matthew 4:17 – From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (NIV)

We all make mistakes in our lives, and there are things in our past that we often regret. Sometimes, it's about something that we've neglected to do or say, and other times, it could be something that we've said or done. For me, it was my alcoholism. Whatever the case, we feel regret, and we wish that things could have been different.

The burden of regret can cause us to become greatly disappointed with ourselves and may even lead to some form of depression. Because we're human, we try to suppress thoughts and feelings about our mistakes, so we seek instead to console our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls by obsessing on other things, other longings, and even other people. Sadly, for some folks, this creates an addiction to food, alcohol, substances, or even pornography, sometimes leading them down a path of no return. Their regrets have been artificially nullified by their obsessions; their guilt has been numbed by their addiction. When I struggled with alcoholism, it was largely as a response to some major mistakes that I had made as a teenager, including a suicide attempt. Decades later, I'm beginning to understand what led me into my addiction.

One of the first things that Jesus did when He began His ministry was to offer people a way to be released from the captivity of regret. He urged people to repent of the past, so that the kingdom of God's love could enter their hearts and minds, bodies and souls.

God's grace is evident because it has the power to liberate people from the past and enable them to live without regret in the present. It's a beautiful gift and one that everybody needs.

Today, Christ offers us the same opportunity to cast off our ragged regrets and to put on the robe of renewal. We are allowed to begin again and to have our hope restored. Jesus will repair our joy; Christ will reconnect us to God. All that we need to do is to repent — to let go of the past and to let God lead us into the future.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)

Point to ponder: What is my biggest regret? Am I willing to hand it over to Christ and to receive His forgiveness?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us completely: every mistake that we have made, every false word that we have spoken, every wrong path that we have taken. You also understand the burden of regret that we carry from those mistakes. Help us to come to You, to confess our secrets, and to receive Your grace. In Your holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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Matthew 13:16-17 – But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (ESV)

Exceptionally strong winds in Nevada and Utah, USA, have caused large quantities of rolling tumbleweed to invade town, where it has congregated at fences, which provide a barrier to rest against, burying cars and other objects in the process. I found it fascinating to watch a video where large numbers of sizeable weed balls were using highways like huge bowling alleys, rolling down or across the main roads for cars to evade and avoid running into other cars in the process. It is somewhat akin to a large dodgems (bumper cars) with added peril.

It made me think about how the world and its influences just roll up against us and into our lives. They interfere with our walk and listening to God through prayer and our daily devotions. Fortunately, we have Jesus' revelation of truth in print to read.

I am sure that we all have our own characteristic bits of worldly interference to acknowledge. Favourites may be mobile phones, social media, websites, food, cars, houses, guns, television, or gossip. The list goes on.

I'd like to say that I set aside time for prayer and fellowship as I meet with others, but it is just not the same as being still before God on my own, with no one to influence my thoughts as I sit and wait and reflect upon what I see, after having read the Bible. All these influences and distractions roll up and press against the time I had set aside for being still before God, requesting help for myself and others, and then, having ticked the box, rushing into the day.

It is my birthday. I am another year older, so it is good to set myself challenges to keep my marbles rolling along to stop them accruing any moss. It seems, however, that I have misplaced my God-given cross somewhere on a pile of worldly stuff. In my haste to run into the day ahead, there has been less dialogue and more monologue. Praise God that He loves us, but personal worship involves our being still before Him!

Yes, Jesus loves us, and He allows us to serve Him in our different ways to reach others. Our service arises first from our personal love for Him to spend time aside in obedience. If it does not, then we are heading for trouble. That is one of the reasons that I like writing, because it forces me to listen and to be still before God to hear what He is saying.

As we get up, as we travel, as we wait for appointments, let us be still and listen for Jesus.

Prayer: Speak, Lord Jesus, for Your servant is listening. Amen.

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When one of the pastors in my church invited me to share my gift of writing with members of our congregation in February, I was a little nervous at first, because there were many people in my congregation who were not aware of my gift of writing. I was a little intimidated and insecure about standing up and speaking in front of our congregation, even in front of the folks who were not strangers to me. Some of them were very dear friends who had been kind and gracious to me over the 27 years that I have been attending the church, and others were people I know from greeting only with a smile. But when I presented my short speech to share God's grace, I felt strong and confident about telling everyone the good news about my gift from God.

You see, I have an invisible disability. I am slightly dyslexic. When I am reading certain words or numbers on a page, I am sometimes confused by the order of the letters or digits. While I am looking directly at them, they are rearranged to look similar to other words or numbers. But God, in His infinite mercy, had a plan for me to write. The gift of writing may not be everyone's gift, but everyone is blessed with a gift, or gifts — known or unknown. God can use these gifts that He has given to us. We just have to pray for wisdom and guidance to find our calling.

1 Peter 4:10 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (NIV)

Being compassionate, empathetic, kind, loving, and giving are gifts, too.

Do you know what gifts you have to share with others? If it is not writing, then it is something else that God is waiting for you to use. Perhaps, He is waiting to bless you — and others — through using your gifts.

Ask God to show you not only what your gift is, but how you can use it to bless others.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer, thank You for all Your mercy, grace, and guidance. Grant us wisdom to make a difference with the gifts that we receive from You. Lead us in the right direction and help us to achieve our mission for Your glory. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Identity theft is a serious crime, in which someone commits fraud using somebody else's stolen personal information: name, address, date of birth, driver's license, social insurance number, or credit card information. It is a major problem, and it's happening more and more frequently.

There are constant warnings about being careful to whom we give our personal information, changing our passwords frequently, not clicking on links in emails unless we are certain who has sent them, protecting our credit cards when paying at the checkout, and so on.

However, a person's identity can also be lost through an identity crisis, which can sometimes happen when there's a major change in a person's long-term relationships, health, or employment. Here are some things that can be symptoms of an identity crisis:

• Having low self-esteem, questioning your value or worth
• Feeling lost or aimless, without a sense of purpose
• Changing yourself to suit any environment, situation, or relationship
• Feeling insecure, anxious, or dissatisfied with life
• Having trouble answering questions about yourself
• Not being able to trust that you can make good decisions.

There is one identity, however, that cannot be stolen, which permanently defines who we are, and that is our identity in Jesus Christ.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, each of us is given a new identity: each is now a child of God. The Bible tells us that we have become new persons, that we have been chosen and adopted into God's family, and that we belong to Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! (TLB)

Galatians 2:20b – It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV)

Before we were in Christ, we were destined to die. Now we are destined for an abundant, eternal life in Him. He promises us:

John 10:10b – I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)

The more that we get to know Jesus by reading His Word and spending time with Him in daily prayer, the more that we will understand our identity in Him and know that we are of immeasurable worth to God. Having support from family members, friends, and our church community can help us to cope with big changes or stressful situations in our lives. Don't be afraid to reach out. And remember: God is only a prayer away!

Prayer: Loving heavenly Father, we thank You that You can make us into new creations and that we can know who we are in Jesus Christ. Make us aware of Your great love for each one of us, and help us to see ourselves as You see us. Grant us the grace to fulfill Your purpose for our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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Matthew 18:12-13 – What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. (NIV)

Years ago, my aunt, my grandmother — known as Nan — and I were walking across the hospital parking lot after visiting my grandfather, who was recovering from surgery. It was dark and icy.

As we approached our vehicle, I went ahead of Nan to open the front passenger door so that I could reach behind and pull up the lock on the rear door for her. Once the door was unlocked, I turned around to open her door and help her in, but she was no longer there. I asked my aunt if she were over there with her. She responded, "No." Well then, where is she? I thought.

My aunt and I began to call for her, all to no avail, until we heard laughter emanating out of the darkness. It was Nan's laughter, but we still couldn't find her. Suddenly, I realized that the laughter was coming from underneath the car. Nan had slipped on an icy patch beside the car. Holding the door handle to break her fall, she had continued her downward slide to the pavement and on under the vehicle.

Getting on my knees, I grabbed her coat and carefully slid her back out. Always having such a wonderful sense of humour, she continued to laugh. I did not laugh at the time, but I certainly laugh now, whenever I think of that icy episode.

Ice is not the only cause of people slipping, however. Sin can also cause people to slip and wander away spiritually, and when they do, it is no laughing matter. Sin, whether it is subtle or obvious, drags God's sheep away from the flock of believers, and when it does, what are we as God's people supposed to do?

We are supposed to emulate the Good Shepherd in today's Scripture and search for them. We are to love and pray for them without judgement or condemnation. We are to let them know that we are there for them, no matter what. Such love has the power to draw people back into a vibrant walk of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation with our Lord and His church, a turnaround that is cause for rejoicing here on earth as well as in heaven.

For whom might God have you searching today?

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You never give up on us when we slip and fall into sin. Help us, as Your children, to do likewise in regard to our brothers and sisters in Christ, that many will be returned to the fold of Your love and forgiveness. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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Psalm 57:11 – Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. (NKJV)

Over the last 20 years, PresbyCan has published over 30 devotionals based on the usefulness of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in locating ourselves on a map, or directing us to a destination. Recently, I experienced a different outcome, based on Google's use of GPS to guide me. On one occasion, about a mile before my destination, the app directed me off the freeway and through city streets. On my return, I was immediately directed onto the freeway, but I noticed that in the opposite direction, traffic had come to a standstill. Suddenly, it dawned on me that Google had saved me from being caught in a mile-long traffic jam!

Later, I was driving my grandson to a hockey practice, located in the same building as a large downtown arena. Unbeknownst to us, there was an NHL hockey game scheduled for the same time as the hockey practice. This time, Google directed us off the freeway at an earlier exit than usual. Above the freeway, we could see below us all the traffic ahead, waiting to exit and find parking for the game. We wound our way through the city streets and quickly arrived at the practice venue. On my return trip later, I was immediately directed onto the freeway, and I realized that Google had once again saved me a lot of time stuck in traffic.

I understand that the way the Google smartphone app works is that it sends information to the Google computer, which can calculate how fast all the users are going. It notes the ones that are stopped, and if there are a lot, it directs those approaching the slow or stopped traffic to take a different route, thus saving them a lot of time.

As I contemplated how Google uses the GPS "eye in the sky", it made me think about how much better our all-knowing, all-powerful God is, because He not only sees what is going on now, but He also knows ahead of time what is going to happen in the future. That is why it is essential for us to consult God for direction in making significant decisions. Sometimes, we may feel that God is directing us towards a choice that makes no sense. Sometimes, if we obey His inner urgings, we may never know what harm or injury that we avoided by following His guidance. Other times, looking back, we may actually gain insight, and say to ourselves, "Wow! Look at all this that has happened because I made that unusual decision." That has happened to me on several important occasions, as well as the reverse, when I delayed obeying His voice, and missed a significant event that I have regretted ever since. So, I know that it is essential for us to pay careful attention to God's guidance. It is far better than any GPS!

Prayer: Lord, for us who love You, You have promised to work all things together for our good and Your glory. Help us to remember to trust You for guidance in our daily lives, and enable us to obey You. Amen.

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Psalm 77:11-12 – I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. (NKJV)

I will try to do just that as I retell the story so often repeated by my parents when I was growing up.

Polio is a highly contagious, disabling, and life-threatening disease that can infect a person's spinal cord, causing paralysis. At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, polio would paralyze or kill over half a million people worldwide every year.

In July, 1946, at two years of age, I was a patient at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto, Canada, and was not expected to survive the disease that ravaged my little body. My parents were thoroughly exhausted, as my father visited the hospital every morning and both my father and mother would visit the hospital every evening, even though they were never allowed to see me, because I was in isolation. Several agonizing months went by.

After what must have seemed like an eternity, they visited an interdenominational church in Toronto. With standing room only, it must have been overwhelming for them, to say the least.

A very kind pastor noticed the couple in obvious distress and cautiously approached them with the comment, "My name is Pastor Smith. Can I help you?" My father often said that it was almost as if he were waiting for them to show up. Right there in the lobby, he placed his arms around them and prayed for them and me, with the promise that he would also call on the huge congregation to pray later in the service.

During the service, true to his word, Pastor Oswald J. Smith, who founded the People's Church in Toronto in 1928, stopped the singing. He called for prayer for little two-year-old Stephen French, who was not expected to survive a terrible disease called polio. That was almost 80 years ago.

On Monday morning, my father visited the Sick Children's Hospital on his way to work as usual. When he arrived at the hospital entrance, he was rather shocked to see a doctor running towards him, waving his arms and shouting, "It's a miracle! It's a miracle! Come quickly and see your son." The curtain was pulled back to reveal a little boy sitting up in bed for the first time in months and obviously very much alive.

Would you wonder why, at the age of 12, I would accept the gift from the Lord Jesus Christ to be my personal Saviour from sin and accept the call to preach the gospel for the rest of my life?

Psalm 9:1 – I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. (NKJV)

What has God done in your life that should cause you to tell of all His marvellous works? We can use even small "coincidences" to give glory to God!

Prayer: Our Father, we have so much to thank You for that our lives won't be long enough to do it adequately. Thank You for all who are made clean by the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ and who are called by You to listen to the cry of the human heart and to respond. Amen!

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Joshua 1:8 – This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (ESV)

My dad became what we affectionately called "the coffee guru" of our family.

Daddy loved his coffee. In fact, he enjoyed it so much that he wanted to find out what made coffee so good. He took the time to study and research online, reading boxes and packages in stores, and asking questions of coffee house baristas.

His goal was to make the perfect cup of coffee. With the constant advancement of technology, my dad studied daily about all the types of coffee, as well as different ways to produce it, roast it, grind it, and brew it.

Daddy dedicated hours to learn the best possible method. He even made his own coffee roaster and coffee-making machine.

Before he died, Daddy did find out what made the best-tasting cup of coffee. The timing and temperature of the roasting, and the temperature of the water in brewing make all the difference in the taste.

Likewise, coming to know God requires time and a dedicated study of His Scriptures.

The Bible is full of verses, like today's verse at the beginning, that affirm the need for diving into God's Word.

In January, the preacher's wife and I started following a Bible reading plan for reading the New Testament in 92 days. We are on day 60. Each chapter has a detailed audio explanation to go with it. As I read each day, I see God clearly. Wrapping myself up in His words provides knowledge, comfort, love, and so much more.

2 Timothy 2:15 – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV)

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (NIV)

Because the Bible is a large book with much material that may at first seem irrelevant or uninteresting, it is easy to miss the scarlet thread of salvation that runs through it and reveals the heart of God for us. Scripture reveals the character of God and how He works in the world. The Bible is a powerful tool against the lies of God's enemy, who seeks to destroy our souls. The Bible will show us what God is like, so that we can get to know Him better.

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (NIV)

Keep reading, keep looking, and keep seeking. God will reveal Himself!

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we strive to do good and do better than the day before, put in our hearts a desire to know You more, and a wanting to read Your Word and absorb it in our hearts and minds. Amen.

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John 13:34-35 – A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (NIV)

One summer night, when my six-year-old granddaughter, Riley, and I came into the house after a wiener roast, as always, she wanted to play on my iPad®. After telling her where it was, I took a forbidden bite of leftover cherry delight while no one was watching. After all, I thought, I stuck to my diet all evening, and what would one bite hurt? As soon as that delicious morsel hit my mouth, I went into a coughing fit, or what was later diagnosed as "paradoxical vocal fold disorder". It is a long name for your vocal folds closing and allowing no air to come in. But not to worry, because after you fall to the floor as if dead, you will indeed start to breathe again. (Did you like the way that I shortened that up for you?) I coughed a few times, only causing my vocal folds to close even tighter, so that absolutely no air could pass. I talked to myself, Remember what you were told: just relax! Finally returning with the iPad, Riley was playing Angry Birds. She glanced my way but probably didn't think that the peculiar colour of blue that I had become by this time was unusual. If I had had the air to talk, I would have told her that she could be a hero on the 10 o'clock news for saving her grandma if she would put down the iPad and call 911!

I did think about going to heaven, and in my oxygen-deprived mind, that was looking better all the time.

I was finally able to get enough air out to say, "Get your Mom!" To that came a "Huh?" As sweet as she is and one of my most precious blessings, she just didn't understand. About that time, my daughter came in, and I sucked air for a few minutes and started to feel better.

As I sat at the computer to share my story, I thought about those who suffer in ways that they can't explain. In our busy world, how many have those scars hidden away? How many cannot speak because the very life is being choked out of them by oppression, depression, or desperation? How many of the rest of us fiddle while Rome burns or play Angry Birds while grandma dies? To be honest, many of us feel like we are in a vice grip ourselves, and circumstances are squeezing the very life out of us. Like Riley, we don't always understand every situation, but we can be there for others in their time of sifting. I pray today that the Lord will make my senses aware of those who are hurting. May I linger long enough to hear hurt in their voices. I want to see in their eyes trouble that may be tearing their family apart. I want to be available to help, and most definitely, to show them the One Who can show them the way.

Do you feel the same way?

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to see those in need, and give us the courage and strength to help our brothers and sisters. Oh, and grandmas, too! Amen.

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I recently attended a funeral for a friend who was a huge support to me in the recreational vehicle (RV) resort chapel ministry that I lead each summer. Bob supported me when there was opposition to our work. He prayed often for me, the pastors who serve with me, and those who attend our chapel services. In his last years, he was increasingly less mobile, but he had a phone ministry — we could each expect to hear from him regularly.

It sounds odd, but the funeral really was a glorious event. Bob was 86 and had been ill for a while. Some said that when they told Bob that they were praying for him to get well, he replied, "Don't! I just want to see Jesus. I'm ready to go home!"

Bob lived a life of service to God and to everyone around him. The church was packed, and many testimonies were given of lives that were changed because of him. Some came to Christ; others were nurtured in their own ministries. Some were recipients of food or other supplies through the work that he did on the Arizona, US, Apache, Hopi, and Navajo reservations. The church where the funeral was held owed much of its development to his 27-year pastorate. As a probation officer, he kept his clients accountable, even if it meant chasing them down to bring them back home. As one person after another stood to tell their story about him, I was awed at the extent of his ministry. Prominent throughout was this message: "Do you know Jesus? If you don't, Bob would want you to know this: 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' (John 3:16 KVJ) Don't wait; make Him the Lord of your life right now."

Bob was a humble man, and his motto was a quotation from Erma Bombeck: "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'"

As I listened to all the testimonies, I wondered, Am I working willingly at whatever I do, as though working for God? Has something I've done led to a change in the life of someone? Will I be able to say at the end of my life that I used everything that God gave me?

Perhaps you, too, might wonder this. Let's make these verses our focus:

• Galatians 6:9a – So let's not get tired of doing what is good. (NLT)
• Colossians 3:23 – Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (NLT)
• Colossians 3:17a – And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. (ESV)

Prayer: Father, we want our lives to be a witness for You, as was Bob's. Help us to use our gifts and talents in Your ministry and to do everything in Your name, working for Your glory and not our own. Amen.

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Romans 12:16 – Be sensitive to each other's needs – don't think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don't be conceited. (CJB)

If we learned nothing else, we learned to be sensitive.

Parent-teacher conference day: no teachers look forward to it. Secretly, we probably wish that no parents would schedule a conference, and equally we attempt to deal with issues beforehand so that we don't have to schedule one. The day is long. The stories are, too. One year, the stories seemed to go on forever.

Our middle school secretary sent us the schedule a week before conference day, but we knew that it would likely change. Some of the conferences we had called for; others we hadn't. The schedule showed an almost-filled day. Then, two days before conference day, it was filled. To accommodate one set of parents and avoid scheduling time on another day, we began at 7:30 a.m. — thirty minutes before usual — and ended at 3:45 in the afternoon.

What we saw and heard startled us … somewhat. Most parents are busier than the average bear. Their kids are involved in sports, which require time, money, and travel. In the midst of it, the parents must try to help the students do the homework and projects that we assign, and middle school has six classes. Some of the family dynamics were complicated.

Although no parent said it, we heard their messages. They didn't know what to do. Life was difficult. They wished that we wouldn't assign projects or assignments. Did some of them need to make better choices? Maybe. Were some of them tired because of their own decisions? Perhaps. But their reality was their reality — good or bad — self-inflicted or not.

Nevertheless, we sympathized with them. Life in the twenty-first century isn't easy — nor is parenting. So, we listened, learned, and gave advice where we could. Relationships are key, and we consider ourselves partners with them in rearing and educating their children.

Paul encouraged the first-century believers in Rome to be sensitive to each other's needs. The advice is still good. Jesus was, and we should follow His example. Busyness will keep us from realizing others' needs. We can get so wrapped up in our "stuff" that we have no time to deal with or listen to others' stuff. But that's not how God designed us to live life.

Slowing down, being intentional, and looking and praying for opportunities are ways to sensitize ourselves to others' needs. Life, after all, is about loving God and others. Sensitivity isn't always easy — especially when we see people making bad decisions or putting themselves into unhealthy situations — but we can't let those things dampen our sensitivity.

Although I don't enjoy conference day, I develop a different perspective about the students and parents as I hear their stories.

What steps can you take to be more sensitive to others' needs?

Prayer: Father, help us to be sensitive to the needs of others, regardless of why they have those needs. Amen.

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Last month, my husband Terry and I arrived at the YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Base at San Antonio del Mar, Mexico, on the Pacific coast just south of the American border. We had flown down to volunteer, doing whatever needed to be done while young people were being trained for missions. So here we were, without a car or any public transportation.

A pastor's wife, who lived sixteen kilometres north of the Base in Playas de Tijuana, invited us to her home, and I jumped at the chance. The kindergarten helper who worked at the YWAM Base would be driving home to Playas de Tijuana in the early afternoon, and she said that we could visit that very day. I hadn't really considered how or when we would get back to the Base. When we arrived in Playas, I realized that we were at a border town, with the giant border wall looming before us.

After briefly viewing the beach and driving by the wall, we found ourselves at the pastor's home. Every Friday evening, our new friends ministered to the homeless and immigrants from Central and South America, so we busied ourselves assembling sandwiches to give out. Then, we were invited to come along to their outreach. As I waited in the car, I cried out to God, "You have to help me. We're obviously not going to make it back to the Base in time for dinner, and I'm getting hungry." I'm the type who does not ever miss a meal or like having it delayed. I didn't think that the sandwiches were for us; there weren't that many.

At an open area near the wall, Terry and I were surprised to find a team of students from the YWAM Base already there, ready to minister. A sound system was set up, music was played, and a handful of people were offered a hot drink and a sandwich. I tried to imagine myself in the immigrants' shoes.

Eventually, we caught a ride back to the Base in the team's van, clutching a leftover sandwich wrapped in foil. Back in our room, I discovered that I wasn't hungry, and I was completely satisfied with the tomato and lettuce sandwich. The Lord had answered my prayer about making it home for supper by removing my hunger, and thus looked after my need in an unexpected way.

Matthew 6:31-33 – So don't worry about these things, saying, "What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?" These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (NLT)

God looks after our basic needs as believers so that we can focus on spiritual things. Let's seek the kingdom of God first, remembering that God will give us everything that we need.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that because we believers are Your children, You look after us. Help us not to worry about the things that we need, but to trust You. Help us, instead, to seek Your kingdom above all else. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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Hebrews 13:15 – By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
(KJV)

I have osteoporosis, and have gone from being 4'11½" tall to 4'7". Though I am small in stature, I know that I have a big God living in me!

I have often been confined to my bed when the pain in my joints and back was severe. Having to lie there surrounded by nothing but the bedroom's four walls was a very bleak picture.

During times of dismal isolation, unlikely names for my prison walls crept into my mind.

Wall number one was, of course, "Tormented Pain"; wall number two, "Hopelessness and Despair"; wall number three, "Dark Lonely Isolation"; but the fourth wall, I could not identify. I had no name to give to that one.

On one exceptionally painful night, bound by Tormented Pain, Hopeless Despair, and Dark Lonely Isolation, the fourth wall seemed to stand out like a neon-lighted sign, and in bold letters, I saw the word, "Praise".

Seeing that, I thought, "Yes, of course, praise!" The bouts with pain had been so intense that I could barely think clearly, let alone praise God. Yet, that is exactly what I needed to do. Today's verse reminded me of "the sacrifice of praise", and at that instant, I knew the name of wall number four — it was "Praise"!

As I began to praise God, I was not miraculously healed physically, but an inner spiritual peace replaced my "Woe is me" with "My God is wonderful, and He loves me!"

Psalm 121:2 – My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. (KJV)

God helped me to remove my focus from me and to direct it back onto Him, remembering that my afflictions are only temporal and are no measure of my God's greatness, joy, peace, and hope. Inner strength returned to me.

God is no less God in the bad times than He is in the good times, and He is worthy to be praised at all times.

It is amazing and encouraging to me to think of all the saints, down through the ages till now, who faced physical afflictions, pain, and even death, yet showed forth what made them different from the world and an example of their unwavering praise and thanksgiving to God. Let's join their ranks and offer to God our sacrifice of praise.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the inner power, strength, joy, hope, and peace that praising You brings. Amen.

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Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (NIV)

Having eight dogs requires a lot of regular upkeep to ensure that my little house is always neat, tidy, and clean. I therefore wipe down my floors and vacuum each day. It may sound like a lot, but in reality, it takes me only twenty to thirty minutes in the morning. There is, however, something else which I do. I have a special brush that my sister found for me many years ago. The bristles are densely packed and have a curve to them. When I brush my already-vacuumed furniture and rug with this tool, it pulls up anything that the vacuum may have missed, which is always more than I would imagine. At the same time, I am always delighted to know that because of this special tool, things are as clean and hair free as possible.

The other day as I was using the special brush, I was reminded of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, in regard to the uncovering of hidden sin and anxiety within our hearts. The psalmist knew that when it came to his heart, there were things that only God could reveal to him — things that for whatever reason he himself could not or was not willing to recognize for himself — hidden things that perhaps he had carried in his heart for so long that he did not even recognize them for what they were or even why they were there.

Likewise, I am the same. In fact, none of us is perfect. We all carry hidden scars, hurts, habits, and sin within that affect our thinking and behaviour, without our even realizing it. God, however, sees and knows all that is within our hearts, and when we ask His Spirit to search us, to know our hearts, to see and reveal any offensive way in us, He is more than able to do so. He will quietly and tenderly speak to us about these things, and then guide and direct us as to the way that we should proceed so that we may receive healing and transformed thoughts and actions.

Having eight dogs requires a lot of regular upkeep within my home. Keeping my body — God's temple — cleansed from sin also requires regular spiritual maintenance — a task which the Holy Spirit is only too pleased and equipped to do, if and when we choose to ask Him.

Prayer: Father God, today we pray: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." In Christ's name, I ask. Amen.

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Psalm 9:1 – I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. (ESV)

When I read Martin Wiles' devotional on January 9, 2024, Unexpected Blessing, I was reminded of a time when God made a way for my family to move.

In July, 2008, just prior to our daughter Zoë being born, we lived in a terraced house, which we rented on the proviso of having no children. After about eight years of prayer and a medical intervention, Caroline became pregnant to full term. This meant that we would have to move out of this rented accommodation. Coincidentally, the landlady gave us notice to leave, as she had decided to sell the house, all a part of God's direction to move us on.

I tried to buy a house that we could afford somewhere outside of town, but to no avail, because this was not God's intention. Against all our frustration and lack of expectation, at the last minute, God found us the house in town that we could afford, so I knew that this was God's hand in our move.

Came the day when we moved to the new house. A great friend, John, offered his flatbed lorry to load up all our worldly goods. One big problem was that the house was situated by the crossroads of a major traffic through-route. There were also traffic lights on the crossroads, so it would be illegal and foolish to park the lorry and cause an obstruction within yards of the junction. With Caroline heavily pregnant, I prayed, "How can this be achieved?"

Unbeknownst to us, God had the answer in hand. On the same day of the move, the road was closed for resurfacing by the Highways Authority. John arrived to find that he could reverse and park the lorry right beside the house before they started resurfacing the road on our side. We were all full of wonder! Six days later Zoë was born.

I believe that in every generation, we have the opportunity to encounter Jesus for ourselves, to find that the love of God is real. Jesus goes where we cannot, to melt hearts and remove the scales from eyes by action, vision, and dream. God is always waiting to encourage us to follow Him day by day — sadly, though, often unseen and unrecognized. When His action becomes more obvious, God is giving us the opportunity, through our personal witness, to encourage, to challenge, and to show and tell of how His love for us has influenced our lives for the good, whether in physical, mental, or spiritual ways.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we do not recognize that You are always interested in our lives, to heal, restore, and promote the good. Use our testimony of Your interventions for the advancement of Your kingdom. We give You all the glory in Jesus' name. Amen.

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I live in a large metropolitan area with a mild climate and an abundance of generous social services. Consequently, one needn't look far to see panhandlers and homeless tents. Whatever one's viewpoint, great human need all around us is obvious and endless. Even Jesus told His disciples, "You will always have the poor among you." (Matthew 26:11a NLT)

I have often struggled with my own response to such human need. Should I give a handout to every panhandler I see? The needs are endless! In recent years, I have resolved my quandary by giving generously to our local rescue mission, knowing that they have the personnel, facilities, and resources to help the needy, and that they are doing it as a service to the Lord.

My late husband Lynn had a different approach. He sometimes went beyond handouts to include practical help, such as assisting someone with a job search or even offering individual job training. At times, we ourselves were living on the edge financially, and sometimes, I felt as though people were taking advantage of Lynn's open-hearted generosity. Maybe to help soothe my angst, he would explain that whatever his action or financial giving, he was "doing it as unto the Lord". Undoubtedly, he got this apt and meaningful turn of phrase, albeit quaint, from an older translation of the Bible: "Whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men." (Colossians 3:23 ASV) He understood that God knew his heart and would credit his action as a gift offered in essence to Jesus Himself.

Matthew 25:35-40 – "I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me." Then these righteous ones will reply, "Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?" And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" (NLT)

We can show our gratefulness to God for His many blessings by in turn helping others in need, as unto Him. It may be directly through financial giving or practical assistance. It may be more appropriate for us to support the work of others who help the needy. Whatever our ability or role, let's show our love for Jesus by sharing our resources, trusting Him to provide for both us and those in need.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we are so grateful for all that You have given us to sustain our daily life. May we, with open hearts and open hands, share Your bounty with others in need, as unto You. Amen.

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I find working on a jigsaw puzzle to be fascinating, addictive, and annoying, all at the same time. My mother loved doing them while she still had vision, spending hours figuring out the edges, then the main images. It's even harder when the picture doesn't have recognizable images, only the shapes of the puzzle pieces to give an idea of placement!

I think that figuring out a jigsaw is a bit like our Christian responsibility of laying down our lives for others in small pieces every day: loving God enough to love others, taking time to figure out what the main picture is, and sometimes getting frustrated in the process.

1 John 3:16-18 – By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (NKJV)

John the apostle spoke of God's life laid down for us, so we should lay down our lives for others. The apostle teaches that true love isn't just an inner feeling so much as the demonstration of love, shown by Jesus' sacrificial death. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NKJV) His death on the cross, combined with what it did for us, makes His the utmost act of love. Loving others is the essential test for Christians — saying "no" to what we want so that someone else can benefit. For most of us, that won't mean actually dying for another's sake, but laying our lives down for others each day, in small ways.

In this verse, John moves from the plural to the singular; from "brethren" to "brother". It is easier to be enthusiastic about humanity with a capital "H" than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everyone in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular. It is when the general becomes the particular that we find it so difficult to "love" the man next door whose dog habitually ruins our bedding-out plants. – Greville P. Lewis, The Johannine Epistles, p.86.

Could you lay down a small piece of kindness today? How about finding a way to help someone else sort out a puzzling problem? Can you do this because you love God and find the strength in Him to love another, even if the one you help isn't appreciative or kind in return, or if doing so is personally inconvenient? Then you will be loving not only "in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You laid down Your life for us, to show what true love really means. Help us truly to show Your love to others and to help the needy. Amen.

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Matthew 25:34b-36 – Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. (NRSV)

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (NRSV)

There is balance to a life of faith. Our Reformed ancestors sought to re-establish such a balance centuries ago as they placed emphasis on "faith" and not so much on "works", so much so that Martin Luther called the book of James "an epistle of straw"!

Hopefully, our view of the book of James has evolved since such condemnation by Luther, and we realize that the full gospel has just as important a place in James as in Ephesians. Our model for a balanced life is, as always, given to us by Jesus. Brian McLaren expresses it this way: "Every day Jesus would follow the same rhythm: withdraw for solitude, but then come back to engage by healing, feeding, caring, welcoming, binding up the wounds of this world, and implanting in people a vision of resilience, engaging with a world on fire."

In our devotional time today — and every day — let us consider our spiritual growth inclusive of prayer, meditation, Scripture reading, engaging with the sacraments (what some of us call "the ordinary means of grace"), along with the encouragement of Jesus in Matthew 25 to offer food and drink, to clothe those in need, to visit the sick and imprisoned. These are the essence of the movement within Protestantism known as the social gospel, that aims to apply Christian ethics to social problems, especially issues of social justice such as economic inequality, poverty, alcoholism, crime, racial tensions, homelessness, and environmental issues, to name a few.

Micah 6:8b – What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (NRSV)

Back to that epistle of straw called the book of James: the only definition of religion anywhere in Scripture is contained within this tiny book of wisdom:

James 1:27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (NRSV)

Now that Scripture offers great balance to our faith!

Prayer: "Jesus, you are the one who upset tables. Remind us that while direct service and personal moments of reflection have their place, to truly struggle for a new world we must have courage to organize, preach, vote, write, and agitate in a way that places anti-capitalism at the center of the beloved community." (Adapted from Andrew Wilkes)

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Matthew 8:8-9 – The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (NIV)

I'm currently reading a series of biographical books: Great Generals. I've finished two books on General Patton and General Grant and am now reading a book about General Eisenhower. All three of them were called on to make major leadership decisions that principally affected the outcome of the battles and wars that they were facing. All three of them knew how important that training and discipline were to keep their armies fighting for victory. Each of them knew the critical value of issuing clear and precise orders in order for their military strategies to succeed.

It seems to me that the centurion who approaches Jesus for help is also a like-minded soldier. He knows his place and understands precisely what he requires. He wants his faithful servant to be healed by Jesus. He knows that Christ has this power and authority at His disposal, so he makes the request personally and fully believes that all Jesus has to do is to speak the word of command and his servant will be cured. It's an incredible act of faith!

Matthew 8:10 – When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." (NIV)

The soldier submits to Christ's authority and awaits His command. He is ready to carry out whatever orders Jesus gives; he is ready to believe all that Christ has to say.

For such faith, the ailing servant, who is at home, is instantly healed when Jesus pronounces it. When the centurion returns to his house, he finds his faithful and beloved servant completely cured. It's a remarkable event, and it reminds us of Christ's power and compassion.

Wherever we are today and whatever we are facing, let's approach Jesus with the same confidence about His power and compassion. Let's take time to ask Him for help and to seek His blessing. Let us be soldiers and servants of Christ who faithfully follow Him.

Point to ponder: What help do I require from Jesus today? Am I willing to approach Him faithfully and humbly with my request?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our Commander-in-Chief and the King of this world. Help us to serve You faithfully and to seek Your guidance humbly. Enable us to follow Your orders and to spread Your gospel with faith, hope, and love. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

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The first line of the email read: "Have you ever felt the weight of the world pressing in, drowning out the gentle whispers of God's love?" It was an email from a Christian clothing company, so I figured that it was some kind of pitch for a new brand of apparel that they were selling. I was wrong. It was a short devotional of encouragement for the reader. There was no sales ad embedded in the email, but there were two Scriptures that were unexpectedly applicable to my life.

Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (ESV)

Psalm 23:1-3 – The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name's sake. (CSB)

Life changed for me and my family in August, 2023, when my daddy died. It was sudden and unexpected, as we were unaware that he had the lung disease that took over. Grief wrapped around us, as it does anyone who experiences the loss of a loved one.

In these two passages, particularly the one from Zephaniah — "he will quiet you by his love" — I found the best promises of God. He is not quieting us by making us not speak, but by helping us to be at peace. Other translations speak of how God offers us rest and a spirit of calmness: "He will renew you with His love" (ISV) and "he'll calm you with his love" (MSG)

Be it sadness from the loss of a loved one, stress over what to do in the chaos that life brings us sometimes, like changes in health conditions, financial conditions, and family relationships, or just melancholy feelings for no real reason, we have hope that all will turn out to be okay, as God's plans are for us to have peace and to prosper (Jeremiah 29:11).

My dad loved coffee. He found something comforting in sitting down with a cup of coffee at the table or at his desk. The cup of coffee was a cup of comfort for him.

Let us rely on God to be our cup of comfort whenever we need it, no matter where we are.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the peace that You promise us and give us, and for quieting our hearts and minds during moments when we have allowed the world to overwhelm us. Remind us of the comfort that we can receive if we just open our hearts to You. Thank You for loving us. Amen.

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These days, I find that I am stressed — I'm juggling a bunch of deadlines. While I was praying recently, I began thinking about the distractions and pressures that tend to pull me away from following Jesus. Stress, anxiety, and worry are not necessarily helpful. Yes, I'm retired, but that doesn't mean that I'm retired from God. I haven't quit bearing witness to Jesus. Even though I don't get in my car and go to work, I still feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit encouraging me to get out of my La-Z-boy® and do something. This got me to pray even more. Like all Christians, I am called to follow Jesus. Yet, it is easy to get distracted and think that maybe I have a better plan, an easier solution, or a clearer course of action than what Jesus proposes.

We are not alone in this. Let us consider Peter. Shortly after his confession of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus explained what being the Messiah entailed. He predicted that the elders, the chief priest, and the scribes would kill Him, but that He would be raised on the third day. Peter rebuked Jesus and cried, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." (Matthew 16:22 NRSV)

Let us also remember the time when the disciples had been with Jesus all day healing the sick. As evening set in, they wondered what they were supposed to do with all those people who needed help. Their solution was simple: "Send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus had a better plan. "Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds." In the end, five thousand were fed. (Matthew 14:15-21 NRSV)

As I prayed over my inner turmoil, suddenly, it became clear that I was not only distracted with stress, anxiety, and worry, but I was seeking worldly solutions. The Holy Spirit provided His help by reminding me of the hymn, "Trust and obey". Of course, "There is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Trust is another way of describing faith. Faith and trust go hand in hand. Whatever worries we may have, Jesus provides us with inner strength by yoking our spirit to His as we offer our gifts, skills, and competencies to a world in need.

As for me, prayers came alive like never before, as I was moved from distraction to the attraction of being called to follow Jesus and to trust and obey. Praying taught me that the only way to step into the future is by faith in Jesus.

When we obey, our obedience reminds us of our status as disciples: followers who are disciplined. So, we obey our Master, and we sing, "Never fear, only trust and obey."

Prayer: Dear Lord, may we step into the future and the promise of tomorrow only by faith in You. Guide and direct us in all that we do. May we always be mindful to trust and obey Your lead as we follow You this day and forevermore. Amen.

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Job 2:11a,13 – Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. (KJV)

By nature, I am an introvert. In a crowd, I keep quiet, not because I am shy, but rather because I don't feel that I have anything to say and because I prefer to think rather than to speak. Still, there have been times when I decided to let myself loose. At those moments, I spoke to the point that I felt that I had spoken too much. I just knew it — nobody needed to tell me. So, I have had to sit myself down and ask myself questions about the nature of silence, the reasons for silence, and most importantly, what comes after silence.

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about silence and the aftermath of speaking.

Proverbs 17:28a – Even a stubborn fool who keeps silent will be considered wise. (EHV)
Proverbs 29:20 – Do you know anyone who speaks before he thinks? A foolish person is more likely to become wise than that person. (EASY)

Job's friends, the famous miserable comforters, are people we would never want to have around us in our time of distress. They actually came to weep and mourn with him. But when they finally spoke after a week, their words destroyed their silence and seemed to plunge Job from the well of grief into the pit of condemnation.

When we examine the attitudes of Job's friends, we must ask ourselves, "What is the purpose of silence? After silence, what next?"

Let's examine Christ's actions on the way to Calvary to answer these questions. If we had the version of the Bible where Christ's words are highlighted in red, we would notice how few the words of Christ were from the moment when He was taken by the Pharisees till His crucifixion.

Matthew 27:12-14 – And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. (KJV)

Christ was silent because of His love for you and me. He knew what men would do to Him, yet He decided to carry that burden.

Then, the second question: what comes after silence? They slapped Him, mocked Him, insulted Him, humiliated Him, whipped Him, pierced His head with thorns, crucified Him, and gave Him sour wine. After all this, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34a KJV) After His silence, Christ spoke words of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

Do you have a thoughtless, careless, or untamed tongue? Are you like Job's friends with pretentious behaviour and a barbed tongue that is hurting your friends, family, colleagues, or church members? You can learn from Christ at Calvary; He is our perfect example.

Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom to know when to remain silent, so that my tongue may speak Your grace. Amen.

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There's something about February 14th that makes many hearts thrill and flutter. In the Philippines, Valentine's Day is a grand, festive day, and various businesses sell roses, stuffed toys, and chocolates — the famous items that are bought for and given to loved ones to celebrate the occasion. According to a survey that was organized by an e-commerce company in Poland, 79% of Filipinos regard Valentine's Day as a special time to celebrate!

Shall we therefore conclude that we love to love and be loved? If that is so, what could be more exhilarating than knowing that God, the supreme being, loves the whole world, including you and me? Then, we should appreciate John 3:16 more than February 14th!

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

"For God so loved the world …". Let's ponder the truth of how a perfect God could perfectly love imperfect beings like us. He never withholds from us anything that is good and for His glory. He never gets tired of embracing us with His grace. He has loved us from the beginning, up to the present, and to all eternity. With our sins, we all deserve to die, but in Christ, He made a way to keep us close.

"… that he gave his one and only Son …". He has given us everything that we need for life and godliness while we are still here on earth. Today is also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a time when we remember that God secured our future when He sent Jesus to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins — such an incomparable gesture of love!

"… that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." It takes only faith — believing that Jesus is God's Son and trusting in what He did for us on the cross so that we can be saved from eternal condemnation. Again, it takes only faith — God does not require us to do good deeds each day to earn a place in heaven. There is nothing that we can do that will take us to heaven — only what Jesus did.

The truth that John 3:16 brings makes us celebrate genuine love, not just for one day but for every day!

This Valentine's Day, let us share the best love that one could hear about and experience. While flowers dry out and chocolates are consumed, the love of God is always fresh and lasting. Go on a date and share God's love. The gospel is ready. Are you?

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the selfless love that You've shown to us undeserving ones. As we treasure the love that we have received from You, help us to pass it on to others, as we aim to please You by letting other people hear of the gospel. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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On Valentine's Day several years ago, when I was about to visit someone in The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, I decided to buy her some chocolate. Once in the store, I was moved to pick up about a dozen small chocolate bars for anyone who would be sitting around while I was visiting my family friend. The thought of taking chocolate for only the young lady I was visiting didn't seem right to me, and picking up the extra bars of chocolate was fun for me. I figured that if I couldn't give them away, then they wouldn't be wasted, because I love chocolates, too. On that particular occasion, I was able to spread love and kindness, and in return, I received several hugs from the people who received the chocolates and who needed to know that someone loved and cared about them. On that day, I received more love than I could ever imagine. It was wonderful!

Exodus 33:17,19 – The Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you by name." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, 'The Lord'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." (NRSV)

Each child of God is blessed with special gifts. Some of us use these gifts every day without realizing that they are gifts from God. Our daily meditation on Scripture and our devotional developments are gifts from God to make us stronger. The seeds of gratitude, serving others, and recognizing the good in everyone we meet are gifts that God willingly gives to each of us. When we practice them on a regular basis, we develop a stronger relationship with God.

People suffering with mental health issues, people with addictions, and those who are displaced always touch me and fill me with deep emotion, sadness, and an outpouring of love. Not looking the other way, but rather showing kindness and understanding is one way to help. When we see God's people in need, we are reminded to act compassionately towards those people. They could be you or me, and most importantly, they are someone else's son, daughter, sister, brother, husband, or wife. God gave each of us gifts — to act, to feel, to see, and to do.

Colossians 3:12,14 – As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (NRSV)

Prayer: Dearest Lord, when we think of what You have done for us, our hearts overflow with love for You. Help us to pass on Your love to everyone who has lost hope or is in need. We thank You, Father, for the gifts of compassion. Spirit of the living God, fill us, use us, melt us, and mould us to be more like You. Amen.

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