Devotions

How are we going to get through this? Have you ever felt at a loss for words and wisdom to get through something difficult? With...

The Lord paints a beautiful picture of Himself as a Shepherd to His flock, Israel. He gives them peaceful pastures and protection in this...

Pastor Timothy Merrill wrote, “For the believer, aging is not a slow winding down to the grave – it is a winding up to glory. The...

Do you remember what important things happened to you in 1984? If you weren’t born yet, think about 2020, five short years ago. I...

‎I recently read that one of Satan’s favorite temptations is apathy. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and we are called to do the...

Have you ever been scared by a passage you read in the Bible? I would dare to say most of Revelation is scary, as are God’s...

The Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages, including one you might not think of. In his book, Primal, Mark Batterson says,...

Would you be surprised to learn that personality polls show approximately 30% of people do not like change, and only 20% welcome change?...

“He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that...

Ooooh, they are in trouble now! Through Malachi, the Lord told the priests all the things they were doing to show contempt for His name....

Here we go, diving into the book of Malachi, and we get a glimpse of Israel’s attitude in the opening verses. “I have always loved...

Joni Eareckson Tada said, “We enter Christ’s kingdom through points of grace, and grace is like water – it always seeks the...

Fruitcakes reportedly need to rest after baking. Some say, with enough alcohol, a fruitcake can rest for years and still be good. (Are you...

This week our pastors will talk about faithfulness, another fruit of the Spirit. Sometimes God encourages our faithfulness by giving us a...

Have you heard of a palindrome? That’s a word or phrase or numbers that read the same forwards and backwards. In honor of father’s day,...

Pastor Scott said Sunday that he would like us all to be fruitcakes. I am in! He said, “I mean that you would be so densely packed with...

This week our pastors will begin a sermon series on the fruit of the Spirit. Can you name all nine? Better yet, are they apparent in your...

I woke up earlier than necessary, and hoped that a certain song would wake me on my radio alarm in an hour. Sure enough, when my alarm went...

The radio host mentioned that their company was going through staff evaluations. She finds the evaluation criteria “meets expectations”...

You should see my tomato crop! I picked two full cups yesterday. Funny how a little tomato plant from the garden center has become “my...

When Peter issues a call to holy living in his first letter, many of his sentences begin with “you must.” There appears to be no wiggle...

More snacks! More books! More time outside! Our grandson calls for more of the things he likes the most. Honestly, most of us want more and...

Only about 5% of babies are born on their due date. Our granddaughter is joining the 95% by coming early. What a fabulous Holy Week...

It’s Possible Did you know it is possible for a nursing baby blue whale to gain 250 pounds in one day? It’s possible for...

A creative writing teacher once said we needed to write with flawless grammar before we could take any liberties with our writing style. We...

We were traveling recently and saw many different people at the crowded airports. Some people had unique fashion sense, some had blue hair,...

A driver two lanes over lost control of his car and spun around on the freeway. As his car careened toward mine, our terror-filled eyes met...

The Big Bear eagles’ eggs have pipped! I learned that one definition of pip is the initial egg cracks made by a hatching chick. Pip has...

I remember telling our daughters when they were very young that Jesus was with them all the time, even though they couldn’t see Him....

Did I look strange, standing in the church parking lot with an orange lamp in my hand? No comment. Someone donated it for the rummage sale,...

My cousin likes to recall family events by starting a story and calling on someone else to finish. “I’ll never forget the time our cat...

Someone in our house likes to watch murder mysteries. Hint, it’s not me. He gets caught up in the intrigue and the clues, the good police...

Confidence. King David often lived with confidence in himself, his warriors, and his political power. Through his military exploits, candid...

Sunday School lessons on King David paint a picture of a brave young shepherd volunteering to slay a giant, an honorable man waiting for...

She had unusual gray eyes that sparkled with life. We had just met in a prayer group and had an instant connection. Both of us were...

The day of Pentecost lights up the pages of the second chapter of Acts. The Holy Spirit comes down like fire. The apostles speak in...

When our young grandson hears a noise, he says, “What’s that sound?” If our answer intrigues him, he follows up with, “See it?”...

Do you remember when AI and robots were parts of sci-fi movies, but not everyday life? There was a funny movie called Short Circuit from...

Cards sent. Check. Presents wrapped. Check. Food purchased. Check. I like a to-do list, but sometimes, the most important things are not on...

What do we know about the little town of Bethlehem? The prophet Micah prophesied 700 years before that Jesus would be born there, in the...

Guess what happens when a black cat sleeps on a black rug in a dark room. He gets kicked accidentally, a whole lot! He is comfortable there...

When I read God’s Word that will be preached during worship, I look for verses that jump off the page, or that match our sermon theme. On...

You can have a gap in a fence, a gap in your teeth, or a gap in your understanding. Paul tells the church members in Thessalonica that they...

When someone asks you how you are, do you say, “Fine,” even if you are not fine? People with disabilities or chronic disease might have...

Someone asked me recently why I stayed with the same job for over 20 years. I told him I felt I was serving God and our church members, and...

The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians in chapter two, “For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you...

When music is connected to deep emotion, it can sear itself into our minds, always connected to that emotion. My friend’s husband passed...

When our two-year-old grandson is upset about something and a big fit seems imminent, our daughter says, “No crying, no fits. Use your...

I often see people in our neighborhood walking their dogs. A friend of mine has a big hound dog that mostly sniffs around and pulls her...

Some of my favorite verses are in each of our Bible readings this Sunday on the Shea Campus. Wow. God must be speaking right to me. Do you...

Each Christian has their own testimony, their personal story of salvation, their witness of life with Christ. However, there is an...

Here we are, at the end of our Jonah series already. In chapter 4, Jonah claims he is angry enough to die. He is angry that the Lord is...

What are your thoughts on an animal’s ability to hear and obey God? We do have biblical proof of animals obeying their Creator, and...

This is exciting! We have a month to learn about Jonah, a dramatic prophet of the Lord. Our pastors will help us dive deep into the sea of...

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6) Stop sign...

A gentleman called the church office last week with this intense question. “Do you have drama on your campus?” I paused, then answered,...

The handsome bachelor holds the final red rose and gazes into the last contestant’s lovely eyes. Apparently he has been undistracted by...

Have you been enjoying the Olympics? The American Women’s Gymnastic Team is calling this their Redemption Tour. The incredible women have...

Our nation is caught up in some political drama right now. Some of us have family or friend drama. Sometimes we can barely get out of the...

Our sweet little grandson has a pronoun problem as he tries to figure out the English language. When Mama points to a picture of him, she...

Last fall in Northern California, I saw Canadian geese flying south. I wondered, could they be going to Arizona for the winter? When I’m...

When our first grandson was born, I felt an inexplicable connection to him. He is a part of our genetic line, our family tree. His hair is...

I’ve pruned enough roses to know that when a thorn pierces your arm through your shirt, you shouldn’t yank your arm away. The more you...

I completed a sample Mensa test when I was in college. I know, I was shocked, too! Here’s the thing though, people qualify by the speed...

You have most likely read a passage of Scripture or listened to Christian song lyrics, and thought, I got it. Once in a while, you read or...

In a recent sermon, Pastor Scott said, “Human beings are storied creatures.” We like to read and tell stories. So here’s a funny tale...

Have you ever wondered how the serpent spoke to Eve in the Garden of Eden? Were the words verbal or telepathic? Either way, the temptation...

Do you ever feel like you are being spied on? Jesus must have continually felt eyes upon Him. He even knew what was behind those eyes –...

Are you born again? When I was just out of college and working for an evangelist, being born again was a hot topic. Lutherans don’t say...

“What’s your superpower?” is a fun sort of question these days. We used to say our mothers had eyes in the back of their heads,...

We love to celebrate our favorite women in May. Moms, daughters, aunts, sisters, grandmas and friends…wonderful women abound! This...

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the...

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:12 I felt...

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.” Jesus is always good and always our Shepherd. Can I get an...

Our little grandson is learning new words every week. He can’t pronounce all the right sounds yet, so that makes for some fun...

With some sweet spring rain, our Sonoran desert is blooming and wild grasses are growing. Some backyard gardens are flourishing, too. My...

The arena was dimly lit that Good Friday morning long ago. I sat by myself, feeling alone even as hundreds of people began filling the...

Hooray, the palms came in! Shepherd has a perpetual order of palms each year, but the last few years the company has sent a back order...

Pastor Scott said in a sermon a few months ago, “We all have seasons of life that require sacrifice. We remember that Jesus will lead us...

Shortly after John 3:16, Jesus said, “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But...

“Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust...

Jesus asks His disciples in Mark Chapter 8, “But who do you say I am?” That has been His question to each of us since the first ask. It...

In our last time together, I mentioned a lesson on listening to God’s voice. This idea really struck me. Pete Greig said, “Some of us...

Elijah and Moses showed up. Jesus’ clothing became dazzling white. God Almighty’s voice rang out from heaven. And Jesus “told them...

Isaiah describes the Lord in amazing, mind-stretching ways. Chapter 40 lights up with our God as creator, judge, omniscient and powerful....

As Paul spoke of living in ways that glorified God and did not harm others, he repeated our Christian belief: “And there is one Lord,...

“But Jonah ran away from the Lord…” and we know the famous story of Jonah and the great fish that swallowed him and took him into the...

A neighbor put up one inflatable Christmas decoration early in December. They added another and another over the days, then lights on...

Mary and Joseph were so faithful. This week’s reading from Luke 2 recounts their dedication to follow the law of Moses. As required, they...

“O Holy Night” is one of my favorite songs. The lyrics are moving, the tune is inspiring. Gives me chills when someone transcends the...

Alright word nerds, here is a new one for us: freudenfreude. Based on a German word for “joy,” it “describes the bliss we feel when...

During Advent we wait for the birth of a very special Baby. We are filled with fresh hope and joy every year. This Advent season has a...

Last week I wrote, “Hope to see you in church on Sunday.” Then I hurt my back and could not come to church. It’s frustrating when our...

Last week I wrote, “Hope to see you in church on Sunday.” Then I hurt my back and could not come to church. It’s frustrating when our...

It’s time for another grandson story. We praise every little thing he learns and accomplishes, while encouraging him to try even more. He...

We are coming up on the end of our church year, and the pastors are preaching on “The beginning of the end.” We will hear prophesy and...

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.” You...

Grace alone. Faith alone. Scripture alone. Thank you, Martin Luther, for making life so easy to understand. Martin knew as well as we do...

A circle of friends is suffering. One tragically lost her daughter. Two are struggling with the murder of their brother – something...

I read a devotion on gentleness and asked the Lord for opportunities to be gentle, like Him. After a tough week, I expected another...

The Grand Canyon was spectacular last weekend. I said to my friends, “I can’t believe this was made by the Colorado River. It had to be...

Many of us have nicknames, few have chosen the name themselves. I’ve had a few over my lifetime. Here’s the story of one of my...

Wise King Solomon said, “So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should...

Over the summer I saw “Tour Today” signs near one another – one at our preschool and one at the memory care center nearby. One was an...

With media of all kinds filling our minds with fantastic events and fantasy characters, it can be hard to be “wowed” these days. Pastor...

Most cats are crepuscular. Did you already know that term? It means active around twilight, both dawn and evening. I try to use a new word...

Family drama kept Brad and his grandmother apart for six years. Life’s business took away another four years. Finally, with a tiny step...

Jesus verbally blasted the chief priests and elders with another parable in Matthew 21. He said the priests and elders were like an...

Our house was quiet, and I began to picture snapshots of joy that had occurred in that living room. One daughter’s first steps, my mom...

Our house was quiet, and I began to picture snapshots of joy that had occurred in that living room. One daughter’s first steps, my mom...

Babies listen intently and watch carefully to learn how to interact with the people and world around them. Our grandson notices how I show...

We had been looking forward to spending time with our baby grandson for months. After weeks of preparing and days of driving, we could...

Jesus shared the parable of the ten bridesmaids amid several parables regarding His return. It must have been a mind-blowing idea: Jesus’...

Dada. Mama. Papa. Nana. We are all sweetly anticipating our grandson’s first words. Collectively, we are trying to teach him mama first,...

I try to have a “see-it-do-it” day every month. I often walk past something out of place at home, and think, “I’ll put that away...

The prophet Jeremiah is complaining that he is mocked and betrayed for speaking the Lord’s prophecies. Then, after he gets the...