Marie’s daily verse: 

Psalm 27:14 ESV. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! 

DAILY DEVOTION, October 18, 2023

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

I love this verse: “ Our “cares” refers to things that worry us. “casting” refers to the flinging away of a weight we might carry, such as a heavy bag on our shoulder. Peter says, “Do you have cares? Are there things that weigh you down? Cast them aside!

If we cast our cares (negative) onto a counselor or a trusted friend, we do so because we know they care (positive sense).  The good news is that we have a God who cares about us. More than any counselor or trusted friend, God cares! If you think God is angry with you, you will not feel like casting your burdens upon Him. While it is true that God is not happy with us when we disobey Him, His overriding attribute is love. He cares about us.  If we cast aside our unfaithfulness and other concerns onto His grace, He will come to us with His caring love.

I am always astonished to think that God cares for me. I know I have failed Him times without number. Yet He graciously reaches out to me (and you) with His caring hands. He offers us forgiveness through faith in His Son, who atoned for our sins at Calvary. His loving mercy never ends. So, if you are weighed down with care today, “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.“

Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for assuring us that You care for us. We know we do not deserve Your love, but You offer it nonetheless. Help us today to unload all our burdens. I say this meaning no disrespect, but You are the Hallmark God. You cared enough to send Your very best, even Jesus, our Savior. Help us to rest in Your caring arms today and always. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Marie’s daily verse: John 3:16: 

For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 

DAILY DEVOTION, October 17, 2023

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

Paul defines a Christian as a person who is “in Christ?” How do we achieve that goal? The simple answer is “by faith.” John writes, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). When we confess our faith in Jesus, God abides in us. We are “in Christ.” How do I know if my confession of faith is genuine? There are hypocrites in the church, people who give lip service to Jesus but do not truly trust Him. Paul writes that those whose faith is genuine, without hypocrisy, become new creatures. Our old way of living fades away. A new way of living as disciples of Jesus emerges. That does not mean we become perfect. It does not mean we live a life free from sin. I believe it means that our life heads in a new direction. Those who are in Christ sincerely want to please Him. When they realize they have sinned, they quickly confess and repent. The old life of self-centeredness and selfishness has passed away. Yes, at times, we may struggle with faithfulness. Our old selfish ways emerge at times. But the presence of the indwelling Christ begins to move us in new directions. We must ask this: am I aware that my life has changed dramatically since becoming a Christian? Do I sincerely desire to please the Lord? If you can answer “yes” to those questions, it is a sign that you have become a new creature in Christ.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that you enter into a relationship with us. You do not redeem us and then leave us to our own devices. You abide with us and in us. Thank You for the new life You bring to us. Forgive us when we close our ears to You and walk in our old ways. May our hearts ever be open to Your guidance. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Marie’s daily verse:

New King James Version
For we walk by faith, not by sight.( 2 Corinthians 5:7).

DAILY DEVOTION, September 30, 2023

Acts 10:43: ToHim all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Peter is speaking to Israel and us. He is reminding his Jewish friends that Jesus did not come to introduce a new religion. He came in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. All the prophets spoke of a coming Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled all those prophecies. The prophets spoke of His birth in Bethlehem, His healing miracles, His walking on water, His crucifixion, His resurrection, etc. There are so many prophecies in the Old Testament fulfilled by just one person, Jesus.

Then Peter announces why He came. He came as Savior so that everyone who believes in Him will receive the remission of sins, all of them. If our sins are forgiven, we are eligible for eternal life. And God made it very simple, so we cannot miss the message. Forgiveness and eternal life are given to us on the simple condition that we believe in Him. Faith in Jesus, plus nothing, leads to the eternal blessings of God. Paul said the same thing in different words in Ephesians 2:8-9. God’s grace saves us through faith. Good works are not a part of the salvation process. We do good works because we love the God who has freely redeemed us (Eph. 2:10). Unimaginable blessings await those who place their faith in Jesus.

Father in heaven, thank You for sending Your beloved Son to bring salvation to me and the world. Thank You for making access to Your blessings so simple. It begins with faith in Jesus. I believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, my Savior and Lord. Help me to live my life in a way that honors Him. In His name, I pray, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ACTS 1:8

DAILY DEVOTION, September 29, 2023

Psalm 27:1: The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Note first the word “is.” The Psalmist is speaking to those whose faith in God is solid. They do not hope or think that perhaps God is their salvation. He is. When our faith in God is secure, the Psalmist asks a rhetorical question: Whom shall I fear? Well, you should fear no one and nothing if God is your light and salvation. Should we be afraid if our favorite politician does not get elected? Should we fear cancer, heart disease, or the latest virus? Not if God is our Savior, and He is for all who trust in His Son. The Psalmist then strengthens his argument when he refers to the Lord as the strength of his life. Those whose faith is stable and secure receive strength from God. Is there any opponent we face in life whose power exceeds that of God? I think not! When you are afraid, turn to God and renew your faith in Him, and fear will go “poof.” Fear cannot abide in the presence of faith.

Thank You, Father, for the many wonderful promises I find in the Bible. I must admit that I often forget to apply them to my life situation. Sometimes I allow fear to gain the upper hand. Thank you for reminding me today that I have nothing to fear if my trust in You and Your Son is secure. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Marie’s daily verse: 

6 Now, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:6-10). 

DAILY DEVOTION, September 7, 2023

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV).

Paul didn’t say, “Work heartily until the job becomes boring or uncomfortable. Then complain about how much you don’t like what you are doing and give up.” No! Paul reminded the believers to use the abilities and talents God gave them, both in exciting and everyday situations, to glorify God. As Christians, our goal is never to receive praise from men. When human praise or criticism comes, we can take it or leave it. Temptation comes when life gets boring, or we are never recognized or praised (or thanked) by others for our work or accomplishments.

Paul says it doesn’t matter what you do.  Every job is a Christian job. We work to serve the Lord. You don’t work for Walmart or the Warsaw School District, etc. You work hard and do your best because you are working for God. Those who serve the Lord Jesus in whatever they do will receive a reward. You may think Richard is serving God as a minister. The truth is that we are all serving God. You are no less a servant of God than I am.

Father, help me to remember that I work for You, not for men. May all I do be done heartily since it is all for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.