• Devotions

    The Light is Always On

    During the pandemic, our family ate at home most of the time.

    Some days we would support our favorite local restaurants by ordering takeout. 

    But otherwise, this girl was putting in overtime as the family’s short order cook. 

    If you have teenage boys, there is no further explanation needed.

    Sometime during my cooking and baking extravaganza, my oven light mysteriously would not turn off.

    My husband and I searched the owner’s manual and online for a solution, as no repairmen were permitted to come into homes at that point.

    And when we could not fix the problem, we just concluded that eventually the lightbulb would burn out.

    So the light stayed on.

    And after a while, though I am in the kitchen everyday, I didn’t even notice the light anymore.

    That was six months ago.

    And the light is still on.

    Yesterday, as I walked past the oven for the upteenth time to pour my coffee, I heard this whisper.

    The light is always on.

    I love how our God finds the most amazing ways to speak a message into my heart.

    The meaning in the malfunction.

    His Light is always on.

    There are many times I walk through my day, not noticing that the Light of the world is shining.

    A light that was meant for you and for me.

    “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  

    John 8:12 NLT

    His Light is always on.

    Even when I forget it is there.

    It does not matter how much time passes.

    His light never burns out.

    And His light not only shines for us, but through us.

    As believers, we are called to share that light with a world filled with darkness.

    “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 NLT

    Friends, my prayer for us all today is that we do not walk past the Light, but embrace it and share it with others.

    The Light is always on.

  • Devotions

    That Familiar Feeling

    It was a familiar feeling.

    The conversation flowed like we had just seen each other yesterday.

    But the circumstances for our impromptu gathering were not as pleasant as being seated at our high school lunch table.

    Assembled faces now on a video chat, we were no longer talking about classes or weekend plans.

    Sadly, a friend’s unexpected loss led to a discussion on how to best support her.

    Some of these women I have known almost my entire life.

    Being in their presence was easy and comforting, even if it was on video chat.

    It had been way too long.

    It’s sad it takes something like this to come together.

    In unanimous agreement, we spoke about how we needed to make it a point to get together more often, despite the busyness in our lives.

    As I sipped my morning coffee today, this is the moment I have reflected on.

    How similar this is to my own faith walk.

    Sometimes I will sit down with my heavenly Father to talk about my day,  just like sitting at our lunch table.

    It’s no longer about classes or weekend plans.

    But the content does not matter.

    What’s most important is being in His presence.

    It’s a familiar feeling because the Creator knows me.

    “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

        and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

     Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

        Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

     You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

        as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

     You saw me before I was born.”  Psalm 139: 13-16 NLT

    Being in His presence is easy and comforting.

    But sometimes too much time passes between our conversations.

    Something breaks my routine, and I find myself getting caught up in the busyness of life.

    Then my meeting with Him comes only when a problem occurs or there is a crisis.

    Regardless, His love never changes and He always receives His children.

    “The Lord is like a father to His children,

        tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

     For He knows how weak we are;

        He remembers we are only dust.

     Our days on earth are like grass;

        like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

    The wind blows, and we are gone—

        as though we had never been here.

    But the love of the Lord remains forever

        with those who fear Him.”  Psalm 103: 13-17 NLT

    Just like my earthly relationships, the time I spend with my heavenly Father needs to be intentional.

    No one knows me better than Him.

    No one loves me better than Him.

    Friends, don’t let the distractions of the world get in the way of the most important relationship you will ever have.

    Spend time in His presence today.