Daily Devotional

One of the most challenging obligations in the world is parenting. Cydney Cooper knows this well. Cydney was a mom of two wonderful children until she gave birth to her twin girls, and, just like that, she was a mother of four.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. This I command you, to love one another.

I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Halloween is an exciting time for children. They dress up as their favorite superhero, princess, cartoon character, video game character, and many other creative costumes. As the sun goes down on Halloween night, kids take to the neighborhood streets in pursuit of candy. It is a night filled with joy and sugar.

One of the great encounters in the gospel is between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Jesus and his disciples were traveling through the region of Samaria, a place that most Jews would never venture because of their disdain for the Samaritans. Jesus, not wanting to exclude anyone from His message of good news, traveled the direct route through the region and sat down to rest at the well, purchased by Jacob and given to his son Joseph long ago.

Fear is a powerful force in our world. Fear is the cause of so many actions and reactions in our lives. We must be careful about fear and its effect on our lives. Fear is a natural thing. Fear helps us to be cautious when danger is possible. However, when fear is the only voice we listen to we can become paralyzed.

It is now November, and many high school football teams are preparing for their last few games of the season. The last home game of each season is often celebrated as “Senior Night.” This game is both an important competition and a significant time of celebration. Seniors from the band, cheerleaders, dance, other clubs, and football are recognized for their achievements over the past four years.

I recently made a visit to OU Children’s Hospital. As I walked through the atrium at the hospital entrance, I was thinking only of the family I was about to visit. I walked to the volunteer’s desk and asked for the patient’s room number. I was warmly greeted. They gave me a room number and directions. I was told which elevator would get me where I needed to go. I walked down a long hallway until I found the right elevator. I pressed the button to open the elevator doors, and when the doors opened, I was met by someone unexpected.

“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.

May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
your salvation, according to your promise;
then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.