Daily Devotional

Paul and Timothy were two leaders in the early church. Paul is well known because of his exciting conversion on the road to Damascus, his missionary work starting churches all around the Mediterranean world, and his writings that make up a significant portion of the New Testament. Timothy, however, is not as well known. What we do know is that Timothy was a young person. His family was a strong and godly family. His grandmother Lois and his Mother Eunice are written about with great respect by Paul. We know that Paul thought so highly of this young man that he placed him in leadership in the church at Ephesus. The letters of 1 and 2 Timothy are letters written to encourage young Timothy in his faith and work in the early church.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes and encourages Timothy to keep up the good work that he has been part of.  Starting these new churches must have been a challenging task…

Tonight, we will attend my oldest daughter’s graduation from high school. We are happy to celebrate her many wonderful accomplishments, and we look forward to an exciting future. I must admit that the last several days have been cause for many walks down memory lane. After all, how could our little baby be graduating from high school? She has become an outstanding young woman, but in so many ways we still see her as our little girl.

We have taken great joy in sharing stories of Ella Kate’s early years. Some stories are filled with joy and laughter. Some stories bring tears. They are the memories that have helped to shape her life.

Earlier this week, I reminded her of something that happened when our family was shopping. Ella Kate was very little. It was at the time in her life when she was potty training. She told her mom she needed to go to the bathroom, so Aimee rushed her to the nearest bathroom. While washing their hands, another person approached at the sink. She was a complete stranger. Ella Kate looked up to the stranger with a big smile on her face and said, “My daddy’s going to be so proud of me, and he will be proud of you too.” Her sweet words brought a smile to this stranger’s face…

LaVonte Dell was on a drive with his young daughter when Westland, Michigan police officer Joshua Scaglione pulled in behind him and turned on his lights. Suddenly, LaVonte was overcome with a terrible, sinking feeling in his stomach.  LaVonte was being pulled over for having tinted windows that were too dark. What Officer Scaglione found when he approached the car was LaVonte’s young daughter, riding without a car seat.

The logical next step would have been for the officer to issue a ticket to LaVonte for failing to secure his daughter in a proper seat. What happened next was a surprise to this young father. Officer Scaglione took a few moments to listen to LaVonte and the difficulties that he had been experiencing over the past year.  After listening Officer Scaglione simply asked, “Could you follow me to Walmart?

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day. It is an important day as we celebrate the women who have shown such great love to each of us. Mother’s Day officially began in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed it into law. The roots of Mother’s Day began in the 1800’s when Anna Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe both organized clubs to help mothers. During the Civil War, these clubs would help bring reconciliation to the nation. The nation’s moms helped to bring about peace and forgiveness after one of the bloodiest wars in history.

Mother’s Day helped me think about my own mother. My mom passed away 9 years ago. I miss her every day, but especially on days like Mother’s Day. Although she is in heaven now, I found time to remember and give thanks for the wonderful gifts she left behind. Of the many things my mom taught me, I am grateful for the example she set when it comes to forgiveness…

Safety driving features for vehicles continue to develop and become more common as technology increases.  There are lane departure warnings, blind spot detections, emergency braking systems, back up cameras, and more.  These features assist drivers to stay aware and alert.  These help with knowing about the other drivers on the road, as well as give visual aids and cues to lower the risk of an accident.

Even a simpler car or an older vehicle has seat belts, air bags, side mirrors and a rearview mirror. Of course, even with all these features – more simple or advanced, you still have to know how to drive. You may have been taught to drive by a parent or a trusted adult or took a course with an instructor. There are many things to know and do to get safely from point A to point B.

As we move forward in life, it’s also important to know that we have many tools to help us navigate. And still, we often feel lost or unequipped…

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lo′is and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you. Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the […]

As old of a sport as track and field is, many of the changes and innovations did not take place until recent times. One of those changes was brought to the sport by Dick Fosbury. Fosbury was a student at Medford High School in Portland, Oregon. He wanted to be part of the track team, but struggled to make the lowest qualifying height for the high jump. His leg strength was not the problem. The technique of the time was to jump forward, kicking each leg over the bar, one at a time. By all accounts, Dick Fosbury was unable to coordinate his movements to be successful in the high jump.

Dick Fosbury did not give up. As a Junior in high school, Fosbury began to experiment with new methods to clear the high bar…

The first time I remember getting into a boat was just after my dad had purchased a small bass boat. I was young, about 8 years old, and we took it to Lake Ellsworth for its maiden voyage. Even at an early age, I loved to fish, but this was the first time I’ve been in a boat on a large lake. To be very honest, I was terrified.
My nervousness was somewhat expected since I was a small child, and it was my first time on the lake. The disciples’ fear that night on the lake was unexpected. Most of Jesus’ disciples were experienced fishermen. They had grown up on the water. They were experts at handling boats. However, Matthew tells us they were “Afraid.” The wind was strong, and the waves were crashing into the boat…

As teenagers, we think we know it all. We have all the answers and everyone else just “doesn’t understand.”  This sentiment could not have been more true for me heading toward my 16th birthday. While I was completely crushed by tragedy that had stricken just months prior with the loss of my mother, I felt this total desire to run as far and as fast as I could toward a feeling that was somewhere between numbness and overwhelm.  I just wanted ’normal’.  Well, normal landed me at a church camp in which I had been encouraged to go to by my Jewish foster parents (the irony was never lost on me).  It was there that I would meet some of my closest and dearest friends to this day, feel whole for the first time in a long time, and find myself face to face with Jesus…