Do you know someone who is difficult to love? The nosy neighbor. The grouchy grocery store clerk. Your child’s teacher who never cracks a smile. The hot-tempered boss. The church curmudgeon. Here are some things to keep in mind as you try to share the love with them. PRAY. PRAY. AND THEN PRAY SOME MORE.…
Finding Your Big “Why?”
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven. — Matthew 5:16 Video: Finding Your Big “Why?” Play the video teaching segment for session one. As you watch, record any thoughts or concepts that stand out to you in the outline…
Nearest and Dearest: How to Really Care for Your Clan
Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family… in another city. — George Burns Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. — 1 Peter 4:8 Loving our families can be tricky. These are the folks we hold most dear, but they can also be the people with…
Retreat!
“I want honey in my tea. And a lemon slice too! Oh, and can I use great-grandma’s teacup, pretty please? I’ll be super careful. Pinky promise!”, my then five-year-old daughter sweetly begged. We were enjoying our afternoon mother-daughter ritual while her two baby brothers napped. Each day we pulled out china teacups and saucers from…
Family Fume: Speaking in Love
Editor’s Note: It’s Sit & Listen Saturday at Devotionals Daily. Enjoy reading as well as listening to this devotion from Keep It Shut by Karen Ehman; a perfect reading to help us remember to be patient and respectful toward our loved ones. Listen on the blog or on your Alexa device by enabling the skill…
Laced with Grace
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. — Proverbs 16:24 I am such a Bible nerd. Not only do I love to learn the meaning behind the Hebrew or Greek words in Scripture, but I like to study certain English words that pop up at me, pogo-stick style,…
Zip It and Pray!
How to Talk to God Before You Talk to Others Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. ~ John Bunyan When I was in college in the 1980s, I came across a pamphlet entitled “How to Spend an Hour in Prayer.” I had been a Christian for just a…
Keep It Shut Bible Study
Sparks, Squabbles, Spats, and Such: Our Words Matter Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. – Proverbs 18:21 Editor’s Note: Words are one of the most powerful weapons we have. They can be a sharp sword or a soothing salve, both having the ability…
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king. — 1 Peter 2:17 NLT It was a rainy winter afternoon. Our youngest son was in middle school and I was walking down the school hallway following a meeting. As I opened my umbrella to ward off the chilly shower, I…
Something to Talk About
Wonderful Ways to Use Your Words A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver. — Proverbs 25:11 They can build up or tear down. They can impart wisdom or bring shame. They can deliver encouragement or deflate the spirit. Words can be a weapon or a healing balm. A welcome sound…