The sun cast crystal rays off the water on a late summer day in Birch Bay, just below the Canadian border and about one hundred miles north of Seattle, Washington. The water that day was calm and gently lapped at the sides of my kayak. A small baby couldn’t have been more comfortable at her…
When to Walk Away: Follow Jesus’ Example
Jesus walked away from toxic people and let them walk away from Him. We can learn to follow His example. INTRODUCTION For the first fifteen years of their marriage they served the church in two dramatically different ways. Both David and Ginny had gifts for ministry, loved people, and felt honored to serve the same…
When We Can’t Walk Away
When we can walk away from toxic people, we probably and usually should. But when financial necessity, work obligations, family relationships, or even the accomplishment of our God-given mission necessitates that we find a way to live or work with a toxic person, we can learn much by following Jesus’ example with Judas. JESUS AND…
Activists
Loving God Through Confrontation Rob and I had spent the better part of the last hour in intense prayer. I don’t know when I had felt closer to him. We had played on the Puyallup city champion Little League baseball team. In high school, we graduated to the grueling cross-country runs — Rob having the…
Tending the Garden of the Soul
The Interplay of Our Spiritual Temperaments At least once a week, I’ll want to spend some time going on a prayer walk through the woods. On a regular basis, I’ll need to make sure I’m continuing to study. Perhaps I’ll need to download more teachings or order more books. Also, I should begin respecting my…
Learning to Love… Sacrificially, Passionately, and Crazily!
Dr. John Barger gave an extraordinary address to a gathering of men on December 12, 1987. The address included his testimony of how he had walked the road from being a domineering husband to a serving one. The crux of the message, however, wasn’t just that husbands can do better. We all know that. What…
Jesus Said, “Become Like Little Children”
Editor’s Note: It’s Sit & Listen Saturday at Devotionals Daily. Enjoy reading as well as listening to this devotion from Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas – and don’t miss our exclusive $5 deal on the book! Listen on the blog or on your Alexa device by enabling the skill and then prompting, “Alexa, ask…
Sacred Parenting: Perfecting Holiness
Every Day Is Like an Airline Emergency Have you ever noticed the severe discrepancy behind the very few verses in the Bible that discuss the “how-to” of parenting and the hundreds of Christian books that confidently proclaim “God’s plan for parenting” (or something similar)? If the “how-to” is so important, why can’t we point to…
Own Your Choice
“I take thee to be my wedded [wife/husband].” What I am about to say has been considered somewhat controversial. Normally, I’d try to avoid controversy in an inspirational book like this, but the point is particularly well worth making at this stage in your life. In general, God doesn’t, and won’t, tell us who to…
Treat ‘Em Like Grandkids
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter. — Deuteronomy 5:13–14 A grandfather in Yona Zeldis McDonough’s novel The Four Temperaments reflects on having grandchildren: People…
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