Encouraging Words Devotional

Imagine being able to have anything you want—anything. No limits in size or amount or intricacy. You could just "speak it" and it would be in existence. That's how it is with God. The God of the universe can create anything He desires. And He did.

There are times in my life when I’d just like to be invisible.  I don’t want to hear anyone call my name for help, or ask me one more question, or expect anything from me.  Do you ever wish you could just stay in bed and pull the covers up over your head for the entire day?

Just over one hundred years ago a baby girl was welcomed in Saskatchewan, Canada and named Audrey. She grew up on the Canadian prairie, learning at an early age to churn butter and to bake bread in a wood stove.

There is so much we don't understand about life.  For example, why is it that a really fine Christian may be killed in an auto accident while the drunk who hit him walks away without injury?

Five times in the New Testament, John is called "the disciple whom Jesus loved." What is interesting, though, is that all five occur in one of the books John himself wrote, the Gospel of John.  In other words, John uses this expression of himself. 

Rachel's parents were teenagers, and both were deaf and unemployed. When her mom was pregnant with Rachel, her dad stabbed her, hoping to kill his unborn child. A divorce soon followed, and Rachel and her mother went to live with her grandparents and two uncles. When she was five, Rachel's uncles began to make sexual advances, beating or burning her if she resisted.

During the years when Harold and I were raising our family, I came across a little paperback book called "Your Teen-ager and You" by Anna B. Mow. There is hardly a page in the book where I have not underscored at least one sentence. And her words carry a lot of weight with me because she raised four teens at the same time!

Every now and then I remember a truth from the Bible that I've known for a very long time—but suddenly it pops into my mind almost as if I'd never heard it before. That happened to me recently when I remembered that I have the privilege of talking to the Creator of the universe any time I wish. In my lifetime, I'll probably never have the chance to talk to a great earthly president or king. But, wonder of wonders, at His invitation, anytime I wish, I can talk to the One who brought everything into existence. And I can come 24 hours a day. No appointment needed.

She crossed the finish line of the Boston marathon and was able to receive her Abbott World Major Marathon 6-star medal for running the top 6 marathons on the world! Her name: Jane-Jane Ong, a dear friend of mine from Cebu, Philippines.

One night I awoke quite suddenly. What time was it, anyway? Three o'clock in the morning! What's more, I realized that in my mind I was singing an old hymn: "It Is Well with My Soul." Not the first or second verse but the third verse:

            My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—

            My sin, not in part but the whole,

            Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul![1]

[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul/