Devote2Day

07/08/2023

Read my latest blog called "Lay it Down."

Submit means to …surrender, relinquish, give it up & lay it down.

06/23/2023

Read my latest blog "Filling the Void"

For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107: 9

06/13/2023

But as for You

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17


It’s easy to take a few steps back. A step back from serving The Lord, a step back from the close relationship experienced with God, and a step back from the fire of The Holy Spirit at work in our lives. I know this because I’ve been guilty.

“Life” comes from every direction. Time is needed to raise kids and care for aging parents. Mourning a loved one’s death is also exhausting as well as all the stresses work can bring. Allowing offense to occupy your mind can also cause a “step back” as well.

I think now more than ever it’s important to stay in the word as not to drift. It may not seem like much of a drift at first, but it’s kind of like when you are on a raft in the ocean. It may be calm for a while, but even the slightest wind can cause you to drift really far in a short amount of time. When you finally realize how far you’ve gone, you have to work really hard to get back to where you started.

In 2 Timothy it tells us to “continue in what you’ve learned.”… so that we can be “thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

When I looked up the word “equipped” It says…supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose & prepare for a particular situation or task.

We must be equipped to be to be prepared “for every good work."


Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to continue in what I’ve learned. Help me to drift toward you through your word, not away. It’s a daily choice & a conscience effort. Help me to make the choice daily.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17

06/09/2023

Stagnation leads to sin, and when sin takes root, it can lead to spiritual death.

Stagnation leads to sin, and when sin takes root, it can lead to spiritual death.

06/02/2023

Don't let bitterness become a noose around your neck!

Don't let bitterness become a noose around your neck!

05/19/2023

Jehovah Jireh- The Lord Will Provide

Wedgewood Estates introduces the Created to Soar podcast which covers the benefits of living in a senior residential community, whether independent or assisted.

05/18/2023

Spring Cleaning

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139: 23-24

I decided to designate today to clean my office. It was well beyond the point of cluttered and verging on tornado-like conditions. I couldn’t put it off any longer. When I began, though very messy, I really didn’t see much to throw away. I just couldn’t see what I could part with or where to begin.

After studying the room for a few minutes, I picked up a garbage bag and began slowly placing a few things in. I noticed myself finding it easier and easier to throw things away and by the end I found myself with 3 garbage bags full of non-essential waste.

It got me thinking about my own life. What areas of my life, what areas of your life need de-cluttered? What habits and attitudes need thrown in the trash? I suppose as I ask God to search my life, I may not see much at first, but I trust in the end God will show me several big trash bags of non-essential waste He’d like me to part with.

The hard part is asking Him to search.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139: 23-24

05/08/2023

No Darkness at all

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

Many years ago, as a teenager I went with my church youth group on a hayride. Before the hayride, we were given the option of going through a dark maze that was at the base of an old barn. You had to go through the maze on your belly in the complete dark.

30 seconds too late I realized I was claustrophobic. I felt like I couldn’t breathe because the space seemed so small. I was holding the ankles of the person in front of me like my life depended on it.

It was so dark that it didn’t matter if my eyes were open or closed. There wasn’t a hint of light anywhere. It was completely and totally dark.

I was silently panicking. How cool would I look if I began to scream and cry hysterically? Between the complete darkness and the small, confining space, I was horrified. I have never craved light as much as I did that night.

After what seemed like an eternity…probably about 15 minutes…we finally made it out alive. I don’t think I was ever so happy to see the light of day. When I say the light of day, I mean evening moonlight and a few surrounding lamp posts. Any light was welcome no matter how small and insignificant. It may as well have been daylight with how drawn I was to existing light around me.

As I was recalling this story, it reminded me of the brightest shining light of all…My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I crave His light as I craved the light in that maze all those years ago. In Him there is no darkness at all. Because I have given Him my life, that means I never have to be in the dark. His light shines in darkness, and that means His light lives in me and I shine in darkness as well. My heart’s desire is for everyone around me to see His light. I hope and pray others can see the light of Jesus living in me.

May we as Christians be the Light in this world that is so dark. I pray that the world would crave His light so much, that we can show them Jesus…the only one who can satisfy the craving.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

05/05/2023

Listen as Randy & I discuss Forgiveness: Where Has Offense Taken You? On our latest "Created to Soar" Podcast

Wedgewood Estates introduces the Created to Soar podcast which covers the benefits of living in a senior residential community, whether independent or assisted.

05/02/2023

Cast Your Every Care on Him

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Lately I’ve been reminded of the words to a very old hymn…
“No one understands like Jesus when the days are dark and grim. No one is so near so dear as Jesus. Cast your every care on Him.”

Sometimes it’s okay that no one understands what we are going through. I don’t mean you have to or should go through a thing all alone. I just mean sometimes only God gets it. Sometimes it’s not important for others to know. Sometimes it’s not important for others to understand. Sometimes the only one who needs to know and understand is God. He cares and understands more than any other human could.

God’s word doesn’t give bad advice. God understands our heart even when we don’t know how to express our pain and His Holy Spirit knows exactly how to pray for us when we don’t have the words to pray. I find rest in that knowledge. I find perfect peace from God that no man can explain.

Decide to rest easy tonight knowing God can handle it all. While we sleep, He is working things out for our good.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28

04/28/2023

Randy & Lori talk about gratitude in the latest Created to Soar Podcast

Wedgewood Estates introduces the Created to Soar podcast which covers the benefits of living in a senior residential community, whether independent or assisted.

04/26/2023

The Wind in my Sails
"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:9-10

A few years ago, while away on vacation My husband thought it would be fun to learn/do a little sailing. After some pointers, it came time for us to take our maiden voyage. We were having a fun time and heading back to shore when suddenly, we realized there was 0 wind. We were literally looking at the shore, which was extremely close, but we were just sitting there with no wind.

No matter what way Randy adjusted the sails, we just sat there motionless. I guess you could say the wind was taken out of our sails. Randy was a little embarrassed because the instructor had to come out to get us. He reassured Randy this same thing has happened to many new sailors, and he gave him further instructions if he finds himself in a similar situation and instructions on how to avoid the situation altogether.

Now and then I feel a little like the wind has been taken out of my sails. I’m going along and all the sudden life happens - disappointment, confusion, loss, hurt, heartbreak - and I find myself sitting there trying to adjust my sail enough to start moving again.

I’m just sitting there motionless…trying to figure it all out. No matter what I do I just can’t get back on track. I simply can’t do it on my own.

Then Jesus, my instructor, steps in at just the right moment, to get me headed in the right direction. I’m so thankful that when the wind is taken out of my sails God is there, ready to comfort, guide, protect, and instruct. He’s everything I need to get moving in the right direction. I’m thankful for His Word, the Holy Spirit, and His love for me. He takes the time for me…for you…for everyone who will let Him when the wind is taken out of our sails.

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:9-10