Sunday Devotions - God's path

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me —the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

I truly believe that God has put me on Earth for a purpose and job to complete. I'm more than happy to do whatever it his he calls me to do but sometimes I find it kind of difficult knowing what it is I'm supposed to be doing and which path I should be taking. 

When I graduated college and began teaching I felt like my calling was to work with kids..and I loved it! But after only five years of teaching I met my husband and from there we've moved all over the place and I've never had the opportunity to get back into my own classroom. 

In my years of moving from place to place there were many times I felt clueless about my job on this Earth. Am I supposed to be teaching in a classroom? Am I supposed to be a devoted stay at home mom? Am I supposed to do something specific in my community? What's my job? 

I suppose I may never know exactly what I'm to do for God however if I can live everyday testifying for God, whether it be in a classroom, at home or somewhere in my community then I'm sure to be on the right path. 

Dear Heavenly Father, We both know that You have given me a job to do on this Earth, however sometimes I'm confused about exactly what that job is. Guide me on the right path. Amen. 

Sunday Devotions - God Winks

My Mom gave me this book When God Winks at You: How God Speaks Directly to You Through the Power of Coincidence a couple of years ago full of stories about so called 'coincidences' that the author refers to as God Winks. Today I'm sharing one of the uplifting stories this great little book contains.

Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Danielle loved smiley faces. She'd stick them up around her room. Send them in greeting cards. Draw them on correspondence - a round face with two eyes and a smile.

"They matched her personality," said her father, Daniel Heard.

A musically gifted 19 yr. old she was about to journey to LA from her home in Michigan to meet with record producers who thought the songs she'd composed might have commercial appeal.

Then tragedy happened. A car out of control. A head on collision. She died.

We simply cannot fathom the pain borne by her grieving parents and two older sisters. Life doesn't prepare us for that kind of heartbreak.

Nine months later, her father was still feeling agonizing loss. Daniel stood alone on the rear deck of their home, looking off into the woods. It was a dark night. Black clouds filled the sky.

"Oh God...this still hurts. Dear God...please give me a sign that Danielle is okay. That she's with you," he wailed. Then bowing his head, his voice cracking with sorrow, he said, "I guess I'm not worthy."

A glimmer of light reflected from the deck. He looked up to see a wondrous sight - a hole had formed in the blackness of the sky, just enough for the full moon to fit perfectly into it. He stared, recognizing the craters near the top that looked like the eyes of the man in the moon. Then in slow motion, across the bottom of the moon, a narrow dark cloud drifted...and stopped...and turned up its corners.

In a direct, personal communication, Daniel was receiving a godwink.

For a full fifteen or twenty seconds, the full moon was a perfect smiley face, just like those Danielle had always collected.

"I now counsel other parents who are dealing with grief," said Daniel. "I tell them they should expect that their hurt, anger, and sorrow will come in waves. Some days they will be fine. Other days, months later, they'll break down in tears. And occasionally, they'll get a sign - a godwink - to lift their spirits."

If you are looking for an uplifting, inspirational book When God Winks is a good one. It's a quick and easy read and hard to put down.

Dear God, Thank You for your 'God Winks'; the coincidences in our lives when You are speaking directly to us. You are comforting and loving. Help me today to be open to 'God Winks' in my life. Amen.

Sunday Devotions - How do I listen to God?

The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:8-10


Every night at bedtime the boys and I read the Bible. We were on the story of the great prophet Elijah and talking about God spoke to Elijah and gave him messages to pass on to the people. (Elijah's one of my favorite Bible characters; full of fire he is!) The idea of a God talking to a prophet prompted a lot of questions from Yip and Yap.


How did God talk to the prophets? Was it a normal person's voice, like you talking to me? Or did it come from the sky?
Why doesn't God talk to anyone now and send messages?
Why doesn't God talk to us? Will he if we ask him to?


Wow guys, lots of heavy stuff for Mom at bedtime. But I tackled these questions as best as I could. As we talked I was reminded of Samuel. Samuel and Eli lived and worked in the temple, in a holy place. If anyone would have recognized the voice of God talking to them they would have, right? But no, it took God calling three times before old Eli realized who was calling the boy Samuel.


Maybe God still is talking to us but we don't recognize his voice. Maybe we are too distracted by our daily lives, tasks and technology and God's voice is drowned out by our 'priorities'. Or maybe what we need to hear God is a guide or mentor, like Eli was to Samuel. Sometimes I think God is talking to me.



As the boys and I talked I sure didn't feel like I had the best answers for them. But my advice for them was; if they wanted to hear God speak then they should lay quietly and listen. And don't expect to have to listen with their ears but perhaps they need to listen with their hearts. I think I need to take my own advice to heart.


Dear God, Thank You for Your prophets and they messages they had for Your people. Their messages still ring true for us today. Help me be silen today God so I can hear You speak the message You have for me. Amen.