Category: Devotion

For so many of us, these are the most difficult times we have faced.  Fear and anxiety have seeped into our existence as we seek to find a new, safer normal – at least for now.  We are constantly making more difficult decisions.  Life is uncomfortable and admittedly, that is an understatement.  We are never really sure when things will ‘let up’ and what it will look like when they do.  With all of this going on, we can find ourselves more angry and more unsettled.

How timely that we are at the starting point of the Lenten Season.  It is the beginning, just celebrating Ash Wednesday.  We are here and it couldn’t be a more appropriate spot to be.  Lent gives us a time of self-evaluation.  We are given an opportunity to check ourselves out, where we are and what we are doing.  It is a season of reflection, lamenting when we have not been all we could.  We can redirect, listening to God.  We can refocus, setting ourselves on a new path.  But it takes real work – a real effort to evaluate ourselves.  It isn’t easy.  We don’t often what to admit how anger has gotten the best of us.  We don’t want to look at the times when we said things we shouldn’t have or did things which we are not proud.  But really looking deep, we can seek God’s forgiveness.  We can seek his redemption, his cleansing.  We find we are not stuck where we thought we were.  And we seek the way of Jesus – the way of love.

How will you begin your time of self-evaluation?  What can you do to begin to see where you are and where you have missed it?  For me, it begins in quiet reflection, listening to God.  He knows.  He knows when I have not been who he created me to be.  He knows where I struggle.  He knows how I have allowed toxic things to seep into my life.  And he knows how to clean me up.  He can do the same for you.

Today, may we begin to look deep within.  Where are we?  And how do we get to where we were created to go?

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right spirit within me.

Ephesians 4:26

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

Today is Ash Wednesday.  It is the beginning of the season of Lent – a 40 day journey to the cross.  The start of this journey is important.  It sets the tone for the trip.  It is the first day into a meaningful experience of growth – if we so choose to travel the journey.  Ash Wednesday reminds us of who we are – in our humanity.  We are reminded that we are not perfect.  We are given a visual clue of our brief time on this earth.  We were created from dust and to dust we will return. 

This may not sound like the start of something exciting and may not appeal to you as a journey you want to travel.  But I find the most meaningful journeys are those which challenge me and remind me of the goodness of God.  That is what Lent is for me – a reminder of the love of God and how much I need him.  I can’t do this alone.  I am not in control.   Lent is a way to redirect our vision toward God and away from self – a giving up of the things which hold us back from following Christ with our all.

For as long as I can remember, I have always begun Ash Wednesday with Psalm 51.  The Psalmist helps us to feel the pain and agony of mistakes and guilt – and yet a deep desire to be cleansed and made new.  If we truly read, it gives us pause to consider where we might be going the wrong direction and how we may need a clear course.  We are reminded of how we may be missing it but this isn’t the end – actually this is the beginning.  Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a time of repentance and renewal.  

Today, we can come to God as verse 17 so beautifully describes:  with a broken spirit and a broken heart.  We can come to him with exactly who we are and allow him to mend us, cleanse us, and set us back on the right path.  May we lay our brokenness before him today.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
    and blameless when you pass judgment.
⁵ Indeed, I was born guilty,
    a sinner when my mother conceived me.

⁶ You desire truth in the inward being; 
    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing spirit.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    and sinners will return to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
    O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ For you have no delight in sacrifice;
    if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
¹⁷ The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
¹⁹ then you will delight in right sacrifices,
    in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

When my kids were growing up, I often felt like a broken record – repeating myself over and over and over.  I wondered if they ever heard me, especially when they asked the same things continually.  I’m not much for repeating myself – it seems a waste of time.  Well, it is a waste unless what is repeated needs to be heard. Some things are so very important they need to be repeated continually.  I love my kids with all my heart – so I want them to hear how much I love them – always.  That message never gets old and I never mind saying it.  It is just that important.  

Reading the Bible can be daunting.  There are many pages filled with unusual people and concepts that often seem so foreign to us today.  Yet, every page is there for a reason.  It is actually a very condensed version of occurrences.  Only the necessary is kept and told.  When we consider this, we should pay special attention to the teachings which are repeated over and over.  They are there for a reason.  They are repeated for importance.  They are emphasized because it was something the people needed to hear.  Essentially, it is also something we need to hear as well.  It is also something which is often quite challenging.  If it was easy and natural, there would be no need to keep repeating it.  

Today, we are reminded to love one another.  This is a teaching found in the beginning of the Bible and carries all the way through.  It is obvious.  It is not hidden.  It is not mysterious.  It is given to us continually.  We are called to love one another.  God gets it isn’t easy – that’s why it is repeated over and over.  He also gets how important it is – one of the most important teachings in the entire Bible – central to our faith.  If we miss the part of loving one another, we have missed what it means to be a follower of Christ.  This isn’t one of those optional, extra credit teachings.  This is a main idea in the story.  

Today, hear it again, and may it ring fresh and new – love one another.  Now, go and do.

Focus Scripture:

1 John 3:11

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

It can be difficult to stay focused.  We have difficulty concentrating on just one thing when so many are calling out.  Our phones are dinging or buzzing.  The TV is flashing with images to capture our attention.  There are people sitting around us talking.  We can find it nearly impossible to focus our attention.  It is understandable.  Even if we cut out everything else, our minds can wander.  We are even challenged to listen to someone else.  We may be thinking about the things we need to do.  We could be searching for the answers to the questions they are asking.   We may be seeking solutions to their problems, even if they are not asking for solutions. Focusing can be difficult.

So it is no surprise if we have difficulty focusing on God.  Much of the time, he is more subtle.  He provides for us, yet we don’t realize it.  He sends people our way with encouragement, but we don’t always listen.  He has given us guidelines for living, yet we don’t always read them.  He is in constant contact with us.  The problem is we don’t always focus.  All of those things I mentioned above are already screaming for us – and God is not.  To see and hear him, we must look for him, seek him, and focus.  Our eyes need to be fixed on him.  

This takes our effort and our concentration.  It takes our focus and consistently seeking God.  He is with us.  He is working in our lives.  He is taking care of us.  Where are your eyes focused?

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 16:8

⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

There are so many times in life when we just don’t get it.  We don’t understand why things happen the way they do.  We don’t even understand why good things happen to us – often feeling too unworthy for the goodness given to us.  We don’t understand how we got to the place we find ourselves – good or bad.  We just don’t get it.  And yet, here we are.  Wherever we find ourselves, we are here.  And so is God.  When we find we have run everyone else off, God is near.  When we find we have run from everything, God is still there. When we long to know we are loved, God’s there with his embrace.  We don’t get it.  But we don’t need to get it.  That isn’t our job.  That’s not what is needed of us.  We aren’t required to figure it out.  We can live in the shadow of the Almighty and find we don’t remember how we even stumbled there.

God gives us powerful, vivid reminders of him in the wonders of the world.  The Psalmist sees God through creation.  God is represented in the visual amazement all around us.  We don’t have to get it because God is present.  Just look around.  Do you see, feel, experience him?  

The Psalmist reminds us that God’s love is both steadfast and extends to the heavens.  That means God consistently loves.  It also means we cannot measure his love, it is endless.  We cannot see the end of his love because it doesn’t exist.  It is more than our minds can comprehend.  God’s faithfulness expands all the way to the clouds – beyond us.  His righteousness is solid, majestic, and ever present like the mighty mountains.  His judgment is deeper than we can swim, explore, or dive.  God is present, do you feel him?  He offers refuge in the shadows of his wings and nourishment in his presence.  He flows with goodness to restore, renew and revive us.  Have you experienced him?

Creation teaches us so much about the power and love of God when we take the time to notice.  We live in a time when we want to know everything.  We want to google all the answers.  But God is more than we can understand.  That is reassuring.  I am grateful he gives us a glimpse of his power in the beauty surrounding us.  He is holding us close in the gifts of the trees, the mountains, the seas and so much more.  He can even be seen in the eyes of each other – if we look really close.  May God remind us he is near today.  And may we be changed.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 36:5-9

⁵ Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

⁷ How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

To cling to something is to hold fast to it.  There is a constant contact.  We don’t let go of something we cling to.  When a child is shy, he or she will often cling to parents seeking safety from strangers.  We can get upset when someone seems to be clingy to us.  Cling wrap is often misnamed since it clings to everything except the bowl we are trying to put it on.  We seek something or someone to cling to when we are frightened or in distress.  It is a sign of seeking a reprieve or shelter.

What might it look like to cling to God?  You may say holding onto God is not physically possible, so why try.  We don’t have the option of hiding behind God in the physical sense like we may have done with our parents.  So clinging to God might look different.  It might look like staying in constant contact with him.  It may look like seeking him all of the time, always on the search for his goodness.  It may look like being in communication with him, striving to hear him.  Clinging to God may be different than clinging to a human being.  But clinging to God is the ultimate safety, the place to be when all the world is raging around us.  To be held by God’s hand when everything feels so very out of control is a comforting place.  We can rest there.  We can find healing there.  We can find shelter there.  If my entire being is clinging to God, there is peace.  

Our lives might look different if we sought to cling to God, if we stayed in constant contact with him.  We may find we are filled with love despite all that is going on.  We may begin to see things differently – and see God.  May we cling to him with our everything as he holds us up and carries us through.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 63:8

My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

There are quite a few things which can keep me up at night.  I don’t know about you, but I can be awakened from a deep sleep thinking about something that needed to be done or something that is pressing.  It is hard to dismiss those thoughts once they make their appearance.  No matter how tired I am, there seems to be a replay of the things on my list or the items which are most urgent.  Peaceful sleep becomes a welcome gift in the middle of the chaos.

The Psalmist must have understood what it was to be awakened in the middle of the night – staring at the ceiling – worrying about things which should not be worried about.  But instead of focusing on the worries, he calls attention to the goodness of God.  He is thinking and meditating on God.  He is filled with joy and songs consume his heart.  God has been his help.  He is being held by God, protected with this almighty hand.  

Maybe this is the origination of the theme of gratefulness as we drift off to sleep.  Considering God’s works can be a powerful reminder of how God is always with us.  Being reminded of his goodness helps us understand he is not leaving us.  Bringing to mind how he has protected us can bring a sense of safety.  This is much better to fill our minds than the worries and concerns which overwhelm us and awaken us in a cold sweat.  This is a relief when our souls are so wearied.  

How has God been there for you?  How has he protected you, shown you his goodness, reminded you of his presence?  Where is God working in your life?  May we be awakened today by the love of God.  May it consume our minds and fill us with goodness.  May we let the cares and concerns of this world go and replace it all with gratefulness.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 63:5-8

⁵ My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, 
    and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
⁶ when I think of you on my bed,
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷ for you have been my help,
    and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
⁸ My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

How much we want something will determine how much effort we are willing to put into it.  If we really want to achieve a degree, we will spend endless hours in study and dedication in order to achieve the goal.  If I want to run farther or faster, I will make sure I put in the practice and mileage in order to be successful.  If I want to become a better husband or father, I spend time with my wife and children – showing them love and caring for them.  If we have a deep desire for something, we spend time, effort, money and the like to achieve it.  

But I wonder how much we desire God.  In today’s focus scripture, this is the first verse of the Psalm.  In this one verse, the Psalmist invokes this image of striving for God.  The words give you the sense that there is a struggle and much effort put towards being in God’s presence and knowing him more.  The idea of seeking, thirsting and fainting remind me there is a deep desire that requires all of the Psalmist.  This kind of striving is usually only found when there is a great need, a problem in life.  Usually people will seek God when they have exhausted all other avenues.  It is as if God is the last choice in a lineup of options.  

What if we have this longing to know God daily?  What if we strive like this when everything is going great?  What might it look like to thirst for God, to seek him with every part of our being?  Our lives might look quite different.  We may find we see God’s presence abounding.  We may realize he has been with us all along.  We just might understand what he means when he promised to never leave us.  Strive on, my friends.  God is here.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 63:1

¹ O God, you are my God, I seek you,
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

This morning, my watch wanted to act up.  Electronics seem to do that fairly frequently for me.  I know what they are made to do.  I know how they should work.  But all too often, it doesn’t happen.  This morning, my watch was ‘stuck’ on the screen used to turn it on.  It is a small triangle that should turn into the regular screen.  But the triangle stayed and nothing else happened.  It is at this point that I am tempted to press the buttons incessantly until something happens.  Or hold all the buttons down at one time to see if it will simply reboot.  I am always willing to press buttons to see if I get some outcome. This morning – nothing happened – nothing.  Same triangle continued on the same screen with no reaction to my button pushing at all.  

I had not had my coffee yet, so I found it best to put it aside and fix the magic bean potion.  Nothing good really comes before coffee anyway.  I left it on the counter and went on about my business.  In a few minutes, I returned to the same screen.  I walked away – again.  Upon a third return, you guessed it, same screen, same triangle.  This time, though, it did reboot when I pressed the button to turn it on.  Apparently it needed me to leave it alone for a little while.  It must have been in a mood and was not going to work despite my frustration.  Or maybe I simply was a little more kind since coffee was making its way into my system.  At any rate, it worked.  

I am reminded that it can be helpful to walk away.  There are some situations where we become so involved we cannot see a solution or think clearly.  We are determined to fix something we look past the answer.  We press every button we know only to find ourselves frustrated and ready to throw it all away.  There are times when walking away is the best option.  It allows time to think.  It gives time to refocus and reconsider.  It often helps us to not say or do something we will later regret.  I get it isn’t always possible to walk away.  But I would guess there are many more opportunities to walk away than we might acknowledge.  

Consider if walking away, even for  a moment, might help you gain clarity.  Walk away so when you step back in, you are prepared and ready.  We might just find things fix themselves if we would get out of the way.  We might find our attitude needed the fix all along.

Focus Scripture:

John 8:7-9

⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.⁹ When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

It has been a long time ago – or it at least feels that way.  I remember vividly the days of sitting in school waiting for my name to be called.  The teacher goes methodically through the roll trying to see who is absent and who is present.  As each name was called, we announce our presence.  It didn’t necessarily mean we were completely present, it simply meant we occupied a seat.  We filled a space.  For that moment, our physical bodies found a resting place among others in that room.  We were sort-of present.  

Too many of our days are filled with being sort-of present.  We flow through life without really paying attention.  We show up to be counted among the bodies who made an appearance.  But our minds, our whole beings don’t always make the same appearance.  We are just here, going through the monotony of another day.  It is in these times we miss the joys, the celebrations, the opportunities to see God at work.  We miss it when we are stuck in a routine which we haven’t broken through to see the goodness of God.  It often happens and we don’t even realize it.  We wake up and years have passed and we wonder where all the time went.  We are simply passing through.  

But it doesn’t have to be this way.  We can be present and accounted for.  We can be present, with an awareness of how God has given us this precious day – a day he has made.  We can be present to see, really see, what a treasure we have been given.  When we are completely present, we are made aware of how we are loved and cared for.  We begin to see how God is making and remaking – creating and renewing – reshaping and molding – all for good.  We may even see how God is using us in his work.  It comes when we are present.  

Will you be present and accounted for today?  You may be surprised at all the joys which abound.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 57:7-9

⁷ My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.
⁸     Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn.
⁹ I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery