Category: Devotion

I think the Psalmist of Psalm 30 gets me.  We must be kindred spirits.  I have seen some people that would definitely disagree with some of what is contained in the Psalm.  There is one particular part of the Psalm that seems to speak to me this morning.  “Joy comes in the morning”.  Some folks just are not morning people.  I get it.  I see you.  I hear you.  But there is just something refreshing about mornings.  This morning is certainly no exception.  

As I sit on my back patio for a moment, enjoying my coffee, watching Leo catch flies and admiring the sun as it rises, I am filled with joy.  Even if it is but for a moment, it is beautiful and it is good.  It is a warm morning and the breeze blows gently.  The birds sing their sweet song and I can even hear the cows proclaim contentment.  It is a good morning.  Not every morning is filled with such sights, smells and sounds.  But I enjoy those that do.  And this is enough.  For today, this is more than enough.  

Mornings also remind me of fresh beginnings.  Beginnings can be hard.  We want to hold on to yesterday.  We may want to fix what we messed up.  We could find ourselves wanting to take back the things we said – or go back and say some things we wish we had.  But that has passed.  Today is here.  And it is a fresh, new start.  It is good. 

May your day be filled with unexpected joy.  May you feel God’s love.  May you be wrapped in hope.  And may you catch a few flies (that one’s for Leo).  

Blessings as you find joy in your morning.  

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 30:4-5

⁴ Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
⁵ For his anger is but for a moment;
    his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

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

It was one of the darkest mornings I can remember.  To add to the complications, the earth was weighed down with a heavy and thick fog. This makes for difficult maneuvering.  As I went out for my morning exercise, it made for an interesting adventure.  I know my road better than the back of my hand.  I have run this road so many times I couldn’t possibly begin to count.  But in the dark fog, it was challenging to tell where I was on the route.  Thankfully I know markers, even places in the road that gives me clues.  And it isn’t as if I could get lost.  Even I can stay on a straight road.  But the miles were quite deceiving when vision was nearly eliminated.  It was dark and foggy enough that someone stopped me to ask me what road he was on and how to get to where he was going.  I live in the country so this never happens before 6 am on a morning run.  This just gives an idea of the deception of the dark film on the earth.  

When it is this dark and vision is compromised, we have no choice but to focus on what is right in front of us.  We can’t worry about what is up ahead – we can’t see it.  We can’t look back and see where we have been.  It does no good to look around.  Stopping won’t help because then we are just stuck where we stopped with no progress being made.  Our only choice is to move forward, focused on the path right before us.  No worrying about anything else, head down and focused is the only option.

We may find ourselves in the thick darkness today.  We may find that we have no idea what is ahead and can’t even focus on what is behind.  All we know is what is right in front of us.  We trust that God will light the way – if it is just for a few inches.  We believe that those things ahead are good even when we can’t see them.  We move forward because it is what we do.  But we do not move forward alone.  If you remember my writing about running in the fog and a friend always being with me – it still applies (Blog entitled “The Runner”).  We do not face this alone.  We don’t have to know what is to come.  We don’t need to worry what is behind.  We just press forward…one inch at a time.  Crawl if you must – just move.  We will not get stuck in the dark fog today.

Focus Scripture:

Philippians 3:12-14

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

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

One of my all-time favorite movies is Finding Nemo.  I mean, what’s not to love?  There is adventure and suspense.  There are good and bad – people that want the good for you and some that just do not.  Nemo has what most would consider a really difficult start to life – dis-ability and loss of his mom.  Yet, he moves forward.  And to top it all off – Nemo is orange (my favorite color).  So it is all good.  But one of the classic lines comes from Dory (the forgetful but adorable friend to all) – “Just keep swimming”.  I think of this line often.  I say this line in my mind often.  Some days, I don’t want to keep swimming.  I want to, instead, stay in bed and call it a day before it gets started.  Some days I want to swim somewhere else for a vacation.  But ultimately, I find the most value when I just keep swimming in the direction God is leading.  It isn’t the easy way.  But it is the right way.

Following God, for me, is the way of love.  It is the way of showing kindness where there has been hatred.  It is the way of encouraging rather than tearing down.  It is the way of welcome rather than exclusion.  But it is the difficult way all too often.  I mess up.  I get angry and frustrated.  I have days when I go off and I should keep my mouth shut (ok – there may a lot of these days).  I am not saying I get it right or that I am the example.  I am saying Jesus is the example so I am doing my best to follow him.  And in doing so, even on my worst days, I just keep swimming.  

Which direction are you heading today?  May you follow God in the way of love.  May you find peace in the middle of the mess.  May you find joy in the heap of sorrow.  And may you just keep swimming with God as your guide.  There is still so much ahead…and it is good.  

Focus Scripture:

³ You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
    for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
⁴ take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.
⁵ Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

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

A walk outside provides me with clarity like nothing else.  For you, it may be other things you like to do.  But for me, being outdoors helps to clear my mind and allows me to breathe in God’s goodness while contemplating whatever it is I may be struggling to figure out.  I often feel God’s messages most clearly when I am among his creation.  It is a relief and a joy to simply be and to know that God has me no matter what it is I face.  The rain reminds me of forgiveness and nurturing.  The snow reminds me of new, fresh starts.  The leaves falling remind me that today’s beauty must be admired, for it will be tomorrow’s landscape to rake.  Sunrises and sunsets are more majestic some days – so don’t fail to pay attention to today.  You may just miss it.  God just speaks with such eloquence in his creation.  

How do you sense God’s presence?  Where is it that you find his love most evident?  How is he showing you he is with you?  Another place I sense his goodness is when I am spending time in the kitchen.  It is, I guess, tapping into my creativity he has ingrained in me.  To take simple ingredients and combine them in just the right way to make something delicious is just another reminder of creation.  God takes simple things and creates something delectable.  He has given us resources we take for granted.  He has offered us to care for this earth in a way he would.  We are given all we need if we just took the time to appreciate it.  God’s presence is among us.

Today, my goal is to sense his presence in the ordinary.  While I always try to do this, I will be spending a little more time focused on this today.  I don’t want to miss his goodness, his majesty or his provision.  Open my eyes, Lord, that I may see you today.

Focus Scripture:

1 Chronicles 16:26-27

²⁶ For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
²⁷ Honor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his place.

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

In the story of the Israelites traversing the wilderness, God made his presence known so they would know where to go.  During the daytime, he led by a cloud.  In the night, by fire.  His presence was visible.  It was intimidating yet reassuring.  God had not left them even in their disobedience.  He was not going to make them figure this out alone.  He would be with them every moment and they would know it.  They would not forget it.  He was there.  

Tonight I am doing something I rarely do.  I am sitting around the fire pit, eating dinner, and  enjoying the beauty of the flames.  Honestly, this takes time and effort So I just don’t do this often enough.  I am grateful for a few moments around the fire.  Held in the pit, the flames are so majestic.  They are dangerously beautiful.  As I sit and watch, I am reminded of God.  I am reminded that he is still leading and guiding our steps.  He is still reminding me of his presence.  It may not be in the same way – we, do, after all, have the Holy Spirit as our guide.  Instead of the visible fire, God’s fire is living within us.  He is guiding us from within.  We should, in turn, be burning bright for him.  How has God reminded you of his presence today?

Focus Scripture:

²¹ The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. ²² Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

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

We can let our fear speak for us if we are not careful.  It happens without notice.  It isn’t as if we have chosen it.  We don’t usually consider when we speak what is driving our words.  We just speak.  And sometimes when we speak, it is to the harm and detriment of others.  This could be the case if our fears are speaking for us.

It is fall and many are thinking about pumpkins and Halloween.  I am thinking about cooler weather, but that may be just me.  When we think about October, fear is a part of the genre.  Halloween is filled with masks and haunted houses.  If we are honest, I am not sure that much could be more fearful than this year has been with masks and a frightening pandemic.  Two things always come to mind when I think of Halloween – the video from Michael Jackson’s Thriller and the line, “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts” from Ghostbusters.  This probably ages me some and I am sure says something about my personality.  But my point is that this is a time when we are thinking about fear or the lack thereof.  Yet, fear seems to rear its ugly head in so much of our everyday lives and we don’t even notice.

Fear happens when we can’t hear someone with a different view or belief.  Fear happens when people bully (it is actually the bully that has the most fear ingrained deep inside).  Fear is evident in the political world.  It is a part of our decision making.  It is a part of hatred or greed.  We don’t realize it, though.  It is hidden.  It seem that the bully fears nothing. Yet, for that person to act like that and live to intimidate others, there is deep seated fear.  For people to hate others, there is fear of someone or something different.   When religious people spew hatred, it is usually because they are fearful something they believe will be challenged and they don’t know what to do with that.  Fear is a part of so much of our lives, yet we rarely talk about it.  

The Bible teaches us different.  We are taught to live in love, not fear.  We are taught real love casts out fear.  We are taught that Jesus lived as he did out of love, not fear.  We read how those who hated him were fearful because he challenged their beliefs.  We hear the fear of those who wanted Jesus dead.  There is fear in the Bible – but it wasn’t from Jesus.  He lived rooted in love.  How are you living?  We should check our speech, posts, and thoughts – we may find a whole lot of fear and not much love, if we are willing to dig deep.  May LOVE lead you today.  

Focus Scripture:

1 John 4:18-19

¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. ¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.

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

It’s likely happened to most of us.  We are traveling down the road, listening to our music, and jamming along.  We are minding our own business until all of a sudden, we see it.  The police car is up ahead.  We look down at our speedometer and immediately begin to slow down.  It is almost instinctual.  Some take it to the extreme and slam on brakes, almost causing an accident.  Then, continue to travel at 50 mph thinking that will impress someone.  Some slow down so much you wonder if their car has stalled and they are trying to re-crank it.  Even funnier is how a few miles down the road, you will see the person who was traveling 50 now kicking it back up.  Now, we all know that if we see the police car, the officer has probably already seen us as well.  There is a really good chance it is too late to slow way down.  And we just look ridiculous to go below the speed limit when you don’t do that at any other point in our lives.  The deal is we know we are guilty.  We know we were going too fast.  We understand that the law has been broken.  Our attempt to temporarily rectify the situation is really only a last minute “Hail Mary”.  It isn’t an intent to change.  There is no real idea of just going slower.  It is temporary until the police car has passed and we are not in the “danger zone” any longer.  

I wonder how many of us live our lives like this.  We do what we want to until things are not going well.  We get caught or we find ourselves in trouble.  All of a sudden, we are angelic Christians calling on the Lord to help us.  We are willing to sacrifice it all for him if he will be with us.  That is, we will sacrifice until the danger passes.  When it is all over, we go back to the way we were, with no real intention of change.  We just don’t want to get caught.  We are willing to slam on brakes for a moment if we can just avoid a ticket.  What a way to live.

We could, instead, live acknowledging when we have done wrong and working to do what is right.  We could follow Christ all the time and quit trying to pretend only when it is convenient.  We could actually love like Christ without boundaries.  We could…but most of us are just satisfied doing what we want and only slamming on the brakes when we think we are getting caught.  How do you want to live?

Focus Scripture:

James 2:18

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

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

I woke up as usual, rolled out of bed and picked up my phone.  It wasn’t to look at social media or check messages.  I needed to know the weather before I headed out the door for my morning run/walk.  The temp looked fine, just what I expected.  But then those 3 little letters appeared again – FOG.  Really?  I get fog twice in one week.  I thought that maybe it was a mistake but prepared for it anyway.  I stepped out the door and sure enough, fog.  I mentally wrapped my mind around running in the fog again and moved forward.  It would be fine.  The first mile was the normal – thick fog with no indication of it letting up.  But soon after, there was a clearing.

It happened so quickly I almost didn’t realize it.  I could, all of a sudden, see around me.  The cars could see me.  I was almost shocked at how I had hit a clearing.  I looked up and noticed I could see the stars and constellations.  As it turned out, it was actually an absolutely beautiful morning with stars shining bright.  I just didn’t know it because the fog around me was so thick.  It took a clearing for me to realize what was just beyond the fog. 

Yesterday, I watched a story about a woman that was changing lives.  She wasn’t famous.  Most people had never heard of her.  She was in a small, remote village where she was most happy.  She was, though, pretty incredible.  What was she doing?  She was finding the good in young people and encouraging them.  It really was this simple.  If a child thought they were bad at math, she showed them where they could succeed.  If they were struggling in any area, she wanted them to see all they were capable of accomplishing.  She simply tried to find the good in them all.  Everyone she encountered, it was a search for the good.  That’s it.  And that’s all it took.  She was changing lives.  For her, the good was always there, she just needed to look beyond what everyone else said and what they felt about themselves.  She needed to find the clearing.  It might not be at first sight, but it was there.  She wanted to keep moving through the fog so she could show others the stars. They were there, she knew it.  She just had to keep moving until she reached the clearing.

There is so much we miss because we are held in the fog by our own thoughts and judgments.  The clearing is just ahead but we might not even notice if we just focus on where we are right now.  God has given us so much – we need to see what he sees.  It might change others.  It might change us.  The clearing is beautiful – keep moving until you reach it.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 147:3-5

³ He heals the brokenhearted,
    and binds up their wounds.
⁴ He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.
⁵ Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.

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

What does it mean to put something or someone first?  When our lives are overcrowded and overrunning, how do even know what is first and what is just in the mix of it all?  It can be difficult to know where we started or where we are going when we are just surviving.  We may proclaim that we put our children first until we look at our hectic schedules overrun with other things.  We may think we put our spouse first until we look at how our time is actually spent.  The way we spend our time and our funds, our energies and our gifts all show us those things or people which we have chosen to put first.  

And yet, those who choose to follow God are called to put him first.  How is this even possible?  We have those we love more than life itself.  We have obligations which tend to cause us to lose sight of the important stuff in life.  We have consumer goods telling us we have to work extra to obtain the pretty things.  We have to look good and make sure everything is social media worthy.  It can be confusing and distressing.  So how do we sort it all out?

Putting God first really does help us to readjust our priorities and envision a different life.  Putting God first actually enables us to take better care of our spouse and children.  Putting God first encourages us to work giving it our all – because we are doing it as unto the Lord.  Putting God first helps us to see those things which are truly valuable – and we might just be surprised where really value is found.  We begin to see that love, peace, joy, and hope are way more important than the latest gadget or social media photo.  We begin to care less about the things of this world and more about God’s good creation and living for him.  We may just find our life really is a lot more joyful than we could have ever imagined.  It just make take a new look – a look at what it means to put God first in all things. 

How might our lives change today if we just take a few moments to readjust and begin to put God first?  Will we find ourselves less judgmental, angry, and anxious?

Focus Scripture:

Mark 12:29-30

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; ³⁰ you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

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