Category: Devotion

The weather has been so stifling hot this summer.  It seems to be way more humid with higher temperatures than I remember.  I’m sure it is just my perspective because I am living in the middle of it.  I will probably say the same thing next year when the summer heat bakes the earth.  But it is really so very hot.  So when it cools down just a few degrees, it is amazing what a difference it makes.  The morning temperatures actually fall below 70 and it is as if I have walked into a new dimension.  What would have been warm before is now a welcome coolness.  When coming from the summer’s oven, the mildness of the morning is so refreshing.  

The interesting part for me is that the temperatures are not drastically different.  It is more that we have gotten accustomed to the extreme heat and humidity for quite a while.  We have an expectation that it will remain this hot for what seems like forever.  When we are surprised by a few degree drop, we are thrilled.  It is as if we can breathe again.  

We are in a time of such division and chaos.  We go through these cycles.  People are more vocal and it seems that we do not always let the best of ourselves shine.  We hear division on the news, we see it on TV, we read about it – we are filled with the difficulties of transition in our world.  It can become almost a norm that we expect.  So when there are small differences, it seems to make a huge impact.  When someone is kind, it really shines through.  When someone helps another, it means so much.  When someone even smiles and says thank you, we are surprised.  

So why don’t we surprise someone with kindness today?  Why don’t we go out of the norm and help someone else?  Why don’t we make a little change that could make a big difference?  We could be the exception that really does brighten the day.  And we could do it simply because we are loved by an amazing God that is with us every day.  The little differences can make huge impacts.  Be the difference.

Focus Scripture:

John 13:34-35

³⁴ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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

When kids are growing up, we do our best to teach them to share.  They have a natural inclination to grab their own toy (or someone else’s) and claim it.  They exclaim, “it’s mine!” as they hold the toy close and dare anyone to try and take it.  As parents or teachers or friends, we try and help out.  We show the advantages to sharing and what it means to take turns.  We try to guide others in how to work together with limited toys.  Working together and sharing just makes for a better play area.  The “it’s mine” attitude just doesn’t work well.

As we grow older, these lessons sometimes stick and sometimes don’t.  We hold onto things with all our might and continue to proclaim ownership.  We worked for it, we earned it, it is mine.  No one has any right to what is mine.  We hold so tightly to what we think is ours that we can’t see or hear that there might be a better way.  

Today’s focus scripture proclaims ownership, but it is not our ownership.  It doesn’t say that if we earn it, it is ours.  It doesn’t talk about how we can fight for it and it is ours, fair and square.  It doesn’t suggest that we hold tightly to it because we deserve it.  Actually, the scripture tells us that everything is God’s.  Everything on the earth – everything – is God’s.  It even reads that everyone is his.  That sure isn’t how we live.  We don’t consider that this world could be God’s.  We work way too hard on a daily basis for it to be God’s.  We spend all our energy on attaining things that surely God wouldn’t expect us to give it to him.  But that is a problem – we don’t have to give it to him – it is already his, and so are we.  We are under the illusion it is all ours.

If that really is the case – if the earth is God’s and everything in it – then we probably should take another look at what we are doing.  We likely should look at the earth a little differently.  This morning, as the sun was beginning to peak out behind the clouds and the coolness was spread over the ground, I could only give thanks that this really is God’s.  I give thanks that the birds sing because they are his.  I give thanks that I see the beautiful colors he has created for all to experience.  We want to make a mess of things, but God is the ultimate creator.  He continues to produce good, even in the face of such destruction.  God is still the owner of it all. 

And one last thing…it says we are his too.  We are God’s.  We should not look at ourselves as a mess or a tragedy.  We are beautiful creations of his.  We are his.  We are good (sometimes the good can be hard to see, but it is there).  It is all God’s, including us.  

Maybe that changes how we see our day, how we take care of what we experience, and how we feel about God’s creation staring us in the mirror.  We are God’s.  Let’s live like it.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 24:1-2

¹ The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
    the world, and those who live in it;
² for he has founded it on the seas,
    and established it on the rivers.

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

You are important.  You make a difference.  Your life is valuable and you mean something.  Sometimes we forget it.  Sometimes we don’t realize our value.  And sometimes others have diminished our worth and we have mistakenly listened.  You hold more value than you can comprehend and you have much still to accomplish.

You may be wondering how I know this.  You may not think I am just making this up or writing this in general.  But I am really writing this for you…yep, you.  How do I know you are valuable and important and make a difference?  How do I know you are treasured and a gift?  How do I know there is so much more ahead for you?  I know because I know you were created for good.  I know you were designed perfectly.  You were shaped and molded, given life and breath for a reason, and it is good.  I know that when you were made, you were made beautifully.  I know this because I know the Creator.  God doesn’t make mistakes.  He creates and it is good.  He creates and it is beautiful.  He creates and there is life.  This is because of the amazing artist that he is.  And you are an amazing work by the most amazing Creator.  Yes, you are.

Since you are a gift and you make a difference, it enables you to make a difference in the lives of others.  You have this opportunity to do the good you have been created to do.  You have this life to fulfill your goals and missions.  There are good things which await.

One more time, hear that you are valuable, you are important, and you make a difference.  You have been given this incredible life for good.  Go do good.

Focus Scripture:

Ephesians 2:10

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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

 

Isn’t it interesting the things we remember?  I remember what someone drove 20 years ago because it was special to see them drive up in the driveway.  I remember the food that we had at Christmas when I was a child – the specific smells of the goodies in the back room that were kept cool.  I can remember the cabin we stayed at just once as a child on a vacation to the mountains.  I actually remember more about my Dad’s graduation than I do my own.  We graduated from the same college just a year apart with our Bachelor’s degrees.  It is funny the moments, the smells, the tastes we remember.  And then I struggle to tell you what I ate yesterday or to remember what is on my calendar for this afternoon.

I am no scientist, but it seems to me that our brains hold on to those important senses – sights, smells, tastes, moments – that impact us in seemingly small ways.  These are moments we would not have purposely committed to memory, but they are embedded.  They are there waiting to be awakened as we smell a cookie baking or we hear laughter or we see a particular model of a car.  And we often find ourselves smiling just because.

What moments are we making now?  We can spend so much of our lives doing things we think matter so much only to later realize they weren’t all that important.  We won’t remember the extra hours doing things which ultimately brought no joy.  We won’t care about the extra dollars we made instead of the extra time we spent.  We won’t think about the things which we consider so important today but are forgotten tomorrow.  So maybe we make memories that count.  Maybe we focus on the small, valuable times spent with loved ones.  Maybe we take a moment and evaluate how we are making memories now.  It just might shift our focus a bit.

Focus Scripture:

Philippians 4:4-8

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

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

 

What do you see?  When we go to the eye doctor, we are given a chart.  We are asked to read the smallest line.  We are asked, “what do you see?”  Sometimes I am trying to focus and can make out some small letters and I feel accomplished.  But more often, I want to ask to be able to use both my eyes, I see better with them both.  I notice how weak one eye is compared to another.  I notice that as I get older, the small print becomes just a bit of a blur.  I notice things change.  What do I see?  I see less than I want.

When we begin our day, what do we see?  What is it that has our focus?  What holds our attention?  Is it our problems that we see?  Do we see clearly all of the stressful things which await our attention?  Do we see the stack of work to complete?  Do we see our troubles and our anxiety staring us as we begin a new day?  It can be easy for that to come into clear focus.  It can consume our vision.  But what if the glasses are changed and we shift our focus, if just for a moment?  What if we begin to see something new and different?

What if we change our vision just slightly and see what is all around the problems?  We might see the beauty of a new day.  We might notice the gifts contained in these opportunities.  We may notice that we have way more to look forward to than we would have imagined.  We might even find ourselves smiling at what is to come.  For there is still joy, there is still love, there is still peace.  It may not be the first thing which comes into focus, but it is definitely there.  Maybe we work on our sight…good things await.

Focus Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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 things I enjoy about dogs.  One of those is that you can tell how a dog is feeling about you by their actions.  They don’t hide anything.  So when I walk in the door, Leo immediately runs to find something to bring to me at the door.  His whole body speaks joy.  When I am out and I see a dog, I can tell if the dog is okay with meeting me.  If the tail is wagging, it is a good sign this dog is excited to get to know me.  If there is no tail wagging and the dog is standing off a bit, I know to either not approach or approach with caution.  If a dog is showing teeth, I know to keep my distance.  But the point is I can detect the thoughts of the dog simply by the body actions.  A wagging tail is a happy friend.

Imagine if humans were equipped like this.  We tend to put on artificial smiles.  We pretend to act in certain ways that are not at all how we actually feel.  We put on a pretty face or we show our disappointment by pouting.  I think it would be interesting if we could tell if someone was really happy simply by looking at them.  We could tell if someone was really angry by the signal.  I think it might help a lot of men figure out the mood of their loved one – she says she is fine but that tail is not wagging – proceed with caution…she says she is not angry, but those teeth are showing – do not approach.  These would be helpful.  I think it would also cut out a lot of the fake from our world.  It would cut down on the pretend.  Instead, we would know if someone was really happy.

We could try just being real.  We can be kind and loving because we have been given kindness and love.  We can show our happiness through real smiles and laughter.  We can help others because that is who we really are.  We can make life a little more simple – maybe wag our tails once in a while.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 34:8-9

⁸ O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
⁹ O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
for those who fear him have no want.

 

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

Every morning, God sends us an invitation.  It is a personal invitation, although we might miss it – or that it is for us.  It is routine, so we often overlook.  It doesn’t come in the mail and it isn’t shipped in a box.  It is the most significant invitation we will ever receive.  It is more grand and magnificent than anything paper could hold or print could contain.  Our invitation is a sunrise.

Each day has a fresh start with a sunrise.  I think of it as God putting his most beautiful painting on display to invite us to this new day.  He is clothing the earth with sun and color and light so that we can move forward in our day.  He is giving us an invite to begin again.  Yesterday is complete.  Tomorrow is not yet to come.  We are given this sunrise, this day, this new beginning.

Life doesn’t always go as we would want it.  It doesn’t always turn out great.  We struggle and suffer and can find we are beat down.  But there is always a fresh start, a new day, a new beginning.  We are not slaves to our past.  We have a future waiting ahead.  God gives us an invitation to this future.  What will we do with it?

In the focus scripture for today, we are reminded how we are God’s beloved.  We are his children, loved and adored by him.  He clothes the earth with sunrises and beautiful landscapes.  We are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, meekness and patience.  Just like the world needs each new start, each beautiful sunrise – the world also needs compassion, kindness, meekness and patience.  As God’s beloved, we have the opportunity to shine for him by putting these on – wearing them with his love.  What are we putting on today?  God’s canvas is painted – don’t miss it.  It is a chance to make a difference.

Focus Scripture:

¹² As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

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

 

When it is really hot outside, a path with a covered canopy of trees is a welcome sight.  It is a reprieve from the sun beating down and could even cause a bit of breeze to blow.  A little break from the continual exposure really does make a difference.  I found this out in an even more concrete way a couple of weeks ago.

I opted to go running with a friend in the heat of the day.  It is usually not a good idea, but it was the run that we could both fit into the busy schedules we were juggling.  It seemed to work.  The only problem was the heat.  There wasn’t much breeze and the sun was beating down.  I ran on a familiar path and we were approaching a small hill.  I promised my friend that if we simply made it over the hill, there would be shade waiting.  The trees were on both sides and it would provide us with a break from the constant beating we were taking from the sun.  We were both in much anticipation of the shade that was sure to come.  Except, it didn’t.  We made it to the top of the hill, but there was no shade.  There were trees as I had promised, but the sun was positioned just right to shine right down the middle of the path – where we were running, of course.  My friend looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

What I had not taken into account was I usually ran at a much different time.  The sun was never bearing straight down.  So this path was shaded and perfect.  That was not the case at the time we had chosen to run.  I had forgotten we were not running at my usual time.  There was no shade in sight.

What do we do at that point?  We were disappointed, to say the least.  My friend will never let me live this down.  But we didn’t stop and decide that we weren’t going any further simply because things didn’t turn out as we wanted.  We kept moving.  We kept going, one footstep at a time.  We made it to our goal without the shade.  We didn’t give up just because we didn’t get the break we so desperately wanted.

How many times do we just want to give up because things don’t go as we anticipate?  When our plans are not laid out as we were sure they would be, what do we do?  We face so many disappointments in life that we could be weighed down with them.  Or we could continue to move forward, one step at a time, until we reach our goal.  Today, I’ll continue to move forward…there will be shade on the next route, I am sure.  The break will come eventually.  It will be okay.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
⁸ The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

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

Sometimes I wish there was such a thing as a kindness filter.  You know…a filter you could turn on which would cut out all the other stuff.  It would filter out the hatred and meanness, the backbiting and stone throwing.  It would be great to have not only on TV and on social media, but also in person.  Think about how difficult it is to scroll through your social media account and find anything kind or loving.  It is a real challenge.  I spend more time shaking my head and rolling my eyes than anything.  To find anything kind means I have to go through the other mess too.  And in person – the kindness filter would just stop the hateful conversations.  We could find ourselves exiting from those who have no interest in a real conversation but only talk so they feel better about their own views rather than hearing others.  All of that would be cut out with the kindness filter.

Ok – I know this is a bit farfetched.  I get it.  I know it is not actually going to happen like that.  But it doesn’t mean I can’t dream.  And it also doesn’t mean I can’t do my part.  Instead of looking for others to be kind, I can be kind.  Instead of trying to find real conversations, I can initiate real conversations.  Rather than scrolling through the heap of hatred, I can be the one that shares the love of Christ.

How about you?  Will you be a kindness filter for others?  Will you offer words of hope and love?  Will you shine bright with God’s light in a world that is so filled with conflict and hatred?  May we be the kindness others are seeking today – and may it begin with me.

Focus Scripture:

Galatians 5:22-23

²² By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

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

I have been trying to write and I keep getting distracted.  It is not unusual for me to encounter distractions.  Usually I close the door, move to another room, turn on a sound machine or simply tune out what is going on.  My mind goes 100 miles an hour all the time, so I have learned how to deal with that distraction.  But today…today there is a distraction I can’t seem to shake, tune out or ignore.  I tried several different strategies but this particular distraction isn’t budging.  So I stopped to simply be.

Today’s distraction is Leo.  It is normal for Leo to want to be near me when I am working.  If I am on my phone, I know he will come by and nudge my arm at least once to get my attention.  He sits by me when I am typing.  All of this is usual and expected.  Today, though, he decides he will be climbing up in my lap.  That sounds fine unless you know Leo is over 50 lbs and I am sitting at the kitchen table in a small chair.  But don’t think that deters him, because it doesn’t.  He manages to wedge himself into the chair and is determined not to move.  So I have the bright idea that I will move to the couch.  That way, we can sit together and I can still work.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?  It wasn’t exactly what Leo had in mind.  I sat down and he sat right in my lap – no working on the laptop for me.  So I finally gave up and just sat with him.  He wanted my attention and he got it.

I wonder how many joys I miss because I am so focused on what I am doing.  I wonder what I miss when my attention is to accomplish and achieve.  Leo teaches me that sometimes we must stop and just be.  He reminds me that it can be good to be distracted and to just relax.  I am reminded that God is at work and sometimes I see that best when I simply stop and listen.  May you find good distractions today.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 131

¹ O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.^[a]

³ O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.

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