I always root for the old guy, especially one like Phil Mickelson whose self-discipline bought him to success. So . . . why do we exercise spiritual self-discipline? That’s what I’m thinking about today.

I loved the first popovers I’ve ever tried. But I don’t think they make a good model for our faith.

If I were to acknowledge all who have made my leadership possible, it would be a very long list, indeed!

Paul dealt with the problem centuries ago as he wrote to the ancient church in Corinth. And, sadly, we’re still dealing with it today, even in the church we know.

Rest was good for King David, and it’s good for us. But then he let his rest settle into self-indulgence, and his problems became worse than ever.

400 years of silence preceded John the Baptist’s call to repent. And now, after another 400 years of silence about racial injustice in our great country, we have some repenting to do, too.

This is the third day I’ve been thinking about how we can please God even though we’re not perfect. The Bible hero David gives us much to consider on this score.

There’s much we can do while waiting to experience the depth of the richness of the wisdom and knowledge of God. But these strategies do not form a checklist that will produce or provide the results you want and on the schedule you have in mind.

God is faithful. He’ll always help. But often his answers to our prayers will come in ways we never would have expected.

Shipwreck was inevitable. Death seemed certain. Hope was gone. And then God told Paul what would happen next.

Even before the pandemic, each of us was faced with situations we just couldn’t control. In such moments, especially for the leader, focusing on mission is vital.

Everyone gets in a tight spot sooner or later. Two Bible examples give insight into how to cope.

I’ll take the prayer of Jesus over the prayer of Jabez. I’ve learned some things about prayer from Paul, too.

We all have a decision to make about our present circumstances and our next steps. It’s all about our focus and our faith.

This is not a devotional about dental hygiene. It’s all about the words we speak. I’m also not writing to discuss proper grammar or the importance of a good vocabulary. This is about how your words can literally change the direction of a community.

Very seldom will someone just give up at the first indication of struggle or pain. It’s when it persists for very long that discouragement creeps in. Before you realize it, the negative self-talk begins. But it doesn’t need to continue.

Sometimes we wish we had a formula that would guarantee the kids grow up successful,, full of faith, and without pain. Eventually we realize our children are free to make their own choices. I thought of this when I read today about Eutychus.

When I someone says, “I have a situation,” often this means they are in the middle of a difficultly or, worse, a crisis. We all have situations, and today’s passage gives clues for getting through them.

Given the chance to escape our captors, which one of us wouldn’t have decided to leave? Maybe we can learn something from Paul’s decision just to stay put.

God and I have had many conversations on this topic. I’ve gotten better at stillness. But these daily devotionals convict me. I have to fight simply to listen.