Devotional

Devotional – If I Have to, She Should Too

~ Tonya ~ Leave a comment

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” – Luke 10:40

Jesus’ response of “Martha, Martha” is incredibly well-known and oft quoted, but I’m always fascinated by Martha’s initial complaint. Her demand that Jesus require Mary to pull her weight. How many people in the Bible feel justified to boss around the Son of God? To lay a guilt trip at the feet of the Lord and think it’s going to work? I mean really. Continue reading →

Devotional: How Does God Pray for You?

~ Tonya ~ Leave a comment

“But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; — John 17:13-17, 20

Continue reading →

Devotional: You Are Mean, Obstinate and Argumentative

~ Tonya ~ 3 Comments

“For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2:10

Why do I consistently place the opinions of others in higher esteem than God’s truth? When confronted with gossip, accusations and whispered remarks, my strength should be rooted in the word of God, rather than my own fleeting feelings of self-worth and self-righteousness. I’m quick to leap to my own defense, instead of resting in the promise that God will fight for me, that I need only be still. (Exodus 14:14) Continue reading →

Devotional – Casting Cares

~ Tonya ~ Leave a comment

One of my favorite things about writing down my devotionals is that I can come back to them and see how much (or in this case, how little) I’ve grown. I wrote this in 2011 – and the words convicted me this morning every bit as much as three years ago.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Continue reading →

Devotional – Earth(quake), Wind & Fire

~ Tonya ~ 2 Comments

1 Kings 19:11-12  Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Continue reading →

Devotional – Dark Hide and Seek

~ Tonya ~ 2 Comments

Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

After I put dinner in the oven today I played hide and seek with my kids. In the dark. With flashlights. It was a blast. Then this verse from Jeremiah was featured in my devotional reading tonight. Searching for the Lord with all my heart was easy to picture given the earnest game I’d just played. The squeals of delight from my children when they located each other were instantly in my mind as I read about seeking the Lord. Continue reading →