Good

Devotional – As Far From Good As You Can Get

~ Tonya ~ 2 Comments

Psalm 64:6 They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!” Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

I hear a lot how humans are basically good. That we can make for ourselves right and wrong. In many conversations I’ve taken the not too popular position that humans are not good. Not at all. That our natural inclination, our basic foundation of being is evil. That there aren’t “good” people. That belief is something I’ve long-held true, a belief I only have to watch my children to see firsthand. I mean, I didn’t ever have to teach them to lie, or be mean to each other. But I’ve never done any specific Bible searching about. It was particularly troubling me yesterday, and behold – God gave me a verse to start with in my reading today. He is so awesome at meeting us exactly where we are. Coming right down and essentially saying “So Tonya, something is bugging you? Let’s talk about it.” Man the Lord is incredible. Continue reading →

Devotional – What Do I Do?

~ Tonya ~ Leave a comment

Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Nutshell. There it is. My constant struggle. Why do I do what I do not want to do? I’ll admit, it kind of feels good to know that I’m not the only one. That people have been working thru this same issue for the past 2000 years. Supposedly “good” people. Spiritual people. People God used mightily, have struggled with the back and forth tug of war between the good they desire to do and the evil they keep doing – in spite of all their good intentions. Continue reading →

Devotional – Unexpected Gifts

~ Tonya ~ Leave a comment

Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

It is amazing to me how faithful God is. Just the other day, I was trying to remember where this verse was located. The passage came to mind as I was considering what to speak on for an upcoming luncheon – but I couldn’t remember where it was located. I thought about it again this afternoon as I was decorating the Christmas tree with my kids. Thinking about gifts as input into our lives. How much I love my kids – how much I want to teach them. The lessons I want to give to them so they don’t have to learn the hard way. And, yes – about presents. Gifts. How much fun it is to give things to them. The delight on their faces. The joy it brings them. Made a mental note to look up the reference to this verse during my devotional – but God did it for me. It was in the reading today.
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