enLIVEn Devotionals

Abiding in Jesus - Overflowing His Spirit

A Family's Salvation

One of the hardest things to accept as a Christian is a family member who will not accept the gift of Jesus. After years of praying for my family and sharing God’s love, I began to see God’s hand at work. My little brother began to have random people tell him that he needed to give his life to Christ. One night while escaping from a friend’s house that was being robbed at gunpoint, my brother ran to a house for help. In the middle of the house’s yard was a large sign that read, “Jesus Saves.” The owner of the house helped my brother; and the following day, the man called to check on ... Read the Post

A Father's Eyes

Compassion is a word that carries a great deal of meaning for the Christian. Jesus was a man of compassion. When people are hurting, they need the compassion of others. Do we have trouble seeing the needs of hurting people? Sometimes a kind word, a gentle smile, or taking a casserole over to a hurting family demonstrates the love of God more emphatically than the best sermon in the world. It takes having our Father’s eyes to see the needs of those around us. As a teenager, my sister and I rode a bus everyday to high school. There was a girl our age who had lost her mother to cancer. She ... Read the Post

Feelings of Adoption

It’s been several years since my husband and I made a trip half way around the world to bring home our baby boy from Russia. As I look back at the beginning phase of the adoption process, I realize just how overwhelming, exciting, and stressful that time was. I felt like I was expericeing the emotions of a real pregnancy, except with tons and tons of paperwork. Our adoption did not take nine months like a traditional pregnancy; no, it took about a year and a half. I was tired. But it was worth it. We have a strong, healthy and energetic little boy that loves life. However, I did have ... Read the Post

Fifteen Minutes Before the Storm

One day as I was sitting on my couch reading through my Christian Woman magazine, I kept thinking in my head about all the beautiful women I know, and how I would love to look like each and every one of them. They all seem to have it so put together all the time, and my life always seems so hectic. I sat there thinking and cherishing the fifteen minutes I had to myself because the kids and just gone to bed and my husband had just left for work. You know those first fifteen minutes of the calm right before the storm of laundry and dishes and all the other things we moms/wives have do before ... Read the Post

Five Minute Pity Party

People just love pity parties. They are so fun and jam-packed with complaining, whining, and lots of comparing. However, we have to be in a special mood to partake in such a party. I try to make my appearance rare to these parties, but occasionally I find myself being pulled into them. I at least try to limit my stay for only five minutes. Granted there are times when I want to stay longer, but I try really hard to stick with the five minute rule. What do these parties have that are so intriguing? They are full of “I want,” “I don’t have,” “Why” and “That is so not fair!” I have to admit ... Read the Post