enLIVEn Devotionals

Abiding in Jesus - Overflowing His Spirit

A Husband's Respect

It’s Father’s Day and I can’t think of anything mushy to write in the card I bought for my husband. My kids are four and two years old, so they probably aren’t going to speak the prolific words of appreciation and love he needs to hear. In fact, they just scribbled all over the card, so it’s definitely up to me. Why is it so hard sometimes to muster up some encouragement for him? Is it maybe because I don’t think he deserves it? I’m reminded of the verse in Ephesians that reads, “The wife must respect her husband,” and I think, “Are you serious, Lord? Do you remember who my husband is? Did ... Read the Post

Imitators Of Christ

Recently during my drive to work, I spotted a lively bunch of flowers at the entrance of a mobile home park close to my neighborhood. The colorful flowers were so pretty; I slowed down to enjoy the view and realized after a closer look that the flowers weren’t real. They were fake! What a surprise – they were a great imitation of the real thing. That experience got me thinking about countless “imitation” items available at my local grocery store: imitation sweeteners, creamers, and flavored extracts for baking. The name of some items such as I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter even suggests ... Read the Post

I Heart Peter

Peter (as in Peter, James and John) used to really bug me. I mean, where does he get off denying Jesus three TIMES? I know that if someone came up to me and asked if I knew Jesus, I would respond with an emphatic, "Heck, yes!" and then probably proceed with a lengthy, obnoxious dissertation about Him. But I began to see more of myself in Peter one day when a friend suggested we can deny Jesus with our actions, too. Huh? I started thinking about the ways I daily deny knowing Him: gossiping, judging others, being unforgiving, being quick to anger, and putting myself first. Ouch! That ... Read the Post

In His Time

God has a will for each and every one of us, and it’s on His time table. When I first met my husband, he didn’t know who God was, nor did he know God’s grace. He was one of those people who acknowledged that there was a higher power, but he didn’t have a clue what that meant. At this time, I was what we call a “baby Christian.” I myself was just learning about the mercy of God and how beautiful He really is. As I grew closer to God, I began to study His Word. I started to become frantic. I realized that I was starting to fall in love with a man that did not know Christ. We were not equally ... Read the Post

It's Just Not Your Turn Yet

It was like she was speaking right to me. We were sitting in a church at a Daybreak conference for women, listening to Angela Thomas say, “It’s just not your turn yet.” My friend turned and gave me a knowing look. She knew I desperately needed to hear those words because I had been spending my time obsessing over this one thing I’ve wanted for years. The one thing I’ve been asking God for every day, and He still wasn’t giving me. I found myself growing bitter and angry, unable to trust God’s plan for my life. I was starting to feel like He was punishing me. Why did it seem like everyone ... Read the Post