enLIVEn Devotionals

Abiding in Jesus - Overflowing His Spirit

Needed: Meaningful Friendship

Have you ever prayed, “Lord please just send me one friend who I can talk to, hang out with, laugh, cry, and just have fun with?” I have. I’ve learned that it is so hard to cultivate friendships as I’ve gotten older. It used to be so easy to form friendships when I was a kid. I would just walk up to a girl that I found interesting, or my teacher would partner me up with a girl and we would instantly become best friends. As an adult, though, I would look a little weird if I walked up to someone and say, “Hey! Let’s go play.” The story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful story of how two adult ... Read the Post

Needy

  I went to a writers’ conference, and for the first time my son was without his mommy for five whole days. Ever since I came back, he has been extremely needy. He wants my attention constantly. He runs to me when Daddy or Auntie try to give him a hug (probably because they were the ones who watched him while I was gone). He wants to be carried all of the time, which is difficult since I am eight months pregnant. And he is having difficulty sleeping at night. Now, I don’t feel guilt or shame for his behavior because I know that God wanted me to go on this trip. My son’s reactions ... Read the Post

Obedient Mistakes

After reading, editing and printing out each devotional for the first Granola Bar Devotional, I thought everything was near perfect. We were half way done with putting all of the devotionals together, when I noticed it: A big fat error on one of the devotionals, specifically, my devotional. It was an error of information, which I had researched and wrote down incorrectly. It was blatantly wrong and staring at me in the face. I was so upset at myself and at God. Why would God allow me to make a mistake? Why would He have me start something when He knew that I would mess it up? I’m always ... Read the Post

Never Give In, But Never Give Up!

After reading a Bible study lesson, I started to reflect on my troublesome-teen years and how my mother never gave up on me. I made poor decision after poor decision, and she stayed by my side through it all. This got me thinking about my own son and what I would do if faced with the same awful circumstances my mom faced years ago. What would I do if I had to watch my son make horrible life decisions and he was about to experience their ugly consequences? My HEART would tell the “Compassionate Mom” in me to swoop down and save him before he felt the bitter sting of these consequences. My ... Read the Post

One Step at a Time

My grandson Richard is a vivacious child who brings so much joy into our lives. I think back to a few years ago when he was about three years old and spending the night at my house. I was finishing my evening by straightening the house, and the last thing on my list was to take the trash out. I told Richard he could stand inside the doorway of our den and wait for me while I took out the trash. I explained that I would be right back. I will never forget the horrified look on his little face; he looked like he was about to cry. I asked him to come with me, but he wouldn’t. It had just gotten ... Read the Post

There's Only One Judge

I have the dearest, sweetest mother-in-law you could ever find. Our relationship is one that I value and cherish more each and every year. Recently while on a visit with her, I noticed that she was gossiping quite a bit. This was not like her at all. Over the course of the evening, it seemed that the gossip worsened. I finally had enough and I confronted her. The moment that the accusation left my lips, I knew I had crossed over a sacred mother-in-law, daughter-in-law line that should never be crossed. She defended herself, and I awkwardly tried to explain my reasons of dislike toward her ... Read the Post