enLIVEn Devotionals

Abiding in Jesus - Overflowing His Spirit

Waterboy

Reading between the lines, I could sense the heartache and frustration that were overwhelming my son. Never before had he been around so much suffering and death. He would write me expressing, “We work as hard as we can and still they die.” He is working alongside other Christians at Chidamoyo Christian Hospital in Zimbabwe, Africa. They worked day after day to save the souls and bodies of people suffering from AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and a myriad of other illnesses. My heart ached as I read his accounts of the delivery and deaths of premature twins and of the death of a small boy who ... Read the Post

Do You Know Your Shepherd's Voice?

My husband, my eight-month old son and I took a trip to the mall one day. As I proceeded to window shop, I heard a loud, happy scream piercing through the crowd, interrupting my much needed “Me” time. Immediately able to identify the screamer, I whipped my head around and spotted my husband and son a great distance away--my son waving happily and blowing me kisses. Call it mother’s intuition, but I have always had a special bond with my son. Through spending time with him, caring for him and acquiring an intimate knowledge of him, I could immediately interpret what each of his cries, ... Read the Post

Walk on the Wild Side

Has God ever called you to step out of a place that had become so familiar…so comfortable…and join Him in a new adventure that would require great faith? It’s what I would call a “walk on the wild side” and about a year ago, that’s exactly what happened to me. I was comfortable in my surroundings and content with life as I knew it, but it soon became evident that God had a plan that was about to shake up my cozy little world and stretch my faith like never before. During this time, I had been studying the book of Isaiah where God’s people had been in captivity in Babylon for years. What ... Read the Post

Whispered Amens

As my husband drove the babysitter home after our date night, I went up stairs to check on our son. Every night when I put him to sleep, I always pray over him. The prayers usually sound very similar: “Father, thank you for allowing me to be Isaac’s mommy today. Thank you for all the wonderful activities we shared together. Please put a hedge of protection around him while he sleeps. Help him to have the most beautiful and peaceful dreams. I pray that You fill his room with angels and fill his heart with love, hope, peace and joy. Surround us with the love of Jesus Christ and the blood of ... Read the Post

Redeemed Ruins

I am a practicing Christian; a work in progress. I attend church, go to Bible studies, pray, tithe and talk about God and His impact on my life. I don’t pretend to have it all figured out, but I do acknowledge that I am on the right path. Life is wonderful, but my thoughts sometimes drift to my past self. I don’t think about her much because she abused drugs and disregarded her sexual boundaries. I wonder if she will ever have a part in my current life – the life I have managed to scrape up from her ruins and have allowed God to make beautiful. Will she embarrass and shame me again, or ... Read the Post

Writer's Cramp

A few months ago, a writers' group for my church formed. I was asked to help spread the word and encourage the women of faith to contribute devotionals to be included in a daily devotional booklet. Several women in our prayer group and Hometeam groups started writing and they gave me several devotionals to pass on to the editors. I also had been asked to write, but I have to admit that after reading some of the devotionals my friends had written, I was a bit intimidated. I sometimes wonder how God can speak through me or use me…especially in this way. I’m not a writer, and I often wonder ... Read the Post