enLIVEn Devotionals

Abiding in Jesus - Overflowing His Spirit

Achieving our Thrones

Sometimes I become impatient with God’s promises. He has designed each of us for a specific purpose; and if we listen intently enough, we will come to understand that purpose. But why doesn’t God bring that purpose to fruition right away? Why must we obediently wait on the path to that purpose forging our way through circumstances, people and situations that seem wholly unrelated? When I ask these questions in frustration, I think of King David. God promised King David in his youth that he would be king of all Israel, but David had to wait many years and endure many challenges before his ... Read the Post

The Good Lollipop

I was getting my son's haircut at a salon. He did a great job, and afterward the hairstylist gave him a lollipop. She gave him a butterscotch one, which I have always hated. Inwardly, I was very upset at this lady. How dare she give my son the worst flavor lollipop! Did she not want to waste a good one (strawberry or watermelon) on my son!? After she gave him the lollipop, she squatted down to his level and gave him a big smile and said, "Butterscotch is my favorite flavor. I got that one just for you!" Once she said that, I was simultaneously upset at myself and touched by the woman's ... Read the Post

Iced Tea and the Holy Spirit

When I was around 8 years old, I went to a friend’s house for the first time. His mother was very pleasant and hospitable. She asked if I would like a glass of iced tea. I kindly declined, saying that I didn’t like iced tea. This woman took my words as a challenge, and she quickly went into the kitchen to brew and flavor her “special”recipe. When she handed me the beautifully prepared glass of her favorite beverage, she made sure to tell me that the tea had several different kinds of freshly squeezed fruit and plenty of spoonfuls of sugar in it. I took one sip and scrunched my nose. The ... Read the Post

The Day After

  I look forward to the Christmas season like a snowman looks forward to the winter – I just can’t wait until it arrives! I love watching old Christmas movies, listening to Christmas music on the radio, dressing up in red and green and going to Christmas parties and, most of all, I love Christmas traditions – baking cookies, sending Christmas cards, decorating the Christmas tree and opening presents. I also enjoy driving around the city and looking at all of the Christmas decorations and lights on everyone’s homes. It is so fun to connect the Christmas decorations with the people ... Read the Post

Tragic Awakening

We usually take the important things in life for granted until tragedy strikes. Many years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night because something did not feel right. I got up and checked on my son, and he was fine. I was walking back to bed when the phone rang. It was a 3:00-o’clock-in-the-morning-something-is-wrong kind of phone call. My brother-in-law was calling me with devastating news: my identical twin sister had been in a car wreck and was in critical condition. Her injuries were so severe she had to be helicoptered to the trauma center in San Antonio. I fell to my knees ... Read the Post