enLIVEn Devotionals

Abiding in Jesus - Overflowing His Spirit

The Search

I was laying on the floor of our boys’ bedroom one afternoon, peering behind their bunk beds, when Cole walked in.  “Help me look for Spike,” I mumbled. “I can’t find him.” The Johnson house is a critter haven, one of which is a sixteen-inch Chinese Water Dragon named Spike. Spike is allowed loose in our boys’ lizard-proof bedroom for a couple of hours each day, and he often hides out on the tall fake tree next to the window. Occasionally he scrambles off the tree and hides when he’s frightened. I figured that’s what happened this particular time, but as Cole and I searched their room, our ... Read the Post

Simply Uncool to be Me!

I learned that long ago some doors closed because Simply Me wouldn’t do. Other doors opened because I was courageous enough to be me. Those doors that closed were meant to close. Simply Me would not have been welcome there. Simply Me would have become someone else--someone I was not created to be. After all, God made me, Simply Me: Organizer, side-ways humor, ideas and thoughts bursting inside to come out, the boldness to voice maybe too often, awkwardly hugging with arms wrapping word hugs, information gatherer, asking questions because I know someone is like I used to be--afraid of my ... Read the Post

What is Good

I spent a lot of time with my grandparents as a young child - some of my fondest childhood memories stem from time spent with them. As a teenager I found Grandma far too old-fashioned and always came up with an excuse to not go to their house. As a young wife and mother, she seemed just a bit too conservative for my modern ways. I look back and sorely regret not spending more time with her and as time passed I began to relish her knowledge and wisdom. Her patient endurance and her rock solid faith when Grandpa went home to Heaven. Her unwavering trust in God to give her peace in her ... Read the Post

Desire to be Different

Ever wish you had a different name? I should preface this with the fact that I do love my name . . . I’ve always liked it and the fact that God chose to give me the personality to fit was very gracious. I enjoy telling people “Yes, my parents were hippies. You can still catch my mom burning incense and my dad’s album stash is very visible in the living room.” However, there are days when a different name would feel refreshing. Or maybe it’s not even a name change but the excuse it would give to be different. For example, I have a good friend named Mariah. Her name just sounds good rolling ... Read the Post

Delete the Last Line

I was sitting at my computer a few weeks ago, typing an email that would be going out to several people. Knowing that emails can sometimes be misconstrued due to the lack of emotion (or in my case, sarcasm) that we’re able to transport via Internet, I sought out a trusted “proof-reader.” I called my friend and said, “Listen to this and tell me if you think it sounds okay.” She listened and when I was done she said, “You might want to delete that last line.” We laughed about it when I realized how it might come across to the others, and I, of course, erased the last line of my email. But ... Read the Post