Free Devotions for Kids and Parents

Summer has been a refreshing time for me.  Ed and I spent some of our vacation time in the interesting Yellowstone and National Glacier Parks. The rest of the summer spent with our kids and extended family also have been fun and relaxing.

Now everyone is back at work or school.  It’s often a challenge to spend quality time with our kids and grandkids in September. All the new programs are competing in our lives. But now is just as important a time to connect with our kids. 

A most necessary way to be there for our kids is to make an active commitment to be involved with them.  By doing this we can encourage them to become the best they can be, starting with a deep relationship with God, the foundation of our kids’ lives.

First we need to get to know our children personally: their desires, needs, goals, hopes and fears. We meet them where they are. Build them up where they are weak, praise them in their strengths, and get involved in developing them further.  It will take sacrifice on our part - a sacrifice of time, of energy and even money.

I observed this method to be very effective in a family close to me this summer.  Although it culminated a few weeks ago these special parents began their journey of commitment to their special young son a couple of years ago.

These special parents are Andrew and Marie, my great nephew and his wife. Yes, I do have second and even third generation nephews and nieces and it certainly is not because I’m an old auntie.  I’m twelfth in a family of 14 siblings. I already became an auntie at the young age of 1. These are just the blessings of being part of a huge family.

So my great nephew, Andrew, and his wife Marie are the most true to life example I’ve ever known in being there for their child and making an active commitment to him.  This young couple lives in Abbotsford and Andrew is a youth pastor in one of the churches there.  In February 2007 they had their first baby. They named him Josiah. Josiah was born not breathing so he was rushed to Vancouver children’s hospital.  After a week he was diagnosed with a very rare disorder, Pallister Hall Syndrome. Only 100 cases have ever been studied in the whole world.

Pallister-Hall is a mid-line disorder and in Josiah’s case a ’sporadic genetic mutation’, so all his problems ‘ran down the middle’ of his body.  He had a malformed airway and spine, his kidneys joined in the middle, his brain was under developed, he had 6 beautiful toes on each foot, and he had an offset slightly turned around heart.

Josiah had a trachea to help him breathe and later was vented although he breathed on his own. He needed the vent to blow pressure into his airway to keep it from collapsing.  He had a g-tube for food for the first year but later was able to eat on his own.

Andrew and Marie had to wait months to take Josiah home.  Marie stayed in the Children’s hospital with him day and night.  Andrew was there a lot too.  The nurses trained Marie and Andrew to take care of Josiah with all of his hookups including a ventilator. After 16 months he was finally stable enough to go home.

 They moved into a bigger condo, bought a bigger specialized van and hired a nurse to come in for nights so they could get a good nights rest.  Josiah had to be monitored 24 hours a day. Everything they did for Josiah they did out of a deep love for their son. I call that real commitment on Andrew and Marie’s part.

We were very saddened to read that a couple of weeks ago Josiah suffered cardiac arrest. God took him home to be with Him and I now imagine Josiah running the gold streets of heaven. You can read about this amazing little boy on his daddy’s blog at http://andyman-sdg.blogspot.com/ .  You will have to scroll down to August 29th and previous postings.

 Josiah was special needs and required a lot of care. Even if our children are healthy they still need unconditional love and a close relationship with us, their parents.  Our affirmation of them, blessing them, will profoundly impact them forever.

These days I’m enjoying harvesting my garden. Cucumbers, peas, carrots, beets, green beans, and a never ending supply of zucchini and rhubarb. Even the pumpkins look promising. I forewent tending flowers in my back yard this year to growing vegetables although I still get to enjoy the fragrance of the potted flowers growing on our patio and my flowering bushes out front.

There’s something about putting fresh vegetables out for dinner instead of the produce which has been lying on my grocer’s shelves for a few days. Besides, I’m anxious to educate my preschool grandsons about where vegetables come from. And it’s therapeutic and fun!

My mini-harvest reminds me that fall and school are just around the corner. This is a good time to strengthen our relationship with our kids as they head back to the pressures of their peers. One of the best ways I have found is to bless them.

By believing in our kids and encouraging them, we are helping them reach their full potential. There are many ways we can affirm or build up our children.

I like the steps of blessing Gary Smalley and John Trent use in their book, The Blessing. I am going to touch on two today: by using the right words and by placing high value on them. If you’re interested in reading the rest of the book you can go to my resource page to order it http://ruthwillms.com/parentscorner.html

First we bless our kids by using the right words. Like a self-fulfilling prophesy, your child often becomes what you say he will be. If you put him down and say he will never amount to anything, he will begin to believe it. On the other hand, if you build him up and say amazing things about him he will know he can conquer the world.

The second way to bless your children is to place high value on them. Be truthful and realistic with them but be their greatest fans. You can plant seeds in their outlook for life that will help them accomplish the things they really want to. The patriarchs in the Old Testament gave their children - especially their oldest sons - a special family blessing. It confirmed to their children that God had a special plan of blessing for their life too.

Bless your children - literally - when you pray with them-at the end of the day or in the morning- say “the Lord bless you.” Your child hears that you are there for them but if you fail, God has them covered. Everything is possible with God; He never fails. He will see them through in the times when human dads and moms fails. They learn that God is concerned with their life and welfare.

When we affirm our kids’ specialness by blessing them we profoundly impact them forever. The interaction with us will influence not only their self-image, their current relationships, and future relationships, but that all important relationship with God.

A Devotional for Kids!

What I value most in my friendships is loyalty. I am devoted to my friends and they are devoted to me.  Such a friend I find turns out to be a life long friend and stays with me through good times and bad times and even when I mess up in life.

Friendship always has to go two ways.  If you want to have a good friend, you have to be a good friend.  That reminds me of the story of The Bear and the Two Travelers as told in Aesop’s Fable.

 Two friends were traveling together, when a bear met them.  One of the men climbed up into a tree and hid in the branches.  The other, knowing that he would most likely be attacked, fell flat on the ground. The Bear came
up and felt him with his snout and smelt him all over. The man held
his breath, and pretended to be dead.

The Bear soon left him.  When he was gone, the man’s friend came down from the tree.

 “Well, what did the bear say?” he asked.

He said, “Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger.”

That is a great example of a friend who is disloyal.

God values loyalty in our relationship with Him too.  When King Solomon became disloyal to God and worshiped his wives’ idols God could no longer bless him.  Instead of giving King Solomon’s kingdom to his son, Rehoboam, God gave it to another man. 

God is delighted when we are devoted to only Him. He wants us to hope in His unfailing love alone. Our trust and obedience bring pleasure to Him just as our friends’ loyalty does to us. Then He also blesses us by giving us His support.
 

“The LORD supports the humble
    but he brings the wicked down into the dust. …
He covers the heavens with clouds,
    provides rain for the earth,
    and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.
He gives food to the wild animals
    and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse
    or in human might.
No, the LORDs delight is in those who fear him,
    those who put their hope in his unfailing love.”

Psalm 147:6, 8–11

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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21.  If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it.  I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:

Monday June 15th
1 Kings 14:1-15:24
Acts 10:1-23
Psalm 133:1-3
Proverbs 17:7-8

Tuesday June 16th
1 Kings 15:25-17:24
Acts 10:24-48
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 17:9-11

Wednesday June 17th
1 Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13

Thursday June 18th
1 Kings 19:1-21
Acts 12:1-23
Psalm 136:1-26
Proverbs 17:14-15

Friday June 19th
1 Kings 20:1-21:29
Acts 12:24-13:15
Psalm 137:1-9
Proverbs 17:16

Saturday June 20th
1 Kings 22:1-53
Acts 13:16-41
Psalm 138:1-8
Proverbs 17:17-18

Sunday 21st
2 Kings 1:1-2:25
Acts 13:42-14:7
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 17:19-21

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This devotion is copyright protected and all rights are reserved worldwide. You are free to use this devotion with your family or with your class. However, it may not be reprinted or republished in any form without written consent from Ruth Willms. If you would like to request permission to republish this devotion, please contact Ruth at ruth.willms@gmail.com

A Devotional for Kids!

Once upon a time there was a very contented fisherman. Although his parents had died when he was young and he had no siblings, no family, he was happy.  He made his living fishing and selling his catch at the local market.

One day when he was fishing from his boat he caught an amazing number of fish.  He thought, this is my lucky day.  I will sell them at the market and make a fortune.

Suddenly he heard a cry coming from the pile of fish.  This cannot be, the fisherman thought, fish can’t talk. But then he heard it again. He emptied his catch on shore to find out where the voice was coming from.

Right away one fish stood up and started talking. “Please put me back into the water, save my life, and I will grant you three wishes.”

At first the fisherman was afraid and wanted to run away.  Then he saw that it was really a very beautiful fish with golden fins.  It wouldn’t hurt to ask for three wishes.  They might even come true.

You can read the rest of the fairy tale at
http://www.whereincity.com/stories/moral-based/209.html to discover what his three wishes were and what came of them.  We can learn a very valuable lesson from this story. But remember that’s all it is, just a fairy tale.

Do you know that God sometimes gives us wishes? When Solomon became king of Israel after his father King David died, God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

What would you ask for if God came to you and asked you the same question?  I would find it very hard to ask only one thing but Solomon didn’t.  He knew right away what he wanted.

He asked for an understanding heart so he could judge his people. He wanted to be able to discern between good and evil. King Solomon asked for something that we all need and could use; wisdom.

The Bible says that wisdom is even more valuable then wealth. In Proverbs 8: 10 and 11 King Solomon said of wisdom, “My instruction is far more valuable than silver or gold. For the value of wisdom is far above rubies; nothing can be compared with it.” [The Living Bible]

 If we have wisdom we know how to handle every situation in life so good comes from it. As God’s children we are fortunate.  He gives us all the wisdom we can use just by reading the Bible and doing what it says.

 Does that mean everything will always turn out right and we will always make good decisions?  Not likely. We still have to contend with the greed in our hearts like the fisherman in the fairy tale.

 We still have to deal with the sin in our life that overcomes us at times.  We will not be perfect but the wisdom is there for us for the taking. And if we let Him God will take even the mistakes in our life and turn them out for a blessing to us and the people in our lives.

“For the reverence and fear of God are basic to all wisdom. Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding.  ‘I, Wisdom, will make the hours of your day more profitable and the years of your life more fruitful.’” Proverbs 9: 10 and 11 [The Living Bible]

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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21.  If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it.  I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:

Monday June 8th
1 Kings 3:3-4:34
Acts 6:1-15
Psalm 126:1-6
Proverbs 16:26-27

Tuesday June 9th
1 Kings 5:1-6:38
Acts 7:1-29
Psalm 127:1-5
Proverbs 16:28-30

Wednesday June 10th
1 Kings 7:1-51
Acts 7:30-50
Psalm 128:1-6
Proverbs 16:31-33
Thursday June 11th

1 Kings 8:1-66
Acts 7:51-8:13
Psalm 129:1-8
Proverbs 17:1

Friday June 12th
1 Kings 9:1-10:29
Acts 8:14-40
Psalm 130:1-8
Proverbs 17:2-3
Saturday June 13th
1 Kings 11:1-12:19
Acts 9:1-25
Psalm 131:1-3
Proverbs 17:4-5

Sunday 14th
1 Kings 12:20-13:34
Acts 9:26-43
Psalm 132:1-18
Proverbs 17:6

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This devotion is copyright protected and all rights are reserved worldwide. You are free to use this devotion with your family or with your class. However, it may not be reprinted or republished in any form without written consent from Ruth Willms. If you would like to request permission to republish this devotion, please contact Ruth at ruth.willms@gmail.com

A Devotional for Kids!

What do the Presidents of the USA have in common with King David?  A lot actually.  They sway a lot of power.  They are  renowned around the world.  And mostly, they had to work their way up.

President Ronald Reagan is one of my favorites to compare to King David.  Both leaders came from humble beginnings.  David was a shepherd boy and Reagan was a lifeguard.  While David saved his sheep from wild animals, Reagan rescued 72 people from drowning. They both liked solitude and were very athletic.

David was anointed to be king by Samuel but it was years before he gained the position. All those years that he ran from King Saul taught him to be the great warrior he became which eventually made him a great king.

Reagan too had to climb the ladder and gain experience and credibility.  After he was hired as a sports announcer he was sent to cover the Cubs’ spring training games in California.  This venture helped him launch his acting career and he starred in movies.

He became president of the guild, the labor union for movie actors, and made his strong anticommunist views well known.  Unfortunately he was given few acting roles but actually it turned out to be fortunate because it led him to bigger things.

Reagan tried television and became a hit in General Electric Theater. He was the host of this weekly dramatic series. He was so popular that his employer sent him on personal appearance tours to their factories. He learned to craft speeches and became known for his salute to private enterprise while pitching G.E. products.
Then Reagan turned to politics. After he became a member of the Republican Party  he gained national attention with his speech supporting Goldwater as the next president. From there he went on to become Governor of California and then the President to the USA.

Even then his similarities to King David did not end. Just as King David had enemies who wanted to oust him from his position of power, so did President Reagan.   Someone attempted to assassinate him.

After his years as President, when he returned to private citizenship, he was still a popular and active public figure.  But then Alzheimer’s disease hit him. With time he had to curtail his public appearances. 

Again I think of King David. Here was David fighting with Israel and a giant the size of Goliath attacked.  King David grew faint and his nephew came to his rescue, killing the giant.  After that event his army insisted he no longer go to battle with them. They did not want him to risk his life in war.

But that was not the end of David’s popularity and value as King of Israel.  Even though David’s role changed, his job was still to give godly guidance to his people.
 
Did you know that God has predesigned certain works he has for us to do?  Like King David and like President Reagan we too have to take little steps which eventually lead to God’s calling for our life.

Sometimes we balk at nuisance things that come our way and want to turn aside.  But it all prepares us for the role we will play in life not just in our career but also in God’s Kingdom.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10 NKJV 

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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21.  If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it.  I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:

Monday June 1st
2 Samuel 18:1-19:10
John 20:1-31
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 16:14-15

Tuesday June 2nd
2 Samuel 19:11-20:13
John 21:1-25
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 16:16-17

Wednesday June 3rd
2 Samuel 20:14-21:22
Acts 1:1-26
Psalm 121:1-8
Proverbs 16:18

Thursday June 4th
2 Samuel 22:1-23:23
Acts 2:1-47
Psalm 122:1-9
Proverbs 16:19-20

Friday June 5th
2 Samuel 23:24-24:25
Acts 3:1-26
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 16:21-23

Saturday June 6th
1 Kings 1:1-53
Acts 4:1-37
Psalm 124:1-8
Proverbs 16:24

Sunday 7th
1 Kings 2:1-3:2
Acts 5:1-42
Psalm 125:1-5
Proverbs 16:25

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This devotion is copyright protected and all rights are reserved worldwide. You are free to use this devotion with your family or with your class. However, it may not be reprinted or republished in any form without written consent from Ruth Willms. If you would like to request permission to republish this devotion, please contact Ruth at ruth.willms@gmail.com

“Don’t do it, Dad…don’t go, he thought. Be with him, God … please. He’s too good. Don’t let him get hurt. Please, God … The frantic pleading ran constantly in Alex’s mind from the moment he saw the flames. He was still catching his breath, still wishing he could get a message to his dad when another plane appeared on the left side of the screen and flew straight into the second tower.

“No, God … not again, please … no… the horror of the scene brought Alex to his feet, coursing through him and urging him to run, to find his dad and help somehow. But there was nothing he could do, nowhere to go. He didn’t need the TV announcer to state the obvious: Someone had flown the jets in the buildings intentionally.”

This excerpt from Karen Kingsbury’ novel, Every Now & Then relates the horror of the terrorist attacks on New York City so vividly. But it also proves God’s grace. Read the novel and let it change your life forever. You can click here to find the book on Amazon

The story is fictitious but it represents the many that lost loved ones that day in 9/11. God also used this horrible event for good. Many people came to Jesus that year because of the disaster and the hurt and pain of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.

As nations we attempt to attack and control each other but we can’t usurp God’s power. He has a plan and He will carry it through. The Bible tells us that one day every knee will bow to Jesus

The Pharisees and the religious leaders of Jesus’ day also thought they were in control. They were doing all they could to do away with Jesus. They had turned the people against Him.

In the end they did crucify Him. But God used it for good. It was His plan to bring all peoples everywhere to Himself through Jesus’ death on the cross.
We can trust that God uses all evil in the world for good to bring honor to His name even if we don’t see the connection.

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
Genesis 50: 20 NKJV
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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21. If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it. I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:

Monday May 25th
2 Samuel 7:1-8:18
John 14:15-31
Psalm 119:33-48
Proverbs 15:33

Tuesday May 26th
2 Samuel 9:1-11:27
John 15:1-27
Psalm 119:49-64
Proverbs 16:1-3

Wednesday May 27th
2 Samuel 12:1-31
John 16:1-33
Psalm 119:65-80
Proverbs 16:4-5

Thursday May 28th
2 Samuel 13:1-39
John 17:1-26
Psalm 119:81-96
Proverbs 16:6-7

Friday May 29th
2 Samuel 14:1-15:22
John 18:1-24
Psalm 119:97-112
Proverbs 16:8-9

Saturday May 30th
2 Samuel 15:23-16:23
John 18:25-19:22
Psalm 119:113-128
Proverbs 16:10-11

Sunday May 31st
2 Samuel 17:1-29
John 19:23-42
Psalm 119:129-152
Proverbs 16:12-13

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This devotion is copyright protected and all rights are reserved worldwide. You are free to use this devotion with your family or with your class. However, it may not be reprinted or republished in any form without written consent from Ruth Willms. If you would like to request permission to republish this devotion, please contact Ruth at ruth.willms@gmail.com

A Devotional for Kids

Suddenly out of the corner of his eye he saw movement behind the kitchen door. Was that Abe hiding on him when he was so anxious to be on the road?

The horses were harnessed and Jake was set to ride into town. He planned on getting to town early so he could get all his business done quickly and be home before dark. He had no patience waiting on his brother and no time to play silly games.

Without a sound he snuck up to the door. He reached out to heartily slap his brother’s back but caught himself just in time. That wasn’t his brother’s stance. Who else could it be? Then he saw it – a knife tucked in the man’s belt.

At that moment the man turned and saw Jake ready to strike him. He yelled and jumped around Jake ready to take him on.

“Abe come help me,” Jake hollered. The bandit thought better of fighting Jake when Abe came around the corner and together the brothers chased him out of the house and their yard.

The brothers returned to calm their mother and little sisters. Jake didn’t want to think of what would have happened if he and Abe had left without knowing the bandit was hiding in the kitchen, waiting to attack his family without a man around.

Although he was only twelve he was the man of the house until his dad’s return. He said a prayer of thanks to God, grateful that his heavenly Father was looking out for him while his earthly father was called away because of the war.

This was one of the many stories my father told me of his years in Russia. As a child I wasn’t always impressed with Dad’s history but now I realize how God’s hand was upon him and protected him.

As I read the accounts of Saul and David’s battles I realized God took sides. Why did God choose to allow David to come so close to Saul that he cut off a corner of his armor? Why did God keep David safe and finally make him King?

Saul said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.”

God is never on the side of evil. Saul wanted David dead so he could continue being King. David knew he could not kill the Lord’s anointed even though Samuel had already anointed him as king in waiting.

God was also on my dad’s side when the bandit confronted him. The bandit wanted to harm my dad’s family. Dad knew that even though bad things do happen to God’s people this time God kept them safe. As we walk in God’s way we too can trust in God to protect us.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.’”
Psalm 91” 1 and 2 NKJV

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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21. If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it. I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:
1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
John 10:22-42
Psalm 116:1-19
Proverbs 15:20-21

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This devotion is copyright protected and all rights are reserved worldwide. You are free to use this devotion with your family or with your class. However, it may not be reprinted or republished in any form without written consent from Ruth Willms. If you would like to request permission to republish this devotion, please contact Ruth at ruth.willms@gmail.com

A Devotional for Kids!

He, a brute of a man, stood on the mountain, shouting at the people across the valley, “I dare you! Come fight me! If you kill me, fine, my people will be your slaves. But if I kill you the Israelites will be our slaves!”

Across the valley, the Israelites looked at this guy and trembled. No one was going to attack him. He was huge, a giant, over nine feet tall. Even his name was intimidating; Goliath!

How could they ever penetrate his bronze helmet, his two-hundred pound coat of mail, and his bronze leggings? The bronze javelin, several inches thick, that he wielded in the air would cut them into pieces before they got within ten feet of him.

And then there was the matter of getting past his armor bearer who walked in front of him holding a gigantic shield. How could their puny swords or daggers ever even hit the giant? And if they did they would just bounce off of his armor. They knew Goliath had it made. He would win.

Then came David, a shepherd boy, they called him. When he saw and heard the giant it just made him mad. He thought, how dare this Philistine defy our God. Our God is much, much greater than Him. Does he think he can fight God?

He remembered how he had killed the bear and the lion when they attacked his sheep. God gave him the strength to kill them with his bare hands. He knew God had saved him from these wild animals. The same God would save him from this giant.

He ran down to the brook and found his ammunition, five smooth stones. He fondled his sling shot. He was ready. You can read the rest of the story of how God helped David kill this bully, Goliath, in I Samuel 17.

How do we handle the bullies in our life? In no way am I saying, now go out there and attack that bully who is threatening you.

David was well prepared to face Goliath in one way because he had mastered the skill of using his sling shot. So that is what God used. He had killed a bear and a lion that attacked his flock of sheep. He learned bravery and courage and found God to be his helper.

These are his own words: “The Lord is my fort where I can enter and be safe; no one can follow me in and slay me. He is a rugged mountain where I hide; he is my Savior, a rock where none can reach me and a tower of safety. He is my shield. He is like the strong horn of a mighty fighting bull. All I need to do is cry to him – oh, praise the Lord – and I am saved from all my enemies!” Psalms 18: 2 and 3 [The Living Bible]

There are other ways for you to handle such a situation. In the first place, if you can, just avoid being around the bully in your life or at least avoid being alone with him. For example, if he usually meets you on the road to school then walk in a group or have a parent accompany you or even drive you to school until the bullying subsides.

Let’s look at other aspects in his life like his relationship with God. What did he think about at night when no one was around except the sheep and the moon and stars?

Reading through all his Psalms I believe he must have meditated on God at such times. In Psalm 19 he writes, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God.” Psalm 19: 1 and 2 [The Living Bible]

The strength we need to face and overcome the obstacles in our life comes from our relationship with God just like it did with David. As a kid I too had bullies ready to attack me in my life. In those years I complied by being quiet and doing as they told me. That is not always the best strategy for everyone and in every situation but circumstances and my personality played a big part in that.

I have found that as I pray and read the Bible, spending time with God, He strengthens me and gives me wisdom how to handle the problem that is bothering me that day. He gives me the ideas or shows me where to go to find the answer.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 [The Living Bible]

If God will do it for Jeremiah and for David he will do it for you too.

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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21. If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it. I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:
1 Samuel 17:1-18:4
John 8:21-30
Psalm 111:1-10
Proverbs 15:11

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This devotion is copyright protected and all rights are reserved worldwide. You are free to use this devotion with your family or with your class. However, it may not be reprinted or republished in any form without written consent from Ruth Willms. If you would like to request permission to republish this devotion, please contact Ruth at ruth.willms@gmail.com

Well known composer, Brian Doerksen, wrote many meaningful praise songs that we probably all sing in our churches. Then God allowed sickness to come into his family. Brian and his family were hurting and questioning God’s love for them. Was God really there for them? He probably thought, here I am serving God and this is how He repays me?

This difficulty struck the deep spiritual chords of Brian’s heart. He even stopped composing and playing for a while. Down through the months he finally turned the situation over to God, submitted to His way and starting composing and playing again. I’m so glad He did because I love his songs. You can find them at his website http://briandoerksen.com/

Sometimes we demand something from God that we really want but we know it is not God’s way for us. God might give us what we ask for. It saddens Him because He knows we care less about Him and the things of God. We chose our desire over God. We let ourselves be satisfied with the selfish thing we asked for instead of the deep things God wanted to show us if we depended completely on Him. Somewhere down the road we pay the consequences.

This is what happened with the Israelites. The Bible says, “So he gave them their demands, but sent them leanness into their souls. Psalm 106: 15 [The Living Bible]

God wanted to be His people’s king but they wanted a king like the nations around them. So after awhile God gave in and gave them a king. God sent thunder and rain to show them that they had done wrong and the people were afraid of Him. That was when Samuel encouraged them to not turn away from God.

We make mistakes because we are human. We are fortunate that God is loving and forgiving and still seeks His best blessing for us. If we come back to follow Him he says He will restore the years the locusts ate. (Joel 2:25) NKJV

Inspite of all this God still has His plan for us and carries it out in our life. He gave the Israelites their king but still retained them as His special people through whom He gave us salvation through Jesus.

No matter what discourages me I have learned I can’t afford to turn away from God. The more things that go wrong in my life the more I need God to get me through.

“Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.” 1Samuel 12:21 NKJV
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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21. If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it. I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:
1 Samuel 14:1-52
John 7:31-53
Psalm 109:1-31
Proverbs 15:5-7
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This devotion is copyright protected and all rights are reserved worldwide. You are free to use this devotion with your family or with your class. However, it may not be reprinted or republished in any form without written consent from Ruth Willms. If you would like to request permission to republish this devotion, please contact Ruth at ruth.willms@gmail.com

Catherine Marshall cuddled her newborn granddaughter, praying that God would heal her. This was her first granddaughter and she so longed to hold her forever and see her grow up. But the doctor’s diagnosis said otherwise. The sweet baby girl had very poor muscle tone and would not survive.

Determined to see God heal, Catherine called some prayer warriors among her family and friends to come pray for this little one’s life. During those days God did answer the group’s prayers. He healed several family members of the people gathered together, but He did not heal Catherine’s precious little granddaughter. He took her home to Him.

Most of us come to such a point in our relationship with God also. Everything is going great and we say our spiritual life is strong. Then calamity strikes; something happens which is way out of our control and we can’t fix it.

We know God can, because He can do anything. We pray and we fast. We share our prayer request with our church family and all the prayer chains we know about. Still God does nothing and allows us to suffer. We may be tempted to turn away from God.

Many people followed Jesus when He was on earth. They saw the miracles He did and how He met people’s needs. He even multiplied bread and fish for 5,000 people. The people were drawn to Him because He could be their rescuer.

Then in Jesus’ ministry He came to a point where He challenged His many followers. He wanted them to see beyond the physical aspect of His teachings to the real reason He came to earth. He told them they had to believe on Him in order to have eternal life. From that day many no longer followed Him.

Do you want God just for Himself or do you insist that He meets your condition? Maybe it’s healing; maybe it’s healing a relationship in your life, or helping you get a certain job or career. You insist He blesses you and gives you success.

God wants something deeper and greater for you and for me than meeting our immediate needs at times. Maybe He uses these times to test us and grow our faith even stronger in Him. If we commit to His way we will find the answer somewhere down our path.

“At that point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, ‘Are you going too?’
Simon Peter replied, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life, and we believe them and know you are the holy Son of God.’” John 6:67 and 68 [The Living Bible]

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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21. If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it. I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Today read:

1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3
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This devotion is copyright protected and all rights are reserved worldwide. You are free to use this devotion with your family or with your class. However, it may not be reprinted or republished in any form without written consent from Ruth Willms. If you would like to request permission to republish this devotion, please contact Ruth at ruth.willms@gmail.com