Devotionals
In 2015, I was given the opportunity to write devotionals for LandMAX Properties and Timber Company, where I worked part-time. The "Words of Encouragement" devotional series was originally inspired by LandMAX’s owner, Chad Smith, whose heart has always been to be a light to others through his daily work. Though my husband, Matt, and I took on a new ministry role out of town shortly after this began, I’ve continued writing for LandMAX ever since (and sometimes Matt jumps in to write as well)!
We’re incredibly grateful for the many years we’ve been part of this wonderful vision for the LandMAX community, and now we’re excited to extend these devotionals to you, too!
As a thank you to The 31 Co. Foundation’s monthly business partners, we offer this devotional in a customizable, printable format that can easily be distributed to clients in weekly settlement checks or regular mailings. (Learn more about The 31 Co. Foundation here.)
Not a business? No problem! You can subscribe to our devotional and have it sent straight to your inbox weekly, or simply scroll down to start reading below.
A Sealed Future
The book of Jeremiah tells the story of how God used him to share a message with the Israelites—and not a pleasant one. It was a message that they would lose everything and be taken into exile by the Babylonians. At one point, Jeremiah was arrested and imprisoned for telling the truth. The officials hated him so much that they eventually threw him into the bottom of a cistern, where he began to sink into what could have been a slow death in the thick mud—had he not been rescued by the king’s orders (Jeremiah 38). While the king didn’t like Jeremiah or his message, he still recognized that Jeremiah’s words were from God and would often seek his counsel. So he ordered that Jeremiah be pulled out of the cistern and placed back in a prison cell. What a difficult journey this must have been for Jeremiah.
The Table
The table has become one of our favorite places at home! Christy and I work hard to make memories with our boys around mealtimes. Jokes, laughter, and stories from the day fill the room at that table. If you’re ever a guest in our home and stay for a meal, we’ll invite you to sign the underside of the table — a simple way for your visit to stay with us wherever we go. The table really is that special to us—not just because of what’s on it, but because of who’s around it.
One Word
One word can change everything. I’m sure you can look back over your life and remember moments when a single word shifted everything. For me, I can think of several:
“Yes!” – Christy agreed to marry me. That “yes” led to marriage, kids, and the beautiful family we have today.
“No!” – I wasn’t accepted into the college I wanted. That one word changed my direction, influenced where I lived, and ultimately opened the door for Christy and me to get married.
“Dad?” – Times when my boys got my attention to share something heavy on their hearts.
When Jesus Reached Down
“Taking her by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha cumi,’ which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.” — Mark 5:41–43, ESV
Suffering
Knowing that some people are going to hate us just because of our faith can be frightening, especially when we see that someone recently lost their life for talking openly about their values. Although persecution happens all over the world, we don’t see this quite as often in America, and it really hits home when it happens in our own back yard. What do we do about this? How can we be bold in our faith and get rid of fear? How can we be happy to carry the name of Christ boldy even if it means suffering?