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!
Getting—I Mean Giving—Season
It’s Christmas time, and we’ve officially entered the season of giving. Unfortunately, this time of year can also become a season of greed and wanting more if we don’t guard our hearts—even if we’re the parents doing most of the shopping and giving. No matter how tremendous the spread of gifts has been on any Christmas morning, most of us have been guilty of asking, “Is that all?” at least once in our childhood. And while it’s easy to admit we did this as kids, it’s still a trap we can fall into as adults.
Shall We Look For Another?
Have you ever felt like Jesus forgot you—let you down, or disappointed you? You’re not alone. John, the cousin of Jesus, understood those feelings well. While Jesus was out ministering, healing, and fulfilling the prophecies about the Messiah, John had been arrested and imprisoned for speaking against Herod’s marriage.
The Dream
Joseph the dreamer has always inspired me. His story isn’t easy, but it shows us that a life of faithfulness to God and His promises is always worth it. I often find myself dreaming about the future—wondering what could be—and holding onto those God-given dreams, believing they too will come to pass.
The Tension of Responsibility
Tension isn’t always a bad thing. By its very nature, tension means there’s stretching, pulling, or pressure on both ends of a situation. Think about a guitar. To tune it, you have to create just the right amount of tension on the string—not too much, or it will snap; not too little, or it won’t produce sound. Even the slightest adjustment can bring perfect harmony or throw everything off. The tension has to be just right for the music to ring true.
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.