After a week’s vacation, The Up Devotional is back. Here’s to a holy and healthy 2022! We are living in a time of upheaval, a stampede of fear. In general, people can fear illness, job loss, environmental collapse, family breakdown and death. More recently, the list seems to be getting longer: germs, other people, the … Continue reading A stampede of fear
peace of mind
Worry grows when left alone
I recently read that the word ‘worry’ comes from an old German word ‘wurgen’ meaning ‘to strangle, constrict, choke.’ That’s telling, isn’t it? Worry strangles our brains, constricts our perspective, and chokes our peace of mind. One of the things I’ve learned about worry is that it grows when left alone. If you don’t proactively … Continue reading Worry grows when left alone
The cost of rushing
What was the fastest thing in the world when Jesus walked the earth? It couldn’t have been a jet or car because they weren’t invented yet. So it was probably an animal or a ship. Of all the things life would surely have been, it would definitely have been… slower. Difficult? Yes. Meaningful? Yes. But … Continue reading The cost of rushing
Hearing yourself think
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (Psalm 62:5 ESV). My family has a cabin in the woods. Waaaayyy back in the woods. There are no roads. You have to walk or take an A.T.V. to get there. I recently spent a night there with my son. … Continue reading Hearing yourself think
Neil Armstrong… and Jesus
I read a story about an elementary school class who was learning about the moon. They wondered, ‘What does zero-gravity feel like?’ and ‘What did it really look like out there?’ As a surprise, the teacher had arranged for none other than Neil Armstrong to make a special appearance! In the middle of their discussion, … Continue reading Neil Armstrong… and Jesus
When you feel defeated
I think there can be a darkness within each one of us that loves to reach up, take hold of our confidence, and pull it down into an abyss of self-pity. You know the days. The bad thoughts or feelings start to steamroll. It’s the opposite of positive momentum. You feel deflated. Then you catch … Continue reading When you feel defeated
Dealing with stress…
Have you ever dealt with stress? Wow, all of your hands just shot up at once! Dr. Tim Cantopher explains that the word “stress” is from the world of engineering. Think of a bridge. When it is bearing a load that is heavier than it is designed to carry, it is “under stress.” With that … Continue reading Dealing with stress…
Staying out of a hole
It’s November. And although studies show that January is the most depressing month of the year, I think that, for many people, November and December are a close second and third. The leaves have mostly fallen off the trees. It starts to get cold. Along with Christmas comes financial pressure and un-realistic expectations around family … Continue reading Staying out of a hole
Tomorrow will worry about itself
Sometimes, no commentary is necessary: Jesus said… “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or … Continue reading Tomorrow will worry about itself
Why doing nothing is doing something
Rest. It’s something many of us think is a good thing… but don’t do as much as we should. Even though it’s a command. Yup, God commands rest. In Exodus 20: 8-9 God says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day … Continue reading Why doing nothing is doing something
The Up Devotional 