Hello! After a short break, The Up Devotional is back to your email inboxes, social media feeds, and podcast platforms five mornings a week. Here we are in 2024. Wow, that sounds futuristic. But it’s the new now. The start of another twelve-month cycle gets you thinking about priorities. If you have them (and you … Continue reading Habits are priorities with a watch
priorities
Why are we doing this?
“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done…” (1 Chronicles 16:11-12) With December comes traditions. People start to sing carols, light candles, put up Christmas trees, buy gifts, and send cards. Traditions can be good. But not if they obscure the meaning of what we’re supposed … Continue reading Why are we doing this?
Crooked lines?
A father was teaching his son how to plow a field in straight lines. His advice was this. “Pick an object on the other side of the field, and then walk towards it with the plow.” So that’s what the boy did. But when he got to the other side and looked back on his … Continue reading Crooked lines?
Supersizing the wrong things
In the previous devotional we talked about simplicity of lifestyle and how it can keep you focussed on what matters most. Today, let’s continue with that same theme. To be clear, what matters most is God. If we fail to appreciate that, the mixed-up culture around us will also mix-up our priority list. Kevin Myers … Continue reading Supersizing the wrong things
Simplicity of lifestyle
Proverbs 15:16 says: “Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.” Here is what it means. It is better to live simply faithfully, than to have a lot of money and constant trouble. There were some couples in Georgia who were talking about when they were the most happy … Continue reading Simplicity of lifestyle
Teach us to number our days
Moses went through tough times. He made mistakes. He spoke with God. He accumulated wisdom. He led others. In Psalm 90:12 he offered this prayer: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” His meaning is this: Remind us that life is short so that we live our lives … Continue reading Teach us to number our days
Wisdom or real estate?
Harold Kusher tells the Hasidic story of a man who got a telegram. It told him that a relative had died and left him some valuable property. He had to contact a rabbi for details. When he did so he was told that the relative was Moses and the valuable property was his religious tradition. … Continue reading Wisdom or real estate?
Something greater than ourselves
[Note: After today The Up Devotional will go on pause for a week. It returns on November 21, 2022.] Some Greeks wanted to see Jesus. “Anyone who loves their life will lose it,” he said, “while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). Talk about heavy! … Continue reading Something greater than ourselves
He makes your life better, not worse
Don Miller tells a story about when he started to take God more seriously in his life. A key moment came at Christmas: “For my mother that year I had purchased a shabby Christmas gift—a book, the contents of which she would never be interested in. I had had a sum of money with which … Continue reading He makes your life better, not worse
The best of us, not what’s left of us
Mary the sister of Lazarus “took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair” (John 12:3). That pure nard was equivalent in value to about $30,000! That’s how grateful she was to Jesus. She was trying to show her devotion with … Continue reading The best of us, not what’s left of us
