The Up Devo

Helium for a practical faith today.

Skip to content
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • The Book
  • On Radio
  • Social
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Pics
Search

social media

Online disrespect and technotrauma

December 6, 2018December 5, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / 2 Comments

More and more people are using the internet to communicate. It makes sense. After all, it’s quick and easy to send someone an email, text or direct message. But I think there’s a growing problem. It’s that people write things that are disrespectful. Why? First, let’s be honest. We humans are deeply flawed. Second, instant … Continue reading Online disrespect and technotrauma

Nomophobia and a technosabbath

October 23, 2018October 17, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

According to Psychology Today there’s something called “nomophobia.” It’s “the fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact.” I read about one study that said more people are even taking their smart phones with them into the shower. Maybe that’s you. Maybe it’s not. Either way, more and more of us are … Continue reading Nomophobia and a technosabbath

Comparing highlight reels to your behind-the-scenes

October 9, 2018October 8, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

More and more of us are spending time on social media. And before you think I’m anti-social media, I’m not. I just think we should be realistic about the role it plays it our lives—both positive and negative. One of the negative things is that it can depress us. I’ve read about a few studies … Continue reading Comparing highlight reels to your behind-the-scenes

A rest… from screens

May 24, 2018May 23, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Writer Lettie Cowman tells about a traveler who visited Africa and used a group of guides and carriers to carry their supplies as they hiked and explored. On the first day she was impressed because they went a huge distance. But the next day the carriers refused to move. The leader said that on the … Continue reading A rest… from screens

Continuous partial attention

May 2, 2018May 1, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

We live in the information age. And there are some positive things about that. But there are some negative things too. Linda Stone, a former senior executive with Apple, coined the phrase “continuous partial attention.” She writes that we’re “much more motivated by not wanting to miss anything… we want to be part of this … Continue reading Continuous partial attention

An avalanche of gadgetry

January 18, 2018January 17, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Sometimes, habits that seem totally unrelated to your “spirituality” are totally spiritual. Let me tell you what I mean. We live in a time of increased gadgetry. You might even say that we live amidst an avalanche of gadgetry. For example, smart phones have become ever-present. And they can do everything except fold the laundry! … Continue reading An avalanche of gadgetry

From Trolls to Glorifiers

September 15, 2017September 14, 2017 / MatthewRuttan / 2 Comments

Trolls continually post negative comments online. If you want to pump some positivity into the drab that can be the internet, read on.

Trolls

September 14, 2017September 13, 2017 / MatthewRuttan / 3 Comments

"Trolls" used to refer to burly creatures under bridges. Now it also means an online instigator. Here's how to handle them.

Step out of the traffic

February 14, 2017February 13, 2017 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Psalm 46:10 “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God.” (MSG) Today's Thought I just spent a week in Myrtle Beach. It was… Awesome! Every time I go on vacation I learn something new. For example, last week I learned that... Cheap socks are never worth it The … Continue reading Step out of the traffic

Is there an “except-when-online” clause?

November 25, 2016November 24, 2016 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 (NIV) Today's Thought We live in the information age. Facebook has 700,000,000 users. In case you’re not a math whiz… that’s a lot! Information is being produced at an incredible rate. It’s also being consumed at an incredible rate. One … Continue reading Is there an “except-when-online” clause?

Enter your email address to get this devo 5 mornings a week!

Instagram

Hi everyone! This is just a reminder that Up! is now on snooze until April 22nd. I know, I know - it's a long time away, right? But after 3 years of writing daily devotionals I'm taking a much-needed rest. But you can always but the book on Amazon, or peruse back issues at www.TheUpDevo.com. Peace be with you! -Matthew
Dealing with stress... The "Up!" Devo for February 1 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 in mind, here is how he defines stress: “Stress is experienced when a person is pulled or pushed in a direction that they would not normally take, or at a pace at which they would not normally proceed, or with an impetus that they would not normally experience. They are enduring a force for which they are not designed.” Yup. So what’s to be done? Quietness. Psalm 46:10 famously says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” Lamentations 3:26 also comes to mind: “it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” It can be hard to hear God’s voice of grace when you’re running at a breakneck pace. Quietness. It doesn’t make all your stress go away. But it can slowly re-introduce a more peaceful perspective when your brain is full of frantic voices and pressures you were not designed to bear. Go for a walk. Shut off your phone. Go for a drive in the country. Saunter. Carve out some alone time. Close your eyes to pray… and just listen. Cultivate quietness. Listen for the Lord. And rise above a load you were never designed to bear. By Matthew Ruttan ---Please note that after today (Friday, February 1), “Up!” will go on pause until April 22nd. I know, it’s a long time! But after three full years of daily devotionals I’m taking a much-needed rest. :) Back issues are all available at www.TheUpDevo.com!
How do you know you're on the right track? The "Up!" Devo for January 31 How do you know you’re on the right track with your faith? After all, we SAY we believe in Jesus, but are we LIVING like it? When you read through the New Testament, one of the ways you can tell you’re on the right track is if you’re showing evidence of God’s presence in your life. The biblical language is “producing fruit.” If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters into you in a new way and goes to work. The most frequently cited passage about this is Galatians 5:22-23 which speaks about the fruit of the Spirit. The behaviours and characteristics listed are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Are you starting to see those at work in your life? Some may appear more slowly than others. And they may not all grow at the same speeds. And sometimes there are set backs... But inevitably, growth will occur. A respected Bible scholar named N.T. Wright says: “salvation only does become what it’s meant to do when those who have been saved, are being saved, and will one day fully be saved realize that they are saved not as souls but as wholes and not for themselves alone but for what God now longs to do through them.” It’s a reminder that God enters into relationship with us not only to get us from earth to heaven, but to get heaven to earth through us. None of us are perfect. We make mistakes… daily! And it needs to be stressed that what makes us right and acceptable to God is definitely not how morally well we perform in life. But we can receive the encouragement that we’re on the right track with our faith when we see—by God’s grace and great patience—that we are showing evidence (however fragmentary) of his presence in our lives. It’s not about being dramatic; it’s about being faithful. Be encouraged. God’s work through you is evidence of God’s presence in you. By Matthew Ruttan
A major stumbling block to faith The "Up!" Devo for January 30 Yesterday I talked about having a relationship with Christ, and whether or not it is authentic. Today I’d like to focus on something the Bible identifies as a major stumbling block to that relationship: Money. In Luke 16:13 Jesus says it with his usual eye-opening candour: “You cannot serve both God and money.” It’s a tricky subject. None of us would admit we serve money. But isn't that what we do when we accumulate, save, and use money in a way that just builds up our own little kingdoms instead of God’s? So the question we need ask is this: Do we use money carelessly and in a way that focuses exclusively on our own comforts and status? Or are we using money wisely and in a way which contributes to God’s will in the world? I’m far from perfect, that’s for sure! And if this idea is new to you the point isn’t to make you feel guilty; it’s to help you. But I truly think that using money to simply serve my own needs and without considering the needs of others, the local church, and those under my care, threatens the integrity of my relationship with Christ. Why? Because it shows how much in my life is self-centred instead of Christ-centred. I’m not saying you can never have fun or treat yourself. (You can.) I’m simply highlighting the fact that money issues are spiritual issues. They both trace back to the heart. So be deliberate. By Matthew Ruttan

Past Devos

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Enter your email address to follow Up and receive notifications of new posts 5 days a week.

Up’s Facebook Page

Up’s Facebook Page
WordPress.com.
Cancel