Category: Uncategorized

Two-minute read.

Along the Alleghany River in Pennsylvania runs the 51-mile Redbank Valley Trail. Maintained by volunteers, the non-motorized, 4-season trail has scenic beauty and connections to other trails. Continuously growing and connecting to other bikeways, the wide path features easy-to-follow markings, making it easy to traverse.

Some paths take more effort. Following the path of righteousness, which begins by placing our faith in Jesus, requires a partnership with the Savior. Unlike the Redbank Valley Trail, which provides a clear view of the path ahead, we don’t always know what our next steps will look like following Jesus.

Like a dense fog covering the Redbank Trail, we can’t see more than a foot ahead and must trust God to show us which way we should step. Obeying the Lord’s commands helps us find a sure footing. Even if we can’t see the path, we can trust God for solid ground.

A few years ago, when my mother had an unexpected illness, it took my entire family by surprise. Navigating the raw emotions that came to the surface made me feel directionless. Realizing I had no control over the situation, I didn’t know what to do. My prayer became, “God, show me the next step.” He always did, and in the process deepened my trust in Him and drew me closer to the Savior.

Ever since that season, I have made it a common practice to ask the Lord to direct my steps. Allowing the Savior to guide me helps me find the path of righteousness, leading to a more abundant life than I ever imagined.

Ask God to give you direction. Allow the Lord to illuminate your path, showing you one step at a time where He wants you to go. Let the adventure begin!

Journal Question:

How has God directed your steps?

How would you define the path of righteousness?

What area do you need the most guidance in today?

 Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us a mission here on Earth. Please show us the direction You want us to go, and give us the steps You want us to take. Let us not miss a thing as we follow You wholeheartedly.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Developing the ability to discern right from wrong happens when we seek God’s ways and learn His commands. As we apply biblical principles to our lives, we will gain wisdom and knowledge that will help us discern and understand which path to take.

For instance, God tells us in Genesis that we bear His image, so how we act in society reflects the Lord to others. When you think about the magnitude of what it means to represent the Lord with our word and deed, it will change how you act.

When our camping neighbor aired their grievances with me about Ruby’s barking, I heard my therapist’s voice say, “How did your actions bear God’s image?” One question changed my behavior; instead of getting irritated and saying something I would regret, I apologized.

Because I follow Jesus and accept Godly advice, I have developed discernment and understanding that helps me accept responsibility for my part in a situation and guards me from unnecessary conflict and strife. Instead of letting my human emotions lead me down the path of turmoil, I follow Christ down the path of peace.

We can’t control what other people do, but we can control our actions. The more we apply God’s word to our lives, the more we will experience His divine joy and peace that we can find no other way. Let the Lord’s ways give you discernment and understanding that will guard you from the pains of this world.

Journal Question:

When has applying God’s word to a situation given you divine discernment?

How can you more readily submit your life to God’s ways?

How does understanding help you avoid trouble?

 Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us divine discernment and understanding. Please help us turn to You first when confronted with an issue, seeking Your wisdom in how to deal with our circumstances. Let us bear Your image well, glorifying You in all we do.

IJNIP.

Amen

Two-minute read.

Reading through the Bible in a year, I began the book of Job this morning. In the first two chapters, Satan slithers his way into God’s presence and has a conversation about the Lord’s loyal servant, which ends with God granting the devil permission to test Job.

When Job receives the news that he’s lost everything, including his ten children, he rips his clothes, drops to his knees, and worships God.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Job 1:21

Job does not know about the heavenly conversation or why this happened. In the following 37 chapters, Job hears nothing from God, but a great deal from his three friends, who attempt to figure out why these tragedies have occurred. None of their theories comes close to the truth.

When God begins to speak, He asks Job questions that no man can answer. As Creator of the world, only the Lord holds its secrets and the knowledge of why things happen the way they do.

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job 40:2

Job learned through his trials that God has knowledge and wisdom we can’t understand. The Lord reveals to us what He wants and gives us the knowledge and wisdom we need, but we still won’t understand all the universe’s secrets. Only when we enter our eternal resting place will God reveal the mysteries of creation.

Until then, seek the Lord for His knowledge and wisdom. When you don’t understand, trust as Job did, that God’s ways far outweigh ours.

Journal Question:

When have you questioned God’s reasoning?

In what way have you accepted God’s sovereignty?

How can you seek wisdom and knowledge from the Lord today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for creating the wonderful, mysterious world in which we live today. Please help us accept that we will not understand everything on this side of heaven. Give us the knowledge and wisdom we need to fulfill our purpose.

IJNIP.

Amen

Two-minute read.

Birds have good eyesight and can see traps, but it doesn’t mean they will avoid them. Factors such as the type of trap, the bait used, their habits, and food motivation all play a role in determining the outcome. Essentially, if the bird wants the food in the trap bad enough, it will go for it and get caught in the snare they can see.

We do the same thing, for instance, with credit card debt. Everyone knows banks charge high interest rates on credit cards, counting on people not paying them off each month. The average American carries over $6,000 of debt from month to month. With an average interest rate of 21.99% on credit cards, that equals over $1,300 a year in interest paid to the bank, providing easy income for financial institutions.

Like birds, we forget the trap when we see the shiny new object we can’t live without and will undoubtedly bring us joy. However, the thrill we get from the purchase doesn’t last long, especially when the bill comes. Thankfully, God provides us with wise advice on how to resist temptation and avoid falling into the trap.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Beware of traps and don’t let the bait lure you into the snare. Lean into the Lord and let Him help you avoid the obvious, so you don’t get caught in traps.

Journal Question:

What traps seem apparent to you?

What strategy do you use to avoid traps?

When have you gotten caught in an obvious trap?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving eyes to see the traps before us. Please help us avoid the obvious snares, not letting our greed get us into trouble. Give us victory over temptation and the traps that come with it.

IJNIP.

Amen

Two-minute read.

“If you’d only listen to me, you wouldn’t get into so much trouble!

I hear my mother’s exasperated voice in my head more now than ever. Today marks 93 years since she entered this world, and the eleventh birthday she’s celebrated in heaven. Oh, how I miss her wisdom in my life.

No one loved me as much as my mom did. I understand more now than ever how she tried to help me avoid the pitfalls of life with her knowledge of Biblical wisdom. But I didn’t listen, thinking I knew better than my mother, I did things my way, and suffered the consequences.

Teaching children starts at home. My parents did their best to raise us according to the Lord. On Sunday mornings, you could find the Minicks sitting in the back row of the Tidal Presbyterian Church. Mom and Dad made us observe the Sabbath, not allowed to do any work. They instilled the fear of God in us, teaching us to respect Him and follow His ways.

But I didn’t listen very well, always trying to bend the rules, causing my parents turmoil. Oh, how I wish I’d listened better; it would have saved me much suffering. Children have a way of testing boundaries and learning the hard way.

However, when kids start their adult journey, parents get more phone calls than ever for advice. Suddenly, we realize that maybe they do know a thing or two, and maybe we should listen. Having wise parents who follow the Lord leads to wise advice for the trials we face. A garland to adorn our head and a chain to wear around our neck, parental advice, given with love, helps us persevere through life’s journey.

Journal Question:

What advice do you wish you had followed from your parents?

Write about the most important lesson you learned from your parents.

What trouble has parental advice helped you avoid?

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for our parents who did their best to raise us according to Your will. Help us forgive them for their imperfections and accept their wisdom. Let us heed their advice and apply it to our lives.

IJNIP

Amen

One-minute read.

To gain wisdom, one must first respect God. As a child, when my parents gave me instructions, I didn’t always understand why, and I would question them. “Why do I have to do that?”

“Because I said so!”

Their typical response just made me mad and didn’t help me understand anything. But as I grew and started rebelling, I learned lessons the hard way. I came to realize they had my best interests at heart and didn’t want me to suffer pain.

In the same way, I came to respect God’s word the more I applied it to my life. After trying to live life my way and finding myself in a pit, I realized my approach didn’t work. And so, I picked one of God’s laws and began living by it: no sex before marriage.

And boy did God teach me, and quickly, the benefit of not giving myself away to someone who didn’t care for me and had my best interest at heart. I learned that applying the Lord’s commands to my life protected me from myself and the poor decisions I made.

And that’s how I began to respect the Lord, by applying His word to my life and reaping the benefits of obedience to Him. God blesses us when we do what He wants, seeking His will above our own. You must obey to realize the truth of those words.

We don’t need to know the “why” behind God’s commands to reap the benefits of them. Respecting the Lord with reverential fear leads us down the path of wisdom, right living, and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Journal Questions:

What kind of respect do you have for God?

What makes you question God’s commands?

What one command can you apply to your life today?

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for caring about us and giving us guidelines to help us navigate through life in this world. Please help us develop a reverential fear for You and discover the path to wisdom that we find in Your word. Bless our efforts, guide our steps, and help us live life to the fullest.

IJNIP.

Amen

One-minute read.

We live in a world flooded with information but starving for wisdom. We have endless access to knowledge, opinions, and advice—yet we still often find ourselves lost when making decisions, managing relationships, or navigating challenges.

That’s where the Book of Proverbs can help us.

Through Proverbs, God invites us to live wisely. Written mainly by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live (apart from Christ), this collection of short, powerful sayings packed with practical insights for everyday life. Whether you’re navigating friendships, work, finances, or faith, Proverbs offers timeless truths that remain relevant today.

“Wise Up” takes you on a  90-day devotional journey through the book of Proverbs. Each day, you’ll reflect on a verse or passage, explore its meaning, and consider how to apply it to your life. Consider these truths God’s guideposts for living well.

You don’t need a theology degree or a perfect past to gain wisdom, just a teachable heart and a few minutes a day. Let Proverbs read you, shape you, and lead you into a wiser, fuller life.

So grab a journal, a pen, and an open heart—and let’s wise up together.

One-minute read.

Attending a NASCAR race on our thirteenth anniversary, I loved the first-time experience. The kick-off prayer asking for protection and safety, as well as blessings for the onlookers, thrilled me.

Unity strengthens us, lightening our hearts and giving us energy for the journey. Every Sunday, when I gather with other believers in corporate worship, whether at home or while traveling, I find encouragement.

Surrounding myself with other believers seeking God’s will for their lives and pursuing Him passionately helps me continue my race. Like the united crowd at the NASCAR event, they spurred one another on in their passion and encouraged the drivers as they completed the 90-mile lap race, all covered in prayer.

Living in unity and seeking the Lord with others helps us fulfill our God-given purpose. As we take one step of faith after another, united with other believers, we will gain a fresh perspective on the Creator, learning more about Him and His divine nature.

Our small group season starts in less than a month at our new home church. I look forward to developing new relationships with fellow sojourners for Christ. Living united in the Savior brings joy to the heart, encouragement for the journey, and help in fulfilling our purpose. Live united with others and experience the joy of community in the Lord.

Summer Fun Activity:

Create an album or scrapbook of all your summer memories.

One-minute read.

Reading this verse, one of my favorite worship songs comes to mind, “Shout to the Lord,” by Hillsong:

Shout to the Lord All the earth let us sing
Power and majesty Praise to the King
Mountains bow down And the sea will roar
At the sound of Your Name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to The promise I have in You.

Every time I hear the opening notes of this song, my heart flutters, like it did a second ago when I listened to it. Thinking about the works of God’s hand makes me want to shout for joy. Each day, the Lord works miracles in our lives, most that go unnoticed. He never stops, propelling us forward with divine interaction, helping us fulfill our purpose.

The Lord created the Earth for us, gave us dominion over it, and now helps us reach our destiny as we follow Him.  Shout for joy to the Lord, creator of the world, lover of your soul. Meditate on His mighty works and experience incomparable joy as God moves in your life.

Summer Fun Activity:

Make a music video

One-minute read.

Often misunderstood, delighting in the Lord means aligning your heart with His, in other words, submitting to His will instead of trying to bend God to your will. We think we know best, but we don’t. Our limited perspective skews our thinking and doesn’t take into account the entire picture.

During my single years, I struggled with why God didn’t bring me a mate. Year after year slipped by as I navigated life alone. Today’s verse challenged me because I had a desire for marriage, but the Lord had different plans for me.

“Maybe it’s not God’s plan for you to be married? We align our heart with His, and then our desires become His desires.” A friend said to me when I shared my discouragement with her. Telling me a hard truth, I didn’t want to hear it. To gain the Lord’s peace, I had to accept His will and submit my heart. Eventually, I submitted, and once I did, the Lord filled my heart’s desire, not for a mate, but for a deeper relationship with my Creator. By the time Ron came along, I had found contentment in my singleness with my heavenly Father and had accepted Him as my mate.

Align your heart with the Lord’s, allowing His desires to become your own, and find all you need in the Savior.

Summer Fun Activity:

Have a water balloon fight.