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The Imperative of Peace
When I taught English to Hispanic students, I often explained that an imperative sentence is not a suggestion—it’s a command. That memory comes rushing back when I read Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6: “Be anxious for nothing.” Paul isn’t offering soft advice; he’s giving a Spirit-led directive meant to shape how we respond to worry. In this devotional, we explore how prayer, gratitude, and intentional thought can help us obey this command and experience the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds.
Tending Your Garden
God has entrusted each of us with a garden — a place where His gifts can grow and bear fruit. For me, that garden has been writing: years of journaling, gathering stories, learning from critique, and opening old wounds so others might find healing. Last week, one of those long‑tended seeds bloomed as Finding Father was published. My prayer is simple: that God will place it into the hands of hurting hearts and use its pages to whisper hope. Whatever your garden looks like, may you tend it faithfully and offer its fruit back to Him.
WHEN OTHERS ASSUME YOUR “YES”
“Well,” the nurse said, “you need to decide.” My father‑in‑law quickly answered for me, but the decision was mine to make — and I chose what was best for both of us. Matthew 21 shows Jesus facing similar pressure from people who questioned His authority. Their challenge wasn’t about wisdom; it was about control. Jesus reminds us that God honors quiet obedience over outward approval.
FAMILY REDEMPTION AND THE RISEN CHRIST
Acts 1:12–24 shows us a family redeemed—Jesus’ brothers, once uncertain, now gathered in prayer after meeting the Risen Christ. Their story mirrors ours. From a Green Beret on a loading dock in Iraq, to a mother grieving her son’s unexpected path, to a writer rediscovering Christ through her son’s search for his father, redemption threads through our families in ways only Jesus can weave.
Tale of a Hated Hat
Growing up, my mother’s religious traditions often showed up in small but memorable ways—like the stiff orange hat she insisted I wear to Sunday Mass. What felt unnecessary to me was deeply meaningful to her. Romans 14:1–12 reminds us that God sees the heart behind our practices and calls us to honor one another’s stories without judgment. Our unity in Christ matters more than uniformity in tradition.
Tiny Faith
When Jesus told His disciples that faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains, He wasn’t asking for perfection—just a beginning. This devotion reflects on a tiny seed, a summer of learning, and the truth that God grows even the smallest trust into something strong and life‑giving.