Archive | Weekly Devotional

It Didn’t Take God By Surprise by Amy Schmitz Ruiz “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” –Psalm 139:16 Sometimes I love surprises, like when my kids announce that they cleaned their bedroom without being asked or when […]

The Spirit of Wisdom by Mike Herrnstein “Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?” –Proverbs 8:1 This Sunday we will be celebrating Pentecost. It corresponds with the Festival of Weeks in the Jewish calendar, also known as Shavuot (Leviticus 23). It commemorates the first fruits of the wheat harvest. It also […]

The Power of Two or More by Tracy Gordon “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.”  —Matthew 18:19-20 May and […]

316 by Donna Middlestead I grew up at 316 W. Mahoning Street. I was blessed to be raised in a loving, Christian home. However, I did not realize at the time how important the number 316 (three sixteen) would be in my life. Years later, I was searching for material to use for the PLC “OK Club” […]

What Has God Prepared For Me? by Jim Rower “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” –Ephesians 2:10 We have recently celebrated Holy Week, remembering our Lord’s journey to the cross. One of the elements of this story that piques […]

The Gift of Rest by Amy Schmitz Ruiz “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for He grants sleep to those He loves.” –Psalm 127:2 A few weeks ago I wrote a devotional about getting out of the boat of security and comfort to walk on the water with […]

The Hidden Things by Jane Josephs “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” –Psalm 119:11 Most of us have played a game of hide and seek at some time in our lives. But have you ever hidden a house or car key under a flower pot? Or […]

The Road to Resurrection by Mike Herrnstein As we celebrate and reflect upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ, John 20:27 holds significant meaning for me: “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.’” […]

A Wonderful Counselor by Tracy Gordon “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” –Isaiah 9:6 Did you know that there are 198 different names and titles for […]

It’s Time to Get Out of the Boat by Amy Schmitz Ruiz “For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, His Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.” –2 Timothy 1:7 Over the past few weeks in my mom’s Bible study, we have been reading John Ortberg’s book, […]