Tag Archives: Devotionals

Christian Growth, Devotionals

His Intentions

Pam Ford Davis

“And what are your intentions, young man?” In days of old, a stern father met the beau of his daughter in a quaint parlor and quizzed him on his plans to provide for a wife. The younger male figure swallowed the lump in his throat and marked out a path of proper provision and a secure future for his betrothed. He stated his intentions and waited for word of the father’s blessings on the proposed marriage.

The joyous woman in Song of Solomon could not restrain her emotions as she revealed the intentions of the man of her dreams. “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his intention toward me was love (Song of Solomon 2:4 NRS).” He intended to express his lavish love for her as he provided a feast. She knew where he placed his affections and she delighted to be in his presence. His intentions were clear and she saw her own reflection as she gazed in his eyes.

 

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Sprinkle Kisses

Pam Ford Davis

Say cheese and pose for a Christmas snapshot; pucker up and stand beneath mistletoe with your sweetheart! The greenery gives us extra incentive to express our affection and create new Christmas memories.

I’m glad I don’t need to wait until December rolls around to smooch with my sweetie. It would be sad to have to depend on something found hanging from trees to create a romantic mood. We can steal kisses anytime.

Christmas is a time of great celebration! Why not share a few holy kisses? “Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ (1 Peter 5:14 NAS).” We are one big happy family and we are free to sprinkle kisses on those we hold dear.

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Eternal Optimist

Pam Ford Davis

Optimism is a rare characteristic in our world of stark reality and disappointments. We become cynical and dark clouds conceal the possibilities that lay before us. I am the proud wife of a man whose favorite phrase may be, “It has potential.” Together we view a rundown shack; I see devastation but he sees a dream.

I proudly serve a God who looks beyond our failures to potential. Peter talked the talk but tripped over his faltering feet as he failed to walk the walk. The man who boasted of never deserting his Lord blundered and betrayed him. Jesus saw past the Big Fisherman’s upcoming pitiful performance to potential. The Holy Spirit would transform Peter from deserter to devotee. He would return to encourage and lead others.

“I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me (Luke 22:31 NCV).” Jesus prayed for Peter, shining rays of mercy and grace revealed potential beneath a man who would soon cower in fear. The Lord would call Peter to serve as caretaker of the flock. He proved his love for the Master through service and ministry and faithfully fed the lambs and sheep. Jesus is an eternal optimist….  

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Prayer

Unending Praise

Pam Ford Davis

His name is wonderful; his blessings are without number and words cannot express our thankfulness and praise. Children love to share the latest news with their friends; as God’s children we can be just as eager to praise him in prayer and brag on him to others.

How can I find the right words? King David, writer of many of the Psalms had the gift of expressing what I feel. I share his emotional highs and lows, questions and confidence, desire his honesty and intimacy with the Father.

“Praise the Lord! Servants of the Lord, praise him! Praise the Lord’s name. May the Lord’s name be praised now and forever. May the Lord’s name be praised from where the sun rises to where it goes down (Psalm 113:1-3 ERV).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

The Guest Room

Pam Ford Davis

 

In the days of large families, guest rooms were a luxury only for the wealthy. Hosts vacated their room for out of town visitors and slept on the sofa. Today many middle- class homeowners have sufficient space for the family and a guest room as well. If unexpected company drops by, the host needs little time to present a warm welcome in the designated room.

Imagine the role of preparing a guest room for the Lord Jesus… “Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there (Mark 14:14-15 NIV).”

Praise and prayer prepare the way for Jesus to enter the guest room in our hearts. He dwells in our adoration; confession through prayer removes sins residue, allowing Christ to enter a cleansed home. We must not occupy his room, be sure to leave the door open and leave the light of his word inside. We have the privilege of preparing a guestroom for the King of Kings!

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Grace Period

Pam Ford Davis

 

Recently I discovered I was a day late on paying our electric bill, like a flash across my mind I wondered if we neglected to take the check to the local office. I had given the payment to my husband Norm as he was running errands one day a week or two earlier. He simply forgot to drop it off.

He handed it back to me and I dropped it in my purse, which we both know is akin to the black hole in the universe. I thumbed through the contents and found it hiding in the midst of necessities and a collection of crumpled checkout store receipts. There was a grace period before cut-off of power but I had to pay a small penalty for my tardiness.

I never cease to be amazed at God’s amazing grace. There is no grace period; there is grace…. Period! I cannot earn my salvation, nor can I lose it. Christ purchased it; He ransomed me. I owe everything to God’s gift of grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-not because of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 RSV).” I urge you, please do not neglect to receive His grace.

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Family

House That Frank Built

Pam Ford Davis

My mind mingles memories of Mycenae and home; I left the old home place when I wed at the age of 18, yet at the age of 62 it as close as my current front door. Over a thousand miles separates me from the house that my Dad, Frank built. My thoughts soar to the structure that sheltered me from northeasters and the cold cruel world.

Solomon in his great wisdom built, bragged, and taught me a valuable lesson; a house may serve only as a monument to self. “I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. I constructed reservoirs of water for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees (Ecclesiastes 2:4-6 HCS).”

The industrious king had developed a dream home any real estate agent would love to include as a listing to prospective buyers. It is tragic to see the repetitive phrase “for myself” in Solomon’s monologue and to realize I too can become self absorbed and miss countless blessings of investing in others. I think I’ll just mosey on back to Mycenae and see vivid pictures of the house that Frank built…

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

He Willingly Waits

Pam Ford Davis

Unfaithfulness to a mate is both a personal slap in the face and a sign of selfishness. Marriage partners are never to take their vows lightly and adultery, while commonplace in our society is sin. “Thus sayeth the Lord.” (Exodus 20:14)

 Once upon a time there was a man with a wayward wife…

“The Lord said to me, ‘Go again and show your love for a woman who is committing adultery with a lover. You must love her just as I still love the people of Israel, even though they turn to other gods and like to take offerings of raisins to idols. So I paid fifteen pieces of silver and seven bushels of barley to buy her. I told her that for a long time she would have to wait for me without being a prostitute or committing adultery; and during this time I would wait for her (Hosea 3:1-3 TEV).” Our Father willingly waits.

As His wayward children, we have turned to materialism as a way to meet our selfish desires. We have sold out yet Jesus paid the price to ransom us. “the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem all mankind (1Timothy 2:5b-6a TEV). Soldiers slapped him, spit in his face and mocked his name. He forgave. He is faithful and true.

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Devotionals, Short Stories

Rattlesnake in the House!

Pam Ford Davis

 

 

“There is a rattlesnake in our house!” The woman’s voice was wild and nearly incoherent; the one at the other end of the line had to pass the phone to his wife in hopes she could understand. He heard her say “snake” and he headed to his pickup truck to go on search and rescue. He rushed to the home of his son and daughter-in-law with a plan of action. Step one: Search for the snake and destroy it. Step two: Rescue his frantic daughter-in-law.

The search and rescue story had a happy ending. They killed the snake and removed it from the house; a deadly serpent did not harm his innocent victim. The young woman had good reason to fear snakes; many carry deadly poisonous venom. Her ancestor Eve could have used a good dose of fright when she first caught sight of the snake in the garden. “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord had made (Genesis 3:1a NKJ).”

A rattler used cunning to devise a way to invade the security of a well-constructed house. The Serpent Satan pulled out all his tools of deception and placed doubts in the mind of Eve in attempts to persuade her to doubt God’s words and eat from the forbidden fruit. Sadly, it had a tragic ending; she yielded to temptation and Adam followed in her deadly steps. If only Eve would have called out for help…. “There is a serpent in God’s garden!”

 

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Peripheral Vision

Pam Ford Davis

 

Last week I was driving alone to town on an errand; it was a sunny autumn day and I made a turn from one rural road to another and noticed the sun off to my left in my peripheral vision. I felt the warmth of the rays on my face and neck and had one of those rare moments where God gave me a sneak peek into his storehouse of wisdom. The sun was there but it was not what I focused on; my eyes were on the road.

Jesus is with me always yet I direct my attention to the pathway of priorities I place above his presence. Do I sacrifice communion with Him and settle for awareness of Him in my peripheral vision? He wants my undivided attention. “And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete (Hebrews 12:1b-2a CEV).” The Lord will not allow me to run off the road; I choose to focus on him. He will bathe me in the warmth of his love.

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