Daily Devotionals

One of my favorite prophecies about Jesus was written 700 years before his birth. It contains some of the most wonderful names and promises about who Jesus would be for us. Every single one of them has come true!Isaiah 9:6-7 proclaims:“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.His government and its peace will never...

Between the full calendars and the to-do lists, the holiday season can leave us running ragged.If we’re not careful, the hours turn into days and before we know it, Christmas will have come and gone. I’ve noticed that when I’m in a hurry, things seem to slip by me without much notice. Intentionality can go out the window and I can find myself going through the motions on autopilot.I don’t know about you but that’s not the way I want to...

Ashley Lind <ashley.ann.lind@gmail.com> 2:06 PM (3 minutes ago) to me Good Morning!!!I recently came across an analogy that has really helped me. It was in a book we have at the store about cancer, but I’ve used it for other challenges, and it has been such a helpful perspective. I hope this is encouraging to you this morning.The analogy is this: it’s like a teenager’s messy room. You know the mess is there—it’s part of the house, and it might need attention. But...

“More like Mary, less like Eve…”Each Christmas season as I set up my nativity, I choose one of the “figurines” in the manger scene and try and spend the season contemplating and praying from their unique perspective. It keeps the Advent season fresh and meaningful every year.  It also helps me examine my own life and learn to ditch useless attitudes and grow in new ways by being challenged by what the biblical characters reveal to us in the gospel...

My schedule feels crazy.It’s basically nonstop from now until New Years.In fact, I’m a bit overwhelmed at the amount that I have to do in the next few weeks. Can anyone relate?I love Christmas but it’s definitely extra!!!Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I find it so easy to get distracted from what really matters and drown in my to-do list! Before I know it, Christmas doesn’t even feel like it’s about celebrating Jesus’ birth or the God...

For Thanksgiving, I received a Christmas devotional from a sweet family member. It is called, “Be of Good Cheer” by Susan Hill.I’ve had different Advents and devotionals in the past but this year I added a new stipulation to my readings. I would either take time to slow down and read the message with full focus or I wouldn’t read it at all.Some of you may not agree with this method but my Type A personality can often get caught...

Good morning!I can’t take credit for this picture—I saved it to my phone awhile ago and don’t even know where it came from. But every time I see it, I’m reminded of the invitation Jesus gives us:“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”Every worry. Every frustration. Every disappointment, struggle, fear, insecurity, regret, unmet expectation, or lingering doubt. Every single thing that feels too heavy to carry.Jesus doesn’t just offer to help—He...

Every year, some of my sister-in-laws, nieces, daughter, and special friends gather for annual Christmas cookie baking.On Sunday, there were 9 of us baking up a storm! Literally, “You could eat off my floors” was an understatement- it didn’t take long for the counters, tables, and floors to be littered with  ingredients:sprinkles, flour, sugar, splats of egg, cream cheese, butter, and enough powered sugar to write your initials in!I am always amazed by how all of the separate ingredients come...

Sweet Friend,This is a reminder that you are valuable.YOU.Messy, imperfect, you.Not just the photo-shopped, perfect make-up, have-it-all-together you.The you that doesn’t make the highlight reel.The you that makes a lot of mistakes.The you that was really hurt by someone, or was rejected by someone.The you that feels unworthy.The God of the Universe loves every part of you! There is nothing you can do, or have done, or has happened to you, that changes your value in the eyes of your...

All I want for Christmas …So last week we focused on giving thanks to God for all his blessings… as we should every day of our lives.Ah but we forget. Just like the Israelites. I remember wondering what on earth was wrong with those people. God performed miracle after miracle for them — plagues to convince Pharaoh to release them from slavery, parting the Red Sea, providing food like clockwork every day for years in their wandering, etc. — but...

Good Morning, Ladies – I hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving and happy shopping to those Black Friday friends in the group! (If you haven’t heard… Rachel’s has a pretty awesome sale going on today too so make sure you check it out!) Anyways, yesterday as we were driving home from gathering with family, the song “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns came on the radio. I believe I have shared about this song before but for those who don’t...

Ever felt stuck in your prayer life because of your locked up emotions or circumstances?I recently attended a gathering with women where I learned more about the power and practice of ADORATION to God. Since then, I have been intentionally practicing this type of prayer and have noticed how much it helps me with my everyday human “problems” and feelings.Adoration is simply a type of prayer that involves praising God for WHO He is… a way to recognize and worship...

It’s been a week.One of those weeks I am glad is over and done.Honestly, it felt like if it could go wrong…it did.Have you ever had a week like that?To top it off, I fell down the stairs and now I am covered in bruises and get to wear this fancy brace on my wrist.F.U.N.I was having a bit of a pity party yesterday morning when I read this verse:Psalm 103:1-5“Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my...

Just breatheSo what was your first word? Mama? Dada? According to a sermon I clicked on the other day while internet surfing, it was neither of those.Your very first word was God’s name — Yahweh.In Hebrew tradition,Yahweh is the most holy name for God. A little research revealed that Jewish sages associated the covenant name of God — Yahweh — with breath and when pronounced, the name itself is the sound of breathing.I hadn’t exactly thought of this before, but...

Yesterday my daughter and I went on a fun little shopping trip!We needed a couple of things to complete our Christmas home decor and decided to make a day out of it On the way home, I could tell my daughter was pooped out from all the fun! As a seven-year-old, she rarely naps anymore but I encouraged her just to relax on our forty-five-minute drive home.I explained that sometimes it’s important to just sit quietly with God and our thoughts....

Good Morning!Over the weekend, Josh was outside tending a big fire from the brush we had cleaned up after all the storms. The fire burned just outside one of our daughters’ windows. She has a fear of fires, so you can imagine how her mind ran wild. She called Josh with a million questions: What if the fire spreads? What if the house catches on fire? Are we safe?Josh patiently reassured her over and over, answering her questions and assuring...

I slipped away on a little vacay with a couple girlfriends. This break has been very special.  Visiting the ocean always sparks a refreshed perspective of My Heavenly Father.I love how the ocean makes me feel small…in such a good way.As I stand in front of such a magnificent, beautiful, and powerful body of water, I consider what I know to be true:1. My God CREATED the heavens, the earth, the stars, the oceans… “He has no equal” (Isaiah 40)And...

My family got to spend last weekend in San Fransisco visiting our oldest daughter, Alivia. She is currently living and training there to become a professional ballerina. While we were traveling we got to see her perform, eat delicious food, and hike through Muir Woods.If you have never seen it, Muir Woods is an incredible sight. The famous Redwood trees stand several hundred feet tall and they grow on the side of a mountain. They are majestic! The whole forest...

Let’s talk turkeyWay back in my growing-up-in-Braham days, Dad raised turkeys, which makes me his last turkey still standing. So I am credentialed; I have lived among the flock; I earned my feathers. I am qualified to judge other turkeys.Admittedly, this devotional likely results from a NyQuil OD, but still, let me tell you about one amazing turkey I met after moving back to this area. His name was Thanks, and he lived out his last years with friends of...

Earlier this week, I was listening to a Christian conversation about marriage.Radio host Jim Daly from Focus on the Family interviewed a husband and wife who were sharing their raw and vulnerable story.They spoke about going through different challenging times in their marriage and how their viewpoints varied. It was very relatable as many marital trails are.Then they got to the good part – The part where God really stepped in!Both the husband, Dave, and the wife, Anne, got to...

Good morning, Ladies!I’m currently reading Waking Up to the Goodness of God by a dear friend, Susie Larson. There’s a question she was once asked, and it hasn’t left my mind since. So I want to ask you this morning: “If tomorrow you possessed only what you thanked God for today, what would you have?” As Susie said, “It’s a piercing question. An important one.” And I wholeheartedly agree!The truth is, if the enemy can’t tempt us, he often tries...

Good morning friends!I found myself in the book of Micah this morning. In my reading, I came across a more familiar passage that stopped me in my tracks (again)! It’s so simply stated, and yet, profound.  And it’s worth putting on repeat. Some call it the “Micah Mandate”... We don’t need to wonder about how God wants us to live!“He has shown you what is good. And what does the LORD require from you?  To act justly, to love mercy,...

This weekend, I was power cleaning the house and found my 7-year-old son’s special notebook amidst a giant pile of his toys.In my rush to get everything put back in its place, I almost missed the sweet messages of his bright pink post-it notes.However, as I was stuffing it in a drawer, I paused to read his musings and I am SO GLAD I did.As you can see in the picture I posted, his little heart has been contemplating some...

Good morning!Normally, Mary Ann kicks off the week by writing to our group on Mondays, but she is feeling under the weather. Let’s all pray she is feeling better soon!Mondays are a great day to launch a fresh mindset to anchor our week. I thought we could spend a little time on mindset today.We will all fight internal thought battles of some kind this week. Perhaps you are fighting one right at this moment.It’s important to identify and name the thought...

Something about the month of November is hitting me differently this year.In the past, it’s as if I sprinted out of October and landed right into December. Sure, November has Thanksgiving but as a Black Friday traditionalist, that holiday has always put more emphasis on Christmas than Thanksgiving in my extended family.There’s also that little thing called, daylight savings time, which has never been my favorite. The decrease of sunlight and day time hours has even left me feeling kind of depressed...

GOOD MORNING Yesterday, I had the gift of a few hours alone with my youngest daughter, Cora. As we drove to pick up my oldest, she said, “Mommy, today was the best day ever! I loved spending the day with you!”  Her sweet words touched me deeply, especially because we didn’t do anything extravagant. We were simply together—cuddling, talking, and just enjoying each other’s company without distractions.As I thought about her sweet comment, it made me reflect on my relationship with Jesus....

We learned in the middle of the night that the majority of Americans are celebrating a victory this morning! And as always, there remain those who are disappointed by the election results.It’s a great time to remind ourselves as Christians that the political narrative isn’t driving our behavior…the BIBLICAL NARRATIVE is. According to Paul, as he spoke to the church at Colossae in Colossians, 3:13- and the church of Ephesus in Ephesians 4:2- We are to “bear with one another in...

Today is Election Day.Oh buddy!No matter what happens today, or who takes the vote, here’s your reminder that God is still on the throne.He reigns Supreme over all of creation.He is Sovereign.He is GOOD and he is in control.Psalm 89:6-14 proclaims:“For who in all of heaven can compare with the LORD? What mightiest angel is anything like the LORD?The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.O LORD God...

Voting .… Then what?Phew! It’s almost over.Or is it just beginning?And by “it” I mean all the anger, lying, bitterness, blame gaming, cheating, accusations, violence, distrust … and if I had a thesaurus handy I’d list more of what we’ve been immersed in for years.Are you as tired of politics as I am? Oh yes, I do have some very strong beliefs and I’m a bit of a political animal. Even so, I’m weary of it all and frankly unsure...

Tis the season As Minnesotians, we know the snow is coming, yet it still seems to invoke some strong reactions, doesn’t it?We have people cranking Christmas tunes while others are googling rental properties in Florida – vsWhich are you??Yesterday, our puppy Leroy had his first ever run in with winter weather!At first, he was very timid. He stood nervously at the open door, taking it all in slowly.But once he took his first leap, he was sold! There was no hiding his...

Good morning!! You’re probably wondering why I’m sharing a picture of some china. Well last weekend, my family and I stopped by an estate sale. The yard and garage were filled with tools and equipment. But I wanted to see what was inside:) So the estate sale lady graciously allowed us a sneak peek inside before it opened to the public.As we walked in, we were a little taken back. The couple who lived here, well into their 80s, had just...

Good morning!!I recently read a story by author Bill Frye that really got me thinking. He reflected on a time when he was an 11 year old boy.  He was given the task to remove a stump from the family’s front yard. He dug, and hacked, and pried and sweated and struggled to remove the stubborn stump. Hour after hour he labored and toiled on it. He used shovels, axes, saws, pry bars and all of his might, but the...

I sent this to a warrior friend who has been battling for a long time. May it encourage this amazing group of ladies too:This weekend I was weary- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I had a huge week and it took everything I had, so by the weekend I was an empty vessel.In my quiet time, I spent many hours researching the story of Elijah the prophet…mostly because I had seen a meme that said: “Remember that time Elijah wanted to...

Boo!Every year, October 31 presents a great debate for me. Is Halloween an innocent, fun holiday for kids (and those of us who still love to play dress-up)? Or is it satan’s holiday that has grown darker year by year as a celebration of evil and an enticement for the vulnerable? I don’t know where you stand, but this is the current state of my quandary.Doesn’t it seem like whenever we give satan an inch, he takes 666 miles?On the...

Good Morning, Ladies and Happy Friday!This week, our family has been preparing for an annual Fall gathering we host at our house. Family and friends come for food, yard games, and a hayride and as any party, there is always prep work that needs to be done Yesterday I had planned to have a full, productive day of checking off all the things. But as it happens, I woke up feeling under the weather This little cutie (pictured ) not only took care...

Good morning!I wanted to share something that has made a huge difference for me this week, it’s called breath prayers. It might sound too simple, and at first I wasn’t sure how much it would help, but it’s been so helpful in easing my anxiety. You combine a short prayer with your breathing, which helps calm your thoughts and refocus on God’s promises.Here’s the breath prayer that’s been helping me:Inhale: ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’Exhale: ‘I have all that I...

Whatcha worried about?I’ve known many great troubles in my life, most of which never happened. (Mark Twain)I could have said that. Over the last many decades (Let’s not dwell on numbers; I’ve already outlived old Mark!), I’ve done more than my share of worrying about most everything. I even worried about what to write this week! Then I worried about finding a photo. Then I worried about getting it all done on time. And then I worried that I worry...

Our Monday night group has been studying the book of Ephesians for the last several weeks.  We’ve been hearing Paul’s teaching of the gift of the gospel as well as his encouragement “to live a life worthy of the call that you have received.” (Eph 4:1)I am reminded of a funny story I read online:A guy was being tailgated by a stressed-out, angry woman on a busy street.Suddenly, the light turned yellow just in front of him. He did the...

We have been busy supporting some of our extended family for the last couple of weeks. When we first began, our to-do list consisted of only a few things. Nothing major… just a couple of tasks we thought might help ease the load of life!As we went on, days went by, sleeves rolled up, hands got dirty and do you know what? It wasn’t long before the work turned into a lot of fun!Alongside a few other family members, we...

Good morning, Girls❤️❄️ Today’s post is a short one, inspired by a dear friend who sent me this picture of this yesterday’s frost. She said, “It was so beautiful, in a freezing cold way. 🤪 Thought you could use it for a Rachel’s Care post.”This beautiful frost got me thinking about how even in the toughest seasons of life, there can be unexpected beauty. My family is currently facing some hard and uncomfortable challenges, and it’s comforting to remember that...

Comparison.Ever struggle with it?If only I was…I’m just not…He or She is so much better at…If I had…OrAt least I’m not…At least I don’t…See the game? It’s toxic.We have all struggled with comparison from time to time. We compare talents, looks, careers, homes, education, bodies, vehicles, health, challenges, spouses, children, finances and even spiritual gifts… it’s endless.I once heard a quote that has stuck with me forever, “Comparison ultimately leads us to two ends, pride or despair.”The sign on the...

“I do myself.”That’s what our third child would say when he was two years old and fiercely independent.“I do myself.”Our determined son was insistent that he could do anything and everything without our help.Inevitably, there would be a package he couldn’t open, or a door handle he couldn’t reach. We’d offer to help as he tried incessantly to open it, unsuccessfully. It was useless. Talk about stubborn!Every time, a storm of tears would come.“I do myself.”As a parent, this was...

‘Carbing up’ for BelieversTeenage boys and their endless appetites are the stuff of legend. We know, because some of us at RCC Bible Study have been lucky enough this year to help feed the Cambridge-Isanti High School football team Thursday nights before their Friday night games.It’s a regular pasta-thon. A supersketti extravaganza. A noodilicious nosh. Technically speaking, it’s a carbo-rama-dama-do.Why? Well, the coach knows his team will have to focus and play hard through all four quarters of the game....

On Tuesday, my husband and I celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary. And in honor, I’ve decided to share a funny story about that time…Ben and I met in 9th grade when the Cambridge and Isanti Schools combined. We instantly hit it off, and by the time 10th grade rolled around, we had started dating. Fast-forward, after college, we found ourselves in our early twenties, living together at my mom’s, talking about marriage and planning for our future.This is when God...

Good Morning, EveryoneI want to share something from Bible study that really hit me. We were asked this question: When you think about your prayer life, what do you thank God for or ask Him for in your life? Earthly things or spiritual blessings? Not going to lie, my answer was earthly.This question stuck with me all week. Then the weekend came, and our girls were at a barrel race. One of the girls did well and actually won a...

Most days I share a story or a lesson I’m learning. This morning, I’d like to share a prayer with all of you based on Romans 12:2.“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”“Dear Lord, I confess that so many days I’m too focused on my own comfort when it would be much...

Our God is a refuge.A hiding place.He is a place of safety where we can go no matter what is happening in our lives or in the world around us.We can run to him always! I don’t know about you, but I find myself in need of comfort with all that is happening in the world. My heart hurts when I consider all the tragedy surrounding us.That’s when I run to Psalm 34 and claim all of the promises:Psalm 34:1-10,17-22“I...