Ordinary Days Daily Devotional Podcast

My computer virus protection system detected and removed three harmful cookies from somewhere in the system. I have no idea what that means, except that my computer is now safe. I wish my waistline had a comparable detection and removal system. We surround our lives with many types of detection and removal systems. For example, … Continue reading “Virus Detection And Removal System – Friday, November 1st, 2019”

Any child wanting to be an athlete must go through a learning process in the sport. For instance, girls come into the Gymnastic Academy to learn how to become gymnasts. The process for being a good gymnast takes many years. Gymnasts must learn everything from how to execute skills to how to wear their hair … Continue reading “The Learning Process”

Today I reached into my refrigerator to grab some ingredients for a smoothie, including a bottle of orange juice called Simply Orange. Anyone familiar with this brand knows the company uses nothing but oranges in its juice, no artificial preservatives or added sugar. The church should adopt this company’s strategy and go Simply Gospel, no … Continue reading “Simply Gospel – Wednesday, 30th, 2019”

During the week preceding Halloween, the preschool students wear costumes and parade through the gym. We have seen a variety of costumes, including a school bus, golf caddy, Captain America, Spiderman, Superman and Supergirl. Children young and old seem to appreciate superheroes with their strengths, powers and invincibility. Society loves its superheroes, because we consider … Continue reading “Jesus Christ, Superhero”

Since this is Halloween week, the gymnasts picked a theme for each day and have dressed according to the theme. Today was imposter day. Several of the girls decided to impersonate me. They know me well: One wore a Chicago Cubs T-shirt, one had one of my TOPs (Top Opportunity Program—run by the United States … Continue reading “Imitators Of God – Monday, October 28th, 2019”

Music fills my days. All week long in the gym the athletes have their phones plugged into the stereo. From the youngest member of the team to the oldest, the girls all seem to know the hits. On a regular basis I hear Charlie Puth’s “Let’s Marvin Gaye and Get it On”; One Direction’s “Drag … Continue reading “God’s Songs – Friday, October 25th, 2019”

Somedays I set a deadline for the evening reflection simply because I have responsibilities later in the day. Unfortunately, my preset deadlines don’t often work out. The more I try to make the deadline the less likely that comes to pass. Instead, I become frustrated and annoyed that I cannot get the writing finished. I … Continue reading “Don’t Give God Deadlines”

Not too long ago I talked to a friend who had hit a couple of rough patches in her life. The difficulties have affected several areas of her life at once. The people she thought she could rely on for support have not been helpful. Her description of what she is going through made me … Continue reading “Christ Fills Empty Hearts – Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019”

For the last ten days I went without sugar. I drastically reduced my sugar intake but could not eliminate it altogether from my diet because sugar is in practically everything. I was surprised by the types and numbers of food items that contain sugar. Sugar and sin are similar in this regard; sin is in … Continue reading “The Similarity Between Sugar And Sin”

After days of repeated mistakes, a gymnast finally managed to make a correction that led to significant improvement in a skill. She needed to make the mistakes, because each one made her stronger. Finally, she had the strength to make the change. Then I told her to repeat the skill again, keeping her effort and … Continue reading “What’s Next? – Friday, October 18th, 2019”

Jesus heals a man born blind (John 9). Living in total darkness this man was unable to perceive even the brightest light shone in his eyes. Fear and hopelessness were probably his traveling companions until Jesus applied a healing mud to his eyes. Through Jesus the work of God was displayed in his life. Since … Continue reading “Born Blind – Thursday, October 17th, 2019”

Years ago, there was a popular board game called Trivial Pursuit. This was a game of questions and answers. The questions were, as the title suggests, trivial. The information given in the questions were of very little value or significance. Today as I sat reading the paper, I realized most of the articles were stories … Continue reading “Always Relevant – Wednesday, October 16th, 2019”

Unless you are a Chicago Cubs fan, you don’t understand all the excitement, hope and celebration surrounding the team’s 2015 National League Division Series win. Cubs fans have lived through decades of losses, seasons of drought when there have been no championship celebrations, and years of humiliation at being eliminated from the post season before … Continue reading “When I Thought Like A Child”

My Bible study group is slowly working through Revelation. I have read through this book several times and find the themes to be hopeful and triumphant. But through the ages Revelation has been a difficult and sometimes troubling book for Christians. Since I was a teenager I have heard people predict the end of the … Continue reading “Ask Questions”

Today was my first introduction to Patti Smith—singer, songwriter and poet—whose career began in 1975 when her album Horses debuted. I would have just skimmed over the article in Rolling Stone Magazine, except this lyric from her song Gloria caught my eye. Smith wrote, “Jesus died for somebody’s sin, but not mine.” To me this … Continue reading “Why Keep Our Sin? – Friday, October 11th, 2019”

I was having a nice day. Then somebody insulted me, and I became irritated. I thought I had dismissed the remark, but I found myself later in the day angry about the comment. I wanted to retaliate. But I thought about Christ instead, and I became aware of how petty and childish my thoughts were. … Continue reading “God Is Big – Thursday, October 10th, 2019”

The Facebook newsfeed is rich with sayings, such as this one: “I survived another meeting that should have been an e- mail.” Another was, “Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.” Still another one read, “No matter how good or bad your life is, wake up … Continue reading “A Saying Worth Repeating – Wednesday, October 9th, 2019”

Recently I read a Bible study on trumpets. In the Old Testament trumpets were used in a variety of ways, including signaling armies to attack or retreat, moving camps and gathering the people for worship, festivals and other celebrations. A trumpet has a very clear, sharp, distinct sound. When I listen to an orchestra I … Continue reading “Trumpet Sound – Tuesday, October 8th, 2019”

In 2015 the Chicago Cubs’ 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Baseball Wild Card playoff game represented a new era for Cub fans. We became hopeful, enthusiastic and excited about the future. Jake Arrieta’s pitching was typical for this outstanding athlete, who finished the regular season with a 22-6 record, a … Continue reading “A New Era – Monday, October 7th, 2019”

Psalm 62:11-12 says, “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.” In these two verses I notice the intimacy David shared with God and the depth to which … Continue reading “Less Experience – Friday, October 4th, 2019”

As I flew out of the Houston airport for home today, the sky was blue and clear and full of light. But as I traveled north I noticed a large band of clouds forming under the plane. Above the clouds the sky was still blue and clear, but I realized the clouds were blocking the … Continue reading “The Clouds Of Sin – Thursday, October 3rd, 2019”

A friend sent me this quote from St. Jerome, who was both a theologian and Bible translator: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Jerome’s statement needs to be painted on every church wall in America. For some reason many people sitting in church to- day are under the impression they can have an intimate … Continue reading “The Ignorance Of Scripture Is… – Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019”

I was reading during my flight to Houston. As the steward made his way down the aisle past my seat he paused, reached above my head and turned the light on over my seat. He mentioned the light would make my reading easier. He was right. The strange thing to me was that I was … Continue reading “Never Accept Darkness – Tuesday, October 1st, 2019”

I have been wondering for some time what it means to live under the authority of God in Christ. And I can honestly say, I am not good at allowing Him to have authority over me. Instead, I try to have authority over Him. How do I do that? By telling Christ what to do … Continue reading “Living Under Christ’s Authority – Monday, September 30th, 2019”

This morning I was awake earlier than usual. So I did some thinking. And what I thought was this: Worry is putting our thoughts on the things of this world; prayer is putting our thoughts on the Person of Jesus Christ. Then I thought about churches. And one conclusion I arrived at is this: Churches … Continue reading “The Worrying Church – Friday, September 27th, 2019”

At the gym today on beam, some gymnasts were caught cheating on their assignments. One didn’t do the right number of assigned routines. Another left out a tumbling element and another fell but counted the routine anyway. What puzzles me is how these girls think they can get away with the dishonesty when the beam … Continue reading “When I Think God Isn’t Looking – Thursday, September 26th, 2019”

The world has convinced us that creating division is better than striving for reconciliation. From politicians to children angry talk and destructive words are filling the news media, social media, school hallways and family homes. Divisions abound and are weakening our democracy, churches and families. Jesus said in Luke 11:17, “Any kingdom divided against itself … Continue reading “Ministry Of Reconciliation – Wednesday, September 25th, 2019”

The daylight hours are getting shorter. When I start walking in the morning it is dark because the sun is still nestled under the horizon. I have to use a flashlight to illuminate my path, so I don’t trip and stumble over uneven sidewalks. Likewise, as I am returning home after work, the sun is … Continue reading “Gradual Darkness – Tuesday, September 24th, 2019”

The other afternoon my daughter and I were watching Cher’s Living Proof: The Farewell Tour on TV. I had seen Cher’s concert live. As we watched the performance on television I was reminded of the energy and excitement of that July evening in 2003. As show time approached, the emotion in the crowd intensified until … Continue reading “Pure Exhilaration – Monday, September 23rd, 2019”

Today a church I am familiar with held a neighborhood out- reach event. The congregation bought supplies for the event and advertised it and opened the church doors, hoping to draw in the neighbors. A few neighbors attended. Some church members were slightly discouraged by the lack of participation and wanted to give up sponsoring … Continue reading “Pray Up – Friday, September 20th, 2019”

My daughter is going to a special event this weekend, so she and I have been out this evening buying a new dress, shoes and accessories for the occasion. While it is not a black-tie event, it is still an occasion that demands fine clothing. Appropriate dress shows respect to the host of the event. … Continue reading “Proper Attire – Thursday, September 19th, 2019”

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Thomas Paine wrote this famous line: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” His words resonate with us today. These days test our souls. And like our forebears, we must choose either to face our current difficulties with courage or shrink away from the challenges that confront … Continue reading “These Are The Times – Wednesday, September 18th, 2019”

Last week I insisted that one of the gymnasts move a new beam skill from a low beam to a high beam using mats stacked under it for safety. She didn’t appreciate my assignment, and a glaring look communicated her annoyance with me at that moment. Today, however, she raced across the gym to tell … Continue reading “Obedience And Insight – Tuesday, September 17th, 2019”

I was reading in Exodus the story of God’s bringing water forth from the rock for the Israelites. God told Moses to take his staff and go to the rock. Then God said, “I will be standing there before you on the rock” (Exodus 17:6). According to the Jewish Midrash “This implies ‘In every place … Continue reading “How Close Is God? – Friday, September, 13th, 2019”

A few of my gymnasts were floundering in practice. After watching them wander through assignments and fail to complete tasks, I decided they needed more individual attention. So, I sat with each one and wrote out a specific assignment for each event. So far, so good. My gymnasts then began to complete the assignments. There … Continue reading “Floundering – Thursday, September 12th, 2019”

I keep a digital copy of everything I write on my desktop computer and two separate thumb drives. The thumb drives are home to hundreds of pieces of writing, which represent thousands of hours of work. I do not want to lose them. I also have the work stored on the thumb drives so I … Continue reading “The Writings Of God – Wednesday, September 11th, 2019”

My heart is heavy tonight because several of my friends are coping with difficulties. Some of them have been diagnosed with cancer; others are staggering under the weight of grief; a few have strained family relationships and some are enduring financial hardships. We all know the heartache of helping friends cope with difficult situations. We … Continue reading “Christ Carries The Load – Tuesday, September 10th, 2019”

In the past few weeks, my heart has been burdened to pray for others who are going through difficulties in their lives. And today, as another difficult situation was brought to me, I realized that there are not enough hours in my day for prayer. Paul said we are to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), … Continue reading “Christ Prays – Monday, September 9th, 2019”

I am going to a Chicago Cubs baseball game tonight. Watching baseball live is a very different experience from listening to a game on the radio, viewing it on the MLB app or seeing it on television. At the stadium, I can more readily witness the talent and prowess of the players. A camera lens … Continue reading “On That Glorious Day – Friday, September 6th, 2019”

When the competitive gymnastic season is over, we design workouts to build our gymnasts’ strength. Conditioning increases, and coaches focus on cardio workouts, endurance exercises and strength development, so the gymnasts are fit and strong for the next season. Good coaches spend many hours developing strong athletes. Still the athletes must do the work if … Continue reading “Build Strength – Thursday, September 5th, 2019”

Peter wrote, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from … Continue reading “Make Every Effort – Wednesday, September 4th, 2019”

I have a wall hanging in my office that says FAITH. I had fixed it to a wall with an adhesive. But tonight when I came up to my office, I noticed the two strips of adhesive were still on the wall, but FAITH had fallen off the wall and lay behind my desk. In … Continue reading “In Other Words – Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019”

These days the world is a mean and scary place. The media bombards us with images of violence, poverty, hatred and humanity’s viciousness, which only fuels our fears. As we watch the news we wonder if there is a way out of this mess. Every generation has wondered about the mess the world is in. … Continue reading “A Scary Place – Friday, August 30th, 2019”

Tonight my husband and I attended a concert in which the band imitated the group the Eagles. The band sounded very close to the actual Eagles. These musicians played many of the Eagles’ greatest hits, and it was easy to hear that they had spent many hours perfecting their ability to play the Eagles’ music. … Continue reading “Imitate Christ – Thursday, August 29th, 2019”

Two young cyclists bolted across a dark street in front of my car tonight. They blended into the darkness because their bikes had no lights, and they wore no reflective clothing. Fortunately, they were not hurt. However, I made sure they knew they were not visible to drivers and told them to get home. When … Continue reading “Speak To Those In Harm’s Way”

The phrase nothing lasts forever is one I remember hearing as a child when one of my toys broke. Sometimes it has been used in reference to a break up in a relationship. It might be spoken when a business closes. Or we may casually toss it around in conversation if the context is right. … Continue reading “What Lasts Forever? – Tuesday, August 27th, 2019”

Buying groceries is challenging. Some days I seem to buy too many groceries, and other days I buy too few. I can’t predict with much accuracy my family’s rate of food consumption. I can’t get groceries right, but God can. After rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He provided manna, a type of bread, … Continue reading “Christ Provides”