Category: Devotionals

Bringing New Life to Dead Vines

A Christmas wreath on a fence.

Image by Kim Newberg from Pixabay

How an armful of yard clean-up became a new creation

As I wondered how to dispose of dead vines I’d gathered in autumn from the trees in our backyard, I wrapped an extra long one around my arm to carry it to the fire pit. I had a thick circle of dried vine by the time I got there.

I thought it looked like the base for a lovely Christmas wreath!

The dead and withered vine, choking our trees and therefore destined for the fire, suddenly had a new life and a more beautiful purpose. I made three wreaths that year. One for myself and one each for my two daughters.

They looked delightful, wrapped in tartan ribbon and tied in a bow with leaves from our evergreen trees.

In 2 Corinthians, God tells us that He reconciled Himself to the world through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. God no longer counts our sins against us.

If we are in Christ, we are a new creation. The old person is dead to sin, and the new person is alive in Christ. We, too, have a new life and a more beautiful purpose.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Do you feel like a new creation? If not, ask God to reveal Himself as you walk with Him today. What old things do you see that are made new? Perhaps a lovely garden container from found evergreen branches and pine cones. Or a treasured old piece of furniture painted and made into garden art?

If we can transform old things which seem of little worth, how much more can our loving God transform us?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, transform me into the image of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Your Son. Show me that I am a new person because of Him.

Continued reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 11-21.

’Til next time —thank you for reading, and  remember you are loved by the One who created you in His image. Merry Christmas, everyone! 💜🎂🩷

~ Lynne

*This devotion was initially posted in Koinonia on my Medium profile.

How We Know God Cares for Us

Photo by Kendall Hoopes on Pexels.com

What is humankind to the Creator?

“When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?”

(Psalm 8:3–4, NIV)

The Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt when Moses said God heard their cries. Toiling in the hot desert, they were skeptical. But God did as He said.

In the Servant Songs, Isaiah chapters 42–43, God again hears the people and gives them hope that He will send a Deliverer.

What do we mean to God?

We mean more to Him than we can possibly imagine!

God sent His son to show us, and He pursues us still.

Johnny Cash sings a beautiful song about this.

*This devotional was previously published in Koinonia

“Til next time, remember you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

~ Lynne

Walking Through the Storms

When life makes us weary, our Heavenly Father is close by.

Photo by Kat Smith on Pexels.com

Four years ago, I broke my dominant arm in two places and shattered my shoulder. Helpless in many ways, I lost my independence, was unsteady on my feet, and could barely type with my other hand.

I had to learn to live with my new limitations and be patient with my body as it healed. But God is forever present and faithful in our trials. He walked with me through it all. 

Today, I’m finishing edits on a novel I wrote during that time.

I simply had to wait out the storm.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)

~ Lynne

*this devotional was initially published in Koinonia, a Medium online publication.

What God Really Wants

Just one simple thing

View at Medium.com
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What God Wants

What if all that God requires of me
is the simplest thing
as I wake in the morning
before I do any other thing
before I make any other decision
about what to eat
or what to wear
before I speak
or comb my hair
before I sit at my desk
what if I simply ask
“What do You have for me today?”
and listen to what He has to say?

Just one simple thing

What if it’s that simple? I mean, really that simple? Have we been overcomplicating this trust in God thing?

Have we wasted so much time reading the perfect study books and taking the ideal writing courses? Maybe attending the excellent workshops or listening to the ones we think have the perfect biblical answers?

I was busy doing all of those things and getting nowhere until I remembered that God had the answers to all my questions. He knew me better and more intimately than anyone else.

Better than anyone who I thought knew what was best for me. He knew my struggles and how I could overcome the fogginess in my mind and aching in my heart. And who knows social media marketing algorithms better?

“It’s acceptable. It’s been normalized. It’s expected. But that doesn’t make it right.”

 Kimberley Payne’s devotional on ‘Busyness.’

I wanted to serve Him, but I’d forgotten to ask what He wanted me to do!

His burden is light

Now I make sure I choose to ask God every morning before I do anything else. I thank Him for the new day and the opportunity to serve Him as His daughter.

I wait for Him to speak to me and ask what He wants me to learn that day. Then I choose one devotional book and follow the writer’s prompts to read further in Scripture.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29–30, NIV)

I usually get a prompt to think about something throughout the day. Sometimes I get an idea for a short memoir or a few lines for a poem! Sometimes I’m led to talk with a friend or maybe pray for someone that suddenly comes to mind out of the blue.

All other things stand firm in their rightful position for the day if that one foundation is laid first. Even if I’m not prompted to do anything, I know I’m still in His will because I did the simplest thing first — I asked.

So, as I go about my day, I occasionally pause and listen, content to wait for His answer.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33–34 NIV)

*This post was initially published by Lynne on Medium in the publication Koinonia on April 29, 2022

*As an Amazon associate, I may receive a commission on book sales.

The Lead Trout

The Lead Trout

The trout thrashed wildly as it swam upstream, darting side-to-side against the undercurrent and rising above the rapids on its quest to reach the final goal. It weaved in and out of fallen branches, searching for the perfect path. Once found, it swam freely to a calmer place where it could rest and gather its strength.

But the fish didn’t keep going after its well-deserved rest. Instead, this fish turned around and headed back the way it had come.

You see, this trout was stronger than the rest. He was prepared to battle the river and face possible death to get the others through. I saw the smaller trout waiting in a shallow recess way behind where the bigger fish had been struggling. They waited for the bigger fish, stronger and more experienced, to show them the way. More and more gathered to wait with them.

No doubt, their smaller bodies would have succumbed to the rapids and whirlpools on the way to spawn. But the leader came back for them and again started on the path through, patiently waiting for each one to follow, and turning back if one was swept downstream by the current.

I watched in utter amazement as these fish followed the leader, and the leader, in turn, refused to let any of the group be left behind.

We Follow Our Lord

I thought of our Lord, leading His disciples and how they followed His leadership, knowing He was a good teacher. He didn’t give up, and He finished his mission; to lead everyone who would accept, to salvation.

John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Here, Christ is teaching His followers to follow His example and love each other. As His disciples, we are called to follow Him as He shows us the way we need to go. Without Him we would suffer amidst the evil of the world, or be swept away by the deceptive undercurrents. Yet, following our great Teacher, we persevere toward the goal with the assurance He will lead the way.

Lord, teach us Your ways so we may be willing to show others how much You love them.

Written as a lesson for a devotional course. This is an actual event I observed as I sat by the river. I was there for quite a while, fascinated by the scene playing out before my eyes.

Til next time, know you are loved by the One who created you in His image.

~ Lynne

Resource – if you’d like to learn how to write devotionals, email Marcia Laycock at vinemarc@telus.net