For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land … When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 8:7, 10-11 (NIV) Shortly before my husband and I and our two small children left our hometown Houston to make the valiant move to the foothills of North Carolina—leaving friends and family behind—I was equal parts excited and equal parts uncertain. Okay, may

Early in the morning he (Job) would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them (children), thinking, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts’. This was Job’s regular custom. Job 1:4-5 (NIV) This week’s devotional is a revised version of one I posted a few years back and will be included in, What the Morning Brings, a compilation of 52 Mary’s Musings devotionals that I hope to make available to readers sometime this year! Father of ten kids, it was Job

My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV) Thanksgiving. That one day of the year I allow myself to indulge in crazy amounts of food because, well, often momma is the one who’s prepared it. That and I honestly love the rich and savory taste and familiar smell of a traditional menu while seated at a table wreathed by family and friends. Add the scent of a flickering fall candle and…irresistible! Turkey Gravy Stuffin

Are you envious because I am generous? Matthew 20:15 (NIV) My mind has been lingering in the landowner’s vineyard described in Matthew 20 and meditating on the players in this parable. Here’s the set up… Early in the morning* (vs 1), 6:00 our time, the eager landowner (aka God) snagged some men to work in his vineyard. He offered to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them to his vineyard. At about the third hour (9 o’clock AM), the landowner went out again and saw men s

He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. Psalm 103:10 Far too often my prayers had become weak in praises and, instead, replete with petitions. “Dear God, I need…” And simply altering the focus from requesting tangible things (food, shoes, clothes, etc) to intangible (someone’s salvation or a good dose of peace and strength) didn’t invoke more of God’s blessings or get quicker responses from Him. Whether tangible or intangible, I’d tota