Nov 26, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 One of my favorite stories about Thanksgiving is not about the holiday. It is about the attitude that birthed the holiday. When I...
Nov 19, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord,and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.8 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you.What I have vowed I...
Nov 12, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.His love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of gods.His love endures forever.Give thanks to the Lord of lords:His love endures forever.Psalm 136:1-3 The children at the Ranch memorize whole chapters of the Bible starting...
Nov 5, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
“…it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise,...
Oct 29, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written...
Oct 22, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”Matthew 6:10 Does God know better than we do what is best for each of us? Sometimes I amaze myself when I hear myself praying, as if God needs my advice. I try so hard to explain to Him what...
Oct 15, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…”Matthew 6:33 One of the heart-wrenching discoveries we made as our new children began spending the night with us were the food remnants we found on the floor and the large pieces of bread and...
Oct 8, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
“Do not be anxious about anything….”“…Each day has enough trouble of its own.”Philippians 4:6 and Matthew 6:34 When our adopted children arrived from Ukraine in 2002, they had a long, hard adjustment to the US economy, coming from a place where wages are...
Oct 1, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
God has used my adopted children to teach me even as I have been trying to teach them. One of the most powerful lessons God gave me was something that occurred before we arrived in Ukraine. When Stephen, my precious son, learned that there was an American family that...
Sep 24, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” Matthew 6:33 In earlier devotionals, we’ve talked about having a new dad. We’ve talked about having new brothers and sisters. We’ve talked about having a new...
Sep 17, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
Our son Clayton was in law school when our children, Stephen, Elizabeth and Peter, arrived from Ukraine. While in law school, he had been coaching a soccer team of middle-schoolers in Lexington, Virginia. When he saw Stephen’s skills in soccer, Clayton arranged for...
Sep 10, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace...
Sep 3, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of...
Aug 27, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” When you’re part of the family of God, there’s a new approach to your wardrobe. There’s a new approach to your hygiene. There’s a new approach to your diet, and there’s a new language. In Colossians 3 we read, “And be...
Aug 20, 2025 | Weekly Devotional
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And...
