From the outside looking in, Joseph’s life doesn’t look like it was blessed and directed by God.After all, the story we find in Genesis describes the joy and excitement of the favored son of Jacob.  Joseph had dreams that were given to him by God, but his decision to reveal those dreams to his brothers and parents would ultimately lead Joseph into a world of betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment.Jos...  Read More

 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the kno...  Read More

“Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”(Psalm 119:11)“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”(Psalm 119:105)I turned sixty years old four years ago, and my son-in-law, Adam, asked me, “On your sixtieth birthday, what are the top three pieces of advice you would give me?” I said I would have to think about two and three, but I immediately knew my re...  Read More

“In Your presence is fullness of joy...”(Psalm 16:11)God meets us in our desperation. There I was, a seventeen-year-old boy, in Cleveland, Ohio, recovering from my fifth open heart surgery. Four days had already passed, and it was getting late.  My parents had just enough time to catch the last shuttle to their hotel. They reluctantly said their goodbyes, and I found myself alone. I’m looking at m...  Read More

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”(Psalm 62:5,6)I’ll never forget encountering these verses from Psalm 62. I’d read this psalm many times before, but not yet in this way. This particular day, my heart was heavy with pain and desperately seeking the Lord’s comfort and direction. Eyes searchin...  Read More

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”(1 John 3:1)When Jesus taught us to pray, He said, “Our Father”, not “my Father!” Yes, “Our Father!” God is Our Father (Matthew 6:9) and as born again believers, we are His children and members of His Holy Family (1 John 3:1-2). As family members of God, it is so important we asse...  Read More

Here you will find the questions that were included at the end of each Week 1 devotion. Use as many of these as you want to facilitate a small group gathering.   Strive to include E.S.P.N. in each Small Group gatheringEncouragement, Scripture, Prayer, Next Steps • What are the major hindrances to you for establishing a personal, intentional, and consistent time with the Lord in your life?• Do you ...  Read More