Max Lucado is one of my favorite Christian authors. He has written almost 100 books with more than 150 million in print and has been called “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today and “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest. His books have been published in 56 languages worldwide and they regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today. Everything Max writes is excellent. I read his 365-day devotion, “God is with

Lauren Center Willis shared this devotion at rootedministry.com entitled, “Experiencing God’s Grace in the Everyday.” I haven’t always known what grace looked like. I could recognize what “Amazing Grace” sounded like, but I couldn’t have told you what it really looked or felt like. Mainly because I didn’t know what grace really meant. Growing up in church, I always heard grace and mercy explained and differentiated like this: “Mercy is not getting something you do deserve, wh

Dr. Michael Youssef, born in Egypt, is the founding pastor of the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, GA, and the executive president of “Leading the Way”, a ministry focused on reaching Muslims in the Middle East. At his website, he shared this devotion on November 27, 2025, entitled, “A Heart of Thanksgiving”. Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” For every temptati

At his website, best-selling Christian author Max Lucado shares these encouraging thoughts about Joy. Everyone is looking for joy. Marketing companies know this. Every commercial promises the same product: joy. Want some joy? Buy our hand cream. Want some joy? Sleep on this mattress. Want some joy? Eat at this restaurant, drive this car, wear this dress. Every commercial portrays the image of a joy-filled person. Even Preparation H. Before using the product, the guy frowns an

Pastor Brian Hedges of Redeemer Church in Niles, MI, shared these thoughts about Philippians 3:15-21. It was Oliver Wendall Holmes, the 19th-century American poet, who first said that “Some people are so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good.” …But actually, nothing could be further from the truth. History demonstrates that the people in this world who have done the most good are actually those people who are the most conscious of the world to come. Think of William W

This dramatic, true story by Pastor Greg Davis entitled, “This is My Story: Persevering through Pain,” is from news.ag.org. It was the happiest moment of our lives. After an eight-year struggle with infertility, my wife, Nancy, and I welcomed our son, Colton, into the world. Finally, life seemed perfect. But that perfection lasted only two hours. When I went to the hospital nursery to check on Colton, I discovered he was not there. Our baby had been rushed to the neonatal int

What a find! Imagine being the person who made this incredible discovery (credit: royalexaminer.com; July 3, 2025). It was a simple $4 purchase at a Pennsylvania flea market in 1989. A man browsing through odds and ends came across a faded country scene in an old frame. The frame looked promising, so he bought it. He had no idea he was about to uncover one of the rarest pieces of American history. Tucked behind the artwork, folded into the size of a business envelope, was wha

In his 1986 book, “Who Switched the Price Tags?”, Tony Campolo shared this true story about the value of work. Tony Campolo and his wife, Peggy, were visiting Scotland to find the specific shipyard where her grandfather had worked before immigrating to the United States. Unsure of the directions, they stopped a middle-aged woman on the street to ask the way. As it turned out, she worked at that very shipyard and invited the Campolos to walk along with her. During their walk,

Jeff Collins, director of “Love & Action” (a national, interdenominational, Christian ministry offering help and hope to men, women and children who are HIV+ or living with AIDS by sharing Jesus’ love, grace, mercy and hope through word and deed), shared the following powerful, true story. It had been a trying week at our Love & Action office. At 5:00pm on a Friday, I was looking forward to having a quiet dinner with friends. Then the phone rang. I heard a quivering voice: “J

John C. Maxwell is a former pastor plus a top global leadership expert, speaker, and bestselling author who has sold millions of books focusing on leadership and personal growth. In his 2014 book, How High Will You Climb?, he shares a fascinating link between Attitude and Altitude. Your attitude determines your altitude. Aircraft operate at maximum efficiency when flying at a higher altitude. It requires less fuel because the density of air decreases. The greater the altitude

The article, “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” is from women.lifeway.com. Lifeway Women is a “welcoming community of women who love God, love His Word, and are growing together in faith.” It’s good encouragement for all of us. I cannot count the number of conversations I’ve had with God…in which I tell Him I’ll be better if He changes my circumstances. If You gave me a bigger house, I would practice hospitality. If You make my friend less cranky, I’ll love her better. If You had

Here is some helpful background information about Paul’s letter to the Philippians from ChristianityToday.com. This ancient letter of Paul to the Philippians is unlike the letters of the day, which were brief and to the point. This letter is longer. It speaks not only to the church and individuals, but is also for the rest of the church to overhear! The letter encourages readers toward progress in their faith, all the while addressing specific issues. Historical Background Ph

Rhonda Harrington Kelley shared this dramatic, true story about forgiveness and her famous father, Evangelist Bob Harrington. Forgiveness is a significant theme in God’s Word. The Bible tells us: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will remember not your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). “He [Jesus] was delivered up because of our offenses, and ra

Be encouraged by this reminder to daily choose to love and extend Christ’s grace, patience, forgiveness, grace and mercy, to everyone – and be sure to start with your family members. One evening, after a long day at work, David came home tired and frustrated. The house was noisy, the dishes were still in the sink, and his children were arguing over a toy. He felt like walking away to be alone. As he reached for the doorknob to leave the room, he noticed a small piece of paper

One of my favorite Christian authors is Francis Chan. He and his wife Lisa are authors of the book, You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity. At desiringgod.org, Francis was asked, “‘How do you and Lisa argue like Christians?’ Some readers of the book will be surprised that he and Lisa have conflict — but of course, married couples won’t be too surprised; we all do at some point. So when it comes to verbal conflicts and disagreements, what is a core lesson you have l