Devotions from James Smith book, Embracing the Love of God What does a Normal day look like when we are caring for our body, soul and spirit? When we wake up we can turn our thoughts to the Lord first and thank Him for his grace, love, forgiveness, and care for us. This helps us…

Devotions from James Smith’s book Embracing the Love of God Our body was designed to interact with the spiritual realm. When we do certain spiritual exercise (all of which involve our bodies) we nurture and develop our souls and spirits. This is called spiritual formation.  Spiritual formation is happening all the time, even when we…

Devotions based on James Smith book Embracing the Love of God Caring for ourselves involves nurturing our spirit, soul and body. The new self, the true self that we are in Christ, requires ongoing spiritual sustenance.  God has left us exercises and activities that allow spiritual life and power to flow through us.  Prayer, for…

Devotions from James Smith book Embracing the Love of God God cares for how we care for ourselves and this care for ourselves is not something selfish.  As we care for ourselves we are really allowing God to care for us. The very fact that he gave us a Sabbath day shows that He cares…

Devotions from James Smith’s book, Embracing the Love of God How did we get the notion that if we believe in God  we will experience perfect peace and prosperity and avoid pain?  Life can be difficult no matter how much faith we have, but in the midst of our trials He is very present. When…

Devotions from James Smith book, Embracing the Love of God The two most difficult people to forgive are those whom we can’t forgive because they are no longer with us and those who don’t care whether we forgive them or not.  We can still obtain complete forgiveness even if the person is no longer alive. …

Devotions from James Smith’s book, Embracing the Love of God The only way we can be healed of the things that have hurt us is to forgive. When we forgive a person, we set a prisoner free, but we discover that the real prisoner was ourselves. The healing journey involves discovering how much we have…

Devotions from James Smith’s book, Embracing the Love of God. Spurgeon said,” Let us go to Calvary to learn how we may be forgiven. And let us linger there to learn how to forgive.” God invented forgiveness because he knew that we are capable of harming one another and that forgiveness is the only way…

Devotions from James Smith book, Embracing the Love of God It is often easier to accept God’s forgiveness for things we have done than to forgive ourselves. It takes courage to forgive ourselves and to silence the voice that condemns us. In fact we may become comfortable with our pain and failure and actually fear…

Devotions based on Jill Briscoe’s article, Trusting God Through Trouble There is a difference between resignation and acceptance of difficult situations. Elisabeth Elliot, whose husband died at the hands of the Auca Indians, could have gone home with her daughter . Instead she asked the Lord in what redemptive way could He use this terrible…