We all have an alter ego. There's the side that everyone sees, and there's a side that you have to protect against the rest of the world. It's most commonly the one that flies off the loose end and gets you in trouble Hopefully, that side of you is fairly similar to the real you, but even if it was, could you show it to others? Today's devotion is about authenticity and not just to the ones who don't know you. It's about the one who does.

My mom once told me the best things come to those who wait. We all have things we have to willing to wait for. I once waited an entire year for an item to go on sale before finally purchasing it when it was discounted. So, my mom knew what she was talking about. God does too. I honestly do not know why God would not just give up on some of us. I’m thankful He did not give up on me. My Thanksgiving Devotion speaks of just that … His patience …

Whenever we watch a movie, we always identify with two common sides. We all identify with a person trying to do good, and we often have either disdain or loathing for the character often regarded as ‘the bad guy.’ You know the type, right? The person who does things that are clearly out of bounds or evil. We could never be that person. Or could we? Maybe we all have a bit more in common with them that we would like to admit. I’m not saying we are bad people. But sometimes, we need to know that we are ‘The Bad Guy.’ Today’s devotion points out how …

We are very quick to define an evil act, and that is easy to both understand and define. We are also quick to define someone as evil. That, however, is not as easily definable. We all see wrongdoings fairly similar, but while acts at times meet the definition, does it mean the person does as well? If we met a person that we thought was evil, how would we respond? This week’s devotion talks about how defining someone as ‘evil’ may not be as easy as you think …

Is the glass half full or half empty? It sounds like such a silly question, but it does say a lot about our perspective. My mom never complained about the milk container being half full. But there is something to be said about the reality of a situation. I do not ever want to be unrealistic and inauthentic. But I do want to be encouraging of others and positive in doing so. How? That’s where today’s devotion starts …

Our story as followers of Christ has always been one of redemption. The love and empowerment shown by God has always been a source of strength. But not many know that story. Furthermore, people assume our lives are a fairy tale where we lived happily ever after. We know that is not the case, but do others? Do they know our authentic selves? And if they did, would it push them away or draw them closer to us and more importantly God? That is the right question and where this devotion begins …

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” my father would say. That was as my Dad showered every morning to start the day. I often wondered what was behind all that. It is good to have a ritual that helps you find focus and energy. While today’s devotion talks about a shower, you’ll see it covers quite a bit more than that …

Over the years, I have spoken about the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness can go away, but joy lasts even through the bad times. I wondered if everyone has someone they can use as reference to remind them of the joy in their lives. I will tell you about mine with the hope that you will not only remember God is a source of joy but also have someone in your life (parent, sibling, friend, spouse) you can rely on to remind you of that joy …

We all have strength to endure many situations. Some might be work related and others are at home. In a world where relationships are far more challenging and yet many know us from a distance, it can be difficult to know who is struggling out there. Sometimes, the person struggling is the person you see in the mirror. What do you do? Today’s devotion is not about how strong you are. It’s about whose strength you can rely on …