Leslie's Little Devotional

I’ve just returned from the grocery store. Two hours, two carts and an envelope full of coupons later I arrive home.   As soon as my darling husband Randall hears the garage door open, he rallies the troops. By the troops, I mean whoever is in our house at the moment. It doesn’t matter if they live here or not. Our future son-in-law, Kevin found this out one of his first times in our home. He and Shelby were just relaxing and watching a movie when Randy called for all hands on deck. I think Kevin was a little shocked when the bags just kept coming. I am always grateful for the help with carrying the groceries. Once I did go shopping and came home to an empty house. As I trudged back and forth carrying bags I really missed my helpers. I found that things go much better when you have someone to help carry your burdens, even if they are groceries. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2) I wish all our burdens were as easy

I love autumn. The cooler temperatures, vibrant colors, smell of a bonfire, and taste of crisp apples just bring a peace to my soul. I look forward to this season with great anticipation. When roadside stands begin to fill with pumpkins and apples, I am positively giddy! One of my favorite pastimes is baking.   While I bake year round, I certainly bake more in fall and winter. Once the apples are ripe, I am off to bring home a bushel. In the days that follow our home is filled with apple pie, apple bars, apple cake, apple crisp, and apple muffins.   I spend hours peeling apples and pouring over my recipes.   My family usually enjoys it for a few days and then they’ve had enough apples. Once they are saturated, I start showing up at friend’s homes with baked goods in hand. Apple season offer me the opportunity to spend a lot of time in thought.   As I sit at the table peeling apples, my kids run in and out.   We have conversations and then they are off to work, play and so on.   Pe

            Earlier today I was reading John 10. This is the text where Jesus uses the illustration of the Good Shepherd and His sheep. In these verses we learn that there is also a thief seeking to rob us.             The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.              We live in a society filled with ways to protect ourselves, loved ones, and personal belongings. Our homes have deadbolt locks and alarms systems. The vehicles we drive have automatic door locks to protect us from carjackers.   Even our laptops are protected from viruses by software. We seek protection of our personal safety, finances, and data. Loss prevention businesses are making millions of dollars each year. It’s all about being proactive. As Christians we need to be proactive against theft too.   What do we need to protect? We need to protect our joy.   Each and every day we come up against people and situations that can steal our joy; th

My children have inherited many things from us, including a warped sense of humor. This was incredibly evident at an early age in our son, Matthew.   When he was just a preschooler, he and my husband were watching cartoons one Saturday morning. They happened to be watching Wile E. Coyote in his never ending pursuit of the elusive Road Runner.   When an anvil hit Wile E. on the head (as it always does) my son said, “That’s going to leave a mark”.   I was thinking about that story the other day and the phrase, “that’s going to leave a mark” got stuck in my head.   It had me wondering about the ways I leave a mark.   True, I don’t typically go around dropping anvils on people’s heads. In fact, I’ve never thrown an anvil.   However, I do use many, many words daily and those words have the power to leave a mark. Each and every day I am blessed with the opportunity to speak and interact with my family, friends, neighbors, and total strangers. Sometimes I totally underestimate the respon

Over the years I’ve facilitated and participated in many Bible studies. I love learning from and with others. Each person in the group brings their unique perspective to the table. Last fall I was doing a Beth Moore study called “Praying God’s Word” with a group of women.   One week we were discussing our thought lives. We all agreed that it was easy to hide our struggle with thoughts because other people cannot read our minds. Sure, things can come out through our words and actions but for the most part, our thoughts can be kept in secret from other people. One of the scriptures we discussed in regard to our thought lives was Philippians 4 verse 8. In this single verse is a wealth of instruction for us. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. If we keep our focus on what is true, we won’t listen to the li

The too familiar tornado siren sounded once again. This time it was in the middle of the night. Randy and I ran to our children’s rooms to rouse them out of bed. With the basset hound in tow we all headed down the basement stairs. This was the third time in just under two weeks. The previous tornado touched down a little over a mile away. Checking the radar, we could see this twister was headed right down the highway in our direction. Once again, too close for comfort. Taking no chances, we climbed under the pool table and waited. Randy and I did our best to keep everyone calm and reassured them that we were safe.   Finally the storm passed and headed out to a farm field, wearing itself out.   We all went back to bed and tried to get a little more sleep. I have never experienced a summer quite like that one. Honestly, I lost track of how many times that siren sent us seeking refuge in the basement.   One of the twisters that came through did quite a bit of damage to our city. Thankf

Every morning I begin the day the same way.   Before I step out of bed I always ask the Lord to bless the day and help me to be the woman He wants me to be. As my feet touch the carpet, it’s a clean slate.   Heading downstairs I greet whoever happens to be heading out for the day and settle down with a cup of coffee and my Bible. At this point the slate is almost always still clean; unless I trip over a backpack on my way to the kitchen.   However, barring no unforeseen landmines on the floor for me to trip over, my attitude is typically good. During my quiet time I do my best to focus on what my attitude should be, what I should and shouldn’t say, and what I should and shouldn’t do.   No one knows my triggers better than me, so I do my best to be proactive.   I pray and spend time in the Word in preparation for the day ahead. Given all of the above you would think that eventually I would get it right. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to make it through the day without messing up my clean

What’s for dinner? Those three words inspire me. Sometimes they inspire me to order pizza and other times they inspire me to think outside the box. Today was one of the “think outside the box days”. Grocery shopping is three days away and our storehouse is getting rather empty. On top of that, I don’t have a vehicle during the day so I couldn’t go to the store if I wanted to.   In our family we’ve come to call times like these our own version of the “fish and loaves”.   I’m sure you’re all familiar with the story when Jesus fed the multitude with a few fish and loaves of bread. This morning I even jokingly texted my husband and told him dinner was going to be a miraculous event. So, off I went to the fridge and found my “fish” in the form of three small chicken breasts and a pound of bacon.   Unfortunately when I checked the pantry, there weren’t any “loaves”.   Thankfully I love to bake bread so I whipped up a dozen rolls and set them aside to rise. Later, I fried the bacon and put

Ecclesiastes assures us there is a season for everything. For those of us with children, it is “back to school” season. For some of us school happens around the dining room table and for others it takes place at a local school. Some of you will be doing a “happy dance” when the bus pulls away. Others will tear through a box of tissues and count the hours until that bus brings them home. Maybe this is your first time at the rodeo and you’re sending your baby off to their first day of school ever.   Whatever scenario is playing out at your home today, it is the beginning of a new season.   To me, the beginning of the school year feels like a clean slate; ready to be filled with amazing things.   Today brings to mind, freshly sharpened pencils and new lunchboxes. It is a time to begin anew. It makes me think of Paul’s words: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I pr

This summer my daughter, Ashley, had an early morning appointment to take her test for her driver’s license. The location was about 30 minutes away. Being unfamiliar with the route we had to take, I planned to leave an hour early, just in case. My day began well.   Despite not being much of a morning person, I managed to get up and was ready with time to spare. While I was waiting for Ashley, I spent some time reading my Bible. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. I smiled while reading the familiar verse that had so often brought comfort.   When Ashley came down the stairs I could tell she was very nervous.   Silently I prayed that Ashley would trust the Lord with all her heart and that He would direct her path as she took her road test. Feeling confident, I grabbed my map and we headed out the door.   As we were backing down the driveway our brakes made an awful noise.