Leslie's Little Devotional

                                                      Recently, Facebook offered users the opportunity to have a visual created showing the words they most used over the past year.   This simple cloud of words speaks volumes about us as individuals. In Matthew 12:34 we are told:             “ The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart.” In other words, what we say reveals the depth of our hearts. Knowing this, I must admit it was with some trepidation that I hit the button to create my cloud. After all, social media gives us the opportunity to share our thoughts with countless people.   That opportunity also comes with great responsibility.   Words are powerful and we are going to be accountable for how we use them.             “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37 ESV)             The Lord used this simple visual on Facebook to remind me that I must choose my words carefully.   I am responsi

                 Politics, religion, and opinions, social media is filled with them! Each day our news feed offers new and creative things to offend Christians. We are called to boycott, sign petitions, and “share” the latest hot topic. Most recently, a red paper coffee cup has people up in arms. Starbucks is changing only the color of their cup this season. There will be no Christmas trees, snowflakes, snowmen or Jesus in a manger on the cups. This fact has some people hotter than the temperature of Gr ande low-fat peppermint mocha.             Earlier today, after scrolling through various opinions on “the red cup”, I began to ponder it all. Have we turned finding things to be offended by into a full time ministry? What message does this send to non-believers? What merits mounting a soapbox to proclaim our opinions and express our offense? Are we appropriately applying God’s Word when it comes to politics or are we using it to further our own agenda? These are questio

                A year ago I received a Fitbit from my children as a Mother’s Day gift. It has been a great source of motivation to me. This device tracks my steps, miles walked, and calories burned. Additionally, it tracks my sleep pattern. Upon awakening each day I can view a report that tells me how many hours I slept, how many times I awakened during the night, and how much time I was restless.                 I was thinking about the sleep report today as I took a walk. Logging my miles I began to talk to the Lord, telling Him how much I regret the time I’ve lost to worry.   You see, worry and fear are two of the things I struggle with.    As I continued walking and praying, I was struck by a thought.   The time I spend in “restless” mode each night accomplishes nothing. It neither refreshes me nor strengthens me.   Tossing and turning only frustrates and agitates me.   Pondering these thoughts, I felt the Lord say to me, “So it is with worry, Leslie”.   Worrying doesn’

                                                                          The #FaithbookExperiment continues and I'm finding myself spending a great deal of time in the Psalms. Today Psalm 27:1 spoke to me in a mighty way. “The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?” I know this is truth. The Lord is my light, and light dispels darkness. I also know that the enemy loves darkness, he thrives in it. The enemy of our souls tries to deceive us with his darkness. He tries to hold us in captivity through the darkness of fear, depression, anger, and many other things. Darkness is a deception used by the enemy to try to discourage believers.  As I meditated on this verse, the following image came to mind. (I just love the way my Creator speaks to me in pictures.) This morning as I walked into the family room I opened the blind. The moment the blind began to go up sunlight burst forth into

My Faithbook Experiment ( #FaithbookExperiment ) continues to be a journey of self-examination. The other morning I was in Jeremiah. I began reading in chapter 33, lingering over Jeremiah 33:3.          “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”             As I meditated on this familiar verse I prayed, asking the Lord to speak to my heart and show me great and unsearchable things that I don’t know. It wasn’t something I prayed lightly.   This invitation to call to the Lord also gives us His promise that He will answer.              My study of Jeremiah took me to chapter 44. In this book, the issue of “burning incense to other gods” is addressed. Burning incense is, of course, an act of worship. God clearly listed the ingredients for incense and stated in Exodus that it was to be used to worship only Him. Using it in any other way was against His command. Yet, knowing this, His people disobeyed. Specifically, the