The Major League Baseball (MLB) season schedule consists of 162 games for each of the 30 teams in the American League (AL) and National League (NL), played over approximately six months – a total of 2,430 games, plus the postseason.  (Thank you Wikipedia!)

That is a LOT of baseball!  That is a LOT of time and money and energy invested in improving stats, refining skills and hitting a homerun!  Aren’t you relieved to know that we don’t need to strive or search to determine our worthiness?  The Easter season has been a wonderfully encouraging time of self-reflection, but more importantly a time of celebrating and declaring our One True Lord, Perfect Sacrifice and Risen Savior!  He is our Champion worthy of all our devotion!

“to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”  Jude 1:25

Do you have tiny bits of foil wrapper all over your house today?
Have the jelly beans been sorted through for the best flavors?
Are the plastic eggs mismatched and cracked?

What just happened?  A whirlwind of weekend activities celebrating our priceless gift of Jesus’ Resurrection leaves behind a trail that tells a story!  Is your walk with Jesus sweet like a Cadbury egg?  Is it mysterious like a dark or a milk chocolate egg?  Or is it just left in the drawer like the dusty Halloween candy until one day when you are desperate?

God’s mercies are new every morning!  Celebrate our Risen King every day!  Savor the sweet relationship we can enjoy with Him because of His sacrifice!

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”  Psalm 34:8

This weekly devotional began as “Trey Tuesday” in 2010 in order to honor and support my nephew and his family during Trey’s fight with cancer.  You can read about God’s provision in Trey’s journey here: https://camuscara-tomyaudienceofone.blogspot.com/

After Trey won his battle and was reunited with Jesus, I renamed the devotional, “Today!”  May we all be reminded of the valuable gift of Today: “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” Hebrews 3:13

As Easter approaches I am amazed at God’s powerful use of the word Today in His Scriptures.  God wants us to live today!  Not dwell on the past!  Don’t worry about the future!

Follow His lead.  Today!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8″
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.””  Luke 23:43″
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house”. Luke 19:9″
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”  Luke 2:11
“As has just been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”  Hebrews 3:15
“Give us today our daily bread.”  Matthew 6:11

Our sweeeeet grandson had his 5th birthday last week.  To celebrate this avid angler, we took him to Cabela’s to enjoy the aquarium, the trout pond and to gaze at and touch every single solitary fishing lure!  Halfway through the store he looked at me and said, “You did all this…for me?”  This Granny heart melted on the spot!

Holy Week begins with the Triumphant entry of Jesus on Palm Sunday as He makes His way to the cross to face an agonizing death and punishment for our sins.  He paid the price for every stupid, careless, intentional, mean thing we have ever thought, said or done so that we can enjoy sweet fellowship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  May we gaze at God this week (and always!) and consider: “God, You did all this….for me?”

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45

My water bottle had a tiny crack in it….water seeped out daily drop by drop. Whatever was in my bottle dripped out.  Until one day…..my water bottle landed in the dirt.  Now….what was OUTSIDE my water bottle leaked INSIDE!  ps. Sludge is not my favorite beverage.

Yes, I can get a new water bottle.  I can also immerse myself in fresh, clean surroundings in order to protect and enrich what I am taking in.

What are you letting inside your “cup”?
Who are you surrounding yourself with to keep your “cup” fresh and pure?

“Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”  I John 4:4

Stumped by a decision the other day, I called a friend, “I couldn’t figure it out, so all I had left to do was pray!”  Left to do!?  Why didn’t I pray first?!? And most!?!?  Beyond thinking or planning or discussing!?  I had it backwards!

Are you stumped about _______ or sooooooooo frustrated about ___________?

God knows all that we face and He patiently waits for us to come to Him.  He is our gentle and POWERFUL Lord and Savior, Almighty God, Heavenly Father, showing loving devotion to a thousand generations – and that includes each one of us!  🙂

Let’s let God be God.

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”  I Thessalonians 5:24

Lately when I’m worried about something, I can hear the shouts from the audience on the Price is Right as contestants guess the price of the refrigerator or new car!  “Higher! Higher!”

When I fret about worldly things my mind is stuck in the mud.
I need to think, “Higher!”
I need to lift my head and heart Higher to the Only One who can solve my problems!  With this posture I exalt the King of Kings and humble my weary self trying to take care of everything on my own.  Getting myself out of the way and submitting in prayer clears the way for me to hear the voice – and comfort of God!

Are you a prize winner in prayer?

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121:1,2

Long ago, before Taylor Swift was even born, popular female performing artist, Barbra Streisand, topped the charts singing a song about the need to be connected to other people:

People…People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world…

Warm and fuzzy, right?  And yet, when you have a bad day driving or at the store or at work, what is most likely the source of your headache!?  People!

God’s not surprised.  He feels our pain.  That’s why He sent Jesus!  The One and Only Perfect Person of Jesus!

So let’s dish out a little grace with those in our path.  You won’t do it perfectly.  Take one baby step.  Today!

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ”  Ephesians 4:1-4

Hmmm….what to share today?
Snow devo?  Or one about:
Valentine’s Day?
Sports?
Taylor Swift?
Grocery Prices?

What if Today’s message had nothing in it?
No guidelines of how to reach out to God….no prompt to hear Him better….nothing to spur on your thoughts and plans to seek Him first and most?

What would you do with the silence?How would you manage the emptiness?
Here you go – I give you nothing…..nothing but God’s Word and His Holy Spirit!
The BEST COMBO EVER!  🙂

“Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”  I Samuel 3

God loves you!
Period.

Despite what the world says, what your friends say, what social media algorithms predict, even what you think in your own head, you are loved!  You are LOVABLE!

Your spouse is lovable too!
And your coworker!
And your neighbor!
Your boss!
Your client!
And even the package delivery person who does it wrong each and every time!

Maybe it’s time we put on our Love Goggles and see each other the way God sees us!

“The Lord your God is with you…
He will take great delight in you…
He will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17