Category Archives: Devotions

Apple Blossoms

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Staring out my living room window, I see a vibrant mix of magenta and green. The buds on my crab apple trees are bursting open to reveal delicate pink petals that wave and flutter gently with the breeze.  It’s a beautiful picture that dares me to believe that spring has finally sprung in Minnesota.

I love this time of year. Spring is a season that points to the promise of new life.  It reminds me that no matter how cold, dark, and bitter the winter may have been… there is warmth and new beginnings just around the corner.  Continue reading →

The Gift Card

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Last November, I was blessed with an unexpected gift card to one of my favorite restaurants.  I ALWAYS love an excuse to go out to eat.  If I don’t have to pay to go out?  Well, that’s even better.

So this was a very good surprise!

I couldn’t wait for the chance to use my new little plastic friend.

The more I thought about putting the card to use, the more enthused I got. Continue reading →

Build A Dream

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LORD, build a dream inside my heart. Let it be YOUR DREAM and not my own.

LORD, whisper YOUR PLANS into my mind.  I want to hear your voice, above all the other voices that clamor for my attention.

LORD, put a desire within my soul to SEEK YOU FIRST.  I know that you are the only one who can satisfy.

LORD, start a revolution in my home. A revolution that says WE BELONG TO THE KING!  We are His and He is ours.  And we WILL NOT BOW to any other name or any other throne.

LORD, put a passion on my lips. A passion to SPEAK THE TRUTH about who you are and the great things that you have done!

LORD, direct my steps. I want to GO WHEREVER YOU CALL me to go.

LORD, open my eyes.  Let me see the ways that you are at work all around.  Show me how I CAN PARTICIPATE in those good works.

LORD, build a dream inside my heart. Let it be your dream.

Oh that I could be part of building YOUR KINGDOM…

COME!

YOUR WILL be done.

On earth as it is in heaven.

Amen

 

Focus Matters: Choosing Light Over Darkness

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I once read a devotional by author and speaker Max Lucado in which he instructed his readers to pull out a piece of clean white paper. He then asked them to place a black dot somewhere on that paper.  Interestingly, even though there is an entire sheet of paper to look at, most people will zero in on that one dark speck.

Isn’t that so true of life in general? We can get so focused on the negatives – those dark spots in life – that we miss out on the blessings that may be all around us. Continue reading →

The Gift Of Doubt

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Over the past several weeks, I have been reading through the Gospel of John. It’s fascinating to me, how such a familiar book can still surprise me.  There is always something new to discover and reflect upon.

For instance, I have really enjoyed reacquainting myself with well-loved Bible verses and stories about Jesus’ life. But the thing that has really stood out to me, quite unexpectedly, is the prevalent theme of disbelief found within the gospel.

Over and over again, despite the incredible signs and wonders that Jesus performed, many people struggled to believe in Him. Continue reading →

Hope Anchors My Soul

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When I was a little girl I loved to go fishing with my older brother and my dad. Mom would pack a cooler of snacks, and send us on our way. Once at the lake, my Dad would make sure we had our life jackets strapped on tight and we would set off through the water, on the hunt for the perfect spot to catch loads of fish.

When we found an appealing location, we would cast out our lines and patiently sit and watch our neon bobbers go up and down in the water. I remember on more than one occasion, silently pleading with God to let me catch a sunny or perch… anything besides the dreaded weeds that often tangled my line. The funny part is I hated to eat fish, but they were sure fun to catch! Continue reading →

Dumpster Diving

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“I’m hungry!” My 3 ½ year-old son said repeatedly as we made our way down the stairs and into the cluttered kitchen below.  Still rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I mumbled a drowsy: “what do you want for breakfast?”

Much like the red laser beam from one of his favorite nerf guns, my son’s gaze zeroed in on his target:  a stash of candy that I had placed on top of the refrigerator.  I tend to keep “the really good stuff” up and out of reach.  But some of the kids lingering Valentine’s Day candy had recently been moved to the top of the refrigerator as well.  I had naively thought that it would be safe from grabby little fingers up there. Continue reading →

Will You Hold Me?

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“Mommy, will you hold me?”  My three and-a-half year old son whimpered and looked up at me with big pleading eyes.  He was sick and wanted to be snuggled.  How could I say no to those insistent baby blues?  “Sure buddy. I’d love to hold you.”

Despite his faucet of a nose, croupy cough, and feverishly hot body, I was honestly thrilled to hold him close.  Usually he is too busy running, wrestling, climbing, crawling, jumping, sliding… MOVING!   He has no time to sit still, let alone cuddle with his mom. Continue reading →

Overcoming Fear Through Faith

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School is in full swing and a new chapter has begun in the Engelhart story. My oldest son started all day, every-day Kindergarten a couple of weeks ago.  His little brother, who is three, started preschool last week.  And I try not to do a happy dance every time I wave goodbye.  I can usually contain the impulse, until they are out of view!

It’s not that I don’t love my children. I really and truly do with all of my heart!  But this mama can use a reprieve from the chaos that seems to be my every-day existence.  And for two days a week, for three solid hours, it’s just me and my one year-old daughter.  It’s amazing how peaceful life can feel for a change. Continue reading →

Empty No More

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It’s been awhile since I’ve written anything.  Truth be told, I just haven’t had the time or energy or desire to write.  My eight month old daughter isn’t a great sleeper, which means lately I haven’t been either.  My middle son is an early riser.  I am NOT a morning person.  Between volunteering obligations, juggling my oldest son’s school and extra-curricular schedule, battling what has felt like a never-ending round of colds, and just muddling through the mundane every-day tasks of keeping a house and family together, there hasn’t been room for much of anything except the necessities. Continue reading →