Featured Devotionals

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ODJ: a piece of my heart

Senseless violence and dark injustice can make for a steady rain in life—dampening spirits in mists of grey. In the summer of 2013 a 17 year old from a rough neighbourhood jumped in front of his mother to protect her from an attack. The bullet struck and killed him, leaving his mother clutching his lifeless body in front of their home. The boy’s brother, who witnessed the crime, said later,

ODJ: ‘if only i’ steps

Mark 5:25-34 contains what I call my ‘If only I’ steps. They’re the desperately needed, but often last resort, actions I often take to reach out to Jesus and find the healing and deeper intimacy I need.
Last month I took an ‘If only I’ step when I flew across the country and then drove 7 hours to join a group of women on a prayer retreat. Depleted following a hard season of ministry

ODJ: large asking

John Newton, slave trader turned pastor and hymnwriter, believed in ‘large asking’ when it came to prayers. He encouraged many with the archaic words in this verse from the hymn “Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare”: “Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring, for His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.”
His ‘large asking’ was no doubt motivated

ODJ: the silence of Jesus

Silence. That’s all he gave them. Silence. And some strange scribbling in the sand.
He’d been so vocal just a few moments before—sitting down, in the customary way, to teach the crowds gathered around Him in the temple. He’d spoken calmly but boldly then, passionately but enigmatically, about the kingdom of God and its arrival. Everyone had been enthralled by His word. But no

ODJ: suited up

During a visit to an art institute, I observed a German suit of armour made in 1521. None of the other defensive ensembles seemed as complete as this one. It featured vented metal to cover the face; a curved breastplate to deflect blows; metal that continued down the arms, hands and covered each finger; leg shields that were seamlessly fitted to metal shoes. The craftsman had imagined every possib

ODJ: heat of the battle

I talked with a former British elite forces soldier who had faced many battles and emerged unscathed. He said, “I don’t believe in God.” I challenged him by saying these familiar words: “There are no atheists on the battlefield.”
He simply frowned and shrugged his shoulders. I then asked him what he had most wished for in the heat of battle—when he thought he was going to die. Wit

ODJ: broken for tim?

While away from home on a lengthy work assignment, I attended a church quite different from my one back home. For instance, my adopted church observed communion (the Lord’s Supper) every time they met. Instead of the pastor or elders serving, ordinary members of the church shared responsibility for distributing the bread and wine.
On several occasions the lead elder asked me to assist with

ODJ: mistaken identity

Although we’re 5 years apart, people often confuse me with my older sister. From the staff at my favourite coffee shop to my sister’s nursing students, we have many stories of people who try to ask me a medical question or who talk to her about writing. The mix-up seems humorous to us, because we don’t see the similarities that others view so clearly.
But with God, there is no mistaken

ODJ: work ethics

Every October the office where I work becomes extremely quiet. The leaders are away attending annual meetings in another country. So those of us who are left behind say to each other with a wink, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.”
Jokes aside, when our bosses aren’t watching, do we continue to do our job well? The apostle Paul admonishes believers to work primarily for the Lor