Lenten Devotional: March 14
Posted March 14, 2018 by Michael Raimer-Goodman in Lent
"God, where are you in these children's lives? I know you are loving, and I know you are powerful—but these children are suffering. Where are you?" The first time I prayed seeking God's presence amid sorrow was in East Saint Louis, Illinois, during the summer after my sophomore year of college. The young children I loved during the day went home to empty pantries, sometimes empty houses, and…
Lenten Devotional: March 13
Posted March 13, 2018 by Lauren Engle in Lent
In all honesty, until my mid-twenties, God was always something easy for me to "find." I grew up with a family whose priorities were always God and our church family before all else. My grandpa founded the church I grew up in, and the first week of college I found the perfect church for me away from home. My church family was always something that was there and a constant reminder of God in my…
HOW DO I FIND GOD?: LENTEN DEVOTIONAL MARCH 12
Posted March 12, 2018 by SMBC in All Articles
By Seth Humble
HOW DO I FIND GOD?: LENTEN DEVOTIONAL MARCH 10
Posted March 10, 2018 by SMBC in All Articles
By Jeanne Ludemann
HOW DO I FIND GOD?: LENTEN DEVOTIONAL MARCH 9
Posted March 9, 2018 by SMBC in All Articles
By Thomas Coker
Three quotes immediately come to mind when I ponder this question:
?Be still and know that I am God?
?Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth you have for me?
?Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.?
Lenten Devotional: March 8
Posted March 8, 2018 by Jamie Negrete in Lent
I believe in God as much as there's fish in the sea and every line I cast is like every verse I read, growing that much closer to Him. Faith, not patience is what kept me on the shoreline.Raised in a single-parent home with three other siblings, required patience. My sisters, however, highly doubted I was the favorite, but one thing was for sure, my mother's faith in God. I look back now and…
Lenten Devotional: March 7
Posted March 7, 2018 by Kathy Bernal in Lent
When I was 15 years old, my parents divorced after 25 years of marriage. Despite having three children and building a life together, they had also built walls of bitterness and resentment between them that resulted in a very painful divorce. A couple who had spent 25 years together could no longer stand to be in the same room together. With my older brothers both grown and out of the house, it…
HOW DO I FIND GOD?: LENTEN DEVOTIONAL MARCH 5
Posted March 5, 2018 by SMBC in All Articles
By Al Moore
My comments might better be entitled: ?How I Seek God? for I am not sure we ?find? God this side of eternity. I can and do feel a closeness to God at times, but I?m not sure that my earthbound mind can truly find God.
I seek God in a number of ways, but one of our (I say our because after 50 plus years of marriage to Cheryl that's how I think)…
HOW DO I FIND GOD?: LENTEN DEVOTIONAL MARCH 3
Posted March 3, 2018 by SMBC in All Articles
By Linda Brupbacher
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3: 5&6
Lenten Devotional: March 2
Posted March 2, 2018 by Sarah Villaseñor in Lent
I can admit it, I am lazy about looking for God. What's worse is, he isn't very hard to find in the first place. I try to use lent as an opportunity to reflect and thank God for his faithfulness to me, despite my shortcomings. About a year ago, my dad had a week-long hospital stay. In that week we learned that dad has end-stage kidney disease patient (ESRD). His life and our lives were changed…
Lenten Devotional: March 1
Posted March 1, 2018 by Jane Jefferies in Lent
For me, growing up Baptist meant that Lent was something that happened in other churches. Most of my friends were hunting something to give up that would have as little impact as possible on their lives--like turnip greens. Now we talk of adding something instead of sacrificing something. Perhaps either of these can lead to a new relationship and understanding of God. When my son was in high…
Lenten Devotional: February 28
Posted February 28, 2018 by Ethan Gwaltney in Lent
When "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing," and I feast in good health, he "stand[s] at the door and knock[s]," and waits for my invitation to enter. (Revelation 3) When I am poor, weak, and losing hope, and I quake under the weight of my sin, then is his "power made perfect" (2 Cor. 12) and he "restore[s] me to the joy of [his] salvation." (Psalm 51) When I am not poor, nor rich,…
Lenten Devotional: February 27
Posted February 27, 2018 by Jeanette Stokes in Lent
As a four-year-old in the "Sunbeam Choir", I remember loudly belting out the words to my favorite childhood hymn, "Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children, God is Love, God is Love". I recall memorizing my first Bible verse which tells us emphatically that "God is Love" (1 John 4:8). These early lessons have stayed with me. Now, many years later as a senior adult at South Main, I…
HOW DO I FIND GOD?: LENTEN DEVOTIONAL FEBRUARY 26
Posted February 26, 2018 by SMBC in All Articles
By Kyle Barsch
"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all of your heart" Jeremiah 29:13
Lenten Devotional: February 24
Posted February 24, 2018 by Angie Fox in Lent
Unfortunately, my dad and I are currently estranged. This past Christmas I had reason to hope that we might be coming to a place to mend our relationship. Initially, things looked potentially promising. However, shortly after spending time with him, a couple of events happened that led to more strain in our relationship. Finally, at the beginning of this year, I received a hurtful letter from…
Lenten Devotional: February 23
Posted February 23, 2018 by Steve Rader in Lent
I find God when I prioritize my time, attention, and resources. As with any relationship, I find that I have to do my part. I have to intentionally make time in my life to serve, to pray, to study, and to worship. I have to be attentive by talking to God honestly... thankfully... and often. And... I have to listen! I have to "put my money where my mouth is" and give back to God first out of…
HOW DO I FIND GOD?: LENTEN DEVOTIONAL FEBRUARY 22
Posted February 22, 2018 by SMBC in All Articles
By Helen Hoover
Lenten Devotional: February 21
Posted February 21, 2018 by Brandon Wheeler in Lent
The noon of "heartache" is as old as the ages. Scholars of old and new have wrestled to define, trace, and heal the ubiquitous experience of physical ailments stemming from emotional grief. And heartache is the partner of love. Love has no limit in application or amplitude. Likewise, heartache is felt in an endless array of context and severity. The hymn "What Wondrous Love is This?" has…
Lenten Devotional: February 20
Posted February 20, 2018 by Shannon Dove in Lent
"How Do I Find God?" is an interesting question. And a sometimes troubling one for me. My whole life I have heard stories of how God revealed Himself to various friends and family members, sometimes in bold fashion, sometimes in quiet, personal ways. I don't have this kind of experience for myself. I have often prayed for guidance, for God to reveal where He is in a particular situation, and I…
Lenten Devotional: February 19
Posted February 19, 2018 by Byron Keeling in Lent
Sherri and I were in Washington, D.C., when we first learned that Hurricane Harvey had set its sights on Texas. We made it back to Houston on one of the last Southwest flights into Hobby before the airport closed for several days. By the evening of August 28, flood waters were lapping at the doors on all four sides of our home. I spent a sleepless night praying over and over again: "Please…
