Soon after we moved to North Carolina, Hurricane Florence swept through. It was a rude awakening for us. We had lived through earthquakes in California many years earlier, but hurricanes were new to us. Like any newbies, we ran. We played it safe and evacuated to our kids’ home in Tampa.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Super Typhoon Mangkhut was making its way across Southeast Asia with whopping 180 mph winds, compared to Florence at 130 mph. It narrowly missed Guam, but caused major damage and death in the Philippines, Hong Kong and China.

We contrast these two devastating events in today's audio devotional and learn how we tend to be shortsighted spiritually.

KEY PASSAGE:

Revelation 7:9-12 (NIV)

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.”

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen!

Praise and glory

and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!”

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

It's the day after Christmas. Let's not leave Jesus behind. In today's Christmas Week Audio Devotional, I'll keep Jesus in the forefront, as our Rescuer.

In one of the most publicized rescue attempts in recent years, two dozen soccer players were trapped in a cave in Thailand, with waters rising and oxygen diminishing. It was a story that captured the world as we saw daily reports of the daring rescue efforts.

Emergency services were deployed. Thai Navy Seals were called in. The underwater journey was so treacherous that experts calculated it would take 12 hours round trip to get any of the boys out.

Parents waited in agony to be reunited with their children, separated by an impassable barrier of rocks and water. They were helpless. The world was watching. Join me for the full story -- and then for a look at the greatest rescue in history.

KEY PASSAGE:

Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Tomorrow, all eyes will be on baby Jesus, the Father's gift to all mankind. However, as we know, he was much more than a baby.

In our audio Christmas Eve Devotional, we'll consider his identity as "Lord." For me, when I do that, I settle into a spirit of stability and rest. The word “Lord” gives me perspective. Jesus is in control. Everyone and everything report to him. I feel stronger after addressing Jesus as Lord. It’s like hitting “reset” in my mind and spirit. While we don't want to lose sight of his coming to this earth as a baby, let's remember that it is a snapshot.

KEY PASSAGE:

Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

It's Christmas week and we seem to have less time to focus on Jesus. Or even spend time with him in prayer. How can that be?

It's not only at Christmas when we squeeze Jesus out of the picture. This week, we're focusing on Jesus in our audio devotionals. Today, the frustration to get some "Jesus time" with kids dominating every minute.

Instead of racing through a five-minute “hello-good bye” with Jesus, how can you make more time for him so you enjoy the relationship?

Jesus understands you’re overwhelmed with raising your kids. Don’t feel guilty when your time with the Lord is inconsistent.

Today, I'll offer solutions so the coming year can be different.

KEY PASSAGE:

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Jesus warns us about building our lives on the sand.

“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:26-27 ESV).

I picture a sandy foundation made up of things that dissolve or have no substance. Ouch. I don’t want that. What are those things I have to watch out for? Today, we consider three of them in our audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Several years ago (even though it seems like yesterday), my wife and I were at a crossroads that defined our faith. She was diagnosed with cancer. The word itself can send chills up and down your spine. It stops you in your tracks. It puts life on hold. Fear tried to show up, as it often does when cancer strikes. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean. Join me on today's audio devotional to hear the rest of our story.

KEY PASSAGE:

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?”

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Some people have compared faith to a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.

If you read Hebrews 11, you’ll be inspired by the great men and women of great faith. It’s the Hall of Faith, as some have called it. We learn that they didn’t acquire their strong faith instantly, but that their faith muscles were developed over time. God put them through a training program. Today, we'll look at three things God used to build our faith muscle, just as God did for his people in Hebrews 11.

KEY PASSAGE:

Hebrews 11:8-12 (NIV)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Jesus was the most courageous man I know. He wasn’t forced to go to the cross. He went willingly. He was God and could have vanished from sight. But he was on a mission to save the world.

Jesus went to the cross to forgive. He extended forgiveness to you, me and all of mankind. We didn’t deserve this priceless treasure.

Are you struggling with the courage to forgive someone? Today's audio devotional can help you overcome.

KEY PASSAGE:

Romans 5:6-10 (NIV)

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com