Author: Verneda Lights

The Word for Today Is #Trust

Child's hand rests in his father's hand.

There are a lot of people who have a hard time trusting others. Because they have a hard time trusting, they don’t have a lot of friends. People who don’t trust can have a hard time believing that they can trust…

The Word for Today Is #Mercy

Black and white drawing of a heart.

Mercy is kindness shown to those who don’t deserve it, and may not even appreciate it. In many ways mercy is a kindness owed, because loving God and our neighbor is a commandment. We do good deeds and show kindness to…

The Word for Today Is #With

Multicolored puzzle

  With is a word of association. It implies belonging. Like a rope, “with” ties people together for good or evil. In the hours before Jesus was crucified, the Apostle Peter felt threatened by a girl who told the crowd that…

The Word for Today Is #Finish

Runner finishing a race.

What moves you? People and events can move you for good or bad. People and things that move you, hit your life with a force that knocks you out of your zone. In the context for today’s verse, Paul is…

Remembering My Father on Memorial Day

My father's flag draped coffin.

This month marks my first birthday, first Mother’s Day, and first “Decoration Day ” (Memorial Day), without my Dad. Looking at the photo I took of his flag draped coffin surrounded by Marines, I feel so sad, but also proud.…

The Word for Today is #Save

Dove flying above the Earth.

I remember a conversation I had years ago with a friend who was a new Christian. As often happens with Christian newbies, my friend wasn’t happy with her new life. She was actually quite self-absorbed, spoiled, and definitely not happy with all…

The Word for Today Is #Listen

Man listening to a sound

When I was studying for my MBA, I read an article that said presenters have to say something seven times before their audience hears them. What they really meant is that you have to say something (presumably to a prospective client) seven…

The Word for Today Is #Devoted

Burning devotion candle

These days, you don’t hear much about people being devoted to one another. Devotion requires love, which is often in short supply, in part because faith has fallen to the wayside. The word for today is #devoted: Be devoted to…

The Word for Today Is #Neighbor

Women sitting together on a bench.

In the Bible, family and neighbors are a big deal. Nowadays, neighborliness is a casualty of urbanization, economic isolation, and generalized ennui. Before I moved back to my childhood home, I hadn’t known neighbor in 15 years, and even then the “knowing”…

The Word for Today Is #Liberty

Freedom in Christ is freedom within the limits of righteousness.

People make the mistake of thinking that Christianity is a narrow, uptight, lifestyle. The deeper I move into authentic Christianity, the more I can say that is not the case. Believers are free to do many things, but we are…