Friday Devos

...and Peter

“But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” – Mark 16:7 (ESV)

Peter was always the bold one.

He was the first to step out of the boat. The first to declare, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The one who confidently proclaimed, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” He meant every word.

But in the pressure of the courtyard, with the flicker of firelight revealing his face, his courage crumbled. Once. Twice. Three times.

“I do not know this man of whom you speak.”

And the rooster crowed.

Can you imagine the weight that moment must have carried? The sting of regret. The shame of broken promises. The crushing reality that when Jesus needed him most, Peter failed. And failed big.

When Jesus was taken to the cross, Peter wasn’t at His side. He wasn’t standing in loyalty. He was lost in the shadows of guilt, replaying every denial.

So when the women showed up at the tomb and found it empty, an angel delivered this life-changing message:

“Go, tell his disciples… and Peter.”

Those two words—“and Peter”—changed everything.

Jesus didn’t just rise to prove His power. He rose to restore His people. And in the middle of that glorious victory, He made sure the one who felt disqualified, ashamed, and forgotten knew he was still seen.

Still wanted.

Still included.

Still loved.

Through Peter’s Eyes

Can you feel the rush of emotion Peter must have felt when he heard that?

He had to wonder, “Me? After what I did? He still wants me?”

Yes, Peter. Especially you.

Because the resurrection isn’t just about defeating death—it’s about restoring hearts. It’s about the God who doesn’t just forgive, but seeks out the broken to bring them back in.

Peter’s story didn’t end with his failure. In fact, it was just the beginning.

Jesus Restores What Shame Tries to Destroy

Later, Jesus would meet Peter on the shore. Over a morning fire, similar to the one where Peter had once denied Him, Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to say what his heart had always wanted to: “Lord, You know that I love You.”

Jesus didn’t rub in his failure. He rewrote the ending.

He commissioned Peter. Empowered him. And used the same man who once crumbled in fear to become the rock on which the early Church would be built.

That’s what resurrection power does—it takes what shame tried to destroy and turns it into testimony.

And You.

Maybe you’ve had Peter moments. You loved Jesus, but you’ve denied Him with your decisions. You’ve made promises you didn’t keep. Maybe you feel like you’re disqualified, distant, or disheartened.

Hear these words as if they’re just for you:

“…and you.”

Jesus sees you. He’s not avoiding your failures—He’s walking right into the middle of them with open arms. Your brokenness doesn’t scare Him. Your regret isn’t too much for Him.

The empty tomb means your story isn’t over.

Let Peter’s story remind you: Jesus is a Redeemer, not just a Rescuer. He doesn't just save us from sin—He restores us to Himself.

This Easter, don’t just celebrate a risen Savior. Respond to a personal one. One who calls you by name, even when you’ve failed. Especially when you’ve failed.

Because grace doesn’t overlook us—it looks right at us and says,

“Come. I’m not done with you yet.”

Jesus, thank You that You don’t define me by my worst moment. Thank You that You rose not just to conquer death, but to call me back into relationship with You. Help me believe, like Peter, that grace still finds me—especially when I feel unworthy. I surrender my shame, my regret, and my past, and I walk forward in the hope of Your resurrection. Amen.

The Power of Choice

“Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse.” — Deuteronomy 11:26 (NLT)

God is a God of invitation, not imposition. He doesn’t twist our arms or force our steps. Instead, He calls us into relationship—into obedience, into blessing—through the beautiful gift of free will.

This verse from Deuteronomy is a powerful reminder that every single day, we have a choice. We get to decide who or what leads us—whether we’ll follow God’s voice or the pull of our own desires. The choice is deeply personal, yet incredibly significant. It's not just about right or wrong—it’s about life or death, blessing or curse.

God doesn’t promise that choosing Him will always be easy—but He promises it will always be worth it. Walking in obedience opens the door to the blessings He’s prepared for us—not just material provision, but the deeper things our souls crave: peace, purpose, identity, and joy that can't be shaken.

And let’s be real: some days, choosing God isn’t the easy choice. It means dying to our own plans, trusting Him when we don’t understand, and taking the narrow road when everyone else is sprinting down the wide one. But the beauty is—He walks with us on that road. He strengthens us. He blesses us.

So today—pause. Take a breath. Ask yourself:
What am I choosing?
Am I choosing fear, or faith?
Control, or surrender?
Convenience, or obedience?

The blessing is not out of reach. It’s already been made available. But it starts with a choice.

Father, thank You for giving me the freedom to choose. Help me to use that freedom wisely—to choose life, to choose Your way, and to walk in the blessings You’ve already set aside for me. Strengthen me when it’s hard, remind me when I forget, and lead me in the path that brings You glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Greatest Joy

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” – 3 John 1:4 (NIV)

There’s a joy unlike any other that fills the heart of a parent, mentor, or spiritual guide. It’s not the kind of joy that comes from medals won or grades earned. It’s deeper. It’s quieter. It’s sacred. It’s the kind of joy that wells up when we see someone we’ve invested in choose Jesus—and keep choosing Him.

When our children—or those we've nurtured and walked alongside—anchor themselves in truth, it becomes a powerful testimony. Not just of their decision, but of God’s faithfulness through generations. It’s in these moments we realize: this is what we’ve been praying for, laboring for, hoping for.

But this verse from 3 John isn’t just a beautiful sentiment. It’s a calling.

It reminds us that the seeds we sow in love, in truth, and in prayer truly matter. Every bedtime story laced with Scripture, every car ride conversation about Jesus, every moment we stop to pray over them instead of worry—it all matters. And often, it bears fruit in quiet, unseen ways before it blooms in the visible.

Maybe you're in a season where your child, or someone you love, is far from truth right now. Maybe you're still sowing, still watering, still waiting. Be encouraged: Heaven sees. And His Word does not return void.

Whether you’re a parent, a mentor, a teacher, or a faithful friend—keep planting. Keep speaking life. Keep pointing toward Jesus. Because one day, that seed may turn into a testimony. And there is no greater joy than knowing the next generation is walking in the truth.

Lord, thank You for the incredible gift of those You’ve placed in our lives to lead, love, and nurture. Give us the strength to keep planting seeds of truth, even when we don’t see the harvest yet. And when we do, may we give You all the glory. We trust in Your timing, and we rejoice in the truth. Amen.

Don't Doubt in the darkness

My sweet aunt told me something long ago that I will never forget. She said, “Don’t doubt in the darkness what you knew in the light.” That phrase has been a powerful reminder through many seasons of my life because, without fail, we all experience seasons of change.

During mountaintop experiences, the light shines brighter than ever. God's character is clear, and His purpose is great! It overwhelms our souls with indescribable joy. We feel closer to Him, experience His majesty more abundantly, and trust Him completely.

But in the valleys of life, the light seems further away as darkness clouds our vision and understanding. We feel distant from our Father and burdened by our circumstances. Doubt sets in, making us wonder if we will ever experience the mountaintop again.

Be encouraged. Psalm 77 walks us through the emotions of a valley-stranded perspective, leading us to hope by remembering what was known in the light.

Psalm 77:11 – “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your miracles of long ago.”

Refusing to doubt in the darkness what you knew in the light shifts your perspective from the valley to the victory. The valley doesn’t have to feel dark because God's character remains the same, and His purpose is still great.

Wherever you find yourself today, remember the deeds of the Lord and take joy in knowing that what He has done before, He can do again to complete His perfect purpose.

#RememberHisGoodness #GodIsStillWorking #Psalm7711 #HopeInTheValley #HeDidItBefore #SeasonsOfFaith #MountainTopMoments #LightInTheDarkness #GodsPurposePrevails #FaithOverDoubt

Our Hope is in Christ, not our Circumstances

I listened intently as my emotional eight-year-old daughter tearfully explained how her favorite doll had broken.

Her crocodile tears rolled endlessly as I watched her cycle through grief—denial: "Mommy can fix it"; anger: "Why did this happen?!"; bargaining: "Maybe glue will work?"; depression: “it will never be the same”; and finally, acceptance. Her heart was broken, and she couldn’t imagine playing without it.

Her tears fell with renewed vigor.

Can you relate to the grief of unmet expectations and painful realities?

Take courage, friends. Philippians 3:20 reminds us, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Heartache and loss are inevitable, but our hope is in Christ, not our circumstances. He redeems past regrets, carries us through present sorrow, and calms future anxieties. His hope will not disappoint.

This is why we press on. The world’s fleeting treasures pale in comparison to what awaits us in eternity. This world is not our home; we are just passing through. Keep your heart fixed on the One who has redeemed you. He will lead, provide, and comfort you, no matter the trials you face.

Keep the Faith, Keep Running! 🏃‍♂️💡✨

Ever run a race and felt like giving up halfway? The finish line seems so far, your legs feel like jelly, and you wonder, Why did I even start this? 😩

Life—especially as a believer—can feel the same way. The world is dark, evil seems to be winning, and doing the right thing can feel exhausting. You pray, serve, stand for truth, but it seems like nothing is changing. You wonder, Am I even making a difference?

Galatians 6:9 reminds us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 🌾✨

Even when you can’t see it, God is working! Your faithfulness is planting seeds that He will grow in ways you never expected. His plan is so much bigger than what we can comprehend! 🌱💛

We have a hope the world doesn’t have! A lightthat never goes out! A victory that’s already won! So keep running, keep believing, and keep shining—because the harvest is coming, and it’s worth every step!

#KeepTheFaith #DontGiveUp #Galatians69 #RunWithEndurance #LightInTheDarkness #HopeInChrist #GodIsWorking

Stay In Step

Ever tried a three-legged race? If you and your partner aren’t moving in sync, it’s a recipe for tripping, falling, and frustration (and let’s be honest, some serious laughs for everyone watching).

Jesus reminds us in Mark 3:24—"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand."

In other words, when believers are pulling in different directions, we stumble instead of stride forward.

Right now, in the current legislative session, decisions are being made that impact faith, family, and freedom.

As believers, we can’t afford to be out of sync. We must stand together for biblical values, praying, speaking up,

and moving as one body in Christ. If we’re divided, we’ll fall—but united, we can make a difference!

Let’s tie our hearts to Christ, sync our steps in truth, and run this race together.

Because when we move as one, nothing can stop us!

#TeamJesus #RunTogether #KingdomUnity #Mark324 #StandForTruth #FaithInAction

Loving when its hard

Loving our families? That’s usually the easy part. Sure, they can drive us up the wall sometimes, but at the end of the day, they’re the people we naturally pour our love into—and the ones who love us back. But what about when love isn’t easy? When it isn’t reciprocated, appreciated, or maybe even wanted?

See, it’s tempting to make love about us—about how we feel, how we’re treated, or whether someone "deserves" it. But Jesus flips the script. He calls us to love because of Him, not because of them. It’s not about asking if someone is “worthy” of our love; it’s about recognizing that they are already worthy of His love. And if Jesus saw them as worth dying for, who are we to withhold kindness, grace, or compassion?

So how do we know they’re worth it? Because God so loved the world—no conditions, no exclusions, no filters. This Valentine’s Day, let’s love like that. Let’s love in a way that points to Jesus. Find that person who’s hard to love and show them grace anyway. Not because they’ve earned it, but because He’s given it freely.

#NoFilterLove

Who Me?

How we face our trial is heavily dependent on how we see ourselves.

When we first meet Gideon in Judges 6, he’s hiding from his enemy. He’s afraid, oppressed, and cowering in a winepress doing a job that should have been done out in the open. It's no wonder Gideon is hiding in fear, when you consider how Gideon saw himself; forsaken, a victim, coming from the least important family, being the least important son. Without knowing it, Gideon had put himself in a box that severely limited how he faced his trial.

But when the Angel of the Lord showed up to call him into action he said something that completely changed the course of Gideon’s story.

“You mighty man of Valor!”

I can just imagine Gideon looking around him to see who the Lord could have been talking to because surely, it wasn’t him. But the Lord was talking to Gideon. He was yanking him out of the dark corner he was hiding in and painting a new picture of Gideon that this forsaken, unimportant victim had never considered possible.

As the Lord revealed this new identity to Gideon and entrusted an unimaginable mission to him, Gideon was fearful. But God, in His goodness and compassion, made it clear that Gideon would not find it within his own strength to be this mighty man of valor. No, Gideon in his own strength wouldn't even be able to move his trembling hands and feet out of that winepress. But Gideon wasn't supposed to do it within his own strength. As he met with the Lord that day, the Lord made it abundantly clear that He, Gideon's Creator, King, and Mighty God would give him exactly what he needed exactly when he needed it. The only thing Gideon had to do was choose to trust that this vision God had of him was who he was truly meant to be, stepping out in faith to live it out and complete his mission.

Our current trial...

Engaging in politics as Christians

Politics is often an area that people of faith like to stay out of. But God’s word admonishes us to do the opposite. When Micah summarized God’s law into these three points, he helped us understand the truth of what an Almighty God truly desires from his people.

Do Justice: God’s word gives us a clear understanding of what Justice is. How can we expect those who do not know Him to establish Justice that honors Him? We must engage for the sake of shaping justice that comes from God’s word.

Love Kindness: It is not our place to scream hateful messages to those who do not understand the Justice we stand for, but rather to extend compassion and kindness so that they may see our actions and our love. This allows our message of hope and biblical values to stand out in the crowd and have opportunity to take root and bear fruit.

Walk Humbly with your God: As Christians, we cannot engage in anything without first walking with the Lord. This ensures we are tuned in to his heart, his desires, and his principles. It drives us and guides our steps as we engage in a dark world with the light of Jesus – Yes, even in Politics.

We are his people, called to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God not just in the arenas we like or feel comfortable in, but in all we do on this earth.

The power of Prayer: pray over the NM Government

Prayer is a direct line to the heart of God, a powerful gift that allows believers to seek His wisdom, peace, and intervention in every circumstance. It is not just a request but a relationship—an opportunity to align our hearts with His will and witness His power at work in our lives.

We are called to pray with confidence—“believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” This isn’t about wishful thinking but trusting that God is at work, even when we don’t see immediate results. Faith means praying as if the answer is already on its way because we trust God’s perfect wisdom and timing.

As New Mexico’s legislative session unfolds, let’s stand in faith and lift up our leaders in prayer. Ask God to give them wisdom, integrity, and a heart for justice that honors Him. Let’s pray boldly for laws that protect life, uphold righteousness, and bring peace to our communities.

As we pray for New Mexico’s leaders and justice that honors God, let’s stand firm in faith. God hears, He moves, and He is faithful to accomplish His will.

Keep praying, keep believing!

New Year; New Vision

As we look to the New Year, we often find ourselves full of optimism. We look forward, ready to leave behind the troubles of times past and prepare ourselves for the hope of what is to come. But often, within the first few days, weeks, and months of the year, we find ourselves trapped in old mindsets. We still look for hope, but our vision is wrapped in the filters of past experiences. We limit our possibilities based on what we know and where we’ve been rather than on the power of God. This year, let your vision of what’s ahead come from the beautiful truth that our God does not want you to be stuck pondering the past, but looking for the new things He is doing. There is no limit to what He can do, but you will miss it if your vision comes from

yesterday’s filter rather than today’s hope. Don’t miss the path he is carving for you or the bounty that he is providing along the way.

Behold, He is doing something new! Are you ready?

Questions/suggestions:

1. What past experiences or mindsets are holding you back from fully embracing the hope and possibilities of the new year?

 Suggestion: Take time to journal about areas where you feel stuck or limited. Pray specifically for God to help you release those burdens and replace them with His vision of renewal and growth.

2. How can you intentionally seek God’s "new things" in your daily life this year?

 Suggestion: Create a habit of reflecting on Isaiah 43:19 (“Behold, I am doing a new thing…”) during your quiet time. Consider starting a gratitude or prayer journal to document where you see God’s work in your life.

3. What steps can you take to ensure your focus remains on God’s limitless power rather than your own limitations?

 Suggestion: Set a weekly goal to meditate on Scriptures that emphasize God’s power and faithfulness. Surround yourself with accountability partners or family members who will encourage you to stay rooted in faith.

Let these questions and suggestions guide your family’s conversations and personal reflections as you approach the new year with hope and expectation.

Finding Joy in the Christmas Rush

All throughout the Christmas story we see moments and messages of great joy.

The good news of Jesus’ birth brought great joy. The wise men were overjoyed as they realized the star had led them to the newborn king. Even the babe in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice though Jesus had yet to be born. But each moment of joy required something before that joy could truly be experienced to the fullness it was intended.

It required being still.

When the angels magnificently proclaimed the birth of the Savior, the shepherds had to be still long enough to understand the message. When Mary learned she was going to be the mother of the Messiah, she had to be still and trust that God had a plan. One by one, these encounters with joy required the receiver to be still and know that God was Holy, Almighty, and Magnificent.

This season, amid the Christmas parties, the school plays, and the church cantatas, be sure to take a moment to be still with your family. Don’t miss the joy of the season because you’re too busy to just be still.