by Susan Barnes | 31 Aug 2026 | How God Sees Us
“I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” Philippians 3:9 How easy it is to fall back into assuming our righteousness depends...
by Susan Barnes | 29 Jun 2026 | Women in the Bible
The descendants of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered, Tahath, Eleadah, Tahath, Zabad, Shuthelah, Ezer, and Elead. These two were killed trying to steal livestock from the local farmers near Gath. Their father, Ephraim, mourned for them a long time, and his relatives came...
by Susan Barnes | 17 Nov 2025 | Quoting Other Writers
“There is nothing in the world so damaged that it cannot be repaired by the hand of Almighty God”. This is a quote from, Appointment with Death, a movie adaption of Agatha Christie’s book. The quote isn’t in the book. There are significant...
by Susan Barnes | 7 Nov 2025 | Short Devotion>People
The Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. (1 Samuel 17:48-49) David ran quickly toward his enemy, saying, “I...
by Susan Barnes | 29 Sep 2025 | Short Devotion>People
The Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. (1 Samuel 2:21) Hannah was childless “year after year” (1:3, 7). Yet God had great blessings in store for her as she...
by Susan Barnes | 21 Jul 2025 | Short Devotion>People
Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (Numbers 13:30) Caleb sees precisely the same land, the same fruit, and the same giants as the other spies, but Caleb has faith in God (as...
by Susan Barnes | 2 Jun 2025 | Short Devotion>People
The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. (Exodus 1:17) The midwives’ faith in God motivated them to lie to the Pharaoh (v. 19) and place themselves in danger to protect the Israelites’ sons....
by Susan Barnes | 28 Apr 2025 | Short Devotion>People
Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God. (Genesis 28:20-21) Jacob turned God’s...
