YesterdayTodayForever | Kristi's Morning Devotional

July 26, 2025July 26, 2025

Sunrise – Sunset

I hope you forgive me for being a little later with my blog this morning. Dave and I have been sitting on the patio, visiting and enjoying our morning coffee. You see, it’s a beautiful morning. 66 degrees, unusually cool for this time of year. The dove, quail, cardinals and sparrows have come to feed and are quite entertaining.

Did you have a good day with your friend, God, yesterday? I did. I’m so glad He’s in control and I’m not.

Every night the stars and the moon come out and every morning the sun comes up. To some that may seem like a monotonous repetition but to me that’s hope!

“Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.” James 1:17 ERV

Hope that God is faithful to bring the end to one day and to bring new life to start the next. Without God’s presence we can be without direction and purpose or worse yet we try to become our own god and that means that we are responsible for making everything happen, making everything work out right and it’s simply not in our power to do so.

However, when we give up living for ourselves and find our life in Christ we can have rest from this vicious cycle of dependence on self. In Christ, we are promised a new and abundant life; life filled with joy, peace, love, forgiveness and grace.

“But we know that no one is made right with God by following the law. It is trusting in Jesus Christ that makes a person right with God. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, because we wanted to be made right with God. And we are right with him because we trusted in Christ—not because we followed the law. I can say this because no one can be made right with God by following the law…I died to the law so that I could live for God. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ. 20 So I am not the one living now—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He is the one who loved me and gave himself to save me.” Galatians 2:16-20 ERV

Dave and I were talking about a friend we have who we know would do anything he possibly can for anyone of his friends if they had a need. He’s just that kind of person. If a human can have that kind of character then God definitely can and does.

We should never doubt the kindness and goodness of our heavenly Father. In Christ we have been made right with Him; in Christ we have new life and in Him we have the power to live a life of purpose.

Let the sunrise and the sunset serve as a daily reminder of His faithfulness and His unchanging character.

February 11, 2023February 11, 2023

Not A Fan of Change?

This morning I’m fighting frustration.

I don’t like it when things change with my computer. You get one of those messages “Update and Restart”. I did and left the computer sitting on my tabletop and went about the rest of my day. This morning when I opened it up, things were gone!

I refuse to let it spoil my day but I know eventually I will have to search for the missing information or try to recreate it and that is never a welcomed task.

But this I do know, God never changes! Thank you Father.

“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 CEV

Every people throughout the Bible faced hardship and frustration. They faced physical enemies and divisive thoughts that warred against their faith and trust in God. But there has never been a time that Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has left us on our own.

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! ¹⁶So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

And although Jesus never had to deal with computer issues, He dealt with reprogramming the thoughts of the human heart on a daily basis.

“But Jesus told them: You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart. The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned.” Luke 16:15 CEV

Jesus longed to see people become less self-sufficient and more God-dependent. More of Him and less of me.

“I love you, Lord God, and you make me strong. ²You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter…Your way is perfect, Lord, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help. ³¹You alone are God! Only you are a mighty rock. ³²You give me strength and guide me right. ³³You make my feet run as fast as those of a deer, and you help me stand on the mountains.” Psalm 18:1,2, 30-33 CEV

God has made Himself unchangeable. He is forgiving before we ask to be forgiven, He is patient when we choose our own way and not His. He is always loving.

“Descendants of Jacob, I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I never change.” Malachi 3:6 CEV

Now back to the small matter of my computer, I refuse to let those changes disrupt my peace and spoil my day. Eventually, I will get back what I can’t access at the moment.

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

Major circumstances or small frustrations, I will trust my God who never changes to keep me in His perfect peace!

April 23, 2021April 23, 2021

34.9 Million Years?

Dave and I have been camping at City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico. It’s a beautiful place – peaceful and secluded.

The rock formations are spectacular! Out in the middle of nowhere, these stately spires rise. After a long walk, not quite a hike, yesterday morning we stopped in at the Visitor Center.

The writing on the walls told of a great volcanic eruption and the lava flow that formed the huge boulders. They provide many niches for camping and trails for hiking. Also written there was the information that all of this occurred 34.9 million years ago. A brochure that I picked up and took back to the trailer stated that it has been 33 million years ago.

34.9 or 33 million doesn’t seem to be the point. I’m not sure about either of those dates but I am confident of one thing.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ²The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters…Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. ¹⁰God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:1-9 NLT

Every time we go out on a trip like this I am reminded again and again that God is the one who created this beauty. He has been here from the start! He created all of this for our enjoyment. And Jesus was here too.

“But about His Son, He says, “O God, Your throne will last forever. Whatever You say in Your nation is right and good. ⁹You have loved what is right. You have hated what is wrong. That is why God, Your God, has chosen You. He has poured over You the oil of joy more than over anyone else.” ¹⁰He said also, “Lord, You made the earth in the beginning. You made the heavens with Your hands. ¹¹They will be destroyed but You will always be here. They will all become old just as clothes become old. ¹²You will roll up the heavens like a coat. They will be changed. But You are always the same. You will never grow old.” Hebrews 1:8-12 NLV

There is not a moment of this planet’s existence that God doesn’t know about. He was here at the creation and He will be here when it is gone – however many years that will be.

He will always be the same!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLV

His love, goodness, mercy, grace and kindness will always be – that will never change. He has been reaching out to every generation with His plan of salvation.

These rock formations will someday be gone. But 34.9 million years in the future the love of God will be the same!