Spiritual Sparks
“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 NKJV Welcome to camp season—the time when s’mores multiply, bug spray becomes cologne, SPF 50 becomes your second skin, the zip lines zip, go-karts race, and just like that you are responsible for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of a dozen kids. (No pressure, right?) Parents drop off their children, and for one full week, Jesus becomes the number one topic. But let’s be real: some days you'll feel like you're standing in a thick forest, wrapped in fog so dense you can’t see the next step. Between homesick first-timers, Gatorade-fueled campers on the move, and your own exhaustion, the path ahead may feel murky. That’s when Psalm 119:105 glows like a flashlight in your pocket: “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” You see, God’s Word won’t always give you the full map—but it gives you enough light for the next faithful step. And sometimes? That step looks like patience. Or grace. Or just knowing when to hand out a snack and say a prayer. Some days, your faith will shine bright—like a bonfire lighting the way to the Chapel in the Woods. Other days, it might feel like a flickering candle in the wind. But even a flicker challenges the darkness. Why? Because God is the keeper of your flame. He’s steady, even when you’re not. Let's step into Paul’s sandals for a minute. His life wasn’t all mountaintop moments. In fact it was more like a long hike with blisters and storms. God didn’t give Paul a spiritual fast-pass or zap him with a divine upgrade. Nope. He shaped him—day by day, step by step. Just like God's shaping you. So, to all the counselors, leaders, kitchen crew, day camp workers, lifeguards, behind-the-scenes maintenance heroes, games/utility legends, clipboard-wielding secretaries, craft-maker, videographer, and the nurse—whatever your role—remember this: God doesn’t expect you to light up the whole forest. He only wants you to hold the lamp, trust the light, and keep walking. When you feel like you're day is running on prayers, cling to this promise: “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3). This summer, let God's Word be your guide, and through all the chaos, joy, noise, laughter, and quiet moments— remember His light is always enough. Heavenly Father, Thank You for calling me into this wild, wonderful, sometimes chaotic adventure called camp. I admit—there are days when I feel like I’m running on empty, covered in bug spray and sunscreen, trying to remember where I left my Bible and my coffee. But You, Lord, never lose track of me. Ever. I thank You for being the light in the fog, the whisper in the noise. You are faithful. You are near. And Your light is always enough. In Jesus, name. Amen. Spiritual Sparks When the day gets tough and you're walking through fog, how might God be asking you to trust Him for taking your next step? Are you carrying the pressure to be everything for everyone, or are you letting God be the source of the light while you hold the lamp?
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17 NKJV We’ve all taken a swim inside a tidal wave of chaos. You're looking for help, but no one has an answer. The electrified stress you’re dealing with is problematic. Devices won’t sync. Music won’t play. Anxieties rise. Your eyes scan the room for help, and the countdown continues toward the zero mark. Surely someone can help, someone knows something. An observer in the background stands with arms crossed—silent, calm, watching. They had the knowledge to bring peace into the chaos … but did not. Instead of stepping in, they stepped back. Not only did they withhold help—they smirked at the frantic attempts to fix what they themselves could’ve handled. They allowed the pressure to rise. They let people sink under the weight of failure. And sadly, they enjoyed it. Then, for whatever reason, the observer decided to “save the day.” His action looked like a rescue. It felt like grace. But it wasn’t. It was manipulation in disguise. A cruel game of withholding help for the sake of what? … personal control? Spite? The "save" may have looked like success in the end, but something much deeper was lost in the process: Integrity. Our Jesus calls us to be something better, to do better. When we withhold help that could ease someone’s burden, when we watch others struggle just for spite, we aren’t walking in love. Nope. We’re walking in pride; we’re trolling with hate. You see, integrity isn’t measured by what we do when eyes are on us—it’s measured by what we do when no one expects anything. Jesus wants us to do good. In fact, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17 NKJV). Dear friend, this devotion isn’t about the chaos—it’s about the heart. Jesus didn’t watch from a distance while we floundered in the undertow of a tidal wave’s chaos. No. He dove in. He gave everything—even His life—so we wouldn’t drown alone. Let’s be like that. Let’s be people of integrity. People who serve, who step forward and help with a full heart of love and kindness. Heavenly Father, Help me to always see others through your eyes. When problems arise, may I always respond with love, humility, and integrity. If spite rears its ugly head, teach me to serve from the heart, to help when there is a need. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Spritual Sparks Have you ever withheld help when you knew you could’ve made a difference? What held you back—and what might Jesus be inviting you to do differently next time?
Prayers Under Fire
(coming soon)
Dex Hamilton, special ops mercenary, turned his back on God six years ago. He now spends his rogue life living for the government, sidestepping a monotony of red tape, and righting a long-overdue wrong.
Marcee Simmons, small-town preacher’s daughter from Ohio, is forced to drive deep into the Belize jungle with Dex. Her faith is tested as she and Dex dodge a host of armed men, cavort with a freeloading tarantula, and plunge over a makeshift waterfall.
Together they must evade the evil forces of a kingpin who fights to monopolize new smuggling channels for the exploitation of illegal drugs and human trafficking. When a few phenomenal miracles cross their paths, the results become an awakening kaleidoscope of change, making their survival critical, their trust unavoidable, and their love unstoppable.
Linda Morgan
Linda Morgan resides in Ohio with her husband. She is a flower gardener at heart, loves to zipline and shoot guns—not at the same time, though. She is an eclectic book nerd. She loves reading her Bible and any devotional she can get her hands on. However, Linda is also an avid reader of everything from Dr. Seuss to Helen Steiner-Rice, YA adventures to espionage thrillers, romantic suspense to clean rom-coms. The latter being her all-time favorite, and as her husband is always quick to point out: “Life’s (more!) better when you’re laughing.” She agrees.
She is a word geek to the extreme and for some quirky reason has an overwhelming impulse to spell words backwards, but only to herself. Not out loud. That would just be weird.
She's written a full-length novel, Prayers Under Fire, which will be released soon. When she typed "the end" to Marcee Simmons' story, she says it was a cartwheel-delight moment--literally. Linda combines page-turning adventure, intriguing suspense, and a romantic happily-ever-after ending to her novels. She had a poem published a decade ago, and a few years back, she won first place on two devotions submitted to FaithWriters.com.
Above all else, God is number one in her life, and Linda knows she wouldn’t be writing if she didn’t believe this is what He’s called her to do. Please take the time to stop by her devotional page, "Spiritual Sparks." She welcomes your visits and prays her words touch your heart.