Spiritual Sparks
"And it was right and proper that God, who made everything for his own glory, should allow Jesus to suffer, for in doing this he was bringing vast multitudes of God’s people to heaven; for his suffering made Jesus a perfect Leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation" (Hebrews 2:10 TLB). Sometimes life can feel like a rickety rope bridge swaying over a canyon of chaos. Storms howling, planks creaking, and we're clutching the ropes wondering why we ever left the safety of our home. In these moments, it’s natural to ask: Does God really understand my mess? I mean, sure—He’s omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. He's the Holder of all the “omnis.” But does He get what it’s like to slog through rush hour traffic while having an existential crisis over reheated leftovers? Does He understand what it feels like to sit beside a hospital bed, or to bury a dream—or worse, a loved one? Does God, from His throne in the heavens, feel the gut punch of grief or the slow burn of anxiety? Yes … yes, He does. You see, Jesus didn’t just peek over heaven’s edge and shout encouraging things from above—He crossed the canyon. He walked the bridge, plank by plank, storm by storm, not just as our Savior but as our trailblazer. He became human … "And it was right and proper that God, who made everything for his own glory, should allow Jesus to suffer, for in doing this he was bringing vast multitudes of God’s people to heaven; for his suffering made Jesus a perfect Leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation" (Hebrews 2:10 TLB). Dear friend, Jesus became the bridge. Not a quaint little footbridge, either—think suspension bridge, gold-plated with grace and reinforced with suffering. He spans the impossible distance between our broken world and God’s wholeness, between our worst day and His perfect love. Jesus knows how fear gnaws at us in the dark. He’s felt exhaustion press down like a boulder. He’s cried, bled, been betrayed, and buried. And because of all that, He doesn’t just understand what we're going through—he’s able to carry us across that bridge. Safely. Surely. Lovingly. So if you’re standing on the edge today, staring into the vastness between where you are and where you want to be, remember this: the bridge has already been built. The Holder of the "omnis" is waiting for you—arms open, eyes kind, and a smile full of sincerity and welcome. That's our God. Isn’t He wonderful? Heavenly Father, When the storms of life howl and the planks beneath my feet creak, help me remember you are limitless in power. I thank you. Father, for your son, Jesus—who understands my every hurt, my every pain. He's my bridge and his presence is the assurance I need to walk through the chaos and stand on the other side. In Jesus' name. Amen. Spiritual Sparks Where in your life do you feel like you're standing on a shaky bridge? How does it change my view of God to know Jesus fully understands my pain? "He's the Holder of the “omnis.” ~~LM
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 And just like that another camp season comes to an end. A season full of sunburns and salvation stories, bug bites and Bible verses, soggy socks and sacred moments, fun times and forever memories. Counselors and staff have walked through more than just the woody trails this summer—they’ve walked with campers full of questions, middle schoolers filled with midnight energy, teens full of snacks and snark. But … they survived. They endured the blazing heat, the one-too-many rainy days, and yes, the spiritual highs and midweek sugar crashes. And through it all, God showed up. Again and again and again. This verse ... “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV) ... reminds us that everything—yes, even wiping ice cream off the picnic tables, sweeping french fries into a dustpan, standing at the dishwasher all day, or sorting through mountains of wet clothes to find a lost sock for a crying child—can be done to the glory of God. You see, it’s not just the big chapel moments or the powerful campfire confessions. Nope. It’s leading worship songs for the fiftieth time, teaching memory verses with sun in your eyes, watching the go-karts circle the track for hours on end. It’s hooking a child into the safety harness for a zipline ride, or embracing and calming a homesick camper with a Gatorade and a prayer. Whatever your position, each moment matters. Why? Because they give glory to God. Because if you did these moments in love and pointed one camper just a little closer to Jesus—it mattered. It glorified our Savior. You, precious one, stepped into the shoes of a faithful servant who fought the good fight, who finished the course, who kept the faith. So, as the camp season comes to an end, take heart and remember: Every bug bite, every Bible study, every belly laugh counted! You served with your heart … you gave it your all—and you did it to glorify God. Heavenly Father, Thank You for showing up in the highs and the lows of this season. Thank You for every camper, every moment of laughter, every tough conversation, every salvation, and every quiet whisper of Your Spirit. Help me to remember: whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do, may I do it all for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Spiritual Sparks 1. What moment stands out as the one that made you feel like you really made a difference? 2. How can I carry this camp-season faith into my everyday life?
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. Recently, she's had a short-story published, Love at First Drop, in an anthology book titled, DREAMS AND DRIFTWOOD. In a couple months, she will have another short-story published, Snowberry Hill, in a Christmas anthology.
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.