What Are You Called?

I was in a homeless shelter--having just served food--and went into a game room to mingle with the people there. I approached someone who had been sitting in a corner alone. He had a wheelchair and several extensive knee braces. I knew if anybody could sympathize with him and understand...I could. I started the conversation by asking which food he liked the best at the dinner, and we ended the conversation as if we'd known each other for years. Before long, I had to leave. It was then I realized I didn't know his name and that was starting to bug me. Right before leaving, I asked his name. He replied, "They call me Josh." (Real name changed for privacy).

Normally, we would just say our names. Yet in their culture, they have nicknames everybody called them. I learned that often their nicknames differ greatly from their actual name--sometimes a completely unrelated name. If you look in the Bible, you realize how important names are. Jesus has so many names; Savior, Lamb, Shepherd...throughout the Bible there are a hundred examples of different names. Names not only tell you apart from other people, they also identify who you are. The question is, what name are you known by? Will people call you a servant of Christ after you die?

Kayla Joy

Fly On Wings like a Mosquito

“If you think you’re too small to have an impact try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.” – Anita Roddick.

I don't know about you, but during the hot summer months, it's easy to let a fly or mosquito in the house. And once you do--it takes forever to chase them around the house and get them out. One time I sat in my oldest sister's room, watching her try to get a fly out of her room before she went to bed. Before long, I was literally doubled over laughing, watching her swat at the fly in her room with a fly swatter. The fly zipped from spot to spot, barely stopping to rest. My sister valiantly continued swatting at him, seeming to barely miss him every time. If anybody had seen her through the window, they would have thought she'd gone insane, twirling from one direction to another, battling thin-air. After a short break--in which both me and my sister were doubled over laughing--we had recovered and she was ready for another battle with him. This time, she won. Rather disappointed that this amusing entertainment was over, we both resigned to go to sleep in our fly-less rooms.

You might not think one little person can make a difference in the world--what can one person do? Compared to the rest of the world, with all the other people in it, they have little power. Though one person may not seem to be able to have a huge difference, they can set an example for others to follow. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

Even if you're young, you can still set an example for others in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. You wouldn't have thought a little fly would have bothered someone, but it did. You wouldn't think an example from one person can have an impact, but it can. Are you willing to impact someone?

Kayla Joy

Shining Jesus Everyday

I gazed out the car window at the colorful city lights. They sat on the hillside, some shining more bright than the others. And throughout it all, I couldn't help but think--which light are we?

Are we shining bright for Jesus? Matthew 5:14-16 says, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Don't be afraid to live for Jesus--even if others around you aren't. Just because they aren't shining bright for Jesus doesn't mean you shouldn't. 


Kayla Joy

Timely Blessings and Love

I sat cross legged on the floor of our church's nursery, playing peek-a-boo with a baby. She giggled constantly, absolutely adoring my attention. After she got bored with peek-a-boo, I took her on my lap, reading a child's book to her. I spent the next hour making her laugh, smile, giggle, and stare in astonishment at new toys. When her mother got back, she surprised me by being truly thankful for me babysitting her child. She told me how thankful she was that she was able to take a break and learn about God's word. I didn't think I had done that much, I just offered my time, lap, and love, yet throughout it I was able to bless some one else.

Sometimes, we can bless people by doing a simple thing such as offering our time. We can get fooled into thinking that people want more than that, but often all it takes is a little time and a lot of love to bless someone. 1 John 3:18 says, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." God blessed us with time, can't you bless someone else with your time?

Kayla Joy

Joy Through Hardships

 Some people are under the false impression that your life will be easy if you accept Jesus into your heart. They claim everything will simply fall into place once you do. The truth is; however, that our lives as Christians won't be easy. It's not like you can live a carefree life if you accept Jesus into your heart. John 15:18-19 says, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

If you truly live for Jesus, trying earnestly to seek and obey Him, the world will hate you. Yet even throughout this, those who have Jesus in their heart can have joy throughout hardships and trials. Why? John 16:33 sums this up, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Kayla Joy

Gripping Control

I sat on the horse, mentally forcing myself not to grip the saddle for support. When I first got on the horse, I thought it'd be impossible to let go of that saddle and not fall off. But as I gradually got used to it, and even learned how to make my horse go faster (though I'm still working on getting him to stop--I had a stubborn horse who refused to stop and would try to break out into a trot if I tried), I soon forgot about needing to hold on to something. I learned to keep my balance better, knowing that ultimately, I was going to need to learn how to ride without gripping on the saddle if I wanted to become good at it.


In our lives, it can be hard to let go and recognize that God is in control. It's in our human nature to want to be in control. But no matter how much we want to be in control--does that really change who is in control? Whether we would like to control or not, God is still in control. Isaiah 55:8 says, ""For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord." If you don't understand why something is happening in your life, that's okay, you don't have to. Just trust that God has a plan, He is in control. His ways aren't our ways, but that's okay, because His ways are higher than ours. We can't even begin to understand His ways. Let Him take control of your life.

Kayla Joy

Love Without Strings

(I was recently asked to submit my devotional stories to our church's monthly newsletter. This is one I'm considering using for February's newsletter on Valentine's Day.)

                                Love Without Strings

Kids pout if they don’t get a valentine card back from someone. Wives get frustrated if their husbands forget to do something special on Valentines Day. People are willing to give love, but only if there’s something in it for them. The difference between our love and God's love? God loves us without expecting anything back in return. He loves us undeservingly. Any love we show to others is but a poor mirror reflection of the incredible love God pours out freely on us.

Though God knows every sin we’ve ever committed and ever will commit, He still sent His only Son down to die for us. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” Jesus showed a true example of loving people while on earth. He loved lepers, sinners, tax collectors, poor and rich alike--He didn't decide to only love those who would love Him back. Even while hanging on the cross dying for our sins, He was loving us, taking our punishment for us. This Valentine's Day, how about showing love to someone whose not able to love you back? Maybe they’re physically disabled, maybe they’re too grumpy to love themselves, or maybe they’re not someone you would typically show love to. If we’re trying to be Christlike, why not love the unloveable without expecting something back in return? God certainly set the bar high by loving you and me.

Kayla Joy