Say Yes - She Said

“Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” 2 Kings 5:13-14

Listen to Say Yes - She Said

“How hard could it be? Just do what you’re told?” I stood watching as the coach scolded his batter.

“Raise your elbows, don’t rest the bat on your shoulder, bend your knees and step into the swing.”

“But that’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward.” The girl belted back. “My way is better. I can get under the ball.”

The ump called Play ball!” Stepping to the plate she glanced over her shoulder then shrugged off her coach’s advice. Her bat rested against her shoulder and she stood straight and rigid. The pitcher wound the throw and released—it sailed past her, chest level.

“Striiikke!”

“Tracy! The bases are loaded. Do what I ask.”

Again, she glanced over her shoulder and ignored the coach. The pitcher drew back and fired a second shot, dead center of the strike zone.

“Time out!” The coach shouted. Pulling Tracy to the side he brushed his hand under his cap then snugged it tight on his head.

“Do you need Chipper Jones giving you good advice or can you just take heed? The bases are loaded. You’re looking at RBI’s and a win. Your hit could win this tournament. Don’t be foolish.”
Naaman was a cocky, too. He’d been given a cure for his leprosy and all he had to do was dip in the Jordan River. But his pride got in the way. He grumbled and complained with a cure at hand because he didn’t get the fanfare and attention of a public healing. Dipping in the muddy waters of the Jordan wasn’t good enough and it took his servants calling his hand before he realized the gift he’d been given.

We’re good at letting pride cloud our view. We ask God for help, He provides solutions. Instead of accepting the gift in its simplicity, we insist we know a better way. The answer we’re given couldn’t possibly be right. That’s us. Know-it-all’s—sadly, we’re usually wrong. Somehow we never seem to learn, God’s way is the right way.

Tracy stepped into the batter’s box. Swinging the bat several strokes she stepped away. She rested the bat on her shoulder, eyed her teammates inching from the bases, then took her stance. She bent her knees, raised her elbows and stepped into the swing. The ball cracked against the bat then rose just above the reach of the outfielder then flew over the fence.

God loves caring for us, providing our needs. He simply asks for us to obey. When you ask for an answer and God provides—say yes. His way is the right way and your reward will be great.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.




Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

Don't Get Mad, Get Glad - She Said

“Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed. But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage." 2 Kings 5:8-10 (NIV)


Listen to Don't Get Mad - Get Glad

“She stepped onto the porch and gazed at the furniture. Memories, she thought. So many memories.”

I’d worked hard. Couldn’t he see that? My friend believed in my writing skill. He believed in it before he really knew me and when he offered to mentor me, I was thrilled.

I thought he’d be pleased with the chapter I’d written. But he wasn’t. Instead, he came back at me with an odd suggestion. “Here’s a photo. Describe it and send it back.”

That’s it, I thought. Describe a photo. What about the chapter? I’d described it well, or I thought I had.

“Just describe the photo. What do you see in the picture?” He said.

I tossed my rabbit slipper across the room. I thought he’d give me some real direction. Show me how to craft the words. Give me an instant fix. But he didn’t. Instead of doing what he asked, I got mad.

Elisha gave Naaman a simple solution for his leprosy. Go to the Jordan and wash seven times. It wasn’t hard. In fact, it was such a simple request, that Elisha sent his messenger to share the instructions. Naaman got mad and felt insulted. Why seven times instead of once? Why not the rivers of his hometown instead of this muddy trough? Who was this man of God who wouldn’t even take the time to speak?

Like Naaman, I couldn’t get past my own pride either—couldn’t see what my friend was trying to teach me. Some explanation might have helped me understand his simplistic request, but there was none. I could see and describe or sulk and stay mad.

Jesus walked the city streets giving simple instruction. His teachings were for those who wanted to be healed, made whole and helped. He offered simple commands for complicated lives. Commands like, forgive, love, help others before you help yourself.

When you come to the Father with a request and His answer is simple, don’t get mad. Be glad. Do what He asks. His wisdom is right and true. Accept His instruction, apply it and watch the changes occur.

“She walked onto the porch, the sun streaked across the planked floor. A nail raised above the slat next to the wicker rocker. She remembered catching the toe of her sock and tearing it. Hawk never fixed it. Melon green paint peeled in chunks from the old wood rocker and his book and glasses lay in the same spot on the rattan end table, exactly where they were fourteen months earlier. The braided rug remained crumpled against the screening around the porch. She sighed. Memories. So many memories.”

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.




Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

No Greater Love - Cindy Sproles

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Bittersweet. That’s how I describe Easter. It was just a twist of fate, but one that twisted in the wrong direction for us. You never know what rolls around in a child’s mind, and this time we were thrown a curve.

He was six. I sat in my Sunday school class down the hall from his classroom when I heard an undeniable scream. Cameron, I thought. Bolting out of my seat, I rushed down the hall. His teacher stood trying to console him.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as he wrapped his arms around my neck and sobbed.

“I can’t look! You told me Jesus was my friend.”

“He is!”

“They killed him. And my teacher says it was because of me.” His body quivered.

Tears dripped down his teacher’s face. “I never…”

“I know. It’s fine.”

As he pointed at the pictures of Christ’s beatings, His hands being nailed to the cross, the crucifixion, I realized how truly horrible they were. How did I explain this crass act of cruelty to a child?

We take for granted the pictures of Christ and His crucifixion. We look through rose-colored glasses, at a drop of blood here and there. But it was so much more. The longer I flipped through the Sunday school papers, the harder it became for me to look, too.

“I would never kill my friend!” cried my son.

“Honey, you didn’t kill Jesus. The Roman soldiers did. But, you have to understand that Jesus didn’t have to die.”

“He didn’t?”

“No. All He had to do was call on the angels and they would have rescued Him. But He loved us so much that He was willing to die for all the wrongs we’d ever commit – even before we were born.”

“I couldn’t do that.” my son whimpered.

“I doubt I could either. But Jesus is a different kind of friend.”

The day passed and my son calmed, but as I thought about the picture he’d tried to grasp, I couldn’t help but wonder—really wonder—why? There is no love greater than the love that this Friend, this Father, this God, exhibited for us.

With all the powers of heaven behind Him, He chose to pay the price. Christ made a choice.
Easter is bittersweet. Bitter in His loss, sweet in my gain. And, as I think of the lyrics, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” I find new meaning in His friendship. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand why, but He proved He loves me more than life itself.

When you long for true friendship, look upward to the One who gave it all for you. There is no greater love.

Cindy Sproles, along with Eddie Jones, are co-founders and co-writers of ChristianDevotions.us. She co-writes the popular He Said, She Said devotions with Jones and they co-host the He Said, She Said Radio show.
She is a graduate of the University of Phoenix and her devotions appear weekly in papers across the eastern United States. Cindy is the editor of Christian Devotions and serves as a co-host on Christian Devotions Speak UP with Marianne Jordan. She is a popular speaker for women's retreats and conferences and also travels with Eddie Jones representing Christian Devotions and teaching at writer’s conferences across the country.

Cindy is a featured writer in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust, A Journey to Financial Dependence.

Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

I Could Have Prayed - She Said

“ I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me, so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:22-23 TNIV

Listen to I Could Have Prayed

I prayed too late. If I’d known sooner, maybe things would have been different. I stood gazing into the casket of my dearest friend. A sister. One I’d long to be in the company of, so when God blessed me with the opportunity to be her friend, I grasped hold and held tight.

That morning Mom had called me to ask if I’d heard from Lisa. I’d not heard from her in days, but we’d talked the week before.

“Lisa is dead,” Mom said. “Electrocuted in the tub.”

I hung up the phone. Don’t remember much after that. Somewhere between the four-hour trip and the reception line, I woke up to find myself staring into her casket, Lisa’s Bible clutched in her hands. Just like in life, she held Christ tight. Only now she was dead.

If I’d have known there was a problem between Lisa and her husband I’d have prayed for her safety. My heart broke as the loneliness swept over me. Christ had brought us together as friends and now we were divided by the shroud of death.

Lisa and I prayed together, talked about everything. And not once had she mentioned her deep fear of her husband or that he'd try to harm her. I’m not sure she knew the possibility. She’d ask how I was doing and yet, she kept silent about her own life.

I felt so helpless, torn. I could have prayed - would have, if I’d known. God might have saved her...changed her circumstances. But I didn’t know.

But Jesus knew. I took comfort in the fact that, just as Jesus prayed for us then, He prays for us, now. Long before my birth, He fell to His knees and pleaded that I would know the Father as He knew the Father. Christ prayed for me like no one else has ever prayed - He asked for me to be brought to Him and united in His love. He wanted me to have that peace and reassurance that He would die for. He prayed that same thing for Lisa.

It took years for me to learn the secret of prayer is not in the words but in the purity of our hearts. That it’s the sincerity of soul, a naive faith that believes we can know God and that God knows us. That He seeks us and desires our presence with Him. Christ pleaded to the Father that I would know the unity of His presence in my life and He prayed those words with that same purity of heart and a “Father’s faith,” believing that through my trials, I would respond.

In death Lisa clung to His word. Like Christ clung to the cross. Like I cling to the hope I’ll see my friend again.

Won’t you seek the One who reaches out from the cross to you? Allow His love to fill your heart. Hold tight to the unity found in Him through the Father and through the love we share with one another. He has provided a way to know Him.

We only need to stand in the shadow of the cross.


Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.




Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

Clearing the Air - She Said

"Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. ‘By all means, go,’ the king of Aram replied. ‘I will send a letter to the king of Israel... As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, ‘Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!’" 2 Kings 5:4-7

Listen to Clearing the Air

Once more I’d managed to frustrate him. Once again, he’d done the same.
In a day and time when communication is such an easy feat, it’s still the hardest thing to manage. I slammed my hand on the desk. Shish, I thought, that’s not what I meant at all. Cut me some slack.

My partner and I work virtually, and instant messages, though speedy, lose something in the translation. I say something, he misinterprets it, and vice-versa. There’s no inflection, no emotion, no…anything—just typed words that give us permission to assume the meaning.

I’m not sure how to do this, I typed.

We’re moving backward. We can’t move back, was the instant message reply.

“Phooey. I’m doing my best,” I snapped at the screen. I’d followed the instructions. My questions only served to agitate him, so I did what any good-natured woman would do…I turned him off—him and the computer—went downstairs and sulked.

Communication is hard. And when we’re not listening, not getting the inflection, we assume the position of others.

The King of Aram meant well with his letter and money. He wanted to help Naaman and he knew the prophet Elisha was with Israel. But that’s not what the King of Israel assumed. He took for granted the meaning of the message. Israel’s King knew he couldn’t heal Naaman, so he assumed the King of Aram was picking a fight. “Perform the impossible, he growled.” Right!

The King of Aram wanted to find healing from Israel. I wanted my partner’s understanding, but without the clarity of the spoken word, neither of us “got” the message. The word of God is clear. His pathway is laid firmly for us to follow, but often we don’t listen to the guidance of the Word

My partner and I came to an understanding. If it’s important, we talk ear to ear.
Talk ear-to-ear with Christ and listen to the clarity of His Word. Then you’ll never misunderstand.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.




Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $5.95 (special price during our book tour)

Just Listen - She Said

"Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’" 2 Kings 5:2-3

Listen to Just Listen

I knew what was coming. If only he would have listened. I knew the exit had changed.

Wives can relate to the moment you try telling your husband what exit to take, but he blows you off. Any attempt we make to help navigate is construed as being a know-it-all. So, I’ve learned to hush. Occasionally, I say something as I see the off-ramp approaching at a blistering speed.

Last summer on our return trip from the beach, we were navigating Asheville, NC. “Honey,” I said, “the last time I came this way, they changed the exits.”

“I know. We’ve got the GPS.”

“What I’m trying to say is, the GPS showed the old exit.”

My husband was confident he knew the way. He blew me off - and past another mile marker.

I squirmed in my seat as the exit approached. “This is the exit that’s changed.”

“I know. It’s exit 3B.”

“It's 4A, now,” I added, watching as he veered off the interstate and headed toward downtown Asheville. Minutes later we were stuck... As I'd been for months.

For some time I'd heard God calling me to serve Him full-time in a ministry. Like my husband I would smile and say, “I know. I’m working on it." Weeks went by. My "real" job became more stressful, others demanded all my time—and I got sick. Real sick.

Sitting in the doctor’s office, I listed my daily activities. The doctor glanced over the items and looked up. “You’re over-worked and stressed. If you don’t stop, you'll die." Harsh, but when is the truth gentle?

Naaman blew-off his wife's hand-maiden, too. (Typical male response!) Thought he knew better. Don't we all?

That night, I fell to my knees. With well meaning friends and family harping at me to pay attention to what my body was telling me, God called to me. Ready? Will you go now? Be healed? Obey?

God’s will isn’t always convenient, rarely easy. But when He calls He means business. His business - not our busyness.

I finally gave up. Now, seven weeks from retirement, my health has improved. My circumstances haven't changed. I still don't know how we're going to pay the bills when the paychecks stop, but the old way is killing me. I just trust that God knows best. My experience tells me He usually does.

When you think you know it all...you don't. Stop. Listen and go to the one who can cure you. Trust me, God's way is the best medicine.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.




Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $5.95 (special price during our book tour)

Left Out - She Said

“Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:1

Listen to Left Out

First I knocked. Then I went from knuckle to fist pounding. “Open up. Let me in!” A shuffle of feet sounded and then laughing.

“No! Go away.”

I didn’t want to go away. I wanted to spend time with my friends, not be banned from the fun.

“Come on, please? Open up.”

“No! We voted and you’re out. Beth shoulda been the leader.”

Leaning against the wall, a tear trickled down my cheek. My name had finally rotated around to be the group leader. The announcement wasn’t an hour old before the fly-by friends sold me out for the popular girl. Group leader wasn’t an elected position, rather it rotated so everyone had an opportunity to lead…everyone but me it seemed.

Left out, I snatched up my backpack, pushed open the door and headed down the stairs. It wasn’t fair. It was my time to be the group leader, my time to shine. I just wanted to be something other than invisible, something other than...lonely.

Naaman was an elite guy, commander, highly regarded. He had everything going for him –everything but his health. It didn’t matter how special he was, how many battles he’d won, his leprosy secluded him. He was forced to be alone. And unless he was healed, nothing would change.

Years later I asked the requirements to join a prestigious writers group. When my friends avoided the question, naivety led me to assume the group was full. My friends cheered for me so I practiced my writing—even won a couple of writing contests and hoped a spot would open in the group. But when my pal finally came clean and told me the group said I "wasn't ready," (intrepretation: not good enough), my heart was broken. Not because I wasn't welcomed into the group but that no matter what I did--all the work, all the accomplishment, even the victories, meant nothing. I was still invisible, still left out.

Unlike Naaman, I wasn't secluded due to illness, but I’ve been forced out because I wasn’t "ready yet", not prestigious or clickish enough. Regardless of how hard I banged on the door, I couldn't get in.

Broken, I needed healing - cleansed of the insecurities and fears that made me feel inadequate. So I poured my heart to the Great Physician. He opened up the wounds, cleansed them and when I was ready, He proved my gift was not in being in the spotlight, but rather in being a servant. In time He healed me and revealed my special and unique gifts. Eventually I became part of this prestigious group but all it is…is a line on my resume’. After He healed me, I didn't need that group to fill the void. My place was in Him.

When you’re pushed out, ignored and shunned go to Christ for internal healing. He will shore up your skills, bring you peace and acceptance, then show you where you belong.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.



Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

Conformation of Transformation - She Said

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Listen to Conformation of Transformation

I prayed for renewal. Down on my knees, car door open, snow falling. My stomach turned as the memories flooded back. I’d barely got the car stopped and the door open before I threw up. I thought I could handle it—being back in the spot I’d been rescued from 25 years earlier. I didn’t think it would affect me. But it did.

A friend had passed away and I rode with the boys 800 miles to pay our respects. I’d forgotten I had no respect in that city. No respect from family and no self-respect either. I’d hidden the hurt, prided myself on forgiveness, and then conveniently forgot the pain.

I’ve been a lot of things in my life. Brave, happy, cowardly but lost never seemed to be verb that applied. Except it did. There came a point when I had to choose between the man I thought loved me and the God whom I knew did love me.

I couldn’t stand in the bars and be a part of a life I knew wasn’t pleasing to Christ. I couldn’t be someone I wasn’t. Raised in the Bible belt, my convictions to God ran deep, so when a drunk walked up to me and asked me to dance, I turned to my husband, shook my head and walked home. Conformation to the world was not for me and the loneliness I felt from that point forward seemed unbearable.

Paul understood what it meant to conform to the world and he knew the ache of going to his knees and asking for renewal. He’d gone from Christian killer to Christ lover in a short amount time. He’d wrestled with pain, sought the forgiveness of a God whose will was grander than he could imagine—a good and perfect will that changed his life and made him new.

I made my decision to walk away. Torn between the judgment of man and the forgiveness of Christ, I packed my kids up and went back to the roots instilled deep in my heart. I cried for renewal, sought out the face of God and found His good and pleasing, perfect will—I found His confirmation of transformation and I was saved.

When your convictions are tested, don’t conform to the world, rather seek His will. You will be transformed and renewed by the forgiving love of the Father.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.



Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

High Anxiety - She Said

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." Psalm 94:19

Listen to High Anxiety

"Eight dollars! That's it?" I asked the teller. "But there was plenty of money in the account this morning. What happened? I've not spent it!"

The teller shrugged. "What would you like me to do?

My stomach turned and my face grew warm. I wasn't sure what to do. I only knew the feelings of terror and panic that crept into my mind. This was a place God knew I hated. I'd spent seven years in under the darkness of loneliness and fear when I had nothing--scrapped to feed my boys. This spot, the place where survival kicked in, was a territory I didn't want to visit again...ever! Memories flooded back. Days when eight dollars was the equilivant of $8000.00. I pleaded that God would pull me out of poverty and place me into peace.

Fear squeezed the joy from me and replaced it with guilt and unworthiness. Until today, God had not let the ministry account dip into single digits. He knew my fear. So why today? Why test me today?

My anxiety dragged me to a place of faithlessness instead of faithfulness. The love and joy I'd found in this ministry suddenly dissipated. I was hurt, angry and a little disappointed God would put me in this situation again especially since this was HIS ministry. We were just the tools.

I starred at the last $300 in our savings account then instructed the teller to move it to checking. Walking out of the bank, l leaned against the wall and cried. With over $2000 in bills hovering over the ministry, the small $300 would be gone end-of-day.

God tests us--tries us even pushes occasionally to stretch beyond our immediate knowledge of Him. He invites us through hardships to explore His peace that passes understanding and to claim His promises of consolation, joy and the plan He has to prosper us not harm us. It's not easy and He brought me to my knees kicking and screaming.

"Just trust me," He whispered.

I crawled in the car and headed to the post office. Slipping my key into the box I looked up and cried, "God provide." Twisting the key, I opened the door, an envelope lay tilted to one side. A smile parted my lips and when I opened the letter, a sigh of relief came over me.

God promises when our anxiety is the greatest, trust it to Him, we'll receive consolation and joy. That day, I learned it wasn't about me but did I have a willing heart to learn, to stretch, to see a new side of Christ, and when I said yes, the elation of peace was immeasurable.

When anxiety overwhelms your heart seek the promises of His consolation and joy. There is peace in handing over the worry.

The envelope...contained a check for $300. God matched what we had and we paid the first bill.



Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.



Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

Landing in "Grace"-land - She Said

“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23


Listen to Landing in "Grace"-land

One, two, three, four, five, six…I count the steps in my head every time I start down them. I started counting steps when the kids were little, after our son took a tumble.

Cameron was six when he fell. He stood at the top of the stairs in his Under-roos and matching Scooby-Doo socks, smiling and laughing. Tim stood behind him and I was at the bottom. I sat my load of laundry on floor and turned just in time to see Cameron’s feet slip. Horror stricken, Tim grabbed at him trying to grasp any part of his tumbling body. I did too, but missed. Cameron flipped twice, somersaulted down the stairs until he hit the wall, smacking his head against the railing.

Unconscious, we scooped him up and rushed him to the ER. The doctor examined him and sent him for x-rays. “You say he fell down the stairs?”

“Missed a step and his feet just flew out from under him. I tried to grab him but was too late.”
“Well, we’ll keep your boy overnight until the swelling goes down, but I think he’ll be fine.”
I miss steps, too, and when I do I feel as though I’ve disappointed God. It seems the harder I try to be what God wants me to be, the more I trip and stumble—the more I feel I’ve let God down. My friend scolded me yesterday, told me there was no way I could let God down.

“You can’t disappoint Him. He loves you too much. It’s like saying your disabled son disappoints you—it just can’t happen.”

I thought about that. A lot. And then I realized he was probably right. We can’t really disappoint God. He loves us too much. He knows we can’t always match up to His perfection. He understands I fall short of His glory. Our weakness and “fallings” are made perfect in Christ. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to steady my steps. The day I quit making the effort, is the day God cries.

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Yes, we sin and fall short, but there’s no way we can let God down. Not when Christ is lifted up.

When you stumble and fall, remember the place you land is called “grace,” so take His hand and stand in "Grace"-land.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.

Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

Just Wait - She Said

"When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days." John 11:4-6 (New International Version)

Listen to Just Wait


Suction cups, I wondered.

My son pressed the button in the elevator and the doors opened. "Mom, stop worrying. Sometimes Jesus has suction cups on His feet. That’s what makes Him walk so slow!"

I smiled at the mental picture my son offered. We'd gone through a series of tests to measure my oldest son’s intelligence. Now we waited. I was ready for it to be over. I was ready for the final verdict. If we just had the answer, we could move on with our lives. But a few minutes later we exited the geneticist's office with an appointment for yet another round of tests.

I wondered what was taking God so long.

I’m sure Mary and Martha wondered, too. When Christ heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he delayed coming. It was if Jesus wanted his friend to die. And yet, I admit. I’ve felt that way at times, too. When I saw the suffering of my father, the way he coughed, the sunken sockets of his eyes, the pallor of his skin and the way it pressed against the cheekbone of his face, I said, “Oh Lord, just take him. Relieve the suffering.”

But He didn’t. Dad lived on. Hanging around. Wasting away. What was the glory in that?
After our final round of tests I learned my son carried a broken X chromosome— the marker for mental retardation. Did my waiting, my impatience help or hurt the process? Would it have prevented Chase’s handicap if they’d diagnosed the problem sooner? Where was the glory in that?

Chase was born broken. As Lazarus was. As I am. As we all are.

Could it be that Christ didn’t rush to save Lazarus because his friend was in no danger of dying? At least, not in the final way we think of death? Now we’re talking real glory.

Regardless of my son’s condition, I love him anyway. Perhaps I love him more because of it. His brokenness reveals God’s grace, for there is not a purer heart than Chases’. When God’s power meets our weakness His glory shines.

Pray for healing? Yes. Hate the disease? Yes. Comfort, care and sit with those you love? Absolutely. Then wait on God. Even when He’s slow to answer, the glory is there. Through our trust He is glorified and we are saved.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Scott McCausey.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.

Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95