Notes From Grandma: A 365-day Devotional Journal

By Dr. Ella L. Moore

Notes from Grandma is a collection of various Scripture verses and expository thoughts which originated as notes to the author’s oldest granddaughter in an effort to encourage her each day. Notes from Grandma consists of 365 inspirational and spiritually motivational vignettes intended to inform, uplift, encourage, and edify the reader.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886855470

Book preview

cover.jpg

Notes From Grandma

A 365-day Devotional Journal

Dr. Ella L. Moore

ISBN 979-8-88685-546-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88685-547-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Dr. Ella L. Moore

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Editing by Alisa Hyman

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

January 1

January 2

January 3

January 4

January 5

January 6

January 7

January 8

January 9

January 10

January 11

January 12

January 13

January 14

January 15

January 16

January 17

January 18

January 19

January 20

January 21

January 22

January 23

January 24

January 25

January 26

January 27

January 28

January 29

January 30

January 31

February 1

February 2

February 3

February 4

February 5

February 6

February 7

February 8

February 9

February 10

February 11

February 12

February 13

February 14

February 15

February 16

February 17

February 18

February 19

February 20

February 21

February 22

February 23

February 24

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

March 19

March 20

March 21

March 22

March 23

March 24

March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 29

March 30

March 31

April 1

April 2

April 3

April 4

April 5

April 6

April 7

April 8

April 9

April 10

April 11

April 12

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 16

April 17

April 18

April 19

April 20

April 21

April 22

April 23

April 24

April 25

April 26

April 27

April 28

April 29

April 30

May 1

May 2

May 3

May 4

May 5

May 6

May 7

May 8

May 9

May 10

May 11

May 12

May 13

May 14

May 15

May 16

May 17

May 18

May 19

May 20

May 21

May 22

May 23

May 24

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 28

May 29

May 30

May 31

June 1

June 2

June 3

June 4

June 5

June 6

June 7

June 8

June 9

June 10

June 11

June 12

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 21

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

June 28

June 29

June 30

July 1

July 2

July 3

July 4

July 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

July 13

July 14

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 22

July 23

July 24

July 25

July 26

July 27

July 28

July 29

July 30

July 31

August 1

August 2

August 3

August 4

August 5

August 6

August 7

August 8

August 9

August 10

August 11

August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 29

August 30

August 31

September 1

September 2

September 3

September 4

September 5

September 6

September 7

September 8

September 9

September 10

September 11

September 12

September 13

September 14

September 15

September 16

September 17

September 18

September 19

September 20

September 21

September 22

September 23

September 24

September 25

September 26

September 27

September 28

September 29

September 30

October 1

October 2

October 3

October 4

October 5

October 6

October 7

October 8

October 9

October 10

October 11

October 12

October 13

October 14

October 15

October 16

October 17

October 18

October 19

October 20

October 21

October 22

October 23

October 24

October 25

October 26

October 27

October 28

October 29

October 30

October 31

Novomber 1

November 2

November 3

November 4

November 5

November 6

November 7

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 11

November 12

November 13

November 14

November 15

November 16

November 17

November 18

November 19

November 20

November 21

November 22

November 23

November 24

November 25

November 26

November 27

November 28

November 29

November 30

December 1

December 2

December 3

December 4

December 5

December 6

December 7

December 8

December 9

December 10

December 11

December 12

December 13

December 14

December 15

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

December 24

December 25

December 26

December 27

December 28

December 29

December 30

December 31

About the Author

This book is dedicated to Nyla, Mateo, and Bella

To God be the glory

For the great things He has done!

Foreword

I would like to read the Bible, but I find it so hard to understand. I like devotionals, but I feel like I am just checking off a box when I read what somewhat else wrote. I know I should read my Bible more, but I have no idea where to start.

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, no doubt these thoughts have run through your head somewhere along your journey. Something so simple (reading the Bible) can become very un-simple when our minds are bombarded with thoughts like the ones above. God calls us into a deep relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ and left us the most beautiful love letter—the Holy Bible. Who doesn't like a good love letter? The Bible provides us with unprecedented access into the heart and mind of God and reveals what was once a mystery (Rom. 16:25–27). So let's talk about those pesky thoughts that tend to discourage us from uncovering the greatest mystery of all time—God's love for us!

I would like to read the Bible, but I find it so hard to understand. There is no substitute for God's Word. It is how we connect to the heart of God. Sometimes we need help making that connection. Devotional books are a great tool for gaining insight into God's Word. This book will help you do just that! Dr. Moore has a way of bringing the Word of God to life in real and practical ways that lead you into God's understanding instead of trusting your own (Prov. 3:5).

I like devotionals, but I feel like I am just checking off a box when I read what somewhat else wrote. I feel you. This can be problematic. Instead of developing the habit of connecting to the heart of God every day, we develop the habit of reading a verse or two and a few lines of feel-good to start the day. One of the unique aspects of Notes from Grandma: A 365-Day Devotional Journal is that along with the practical wisdom of Dr. Moore's writing, there is ample space provided for you to pen your own thoughts and responses to God's Word! When you ask the Lord to open up your heart and mind to gain an understanding of His word, you will find that the Holy Spirit didn't just speak to Dr. Moore. He's speaking to you too!

I know I should read my Bible more, but I have no idea where to start. Well, you do now! The book you are holding in your hands is not there by accident. God has something special to say to you, so start on page 1 and work your way through this devotional at the pace the Lord sets for you. There is space for you not only to write your own thoughts but also to record the date. We all miss a day every now and then, and that's okay. You don't have to go back and catch up. You can just start again right where you are.

What started out as a daily text to family and friends is now a beautiful collection of spiritual gems that spur you along in your Christian journey. May you be as blessed, sustained, encouraged, uplifted, convicted, and tickled as I have been over the years by God's wisdom as shared through Dr. Moore.

May the Lord be with you.

Roslind D. Moore

Daughter of the beloved Ella Moore, Dr. Mommy, and Mother of Mine

Acknowledgments

Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it!

—1 Thessalonians 5:24

I give all honor, glory, and praise to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! I am awed by God's faithfulness, His grace, His love, and His guidance. I remain so grateful for the great things He has done in my life, the great things He is doing in my life, and the great things to come! I love you, Lord, with all my heart!

To my wonderful husband, Russell Eugene Moore Jr., mere words cannot adequately express the love, respect, and gratefulness I have in my heart for you. Believe me when I say that you truly are the wind beneath my wings! I love you enormously and greatly appreciate you!

A heartfelt thank you to my daughter, Roslind, my son, Russell III, and my daughter-in-law, Tara, for your support over the years and for your prayers as I embarked on this endeavor. I praise God for each of you, and I'm so glad that you are a part of me! I love you with all my heart!

January 1

To God be the glory!

As we step into a brand-new year, my prayer for us comes directly from Scripture.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. That the eyes of your understanding will be enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (Eph. 1:17–19).

I also pray that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. In Jesus's name I pray, amen.

I love you as far as the east is from the west! And God loves you even more than that! May God continue to bless you mightily!

Grandma

January 2

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

—Mark 1:35

You know, there is just something about early morning prayer. There is something about starting your day, your week, your month, and even a new year with prayer, talking and listening to God. Prayer adds power to your day. Prayer breeds spiritual assurance and confidence, and it strengthens your faith. Prayer relieves anxieties and keeps you in close contact with God.

Jesus put a great deal into prayer! And most of His prayer time, most of His time talking to God the Father, was done in a solitary, quiet place by Himself. Even when He invited His inner circle—Peter, James, and John—to join Him in praying, He went a little ways off from them by Himself to talk to the Father.

For almost five years, I have joined my church on a 6:00 a.m. prayer line via conference call every morning. I praise God for the opportunity to come together with other believers to pray with and for each other! However, for me, that time does not compare to the solitary, personal, intimate times spent with the Almighty!

I encourage you today, if you haven't done so already, to find your own quiet place, your prayer closet if you will, and spend time in the morning and throughout the day in effectual, fervent prayer. I guarantee you it will avail much (James 5:16)!

I love you more than the distance of the farthest star in the universe times a kazillion squared! And God loves you even more than that! Praying for you always!

Grandma

January 3

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

—2 Thessalonians 3:3

You know, sometimes it seems like the more you try to trust God in a situation, the harder or more difficult the situation becomes. You are trying your best to stay on track, but challenges, temptations, tribulations, oppositions, and trials just keep popping up one right after another.

Well, I just want to encourage you today by reminding you that God really is faithful, no matter how shaky or how difficult things may appear to be. I say appear to be because I've walked with the Lord long enough to know that things are not always what they appear to be, and even if they are, we serve a God who can turn things around in the midnight hour. We serve a God who will make ways out of no way, a God who can close a door as well as open one! So again, no matter how difficult things may appear to be, the Lord is faithful, and He will establish you and keep you from evil. Listen, it boils down to this: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths (Prov. 3:5–6). Amen!

I love you more than a mountain of warm Mrs. Field's chocolate chip cookies and a sea of butter pecan ice cream! And God loves you even more than that! Praying for you always!

Grandma

January 4

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

—Ephesians 6:10

To live a spirit-filled life in a fallen world takes strength and courage. When God assigned Joshua to take Moses's place, He told Joshua over and over again to be strong and courageous! Well, God is saying the same thing to us today!

The only way you and I can truly be strong and courageous though is if we put total trust in our BackUp. You can be strong and courageous if you totally trust that your BackUp will never leave you or forsake you. You can be strong and courageous when you know for sure that your BackUp will be there in the nick of time with all the power in His hand. You can be strong and courageous when you totally trust that your BackUp will not allow any weapon formed against you to prosper. You can be strong and courageous when you totally trust that the battle you face actually belongs to your BackUp and He has already won the victory.

You see, the measure of your strength and courage is directly related to the measure of faith you have in your BackUp! God said it's not by your might and it's not by your power. It's by His Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit as your BackUp, you don't have to fear what man can do! With the Holy Spirit as your BackUp, you can do all things and endure all things that come your way. With the Holy Spirit as your BackUp (picture this), you are like a superhero, with a big S&C across your chest, standing tall with your hands on your hips and your superhero cape blowing in the wind of victory! And the mantra over your head reads, To God be the glory!

The songwriter wrote:

May your struggles keep you near the Cross.

May your troubles show that you need God.

May your battles end the way they should.

May your bad days prove that God is Good.

May your whole life prove that God is Good!¹

I love you to the moon and back a thousand times squared! And God loves you even more than that! Praying for you always!

Grandma

January 5

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

—Proverbs 4:23

You know, if you don't take care of your physical heart, it can develop diseases like high cholesterol, hardening of the arteries, heart murmurs, congestive heart failure, and ultimately, a heart attack. An unhealthy heart can become life-threatening because the heart is the epicenter of the body.

Well, your spiritual heart can develop life-threatening diseases also. Spiritual heart arteries can become clogged and hardened by stuff like unforgiveness, jealousy, and envy. Your spiritual heart develops murmurs every time you sin. Your spiritual heart becomes congested with unconfessed sin, and, oh my goodness, when you allow pride to enter your heart, you are headed for a full-blown spiritual heart attack!

So allow me to encourage you this morning to diligently pay attention to keeping your spiritual heart. Pay attention to what and who you allow to reside in your spiritual heart. Make sure you schedule regular checkups with your spiritual cardiologist—the Holy Spirit. I recommend at least twice a day—at the beginning of your day to make sure your heart starts out in good condition and at the end of the day to eradicate any threats attempting to develop. Such frequent visits will assure that you remain in excellent spiritual heart health!

I love you with all my heart! And God loves you even more than that! Praying for you today!

Grandma

January 6

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

—Ephesians 2:10 KJV

You and I are products of God's own hand. He created each one of us just the way He wanted us. So why do we spend so much time trying to change His workmanship? We all have something that we don't like about ourselves. We are too dark or too light. We are too tall or too short. Our eyes are too big, our lips are too wide, and the list goes on! And depending on what it is, we spend big money trying to undo what God has made, trying to change His workmanship. We can get so focused on how we are made that we forget why we are made. We forget that we are created in Christ Jesus to do the work that God ordained us to do! So let me ask you this morning, what good works has God ordained for your life? Mahalia Jackson used to sing a song that went like this:

If I can help somebody, as I pass along

If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song

If I can show somebody, that he's travelling wrong

Then my living shall not be in vain

If I can do my duty, as a good man ought

If I can bring back beauty, to a world up wrought

If I can spread love's message, as the Master taught

Then my living shall not be in vain²

So I tell you again that you are God's workmanship. And I ask you again, what good works has God ordained for you? Let me encourage you to get to it so that your living will not be in vain!

I love you more than all the water in the Pacific Ocean! And God loves you even more than that! Praying for you today!

Grandma

January 7

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

—Matthew 5:37

As Christians, we should not have to swear anything, as if swearing adds some kind of credence to truth! Our word should be enough. We don't need to use phrases like I swear to God or I swear on my honor.

You definitely don't need to swear to God because He already knows everything. He's omniscient! And the Bible says don't swear by heaven because that's God's throne and not by earth 'cause that's His footstool. Jesus said in verse 34, Don't swear at all.

You've heard the phrase I know you're lying 'cause your lips are moving. Well, that should never be the reputation of a follower of Jesus Christ because Jesus Himself is Truth.

The bottom line is that you should always tell the truth. Your reputation of honesty and your integrity should be such that your word is enough. People would bet the farm on your word alone! When you say yes, it's yes, and when you say no, it's no! Nothing else is required. As a matter of truth, anything else, the Bible says, is evil. It's sin!

What it boils down to is this: say what you mean and mean what you say!

I'll say this: I love you, and I mean it! And God loves you most and best! Paying for you today!

Grandma

January 8

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: You are the God who sees me, for she said, I have now seen the One who sees me.

—Genesis 16:13 NIV

In the biblical record, a slave named Hagar found herself in dire straits. She had hit rock bottom. The only thing she could think to do was run away. She didn't have any place to go and no one to help her. Just when she was about to completely give up, the Lord showed up! God saw her! And I don't mean that He just saw her with His eyes. I mean God saw her with His heart! God saw her and stepped right into her dilemma. He sent her back to the challenge she was facing, but she went back with the assurance that God is a God who sees me!

You know, there are some things you just cannot run away from—some circumstances, some situations, some heartaches! There are some things you just have to face and go through. No matter what the challenges of the future may hold, you can face your tomorrows being confident of this one thing—God sees you! And not just with His eyes but with His heart, and His heart is always for you, never against you! Do you believe that today? I certainly do!

I love you the entire span of the universe and beyond! And God loves you even more than that! Praying for you today!

Grandma

January 9

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.

—Galatians 2:20a

This is so awesome when you think about it. We know that Christ was crucified, which means that He died. That's what crucifixion is. It's an execution, a means of killing. So to say that you are crucified yet you live does not make sense in the natural.

Aren't you glad our salvation is not based on the natural but on the supernatural, on the spiritual? You see, anything crucified in the natural dies, and yes, Jesus Christ was crucified in the natural, and He did die. But He rose from the dead, never to die again. His crucifixion caused death, but by His own power, He was resurrected from death, causing life to win out over death forever! So out of Christ's crucifixion, out of His death, comes life.

By choosing Jesus Christ as your Savior, you become crucified with Him, but not unto death—unto life! Crucifixion in the natural yields death, but crucifixion in Christ yields eternal life. Now ain't that good news!

I love you with the love of Christ! Praying for you always!

Grandma

January 10

God said, Yeah, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

—Jeremiah 31:3

God's love for you and me never fails.

As you and I continue in our celebration of Jesus's miraculous birth, take a moment to reflect on the depth of God's love for you! The driving motive for Jesus's birth on planet Earth was God's love for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16)!

When you start to realize just how much God loves you, when you experience His goodness toward you personally, you are drawn to Him more and more. Grandmama used to stay it this way: Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before!

God's love for you is so deep and so strong that nothing can ever make God stop loving you. I don't care what sins you have committed or what sins you are currently committing. I don't care how bad you think you are, how unworthy you think you are, how insignificant you think you are. God said that nothing—no thing—can separate you from His love. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38–39).

The bottom line is that we would not have a Christmas to celebrate if it were not for the everlasting love of God for us. As a matter of fact, the only reason you and I can love God as much as we do is because He first loved us, and with a love everlasting! Now ain't that good news!

I love you with the love of Jesus Christ! Praying for you always!

Grandma

January 11

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

—2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV

While God has given some people the spiritual gift and a ministry of giving, all believers are expected to give on some level. The command to bring your tithes and offerings to the church is for everybody (Mal. 3:10). The command to give alms to help the poor, orphans, and widows is for everybody (Gal. 2:10). The command to bless the man of God and those who serve by bringing you the Word of God is for everyone (Gal. 6:6, 1 Tim. 5:17). God expects every believer to give, but not out of a sense of duty, not because you want to be seen or recognized, and definitely not because someone is making you give (Matt. 6:1–4). He does not want you to give grudgingly! What He wants is for you to give out of love! You know why? Because when you give out of genuine love, you give cheerfully, and God loves a cheerful giver.

Listen, if someone was giving you something and it was obvious that she or he did not want to give it to you, you wouldn't even want to receive it! Even if the gift was something really nice, you'd be like That's okay. You keep it. Well, God is the same way. He wants us to be cheerful givers—to Him first then to each other! And once again, love is always an acceptable gift! Oh, and let