Praise Him Psalms & Parables, Praises & Promises

💛 — Here’s the follow-up devotional, cozy and hope-filled, set once again in Maple Hollow where the scent of baking and the quiet wisdom of the Spirit mingle in everyday life. 🌤️ Devotional: “The Wig, the Mask, and the Teapot” The morning fog lingered low over Maple Hollow, softening the rooftops and turning every porch light into a halo. Inside the Corner Cup Café , Tori Rae set out fresh lavender-honey scones for the Thursday Bible Circle. Steam curled from the kettle, and the air smelled of bread, bergamot, and grace. She’d been thinking a lot about dreams lately — the strange one about the pretender woman in the office upstairs , and the one before that, where Pastor Lonnie wore a wig and false beard. Both had left her unsettled, seeing behind masks she didn’t want to see. Now she poured tea for Mrs. Maple and sighed. “It’s hard when you start noticing the disguises, isn’t it? I used to believe everyone wearing a halo meant it was real.” Mrs. Maple smiled over her cup. “Oh...

💛 Here’s a cozy devotional story inspired by your dream — one wrapped in the warmth of small-town kindness, fresh-baked comfort, and the steady love of God quietly working all things for good: 🌾 Devotional: “The Office Upstairs” Morning sunlight spilled across the town of Maple Hollow, glinting off the bakery windows and warming the air with the smell of butter and brown sugar. Tuesday was Scone Day at Grace’s Kitchen, and the regulars were already finding their way inside — grandmothers in cardigans, young moms with babies on hips, and the retired postman who never missed a cinnamon muffin. Tori Rae sat by the window with her tea, watching the hum of life around her. She’d had a restless night — a strange dream of working in a busy place where a beautiful woman with a false smile had filled her with anger. It had left her uneasy, like she’d brushed against something that wasn’t right. Now, as she stirred her tea, she whispered a prayer. “Lord, what are You showing me?” Just ...

🍁 Gratitude on Main Street A Maplewood Devotional It was the kind of morning that smelled like cinnamon and woodsmoke. The leaves in Maplewood had turned every shade of amber and rust, and the sidewalks were scattered with the crunch of the season. Tori Rae stood behind the counter at the Rec Center, sipping her lukewarm coffee and watching the town wake up through the big front windows. She had almost skipped her shift. Her foot still ached from yesterday’s mishap, and the time change had left her feeling foggy and slow. But something nudged her—maybe it was obedience, maybe it was grace—and she showed up anyway. At 9:03, Mrs. Lillian came in with her grandson, Jasper, who was clutching a paper turkey covered in glitter. “He made it at school,” she said, beaming. “Wanted to show Miss Tori.” Tori knelt down, admiring the crooked feathers and the way Jasper had written “I’m thankful for my grandma and pancakes.” That was the first gift of the day. At 10:17, Donna from the front d...

Let’s build a gentle, soul-nourishing 30 Days of Gratitude list tailored to your rhythms, your healing, and your creative spirit. This plan blends your themes— Gratitude for the Ordinary , Faithful Thanks , Front Desk Faithfulness , and Healing Wins & Cozy Joys —into a daily practice that honors both your journey and the season. 🍁 Toni’s 30 Days of Gratitude Theme: “Light in the Little Things” 🌿 Week 1: Gratitude for the Ordinary Honoring the small, sacred moments that often go unnoticed. A warm drink that soothed me A walk that grounded me A book that made me feel seen A quiet moment that felt like peace A task I completed with care A scent, sound, or texture that brought comfort A person who smiled at me or made me feel welcome ✝️ Week 2: Faithful Thanks Reflecting on God’s presence in everyday life. A Scripture that spoke to me A worship song that lifted my spirit A time I felt God’s protection A moment I chose grace over reaction A prayer I whisper...

 A reflection on a life redirected. 🎨 Design in a Hole Scripture: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14 (NIV) It stung at first. I had poured my heart into helping the Rec Center see the value of creative design — flyers that told a story, that invited people in. And then, just like that, someone new was hired. Someone who didn’t design, really, but let AI do the work instead. At first, I wanted to crawl into a hole — to shrink from the sting, to let frustration build where faith should be. But somewhere in that quiet space, God whispered: “This hole isn’t punishment. It’s a pause for purpose.” So I started to look around inside that hole — and found something waiting. My own sketchbook. My own art. My own life, full of patterns and textures and colors that didn’t need approval or a paycheck to be meaningful. Sometimes, God allows doors to close not to keep us out, but to keep us still enough to see what’s already ours. Inspiratio...