The Bridge: Devotions with Denise

Prep Time

Denise Harper — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Prep time is an important consideration for everything. Whether we are planning a dinner, giving a presentation or getting ready for work or an important event...there has to be an allowance for additional time to get ready. I mean we can only "throw something together" for so long before we run out of steam ...and grace!

There is only so long that we can do the old 'fake it til you make it' before our lack of preparation becomes apparent. Once in a while we can make it through with a 'just show up and hope it all works' attitude but in order to really give 100% to what we do - we MUST put in the time to prepare.

Why is it that we often prepare the least for the most important purpose set before us in life? As believers we are in the fight of our life! The enemy is waging war for our very soul and it isn't a battle we want to engage in without preparation!!

Ephesians 6:11 & 13 calls us to "Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil....put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm."

God's Word makes it very clear that we must prepare. There are no short cuts in this one. Time in God's Word and in prayer are necessary for today's events. Allowing for prep time is critically important!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

One Taste Is All It Took

Denise Harper — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

My favorite ice cream flavor is peanut butter. In fact, peanut butter anything is a favorite for me. And while we might consider the peanut butter and jelly sandwich a kid's meal item....it's still at the top of my list today.

So recently when I visited an iconic ice cream shop on Chincoteague Island (in VA), of all their interesting, unique and traditional flavors I would have absolutely gone for peanut butter cup the instant my eyes picked it out on the menu. Except for the fact that right before I went...someone who had been there before me said, 'you have to try the pineapple upside down cake flavor! It's the best thing on the menu!'

Standing there waiting to take my order the young man behind the counter heard me say "I really want the peanut butter cup....but I heard that the pineapple upside down cake is the best thing on your menu!" My friend who was with me said, 'why don't you taste it first and see what you think?' One taste was enough for me to confirm my decision. "I'll have the pineapple upside down cake, please!"

Someone planted the idea of it. And someone suggested I try just a taste to see if it was good to me. It was that easy! It is also the simplest way to share our faith. We tell of our experience to someone and ask if they would like to experience the Lord too. Psalm 34:8 (MSG) gives us the step by step. "Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him."

Peanut butter...pineapple upside down cake...are flavors that may bring you momentary happiness while you're tasting them. But that treat is soon forgotten. But, when we taste and see for ourselves that God is good...and we experience His blessings and goodness over and over...we will want more and more. And it won't be very long before we are telling someone else..."Hey, taste and see...that God is good!"

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

The Fishermen

Denise Harper — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

At the end of my street is a very big pond. It's where ducks show up in the early Spring each year. The occasional rowboat or kayak appears when summer approaches. And on any given day of the year it's where guys love to meet up to hang out and dangle a line in the water for hours at a time.

It can be hot, cold, humid, breezy or a chill in the air. The sun may be shining or it could be raining and they still show up. Consistent. Patient. Persistent. I don't know how much fish they catch. I'll bet some days more than others. But they keep coming back. Perhaps it's as much about the company they keep as it is the fish that they take home.

When Jesus approached two fisherman named Peter and Andrew on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, His invitation to them was, "follow Me and I will make you fishers of men". I'm guessing it was an odd statement to them...to fish for men. And it may be even more odd to those of us who don't fish! But the principle of fishing...the act of fishing....to really successfully pull in a good catch?...is to be... consistent, patient and persistent. Sound familiar?

Jesus' call wasn't just to Peter and Andrew to be fishers of men. Matthew 4:19-20 (MSG) Jesus said, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed."

He wants us to keep showing up, hanging out and living our lives as God-followers. Consistently. Patiently. Persistently. Jesus will do the rest.

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Brace Yourself!

Denise Harper — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I was sitting across from a financial advisor whose office was inside an old train station. When he said, "brace yourself!" I wasn't sure what he meant. Within seconds a train came barreling past the building making it impossible to continue our conversation. The furniture nearly buzzed from the vibration of the thunderous machine moving on the rails just feet away from where we were sitting.

As the train was about to pass the crossing, it blew its horn several times, alerting drivers in vehicles that it was coming through. Once the train had cleared the area, vehicles proceeded across the tracks. And inside the office we continued our discussion. It was as if potential danger had never been present.

How often is it that very real danger passes right alongside of us? Sometimes we may be aware of its pending arrival...and often we have no idea what is headed our way. All the more reason that we must stay in touch with God. The Holy Spirit can alert us to danger and even divert our travel when necessary to fulfill His plan.

Psalm 121:8 (MSG) tells us, "God guards you from every evil. He guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, He guards you now. He guards you always." What an assuring promise He gives us to rest in today. He guards us always!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

The Flaw

Denise Harper — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

When we were about to have our kitchen floor re-finished I picked out this beautiful pattern and I couldn't wait to see it installed. It turned out beautifully...except for one small section...where the pattern just did not match. It went in the opposite direction. No one else seemed to notice...but it drove me crazy!

Every time we received compliments on the flooring I found myself pointing out the spot that bugged the daylights out of me. Friends would always say...'oh I didn't notice that at all'. And finally I came to the decision that instead of focusing on the flaw I should just enjoy the floor.

How often have I missed the beauty because all I could see was the one thing that seemed like a flaw to me? It seems like we do that often, don't we?! We are surrounded by the good...but instead of enjoying it ...we spend our time focused on the flaw. It might be in our power to fix...or it might not. It might not even be a flaw but it just seems off to us. It's a distraction from what we really should be thinking about...and isn't that what the enemy does?! He distracts us from what we really should be focusing on.

The Apostle Paul told us in Philippians 4:8 (MSG) exactly how to give up that terrible habit of being distracted. "Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse."

Think on these things.

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

The Deepest Love

Denise Harper — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

There is no one like our God. He made the world and all its individual nations and waterways. Every animal, bird, fish and flower are each their own design. And look how creative to make a giraffe so tall with such a long neck. A zebra that has the shape of a horse and yet is completely striped from head to hoof.

God took great pleasure in creating Adam and Eve. When He looked on all He had created He said "they are very good." I love to imagine what it must have been like for Adam to name each of the animals...and...wait for God to come and visit in the garden during the cool of the evening. Can you just imagine?

In all the pleasure God took in His creation, He also knew that we would botch things up. Still He made us ... and our way to redemption. Revelation 13:8 speaks of 'the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world'. From the very beginning...He knew.

God loves us just the way we are. And yet...He loves us too much to let us stay that way. God comforts us in our struggles and in our pain. At the same time, He also compels us, not to sit in our difficulties, but to grow and mature in our walk with Him. That's the deepest love of all!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Lessons From A Toddler

Denise Harper — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

There is nothing quite like trying to dress a toddler. Their energy knows no bounds. Their little minds are constantly thinking - what's next? where can I go? ooo what's up there? hey, what's this? and what does it do? The creativity and interest level of a toddler is pretty incredible. With very little thought for danger a toddler is driven largely by curiosity and experience.

Saying the word 'wait' to a toddler...well, if you've had one or taken care of one, you know it doesn't really mean much to them. It's in those earliest discovery moments that we begin to teach children about safety and obedience and the consequences of our actions.

Even as adults we struggle with the concept of waiting. Psalm 27:14 teaches us an important component to waiting. It tells us what to DO while we wait. It says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." While we are waiting we are to be strong, encouraged, to have hope, to be bold and confident...to not give up! There is a LOT of doing in that one little verse of instruction.

I think if we could bottle up any of that toddler energy and curiosity we could serve it up best right here...in the waiting...in the watching expectantly for the goodness of God and just how He will reveal His greatness in our lives next! Now THAT is curiosity and wonder put to good use...while we are waiting!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Conditions Are Right

Denise Harper — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Hurricane season. Winter season. Beach season. Christmas season. Whatever the season it no doubt brings up memories of the past, plans for the future, and necessary items to be prepared for just such a time.

In my trunk I keep a toolkit for minor roadside situations. It never hurts to be prepared! When I go on a trip I pack a little safety kit! When the weatherman says it could rain today I tuck an umbrella in my bag just in case. If there is the potential for high wind we batten down the hatches around the house. And if there's snow coming....well, I don't have to tell you, we'll just all meet in the bread and milk aisles at the grocery store!

When conditions are right for something beyond our normal day to day circumstances we typically take the time to get prepared, don't we?! What if we could be on alert for spiritual seasons? Being informed that conditions are right for a spiritual storm...honestly, we have been alerted. Over and over the Bible tells us to be ready...always at the ready. Ephesians 6:13 (NIV) tells us to "put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

The truth is every day conditions are right for something bigger, deeper, harder than we are typically prepared for to try to wipe us out! But, we have a whole checklist available in Ephesians 6:10-18 to be sure that we are fully prepared and equipped for all occasions! Let's take time today to learn it or refresh our minds with what that full armor is - so that we can be prepared. Because conditions are right...

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Coming Home

Denise Harper — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

There is nothing quite like coming home. Whether it's coming home from a vacation or work trip or just coming home at the end of your work day or school day. Home should be a safe place. Peaceful. A place you can kick off your shoes, take off your makeup, put on your comfy clothes, and totally be yourself! A place where you can rest.

As adults it is our job to create that environment for the ones we are responsible for in our home. Whether we parents creating a nurturing space for our children, or caretakers creating a safe space for those in our care, we are actually more Christ-like when we make home a place we all want to come back to.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:1-3, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am going."

Even the story Jesus told of the prodigal son is a lesson in knowing that when we are in need of rest, struggling in our day and especially struggling in life, we can always come home.

Until God calls us to our eternal heavenly home and while our physical home may not always be within reach....there is a place of comfort and peace, rest and safety that we can run to any time in any situation...and that is Jesus. Jesus is our home. He centers us. He is always waiting with arms open ready to welcome us. With Jesus, there truly is no place like home!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

The Rest

Denise Harper — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Rest. That's been my word for 2022. And I've spent most of this year thinking about it in terms of the action, "to rest". I've had so many special discoveries this year about resting in the Lord and loved every one of them!

Recently, a friend sent me a little note that read, "did you know that 'rest' defined as a noun means 'remainder'...something that remains over". Well, I honestly hadn't thought about it that way! I mean what's leftover from a meal or a project ... typically isn't all that much. Sometimes we might even think, as we're cleaning up, just throw the rest of it away. It isn't even enough to really do something or make a difference. So I did some digging and here is what I discovered: The rest is the balance...the residual...the remnant...the final undivided part. Oh wow!

Think about the remnant of believers who remained in Jerusalem. A small group of Jesus followers who refused to be divided, waiting for the Holy Spirit to arrive as Jesus had instructed them to do. Of the thousands and thousands who had been touched by the Messiah, fed by the Messiah, many even healed by the Messiah, Acts 1:15 tells us there were about 120 believers gathered in one place. Despite having watched their beloved Jesus crucified and buried, missing the One who had gathered, discipled and led them the past few years...this remnant hoped...and waited. And when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were changed in an instant. Empowered to preach the Gospel and live lives that showed others what it looked like to radically follow Christ.

And as they went, they changed the whole world! That little group. The rest of Jesus' believers. The remnant. The final undivided group remained obedient, received the promise and re-Presented the Gospel over and over...and tens of thousands were saved! Today, countless people have become Christians because a small group of people waited and rested in Jesus' instruction to wait for the gift.

Don't discount the rest of your time, the rest of your energy, the rest of your ministry and especially the rest of your life. However you have lived your life til now, realize that the balance of your days can be so much greater than your past. Determine to live the rest of them, undivided, for Christ!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Shadow and Light

Denise Harper — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I see my shadow every morning when I am walking into work. The other morning when I saw it I thought of Psalm 23 and verse 4 that mentions 'the valley of the shadow of death'. No one wants to go through that place; and yet, we all will, at some point or another, maybe more than once, find ourselves walking through that place. The verse says "even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear for You are with me."

As I was walking up the sidewalk that particular morning these words began running through my mind..."You can't see the shadow without the presence of light." Whatever dark place you've been through in your life...maybe you are in one right now...you know it seems almost impossible to see even a smidgeon of light. But it's there....the tiniest bit of light that reveals the shadow.

The shadow isn't real. The enemy may try to use it to frighten us; but, the shadow is there to remind us...that God is there with us. He IS the Light of the world. His light in us and around us means that even death - is just a shadow - because as a believer we pass from this life into eternity with God. And He never leaves us for even a second of it!

By the way, have you ever noticed what happens to your shadow the farther away from the light that you walk? The farther we get from the light...the longer - or bigger - the shadow grows. Just another life lesson to stay as close to the Light as we can!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Too Good To Be True

Denise Harper — Fri, 29 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I saw a t-shirt on sale recently. Full disclosure: I have been duped more than once by special sales that show up in my facebook feed. In my head I know that if something seems to be too good to be true...it probably is! But this shirt!! It was one of my favorite colors. It had a beautiful Bible verse on it. In fact, the name LORD was designed in such pretty colors...and it was less than FOUR bucks!! So you guessed it...I ordered it.

It came in and it was so pretty. And the material was so soft and comfy. So I wore it. For the whole day...I wore it. It was hanging on the back of my bathroom door last week and as I was brushing my teeth, contemplating my fabulous bargain, my eyes fell on the small print of the scripture reference. Psalm 118:14 spelled PSLAMS. P-S-L-A-M-S. Wait...what??!! I can understand misspelling Zephaniah and Malachi....but Psalms?!! And then it hit me...I wore that shirt ALL day!! No wonder it was such a bargain. And I was listening to the voice in my head say, 'you should've known...it was too good to be true!'

But I love this verse from Psalm 118:14. "The Lord is my strength and my song." And as I stopped talking to myself long enough to spit out the toothpaste...my heart heard the voice of the One I love so much whisper ever so quietly 'you never lost your song...I am your song...and I have always been with you.'

You see, about 9 years ago, I went through a really dark time. God kept me through all of it and I am so grateful for that! But for quite awhile I wasn't able to sing without weeping. So I stopped singing. I told a friend that I felt like I had lost my song. As God healed my heart and soul I realized I was able to sing again. I hadn't thought about that part of my journey in a quite a while. But God used a bargain t-shirt with a misspelled word to bring closure to a very difficult time in my life.

I am reminded that God disproves that concept of 'too good to be true' every single time. His goodness and His truth supersede all that we could ever think. He IS our strength and our song. Oh I'm wearing the shirt! Every time I do I will be reminded of His special message to me that morning. And, wouldn't it be just like God to give me another opportunity to share my faith through a bargain t-shirt and a misspelled name of a book in the Bible?!

Surprise!

Denise Harper — Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

My brothers had a favorite hiding place in our childhood home. All the bedroom doors and the main bathroom door all converged into a short hallway that also had a small linen closet. When no one was in the bathroom we would keep the door wide open since it swung out to open....and it perfectly concealed that hallway linen closet. THAT is where, countless times, my brothers would wait to jump out and surprise me. Their mission was a complete success almost every time! Just as I was about to pass that spot they would jump out and do their lion roaring impression.

I laugh when I think about it now. But back then I would get so mad at them...and mad at myself for not anticipating the scare! I knew they could be hiding there. Why did I repeatedly let my guard down? They loved to try to make me jump and, better yet, jump and scream. Truth be told - there is a bit of a blind spot here at the radio station - just outside the studio and several times I've been caught off guard and jumped in surprise. Even once let out a scream! Although I think I scared my co-worker more than they scared me! Every time it happens it reminds me of my ornery brothers.

It also makes me think about how easily we can forget that there is a very real enemy who doesn't need to think up new ways to surprise us and cause fear to grip us. He uses the same tactics and trickery over and over. And if we are not on guard and alert to his attempts, the devil can catch us. He is even bold enough to hide in plain sight! 1 Peter 5:8 (CEV) makes it really clear: "Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack."

This is no time to let our guard down! Our enemy may be sneaky...but our God is greater! And He is always with us.

Walking In The Sand

Denise Harper — Wed, 27 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

It is true that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Impressions count. We can make a bad impression just as easily as we can make a good one. How we respond in various situations. How we show up...early, on time, or late? The way we dress and the way we engage with people...all leave some kind of an impression. But impressions come and go. Think of walking on the beach near the ocean. As we walk we leave footprints in the sand. Each time a wave rolls in - the impression of our presence there is washed away. Don't mistake what I'm saying. It is important to make a good first impression. As believers, we are called to be different, to be image bearers of the King.

You know what is even more important than making an impression. Making an impact! Having a powerful effect on our sphere of influence...now that is impact. Imagine walking along that same beach only this time instead of focusing on how the waves are washing away our footprints we find ourselves noticing our surroundings and see a number of starfish, or where I live it would be hermit crabs, that have washed up onto the sand. We could show up just in time as they are washing up on the shore. We could speak kind words to them. Pitch a giant beach umbrella to help keep the sun from beating down on them directly. We could even encourage them that they are so close to the water if they would only move a little farther they could get back in the water where they belong. That might impress them. But what they really need is someone to help them get back to where they need to be. Where they were born to thrive...in the ocean! Actually helping them get back into the water...THAT is making an impact!

Galatians 6:2 from The Passion Translation says this: "Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles." Do we just want to make an impression or will we push through to make an impact to the Kingdom?!

Every Thought

Denise Harper — Tue, 26 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I am thankful that God created us with the ability to choose. I'm not sure I would've done that if I were in His position. Don't get me wrong. I am so thankful that He is God and I am not! God could have made us without free will. But He did not. His story is filled with our stories. And none are sweeter than the ones told of those who call Him Father.

I can't imagine a greater feeling than knowing you've been chosen. You and I know how loved we feel knowing that God chose us. Imagine how God's heart must be moved when we choose Him!

He created us with the ability to think for ourselves and the choice to reject anything that would try to come between us and the Lord. The Apostle Paul knew there would be many things that would try to disrupt our connection with God, including, and especially, our own thoughts! That is why Paul gave us this direction in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV). "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Day by day. Minute by minute. We must take captive every thought that isn't of God. Choose Him today!

Swaddled

Denise Harper — Mon, 25 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

When my daughter, Abby, was born she didn't like anything that moved. When I would lay her down she would suddenly throw her little arms out and begin to cry. I learned there is something called 'startle reflex' that can be pretty normal for babies. Leaning over to put them down can make them feel like they're falling. The doctor gave me two instructions: hold her as close to my body while I was leaning over...and swaddle her. You can google the step-by-step for swaddling but wrapping her up tight in a thin security blanket, like a little burrito, worked wonders for her. Swaddled...and held very close to my heart.

I read 1 John 4:18 from The Message. It's the Bible verse that tells us that perfect love casts out fear. "There is no room in love for fear" grabbed my full attention. Listen to the whole verse: "God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love."

Just imagine being fully wrapped up in God's love and held tightly to the heart of Jesus. The more we lean into His love the less afraid we will be. I love the thought that 'well-formed love banishes fear'. It's not any kind of love we could make ourselves. It's the Jesus kind of love that holds us close to His heart and sets us free all at the same time.

Context Counts

Denise Harper — Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Context matters. In fact, context makes all the difference in making sure we have the full intention of a statement. For example, I have loved the Bible verse in Psalm 27:13 that gives me a promise to believe...that I WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. That is, by itself, a powerful word to pray. So as I sat with Psalm 27 a bit recently and read the verse before and after it, it becomes even more meaningful, because the context reminds us to speak it, believe it and declare it...especially when we don't see it!

Here is the context of Psalm 27: 12-14 (NIV). "Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

There are times in our lives when accusers may rise up against us. There will be times that we may feel on the verge of losing it, deliberating over the desire to run away or stand in faith believing. This full context Word of the Lord gives us our battle plan! Look to God and pour out our concern to Him. Wait for Him in courage. And be confident of His promise...in THIS lifetime...we WILL see His goodness in our lives. Take heart!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

He Keeps Us

Denise Harper — Thu, 21 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

We sometimes sing this song in church. It's called 'Awesome (My God Is)'. The chorus is, "my God is awesome. He can move the mountains. Keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain." As many times as we've sung that song...one day the lyric - keep me in the valley - struck me. Why would God keep me in the valley???

It would be easy to misunderstand the intent of that some days when we feel like we will never come out of the darkness, the pain, the depression or sorrow. Why would God keep me in the valley? But, don't miss the real meaning of that verse, dear friend. Yes God can move the seemingly insurmountable mountains. He can shelter us when it feels like there is only rain in our lives. But He is NOT keeping us like prisoners in the valley. Psalm 145:20 tells us that "The Lord keeps all who love Him."

It is certain that we will encounter valleys in our lifetime. The promise from God is that He is protecting us or keeping us while we are walking through them. Yes, our God is awesome! He can move the mountains. He protects us in the valleys. And He covers us in the rain. Did I mention how awesome our God truly is?!!

It's The Little Things

Denise Harper — Wed, 20 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Don't you love it when you catch all the green lights on the way to work? Or you are putting on a jacket you haven't worn since the Spring and find a $10 bill in the pocket. Maybe you pulled up to the window at the drive thru this morning and someone ahead of you paid for your coffee! It's the little things, isn't it? I've said that so often at times when something totally unexpected happens and makes me smile and it gives me pause to be thankful for His unexpected blessings in my day.

Likewise, we sometimes are frustrated by little things that don't happen as we expected. We arrived five minutes too late at the Post Office to mail a package in time to arrive for someone's birthday. Or we're rushing to get our kids to eat their breakfast before school and the milk we pulled out of the refrigerator has soured. We've taken extra measures to dress just right for our big day and no one even noticed! No one thing that is life altering but still we might find ourselves saying in frustration...it's the little things, isn't it?!

Here's the most important thing to remember. Little things aren’t little to God. He cares about every little thing in our lives just as much as He does the big things. Isn't it odd that we don't spend much time talking with God about the little things? 1 Peter 5:7 (TPT) tells us to "pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you." It bears remembering that little things aren't little to God!

Tuning Up

Denise Harper — Tue, 19 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I played marimba and the chimes in our high school concert band. If you've ever heard an orchestra during the warm ups before the orchestra begins you know it can be a chaotic, jumbled fray of noise! Everyone is warming up, preparing to play their own parts and no one is paying any attention to what the others are playing. But, when the orchestra director steps up to the platform, taps the baton on the music stand and raises both arms up high, every musician immediately quiets and comes to complete attention. What follows is the most beautiful sound as everyone follows the lead and plays in beautiful harmony.

I was reading Colossians 3:15-17 from The Message and it reminded me of that experience. Here is what it says: "Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."

When the peace of Christ rules our hearts we begin to step away from the chaos and get in tune with one another more and more. There is so much in Colossians 3 that deserves our attention. Allow God's Word to have the run of our heart and our household. When we begin to follow His lead it produces the most beautiful song that honors God in every way.

Finding The Best Deals

Denise Harper — Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you have to search for the best deals. From a very young age, my mom taught me not to let my eyes get caught up in the front of the store items. While those things sparkle and shine and might be the latest and greatest...much of the time they are over-priced and usually out of our budget range. As we would make our way to the back of the store we'd find...the clearance racks! I can still hear the sound of the metal hooks of the plastic hangers scraping across the metal racks as we swished through garment after garment on the racks...looking for great finds that so far had been overlooked and now marked down. It might've taken a while but we found some of the best deals digging through what others had passed over. In fact, I'm convinced that's why when you compliment a girlfriend on her outfit she will tell you where she got it and how little she paid. Celebrating the discovery of the treasures, once left behind, until you saw their worth.

It reminds me that sometimes we overlook the treasures in others. We don't take the time to dig deeper than what we see to find the real gifts and abilities that people tend to cover up. Or we're just too busy to even look. The barista who froths our favorite coffee blend. The bus driver or teacher. Our co-workers. People we sit near every week in church or see in line at the grocery store. Maybe YOU are feeling overlooked or discarded. Unseen. Doubting that anyone will ever see anything of worth in you.

Listen to how much God decided you are worth in Ephesians 1:4 - 8 (ESV): "Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding."

God was willing to dig deep to find us. We must be willing to do the same for each other.

Think On These Things

Denise Harper — Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning! Have you ever used that expression with someone? Truthfully, I was told that more than once when I was growing up. I just was not a morning person back then. Honestly I am more of a mid morning person if there could be such a thing!

I have learned a few things over the years about how to start my day out on better ground than the wrong side of the bed. And one of them comes straight out of the Bible in Philippians 4: 8-9. Listen to it from The Message: "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies."

From the moment we are coherent in the morning we get to choose which direction our attitude is going to go. Yes, negative thoughts, disruptive behaviors, challenging opportunities all try to capture our attention but beginning our day with the goodness of God and the good things we have going on in us and around us sets our feet on a path for the day to line up with God's instruction to us in Philippians 4.

Imagine that today is a song that God is writing...working everything together. When we choose to put His Word into practice in our lives we become part of a beautiful harmony in God's orchestration.

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Measuring Cups

Denise Harper — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

When I cook or bake something I use a recipe. And I never guesstimate ingredients. I want to make sure I'm giving whatever I'm making a decent shot at tasting good when I'm done! So I have just about every tool for measuring that is known to man...or woman, in my case! Measuring cups & spoons, rulers & yardsticks...it all all comes out when I am working in the kitchen.

God gives measurements in the Old Testament when He wanted something built to His exact design. He was very specific in His formula for building Noah's ark, the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant. But what I love most when I'm thinking about God's design of people all throughout His Word, and today in you and I, God spares no expense in His creation of humankind. He uses a variety of ingredients in each of us....right down to the uniqueness of our DNA and fingerprints.

Ephesians 3:19 (MSG) describes God's best ingredient that He offers to our lives. "I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is." Paul tells us there is no way to measure the love of Christ in our lives...except that...when we really know Christ's love in our lives...we will be filled with all that God is.

I'll keep cooking and baking with my measuring tools but I am so grateful that God doesn't measure out His gifts to us. When we walk with Him He continues to fill us...to overflowing...with His goodness and grace and oh so much more!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

The Runner

Denise Harper — Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to preview a movie that is set to launch sometime early in 2023 called "Jesus Revolution". It tells the true story of how several lives intersected for a time in California, in the 1960's, to orchestrate perhaps one of the greatest revivals in history. Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, Lonnie Frisbee and Evangelist/Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship and Harvest Crusades are names I was familiar with growing up but I didn't know their stories. This story is told mainly through the eyes of Greg Laurie who struggled as a youth and spent his time challenging authority...and running. He didn't seem to even know what he was running from as a teenager. I think he just wanted to belong and to make sense of all the things that seemed to be upside down in his life.

At one point Greg hears these words from one of the men he really trusted. The man said, "God said you don't have to run anymore". That was a turning point for Greg. What a ministry God opened up to him as he surrendered to the call!

Are you a runner? I'm not talking about the treadmill or jogging through the neighborhood. I mean - are you running from the calling God has on your life? I did that for a few years myself. Perhaps you don't even know why you are running. You are just convinced that giving up control of your life to Christ would mean certain death to your dreams. Did you know that God is the giver of dreams? He is the one who stirs up the gifts that He placed inside you before you were even born! The fruition of His plans in your life will well supersede the fear you are living with now because you are uncertain of your future.

Here is what you can know without a doubt. God is in your future! Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) says, "The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." And whatever He opens before you He will be with you in it and will accomplish great things through you...when you are willing to stop running from God and begin running toward Him and all that He has planned for you!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

A Desperate Moment

Denise Harper — Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Not long ago I met a lady who runs an amazing ministry. As I walked around her ministry base and saw what she's doing and how lives are being changed my heart was moved by her obvious love for people. Her staff are bubbly, vivacious and clearly have caught the vision God gave her for impacting their community for Christ. Little did I know that six months ago she had no staff. She had been single handedly working, financing and struggling to do it all.

When I asked her how this dream had come to life, she looked at me seriously and said, "I could take you to the very spot in the front yard where I stood and begged God to let me walk away." She was weary and felt alone. And when she cried out to God to please release her from this calling...something in the atmosphere shifted. Across town God was preparing the hearts of two more women who also love God and love people and were looking for a place to serve. Within days, their paths crossed and their hearts began to knit together. Six months later and this leader is encouraged and inspired and the team that God has brought together is doing some pretty amazing things for the Kingdom!

Have you ever experienced a moment like she did? You can remember the exact time and space that you cried out to God...at the end of yourself. When there was no place else to turn. No solution in sight. Just a little tiny flicker of hope that God could do...something. Psalm 120:1 (NLT) reminds us of what God can do for us in those times. "I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer." Our Heavenly Father wants us to call out to Him. Even cry out to Him when we are feeling lost, or alone...and especially when we are feeling desperate. And when we do, His promise is that He will respond!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

The Language Barrier

Denise Harper — Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Visiting a foreign country is exciting but also a little stressful. Learning the culture, breaking through the language barrier, exchanging currency...its always helpful to have a guide. Having someone from that area that knows the best places to go and how to communicate with the locals is invaluable!

When I visited Sosua in the Dominican Republic with a missions team, part of our experience was to go from home to home, knocking on the doorway and offering the family a small bag of rice and a little bottle of cooking oil. Then we would ask if we could pray with them and what their needs were as we prayed. As we walked into the first home, our translator touched my arm and you said, 'You're up'! My heart wanted to connect with this family but without the help of someone who knew their language...it would have been almost impossible. Thankfully, we had a translator with us! Renni helped us tell our story and he helped us understand theirs.

Almost every day we have the opportunity to connect with people. Some days we may feel successful at connecting and other days we may feel like we've failed. Oh we may live in the same zip code, but there is a different culture around us and at times even a bit of a language barrier. Do you know what translates the same in every language? Love. The love of God exhibited through His people can shatter every barrier and our most excellent Interpreter, the Holy Spirit can help us know the heart of God for every person if we will listen. Jesus said, in John 16:13 (CEV), "The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen."

He is the best tour guide as well. Because remember we are in this world but not of it! Don't leave home without the Holy Spirit as our guide!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

What Is Your Ministry?

Denise Harper — Fri, 08 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

We know our home church is a ministry. There are a number of non-profit organizations that serve in a ministry capacity. And you could probably name a number of people who are involved in ministry that impact you or someone around you in one way or another.

Do YOU have a ministry? Ephesians 4:11, 12 tells us that “Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, so his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.” Perhaps you are serving in one of those capacities. But many of us feel like we don’t fit into one of those five.

There are some talents and gifts that open the door for us to be part of a larger ministry and God wants us to use those talents for His purposes. Musicians, writers, speakers may all have ministries. But what if you don’t feel like you fit into any of those?

Did you know that we are ALL called to ministry? The ministry of presence…the ministry of just being there. Think of the last time that you were really struggling and someone just sat with you. Not trying to fix anything or pile on advice. To just listen…and wait. Could that really be a ministry? You better believe it!

To be truly present, not sitting in the same room watching tv or scrolling through our news feed on our phone, but patient, peaceful, prayerful. Present. That is a powerful ministry that you and I can both walk in as God leads us. The ministry of presence.

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...

Running The Race

Denise Harper — Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

If you’ve ever watched a Nascar race you know the bulk of the attention is on the driver. The driver has to have disciplined his or her body for the length and stress of the race. They must stay focused on the track and any cars in front of them and be in tune with their own car. The goal? Cross the finish line first, or as close to first as possible.

But it takes more than an experienced driver and a finely tuned race car to win a race. Every driver has a team and each team member has a specific role to play to help that driver do the very best in order to win. The pit crew are ready to jump the wall and race to replace worn tires, refuel the engine, make minor adjustments in split seconds to get the car and its driver back in the race. The spotter sits way up high, can see all the other cars around their teammate and has the ability to communicate directly with the driver to give direction, encouragement and immediate warning when there is danger. The thrill of the crowd in the stands cheering for their favorite driver is exciting and energizing.

And when the driver wins…the whole team celebrates! My favorite part of the win is watching the whole crew run to the driver and high five and hug and throw their hands up high to celebrate the victory. And if you listen you’ll hear the driver thank the crew and crew chief, the owner and so on. Because that winner knows…they did not get there on their own. It was a team effort!

You and I are in a race. While we may feel, at times, like we are on our own, in this race, the Apostle Paul told us in Hebrews 12:1 (CEV) “Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.” We are not alone! God gives us people to come alongside to cheer us on, to help us AND He puts us in the pit crew of others to do the same.

We also have a spotter! The Holy Spirit can see everything and He will communicate with us, giving us direction, encouragement and warnings of danger. The goal of our race isn’t cross the finish first. Our goal…is to finish the race well. So keep running the race. Let’s keep cheering each other on. And let’s listen closely to the voice of the One who gave His all so we could truly run this race well. And that’s the win!

Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 1
Treasured Inside is a collection of notes that reflect the intersection of Denise Harper's life of everyday, ordinary things with our extraordinary God. From junk drawers to sticky notes and passports to thrift stores and everything in between, she finds a way to connect the mundane of the day to the magnificent heart of God.

Denise Harper’s book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 1," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...
Treasured Inside Devotion, Vol. 2
Treasured Inside: Devotions with Denise, Volume 2, beautifully expresses the love letter God has already written for each of us. Do you sometimes feel distant from the Word? This book gently invites you to pause, connect more deeply with Jesus, and enjoy His comforting presence.

Denise Harper’s NEW book, "Treasured Inside - Devotions With Denise - Volume 2," is available from The Bridge Store and at Amazon, Apple, Target, and more...