Search
Close this search box.

devotional

Why Beauty for Ashes?

The reason we have chosen “Beauty for Ashes” as a title for this devotional page is because these are the words God spoke to Dr. Forrest shortly after fire destroyed Haddock Inn. In the book Achieving The Impossible with God, Lorene Moothart writes, “Rev. Forrest started down the hill from Staley Cottage one morning. His steps led him to the pile of ashes that was all that remained of his dreams. He wandered around, poking about with a stick. “Finally he sat down on a rock under where [his and Evelyn’s] room had been. He noticed a thin line of

Read More »

December 17, 2007

Remembering Christmas Almost everywhere you go Christmas music can be heard. Stores and homes are decorated. Christmas trees are shining brightly with all their lights and ornaments. Gifts are wrapped with pretty paper and ribbon. The mailbox is full of Christmas cards and invitations to parties. All this is in preparation to celebrate a special day of the year—December 25. In the activities of Christmas, it is easy to forget the real reason for celebration is that Christ our Lord was born in a manger in Bethlehem. As the Christmas music plays in your home or car, listen to the

Read More »

December 10, 2007

No Need or Want In Philippians, the apostle Paul writes, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (4:11-13). One of the key words in this Scripture is the word content. Paul understood the secret to joy, peace, and happiness. It is not found in having

Read More »

December 3, 2007

In Everything Give Thanks “In everything give thinks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Editor’s note: The following was adapted from a sermon Dr. Forrest preached on August 3, 1947, in Toccoa, Georgia. Paul’s words written to the Thessalonians were both an exhortation and command. However, many times we dismiss them because they seem unreasonable. The thought of expressing gratitude in times of difficulty seems out of place, especially when things don’t go to suit us. But Paul was sincere and serious when he wrote these words. They were not a theory to

Read More »

November 26, 2007

In Everything Give Thanks “In everything give thinks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Editor’s note: The following was adapted from a sermon Dr. Forrest preached on August 3, 1947, in Toccoa, Georgia. Paul’s words written to the Thessalonians were both an exhortation and command. However, many times we dismiss them because they seem unreasonable. The thought of expressing gratitude in times of difficulty seems out of place, especially when things don’t go to suit us. But Paul was sincere and serious when he wrote these words. They were not a theory to

Read More »

November 19, 2007

God’s Love St. Augustine once said, “He who is filled with love is filled with God himself.” The Apostle Paul takes a whole chapter to explain the importance of love. He reminds the Corinthian church that without love we have nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NASB). Paul gives the definition of love in these virtues: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with

Read More »

November 12, 2007

Looking unto Jesus WHEN WE HAVE A NEED, where do we look for solutions? Most of us look everywhere else except to the One who can really help: Jesus. He is God and is able to help whatever the need. He is also man and therefore understands our inabilities. Even more than that, He delights when we look to Him for the solutions to our problems. When I served as Director of Spanish Churches for the C&MA, I had an office in New York City. One day a pastor from Queens came to my office to share what had been

Read More »

November 5, 2007

Something Wonderful! Editor’s note: This week’s devotion is pulled from the book Dam Break in Georgia—a collection of personal testimonies from those who survived the devastating flood that swept through the Toccoa Falls College campus in the early hours of November 6, 1977. The rage of the waters was not assuaged. The next residence in the doomed row [of houses] lay right in the path of the fury and was also angrily swallowed. It belonged to Paul and Mary Williams. How “Uncle Paul” and Aunt Mary” met death we cannot know, but we can surmise that they met it as

Read More »

October 29, 2007

In the Dumps Editor’s note: The following was adapted from a radio sermon Dr. Forrest preached on 12/3/44 1 Kings 19:9-13 Recently a young woman ended up in my office talking about how she was under a cloud of doubt and fear. Moments before she arrived, I had just finished reading a letter from a friend, who was very sick and had been forced to be idle for some time. Both of these people asked pretty much the same question, “Why has God allowed this to happen? Has He forgotten that I gave my life to Him and that I

Read More »

October 22, 2007

Trust Him Former instructor and original college archivist Esther Voelker kept the following poem framed and hung in a prominent location in her humble, steel-building campus home. For those who were smart enough to push past the steely outer layer of her personality, a wonderful discovery awaited them. Her unwavering faith, decisive sense of hope, infectious laughter, fiery personality, and ability to listen to matters of the heart were just a few of the things that prompted Dr. Forrest to ask her to consider joining the faculty and staff of Toccoa Falls College. The following is the context of the

Read More »

February 26 & 27, 1930

The Diary of Evelyn Forrest’s Trip to Palestine Wednesday, February 26, 1930 Off the coast of Africa Breakfast in our cabin as usual. Soft boiled

Read More »

February 24 & 25, 1930

The Diary of Evelyn Forrest’s Trip to Palestine Monday, February 24, 1930 On the Atlantic 8:30 a.m. — This is the one meal we both

Read More »

February 22 & 23, 1930

The Diary of Evelyn Forrest’s Trip to Palestine Saturday, February 22, 1930 Out on the Atlantic Just one week from today we expect to land

Read More »

February 8 & 9, 1930

The Diary of Evelyn Forrest’s Trip to Palestine Saturday, February 8, 1930 The eventful day has arrived and we have had breakfast served in our

Read More »

February 19, 20 & 21, 1930

The Diary of Evelyn Forrest’s Trip to Palestine Wednesday Morning February 19, 1930 On board the SS Brazza (Editor’s note: During this phase of their

Read More »