The Bridge: Devotions with Denise

The Planner

Denise Harper — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What do you write on your calendar? Birthdays and anniversaries...special events...doctor appointments, date nights and coffee dates? Some of us are not just calendar keepers. We are planners! Which calls for a next level schedule keeper. I have some days that feel like every minute has a name! And then I purposely have days with wide open spaces. I am learning that it is good to allow for some margin in our days.

A number of years back I got into the habit of taking 10 - 15 minutes the night before to pre-prep for the next day. It's the time I take getting my meetings and plans in my mind so I dress appropriately, bring the right things with me for the day, and I make sure my "to do" list is written. At least 3 - 5 things I need to accomplish the next day are written alongside my places to go and people to see list. Do I plan out every single minute of the day? No. In fact, I get a little thrill when I see I have a couple of hours with NOTHING written in it. It's my wiggle room...my creative space. I don't plan it. I just wait and see what comes up.

The Lord brought me to Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) the other day. "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." I love that word 'establish'. To establish is to set up on a firm or permanent basis. If we could see God's planner for our lives...I believe it wouldn't have just the highlights or pivotal moments written in it. God knew the exact moment that you and I would turn our hearts toward Him and receive Him as our Savior and Lord. He also knew that we would have beautiful moments to take in today, simple moments, challenging moments. God has set or established our plans. And when we commit all that we do to the Lord, both our planned and UNplanned moments, we step into walking in unity with our Father's heart and plan for us. And that is the best place to be!

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...

Speechless

Denise Harper — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Rarely in my lifetime have I ever found myself 'speechless'. Let's just say I was very zealous with my gift of gab when I was younger. I'd say that talking is my superpower but superpowers shouldn't get you into trouble and I have definitely talked myself into some tight places on occasion.

The day I accepted a job in radio I called to tell my Dad and...after pausing a moment...this is what my Dad exclaimed: "I cannot believe you found someone to pay you to talk!!" To which I responded quickly, "Thank you! for letting me practice on you all these years!"

Zechariah was a priest who had been selected to go into the temple and burn incense. I'm sure he used his voice often to pray and share the scriptures. The day Zechariah entered the holy place to light the candles the angel Gabriel appeared to him. He told Zechariah that his prayer had been heard and that the child he and Elizabeth had prayed for would soon be on his way. Zechariah was instructed that his son would be called John, what his child would do and even who he would become! And yet, Zechariah struggled to believe. And so the angel Gabriel told him this: "you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words." Luke 1:20 (ESV). Speechless..until the baby was born! Tradition would say the baby would be named after his daddy. But when Zechariah wrote it down - his name is JOHN - the Bible says his lips were loosed.

I have always looked at this story from the perspective that Zechariah was being punished for not believing. But what if the angel rendered him silent to protect the blessing that God was about to bestow on them? Our words have power. What we speak can be a blessing or a curse. Sometimes what God allows in our lives isn't a punishment. It really could be for our protection.

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...

Potholes And Pitfalls

Denise Harper — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

One of the shopping areas in my hometown, the one I frequent most often, has a main thoroughfare that has several really rough potholes in it. Most of the time it is pretty easy to drive around them. Hitting one of them could do some serious damage to your wheel alignment! The tricky part happens when we get a lot of rain. That thoroughfare is also the lowest part of the entire parking lot so the harder it rains, the slower it is for the water level to run off; which, of course, obscures the potholes.

If you are a regular traveler through that terrain its fairly easy to still maneuver through without damaging your front end because you are familiar to the potential hazards; but it is definitely dangerous to attempt to drive through if you are unaware of what lies beneath the water level. If only the property manager would re-pave the thoroughfare and get rid of those holes. He may...someday. But for today, I'll still drive through there...dodging potholes...and staying alert. I could just avoid the area altogether but some of my favorite places in town require that I travel that section of road.

We wonder why life has so many pitfalls and potholes. Some we may manage to avoid. Some leave us shaken and maybe even damaged at times. But we keep on because that's part of life. Sometimes getting to the places we love require that we tread some difficult thoroughfares. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV) There is no avoiding trouble...its in this world that we live in. We may need an alignment every once in awhile. When terrain gets rough we might need to slow down, even pull over and wait for the rain to stop. But making sure that we stay in Christ is the key to getting through. He gives us peace while we're in it and He has already overcome all that we might encounter today. So let that give you great confidence.

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...

Effects Of The Wind

Denise Harper — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

We can't see the wind. But we can definitely see and feel the effects of the wind. I have literally watched as the wind shifted and left behind paths of destruction through corn and wheat fields and wooded areas. The wind can be as devastating as the path of a tornado or as tender as the wind chimes playing a tune while you're relaxing on your patio. The unseen moving force can be a gentle breeze helping to set the tone for a relaxing evening or it can be a mighty swirl of energy powerful enough to knock over trash bins and clear furniture off your deck.

We cannot see the Holy Spirit of God. But we absolutely can see and feel His effect in our lives. He can tear up the stony ground of our heart in order to receive the seed of salvation. He can cover our soul with such comfort and peace in the hardest situations that it feels as though we are completely surrounded and tucked in. That Holy Spirit hush can silence all the other voices that carry chaos in our brain and whisper the tenderest 'I love you' to our longing for love soul.

He doesn't just sweep in when there's trouble. The Holy Spirit will lead us if we are willing to listen and obey. Maybe your parents or grandparents would say 'go with your gut' or 'trust your gut'. When you just know that you know. Romans 8:14 reminds us of the blessing of listening to the leading of the Spirit. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." (NLT) A life that is Spirit led has a distinct mark upon it. The fruit of a life lived being led by God's Holy Spirit is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. You cannot miss the impact of the fruit of the Spirit in a life being led by Him.

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...

Pockets

Denise Harper — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Have you ever found yourself dragged into a conversation that you really didn't want to be in? Perhaps someone made a personal comment to you, about you or someone you care about, and it just didn't sit right. Then you carried that comment around, along with those hard feelings that came with it, for hours, maybe even days...or weeks! I know that I have and it's a terrible feeling.

Sometimes it happens accidentally. People mean well but they just didn't know that it's a sensitive spot for us. Or, people just speak without considering how their comments and opinions hurt our heart. What do you do? You can stew on it. Let it get you all worked up. You could tell them how it made you feel. Sometimes that is really the most appropriate way to respond. Or you could try something I just learned a few weeks ago. You can say, "I don't have pockets for that!"

Pockets are so good for stashing things so we can be hands free...or so we can carry more stuff. But the more we stuff in our pockets, the more weighed down we are. And truthfully, there are just some things that God does NOT want us carrying around! Romans 12:17 says, "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Letting things go is a choice. It might take us a little to work through it; but, I love the visual I get when I say "I don't have pockets for that." I'm not going to carry it around.

What's that thing that kept you up all night? Restless sleep. Anxiety over the next time you have to see that person, work with them, go to church with them? Try this: pray...and empty your pockets. Pockets can be good...but lets choose to fill them with the blessings of God.

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...

Advice From Dad

Denise Harper — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What’s the best advice your Dad ever gave you? Since we just celebrated Father's Day I was thinking back over things that my Dad taught me. Like remembering to grab your Bible off the roof of the car before getting in and driving off. Or always closing the door because we don't live in a barn. One of the most valuable pieces of advice came when I was about 19 or 20 years old, working in a ministry, I was very frustrated about how some things were going. When I called home and told him about it, Dad said, ‘every place you work - with people - there are going to be frustrations and things that are out of your control. The best thing you can do is pray about it. Do your best at what you’re responsible for and let God handle the rest.” That advice has served me well over the years!

He shared that advice from his heart and from experience that day. And its straight from God's Word for our every day living. "Praying without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) "So no matter what your task is, work hard. Always do your best as the Lord’s servant, not as man’s." Colossians 3:23 (VOICE) "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)

It's not easy. We want things to go our way. Often we want to be in control. It takes trust in God to give something our very best, our heart and soul, and then step back for God to do the rest. We don't know how God will complete it all. And much of the time...the way He does it is by bringing others into our story. After all, our stories are really all part of HIS story. And what an honor it is to be a part of it! So Dad was right. There ARE going to be frustrations and things that are out of our control. The best thing we can do is pray about it. Do our best at what we're responsible for...and let God 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...

A Little Time Away

Denise Harper — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The first computer that we bought had a screen saver on it with a man on a little island surrounded by water. At first glance it looked like a nice little get away. This man would walk around the island. Sometimes it looked like he was trying to re-build his raft. Other times he was fishing, or reading...or climbing up the one coconut tree to taste of its fruit. My husband, Ken, would wake up in the middle of the night, go to get something to drink...and check to see what the man on the island was up to! Not too long ago, out of the blue, Ken said "I miss that little guy on the island."

Some days it might feel appealing to be stranded on a little island in the middle of nowhere but we weren't designed for long-term living like that. Isolation is a dangerous place to go to and to stay in. Being separated. Not connected to other people isn't healthy for us. But there is a purposeful activity of getting alone that's good for us and we should all make time to do it. In fact, Jesus gave us that example several times in the New Testament. Matthew 14: 13 (NLT) tells us, "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place."

The activity is not isolation. It's solitude. Oh, it's still a time of getting alone or apart from others. But the biggest difference between isolation and solitude, I believe, is found in our mind and in our heart. Solitude is a healing place where God can reach us and help us all the more because we're alone with Him. What I love about Jesus solitary time away with His Father, aside from setting the perfect example for us, is that it directly preceded one of the greatest stories and miracles of Jesus' ministry...feeding more than 5,000 people with two fish and 5 loaves of bread. There's a benefit and a reward for making space for solitude in our lives. Jesus showed us that it's important.

Getting alone with God. Solitude. Psalm 62:1-2 (AMPC) reminds us of its benefits. "FOR GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved."

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's Holding Us Back?

Denise Harper — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What holds us back? I used to think it was all the hard things we've been through in our life. Past experiences that scared us, hurt us, hindered our growth in one way or another. It's true that we must choose to place all of those things in the hands of our Savior. He gives beauty for ashes in our life, time after time. But until we are willing to let go of the pain and trauma of those hard places we've been through...we will not be able to fully live in the freedom Christ died to give us.

You know what else can hold us back? The good things that have happened in our lives. I know that seems unbelievable but think about it. Have you ever had such a great experience that you thought nothing will ever compare to it?! So you don't even try for something bigger or better. We had a good thing that brought us joy - a job, a hobby, a pet. Even friendships and relationships that brought us such joy and richness in our life...can hold us back from God's purpose in our lives. We can cling so much to the good things that happened in our lives, that we miss the 'next' that God has for us!

Jesus is the same, yesterday and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) We can rest in that! But WE can't remain the same. We can't hold so tightly to our past, either good or bad, and expect to just stay there...to stay the same. God is calling us to step into those great plans that He has for us. Plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Plans to give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) I know it can be a lot to unpack, but Jesus is calling us to loosen our hold on the past in order to make room for what's next. After all, He has great plans for us!

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 I've Learned About Grief

Denise Harper — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

It's been two years since my brother, Brent, went home to be with Jesus. I've gone to several funerals in the past couple of months and I confess that each time I got ready to go I was reminded of the day of my brother's celebration of life. I remember the surreal feelings of walking through the days and weeks after and wondering if the numb parts of my heart would ever heal. It's made me feel deeper for friends who are walking through all those same hard places and wishing I could help carry some of that burden. It's changed my prayers for them. It's reminded me of Jesus' tears when He heard the news that His friend, Lazarus, had died. (John 11) I believe those tears were more for the deep love and compassion he felt for Mary & Martha's grieving hearts. After all, Jesus was about to bring Lazarus back to life!

Today I came across something I wrote a few weeks after I said 'goodbye for now' to my brother. And since several dear friends have had to do the same recently I thought I'd share part of it in this space. At my brother's service I was struck by how many people from so many varied backgrounds, beliefs, professions and ages showed up and shared with us something we all had in common. We loved Brent. He made us laugh. He made us think. It didn't matter who you were to him. If you would be his friend..he would be yours. I've cried often since that day just wishing that he could've heard all the amazing things so many shared with us about him that day - hoping that he knew just how much he was loved by so many.

Please don't wait to tell someone that they add value to your life. If they bring you joy - tell them! If you love that they make you laugh - laugh with them and let them know it. Life is too short to withhold the gift of kind and thoughtful words spoken to someone while they can still breathe it in. Celebrate them...with them...while you 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...

Where Do We Put Our Trust?

Denise Harper — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Let's talk about trust for a minute. The other day I was riding behind an enormous vehicle transport truck. You know the kind that can transport about six or eight SUV's at a time?! As I was following this monstrous load I began to study how these vehicles are loaded into this carrier. And suddenly I noticed that the last vehicle on this rig looked like it was literally hanging off the back end. That at any moment that vehicle could slide right off the back end.

I'd been following directly behind that rig for about 20 minutes on the highway, trusting that whoever loaded those SUV's onto the rig secured them properly and completely. I had a brief 'what if' thought in my head but I kept driving along right behind after my brain resolved that I was completely safe.

Later it occurred to me how quickly and easily I gave up worry and concern in that situation completely trusting an unknown person or persons to have loaded and secured the vehicles being transported. I didn't slow down. I didn't change lanes. I dismissed that 'what if' thought essentially putting my trust and safety in a complete stranger!

We say we trust God and yet we worry over things so often as if to say we don't believe that He really is taking care of us. I've caught myself saying "I'm afraid that..." or "I worry that...". When we say that about a situation, especially after coming to know God's nature and character, that He cares about everything that concerns us, we are opening the door to doubt and fear. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Today, let's choose to trust the goodness and faithfulness of God in ALL our ways.

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...

Stain Remover

Denise Harper — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I have a terrible habit of spilling things. No matter how hard I try not to...something often makes its way onto my shirt. As much as I try to avoid the spillage...it's almost inevitable. And the more I like the shirt the better chance there is of having something leave a trail.

Sometimes I am lucky enough to get the stain out but many times the stain remains. Once that shirt has been marked it doesn't matter how well I think I've gotten it clean...that mark is all I see! I can receive compliments on the shirt all day long...and still I feel like that stain is like a neon light.

Our conscience can be a lot like that. Regardless of how well we manage to come clean, how often we ask Jesus to wash our sins away, and apologize to those we've offended, we find it hard not to see the stains from our past. Finding the strength to stop focusing on our mistakes and giving ourselves grace is probably one of the hardest things we have to do. But God invites us into His presence for just that reason.

This is what GOD said about our stains in Isaiah 1:18 (MSG). He said, "Come. Sit down. Let’s argue this out.” This is God’s Message: If your sins are blood-red, they’ll be snow-white." We couldn't be washed clean without the blood of Jesus. Because of what Jesus did for us, there is nothing too deep or dark, big or small, hidden or widespread, that can't be washed clean by Jesus' blood. Who are we to insist on seeing the stain when God says those stains are gone?!!

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...

Today's Chapter

Denise Harper — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A friend of mine shared the most beautiful picture of a sunset from her vehicle's side window and it made me think about how glorious it is to watch the sun set on a day...and how breathtaking it is to watch the sun rise on a day. The anticipation of seeing the sun bring its light to our part of the world reminds us that there is hope for what's next. The night may have been very dark. We may have endured a really long, dark night...but there it is...hope coming up on the horizon. Reminding us that there is hope for light to shine in our personal darkness again.

And that glorious sunset closes the chapter of this day in history. Regardless of the good, the bad, the ugly and every shade of every thing in between...there is a time that God says to the sun...that is enough for today. Whenever I get that moment to just stop and take in the beauty of the sun finishing its purpose on my side of the earth I am grateful that God has walked with me through every part of this day. I am reminded that there a beginning and an end...of this day, of this work, of this life.

Lamentations 3: 22-26 remind us of who we put our trust in and have hope. "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

I think that is why a hush comes over me every time I am able to watch the sun rise and set. My soul remembers God's compassions and mercies never fail toward us. I am reminded that HE is our portion for this day. And will be for tomorrow. I breathe in hope that He will be with me on every page of this day's chapter. And tonight I will breathe out thanksgiving that my hope continues to wait and rest in Him.

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...

It's Time

Denise Harper — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Waiting is an all too familiar place for us. It feels like such an enormous waste of time most often. Every day, it seems, we are required to wait for something or someone. For those of us who like to keep things moving along, and especially for those adept at multi-tasking, having to wait can be frustrating!

How about waiting on God? From our vantage point we pray and ask God to answer our prayer in a specific way. But we can't see what is up ahead. We cannot see how the timing of our need being met might intersect with another's expectant prayer. But God. I can't even begin to imagine how God manages all of it...and all of us. Except that He is God...and there is nothing that God cannot do.

I think maybe the first time I really got a glimpse of the intricacy of God's plan was one day while reading the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah in Luke 1. They were serving the Lord, careful to keep His commands, in fact the Bible says they were blameless in how they lived. And they were childless....and now they are old. You know they must have cried out to God fervently for years to have a child. And yet...there were none. Until God said "it's time" and sent His angel Gabriel to Zechariah to confirm...'God has heard your prayer.' Luke 1:13 (NIV)

Their child would be known as John the Baptist. The one who would pave the way to say the Messiah is coming and baptize Jesus at the start of His ministry. While John and Jesus were born only months apart...the age difference between Elizabeth and Mary the mother of Jesus was counted in decades. While Elizabeth and Zechariah prayed over and over...and waited and waited...their answer was dependent on the timing of Mary's story! I'm guessing that their prayers for children began long before Mary herself was even born. And so they waited...until God said, 'it's time!'

What you are waiting for, believing God for...don't give up! Sometimes our answer is dependent on another's. But God. He is holding all of the pieces in His hands. We know that God is faithful. He hears our prayers. And His answer will always be right on time.

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...

Filling Up the Space

Denise Harper — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The Apostle Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." We know that it is easier said than done. If it were easy then we wouldn't struggle with thoughts like "what if they don't like me? what if I mess up? what if I have an epic fail?"

We find ourselves trying to fill our lives with all kinds of things to fill up that space. More clothes, more shoes, more food, more stuff. "If I have all of that - perhaps people will like me more?!" Even more things to do on our calendar can be a way we try to fill up the empty place in our heart that makes our head try to fill it with the most immediate gratification. We may even put pressure on the people in our lives to fill us up with accolades and answers to our deepest needs. Which is really unfair...because they have an empty place that needs filling too!

The only way to appease the emptiness in our soul is to open our heart and life to Christ. C.S. Lewis said, "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world."

Only Jesus can fill our longing for more. And even then...while we are in this world...we may still feel a little lost sometimes, a little out of step sometimes. Because that need to find our way home...even when we are where we call home for now...is because we just aren't home yet. We were made for another world. Only Jesus makes it possible for us to finally make it 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...

What's That Smell?

Denise Harper — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Years ago I heard a story about limburger cheese that I've never forgotten. I've never tried this kind of cheese but the way I've heard it described it smells like really dirty socks. Anyway, as the story was told, Grandpa was sleeping in his favorite recliner in the living room when his grandkids decided to play a little trick on him. While he was asleep the kids took a little piece of limburger cheese and wedged it in his bushy mustache.

When he woke up, Grandpa sniffed and said, 'this living room stinks'. He got up and walked into the kitchen and said with a little more emphasis, 'this kitchen stinks!' Finally, Grandpa walked outside the house onto the front porch, took a deep breath, and exclaimed with his fists in the air, 'the whole world stinks!!'

Everywhere he went, it smelled awful because Grandpa was carrying the offending source of the terrible smell with him! Are we guilty of doing that same thing ourselves at times? We're not hauling limburger cheese around. Bad attitudes and hard feelings toward others around us will cast a shadow over everything and everyone. Allowed to hang out indefinitely those attitudes and offenses can really stink up our world!

Proverbs 4:23 (NCV) tells us to "be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." It's dangerous to give our thoughts free reign. Positive attitudes and giving grace to those who have offended us doesn't just happen. We have to choose good thoughts. And we need to decide to keep short accounts with others. When we do, we'll find that the atmosphere around us is different. Kinder. Sweeter. So take care of what you think...and your thoughts will lead you into a better day!

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...

Remember the Promise

Denise Harper — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

"You can't have a rainbow without a little rain." You've probably seen that saying before. I don't think I've ever met a person who didn't pause to appreciate the sight of a rainbow in the sky. Can you imagine what it must have been like to look up in the sky and see the very first rainbow?

In Genesis 9:12,13, 17 (CEV) God said, "The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever. When I send clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky, I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures. Never again will I let floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the sky, I will always remember the promise that I have made to every living creature. The rainbow will be the sign of that solemn promise."

After all that rain. All that loss. When Noah and his family finally emerged from the Ark, with all of that uncertainty and maybe even some anxiety, there in the sky was the most unusual, spectacular sight. A rainbow. A sign of the presence of sunshine and rain. And a sign that even today, all of these thousands of years later, God still keeps His promises to us.

I heard an interesting take on life's struggles that we go through and the blessings we receive every day. They said "blessing is not an escape from struggle. The man paralyzed (in the New Testament) couldn't have received the blessing of healing without the struggle of paralysis. The blessing wasn't the healing. The blessing was the whole journey of that struggle. Sometimes we may not see the fruit of the blessing this side of heaven."

We don't really understand the depth of our blessings without experiencing the pain in our struggles. But God is faithful and good and kind. And He will not leave us to walk through any of it alone. And just when we feel like we cannot go on - in the midst of the rain - the sun will peek through - and we will get a glimpse of the colors in the rainbow...and we remember His promise.

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...

Your Server Will Be Right With You

Denise Harper — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I love giving credit to great servers! The best experiences I've ever had at eateries are almost always connected to having a fantastic person taking care of me while I am dining in their establishment. We recently took my Dad to a steak restaurant to celebrate a milestone birthday and we had a guy named Jason taking care of us. He was attentive, friendly, helpful in his recommendations and...fun!

When I told Jason that we had a birthday boy among us...he made it his mission to let the whole restaurant know that Charlie was turning 85. He let him ride their stationary bull while everyone shouted out a resounding birthday 'yeehaw'. My Dad had a great time and for the rest of our evening there, as patrons got up to leave, they would come by our table and wish him a happy birthday.

I've never been a server in a restaurant. I worked 3 months in a fast food restaurant and decided that was not for me. That may be one of the reasons I especially appreciate those who serve hungry people. What a mission field! But speaking of mission fields, where we live, and work and shop...where we interact with people...THAT is OUR mission field.

Someone woke up this morning in a world of hurt. Someone that we will connect with today will need Jesus and we get to serve them up a gentle serving or a heaping helping of the Savior as needed. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) tells us, "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." You and I really are servers! We are called to serve others using the gifts that God has given us and to use them well. Let's show up for the one that's just hanging on...your server will be right with 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...

Be Specific

Denise Harper — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

My mom and I were talking recently about someone we had seen listed in the obituaries. She shared a memory that she had of this man from more than 40 years ago. He was an answer to her prayer.

She shared that one morning as she was driving to work, her car quit. She managed to pull off to the side of the road. This was long before we had cell phones to call for help. So she prayed. She asked the Lord to send her someone who could help her...and...that it would be someone that she knew. Within minutes a gentleman pulled up ahead of her and walked back to ask her if she was alright. She recognized him right away. And he knew exactly what to do to help her!

I love the story of two blind men who encountered Jesus outside of Jericho. You can find the story in Matthew 20:29-34 (NIV). As these two guys were sitting by the side of the road they called out to Jesus to have mercy on them. Everyone told them to be quiet which made them shout louder. Jesus heard them and answered, "what do you want me to do for you?" and they answered, "Lord, we want our sight." These two were specific in their prayer need with Jesus. Jesus was moved. He touched their eyes...and immediately they received their sight.

Just like those two we can pray specifically when we have a need and Jesus hears us when we pray!

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...

If My People

Denise Harper — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I love God's promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Most likely you've heard it quoted when the topic of conversation is about how bad things have gotten. How we need God to intervene. Make a way in the desert. Save us from all the evil in the world. We DO need God in every area of our lives and in our world.

I have prayed 2 Chronicles 7:14 for our country so often. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Recently I was struck by this thought. This promise is not for the unsaved. This verse was given to those who call themselves Christians. You and I. He said, 'If My people' and then God makes it really clear...'who are called by MY name'.

There's a pattern that God laid out for us. Humble ourselves. Pray. Seek God. Turn away from sin. When we do this, God promises us, 'then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.' That's His promise to respond when we follow His direction.

So as we pray for revival in our nation, this promise from God is a direct link to see miracles happen across our land, for healing in our country to happen and keep happening. Humble ourselves. Keep talking with God and turn away from anything that creates a wedge between us and Him!

Heal our land, Lord. And let it begin with me!

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...

Taking Action

Denise Harper — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I bought my husband, Ken, a gift for his birthday and I wanted him to have it before his birthday. But he sat it on the counter, along with all the other cards that came in the mail before his big day, so that he would have them all to open on his birthday. Technically, the gift that I bought him was already his. But since he wouldn't open the gift he had no benefit, pleasure or concept of value of the gift. Ken could have been enjoying that gift all along if he had chosen to receive it. Instead, it sat on the counter for a week or two, wrapped up and unable to bring him joy.

There are scriptures in the Bible in which God clearly requires that we take action. If you do this...then God will do that. Romans 10:9 is a beautiful example. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Our salvation came at a great cost, purchased by Jesus' death and resurrection. The work was already done. The penalty for our sins has been met.

There is however something that we must do to receive it. We must confess that Jesus is our Lord and acknowledge that we believe that God raised Him from the grave. It is only then that we are saved. Salvation is a free gift. But we must receive it and walk in it for it to affect us. The good news is that when we do - it changes our lives forever!

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...

Fully Known

Denise Harper — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

We check our email, our voicemail, direct messages....and then we scroll. We scroll through what social media calls our 'news feed'. Before we know it we have scrolled through the feed for hours and still...we are hungry. Hungry for connection. And even when we say we are connected through all these different media outlets...still... we are starving to be known.

Jeremiah 1:5 (NASB) says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you." When we truly understand that our Creator, the God of the Universe, Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of Peace, knew us before He even formed us in our mother's womb, we will be able to silence the voices that tell us we are not enough. Knowing that we are known by God allows us to tune out the voice that says you have little significance.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with our communication outlets but we will never find our significance in the number of friends, likes and follows that we get there.

You are of great significance in this story because God Himself is writing it. Before you were born He knew you...and called you by name. As you are taking your next breath, responding to your messages, scrolling through your feed, don't search for connection and value there. Seek out God. Know that He has called you and set you apart for the plan He created you to walk in. And God knows you. You are His beloved and He is yours. In God, you will find connection and the joy of being fully known.

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 Fragrance of Time Well Spent

Denise Harper — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Nesting is one of my favorite things to do! When my husband, Ken, and I moved into our first home I began to make that house feel like home. After living on a bus for the first few years, with half a dozen other people sharing that same space, I was thrilled to have our own place...and that it wasn't on wheels!

One of my favorite authors of that era was Emilie Barnes. Emilie wrote over 80 books and while I haven't read all of them I've read quite a few over the years. She spoke to the busyness and clutter of my life and her book "Welcome Home" taught me some wonderful ways to really create the feeling of HOME in our house.

I'll never forget one of my favorite stories about her quiet time with God. Emilie would burn a scented candle every day while she was reading her Bible and praying. She said that long after she had blown out the candle and gone back to dishes and laundry and taking care of kids...she could smell the fragrance of that candle and it reminded her of her time spent alone with the King.

It reminded me of Esther who won the heart of the king and became Queen. Can you imagine a solid year of daily spa treatments? Six months of the oil of myrrh and six months of spices and cosmetics. Esther quickly found favor with the one in charge and found herself in the best rooms of the palace with attendants to take care of her every need. I'm convinced that during this time there was something happening in her heart as well. God was preparing her for the purpose and plan that He had for her. It is a beautiful story of courage and honor that is so worth reading from beginning to end if you haven't in a while.

Esther 2:17 tells us, "The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight... so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen."

I believe that the first thing the king smelled when Esther came before him...was her perfume. Her consistent daily regimen had prepared her to capture the attention of the king. And it opened the door for her to find favor with him.

Did you know that we have a fragrance too? Our worship is a beautiful fragrance before the King! And it delights His heart. God's heart is already FOR us but when we worship the Lord that sweet fragrance connects our heart with His so much that when we get busy in our day the fragrance of our time with God will still be noticeable. Not only will we be reminded of our time with Him...but I'm convinced that others will notice as well!

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...

We Are His Ambassadors

Denise Harper — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be an ambassador in a foreign country? We would represent our country in a land that is not our homeland. Our home in that foreign land would be called an embassy and considered a safe zone. While it is inside a country with different governmental laws and customs, within the walls of the embassy, the ambassador's home country laws and cultures apply.

Ambassadors are good negotiators. They are responsible to help with relationships between their home country and the country that is hosting them. And they are charged with the safekeeping of all their fellow countrymen and women who also work in the host country. They must be diplomatic in their interactions with everyone. One summary described it this way: "Ambassadors must navigate complex political and cultural landscapes while representing their country's interests. This requires a high level of emotional intelligence and the ability to handle difficult conversations and negotiations with grace and skill."*

Sound familiar to you? As believers, you and I are ambassadors for Christ! We are not living in our home country. THIS world is the host country and often we called upon to navigate through some pretty challenging political, cultural and spiritual conversations. It takes some skill, much prayer and a whole lot of grace to do this well. But do it we must! Our charge as ambassadors to the world that we are living in is to know God...and make Him known. To borrow the mission of Red Rocks Church in Colorado...our mission is to make Heaven a LOT more crowded!

1 Peter 2:11-12 (MSG) gives us this great responsibility: "Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life in your neighborhood so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives."

We ARE ambassadors 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...

Just Ask

Denise Harper — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

"There are two moments in life. Those you miss and those you seize." That wisdom came from an unlikely source...a Hallmark movie! Wisdom handed down from one generation to the next about making wise choices. I'd like to believe that we get more wisdom the more we live life, but the truth is, at any given moment, we can miss out on a really important moment, and we can totally seize the wrong moment and find ourselves in a boatload of trouble.

For sure, the only way to know which moment is best missed and which moment should be embraced is to pray...every day!...for wisdom from God. After all, God knows the end from the beginning, and every page in between of our story. There is no one else more qualified to give us counsel, clarity, wisdom and discernment in every moment of our day than God!

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." That is James 1:5 (NLT)

If you're wondering 'how do I get everything done in a day if I have to pray before I do anything?' Here's what I have learned about talking with God. When I keep an open dialogue with God throughout my day I will have a thought to reach out to someone and text or call them. Or I might be about to do something, go somewhere, speak to someone, and the Holy Spirit will give me just a tiny nudge or pause before I do it. More times than I can count He stepped in to help me avoid something damaging or lead me to step into something that turned out to be amazing.

For all the big moments in life...and the little ones...just ask Him. We already know that we need His wisdom and His promise to us is that He will generously give us the wisdom we need as often as we need it! Just ask!

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...

Fulfilling His Purpose

Denise Harper — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I had dinner with a friend the other night that I haven't seen in over 20 years. It was so good to catch up on our families and on life. I was reminded as we shared stories of different things we've lived through that there have been a lot of good days and some hard days as well.

We talked more about the difficult parts of our journey for some reason. Perhaps trying to show that we have weathered some storms and we are still going. Maybe trying to encourage each other that we are warrior women and God is helping us to be courageous.

My friend left radio and became a nurse. And at one point in the evening she looked at me with a smile on her face and said, "I'm so glad I became a nurse. I love helping people." I know she has gone through some big things in the past two decades. But in that moment I could tell...she's doing what she was born to do...and it is well with her soul.

Psalm 57:2 (ESV) says, "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me." Oh we've done some crying out over the years, haven't we?!! Consider this, that when we pour out our heart to God, He receives our prayers, and our tears, and He fulfills His purpose for me. What a beautiful thought that the hard things we go through are not in vain. That God makes something out of them and we can find fulfillment in His plan for us.

My prayer today is that we are doing what we were born to do, or moving toward that goal! And that it is well with our soul. God IS making something beautiful out of the pieces of our life. We can thank Him in that!

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 Lesson From My Pop Pop

Denise Harper — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

My grandfather died when I was about six years old. I only have a couple memories of him and this one made a very deep impression on me. Mom Mom and Pop Pop lived in a house on a bit of a hill. Their house was so fun and they had a nice yard to play in. And I loved staying with them!

On one particular visit, Pop Pop had told me that I could play outside anywhere in the yard but, he said, 'do NOT play inside the car'. He had left the car outside the garage a little ways down the hill. Well, you know, I investigated the flowers in the front yard and wandered through the garden in the back. I danced around on their back patio a little, but eventually... I got bored. Trying to think of something fun to do I considered my options. Pop Pop said I could play outside anywhere but inside the car...so what did i do? I got in the car.

Oh yeah, this is not going to end well. I don't know how long I was in the car. I don't think it was very long. But while I was standing up on the front seat I managed to knock the car out of gear...and it began to roll. Down the hill toward the street that ran in front of their house. The car was stopped before it could roll onto the street...by a telephone pole.

If ever I knew what the combination of fear and trembling felt like...it was at that moment. I remember overwhelming guilt that I had done what I was told NOT to do. I remember a very stern conversation and what kids from my generation would know as the punishment of the switch.

So when I read in Genesis 3 that Eve had all of that beautiful Garden of Eden to live in and could eat of ANY tree in that garden EXCEPT for the tree that is in the middle of the garden...although I get aggravated that we are in the world in the state we are in because she did it anyway...I remember that when I was about 4 or 5 I did exactly the same thing. I didn't eat a forbidden fruit but I did exactly the one thing I was forbidden to do...get in the car. Both of those were forbidden to us...to protect us.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) says, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." Whatever the enemy is tempting us toward today, focus on this: God is faithful and He will make a way out. In the meantime, it is wise to focus on God's faithfulness and choose to resist the temptation of the enemy. God is greater...but we must choose Him.

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 Heart Of A Mom

Denise Harper — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Being a mom is the easiest... and the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life! The most fulfilling, exhausting, joyous and anxiety producing calling I've ever stepped into. When my first child was born I could watch him sleep for hours. I imagined that when he smiled while he was sleeping - he was dreaming of angels.

I remember wanting to create a perfect little bubble around him to keep him safe from anything that could harm him. A bang up with the coffee table turned into a skinned knee from the playground became dust ups with a bicycle and then a flip of a quad. I learned that far too soon motherhood goes from provider and protector to producer and promoter as we teach our children how to become well adjusted adults to live and love well and perpetuate the cycle of life as God planned it.

Before I had children I couldn't imagine how fiercely protective I could be or how tenderly I would love. I didn't know that I would wake up every morning with them on my mind and close each day whispering a prayer that God would watch over and keep them. And every other daily decision would be weighed by the impact those choices would have on my children.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Proverbs 31:25-28 (NLT)

There are so many things I love about being a mom but one of the most beautiful revelations of motherhood is realizing that there is a tender side of God. And He wove that tenderness carefully, intricately into the heart of Mom.

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...

Beautiful & Battle Ready

Denise Harper — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Isaiah 52:7 (NKJV) tells us, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. Who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Ephesians 6:15 (NLT) says, “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” The gospel of peace is the message that Jesus gave to those who trust in Him.

I find it interesting that both of these bible verses talk about feet and also mention - good news... and peace. Have you ever thought when you planted your feet on the ground first thing in the morning that they have a mission from on high? It's true! When we've been introduced to the Good News of Jesus Christ we have a mission to share it. I've never thought my feet were beautiful. But God says that when we share the Gospel as we go through our day...our feet are beautiful!

And there's something we must do for our feet every day. There's a piece of God's armor in Ephesians 6 that is expressly meant to prepare our feet, and protect them, in our daily journey. Putting the gospel of peace on our feet looks like planting our feet firmly when the devil tries to distract us or tries to make us unsure of the promises that God told us we could trust and stand on.

Our feet can be beautiful AND ready for battle when we put on the gospel of peace, share the good news and trust God is with us every day!

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...

My Japanese Maple

Denise Harper — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Years ago I made the comment to my husband, Ken, that I would love to have a Japanese Maple tree in our front yard. It just never happened when we lived there.

Seven years ago, we moved into the home we are living in now. It was January when we moved in and the tree in our front yard was bare so I didn't even think about what kind of tree it was. When Spring came along and I realized that the tree with no leaves months earlier now had beautifully rich, red leaves greeting me every day was...a Japanese Maple...I couldn't help but hear God's promise echo quietly in my heart...."Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

Long before we knew we would live in this home God had prompted someone to plant a tree...specifically a Japanese Maple tree...that would be here when we arrived...to remind us that God knows the things we hold in our heart. And He delights to make even the little things come to be.

My friend, what is that thing that you've been holding in your heart and praying over? Maybe it seems little on your scale and you think it's insignificant to God. Maybe it's so big that you're even a little afraid to believe that God would do it for you! Let me encourage you today to focus on the first part of Psalm 37:4. Take delight in the Lord. I love how The Passion Translation directs us. "Find your delight and true pleasure in Yahweh, and He will give you what you desire the most. Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust Him along the way, you’ll find He pulled it off perfectly!" (Ps 37:4-5 TPT)

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...