When I leave, my dog, Coco, copes with her sadness by hiding her head under a blanket. I sometimes wish that a blanket over my head had the same power to resolve my distress.
Jesus, the Finisher of My Race
A question challenged me to pause and reflect, “How would Jesus live my life if it was His life?" I realized that how I answer depends on how I envision Jesus.
I’ll be Praying!
I realized that a different three-word phrase has begun to dominate my own speech, “I’ll be praying!” As a result, I’ve begun to consider options for thoughtfully and authentically responding to prayer requests that arrive through technology.
Wonderful Things!
My university library holds a special place in my memory. I often sought refuge there from dorm life for studying. One day, however, instead of studying, a question about the Holy Spirit distracted me.
Melancholy Moments
When clearing the leaves and limbs that litter my yard, I often uncover Garden spiders. They quickly scurry to new hiding places when exposed to the light. One day as they ran for cover, I realized other things can also hide, things like losses.
Trouble
Alone in my car, driving to the emergency room, I screamed at God: This is too much!! I meant it with every fiber of my being. Even now, eight years later, I feel the hurt and panic of those moments.
Without Finding Fault
“Mama, would you help me with this problem?”
What Did You Expect?
When my son was around two, he thought he saw his daddy from behind. He started running toward the man, and when he rounded the corner, I saw a horrified look on my son’s face.
Love Story
Genesis 24:67 is one of the first times in scripture we read about love between a man and a woman. As Christians, we know from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians—written about 2,000 years later—husbands and wives are to care for one another and love sacrificially (Ephesians 5:21-33). It is beautiful that we can see such an early example of a godly wife in Rebekah.
Snowflakes
Each snowflake that falls from the sky is a tiny, intricate marvel —no two exactly alike in their crystalline patterns. In the same way, God has created each of us as unique individuals, imparted with our own special combination of spiritual gifts.
An Aroma that Impacts
We believers are to be the fragrance of Christ in this world. As you and I are filled with the Spirit, His fragrance flows through our words and actions. Is the fragrance of Christ permeating the world through you? Are you so filled with the Spirit of Christ, that His fragrance can’t help but flow from you?
Prayers that Move Heaven
I also have a great desire for understanding God’s revelation to me and you—the Bible. I pray daily for wisdom and understanding. Yet, Daniel’s example has caused me to reflect, “Am I praying for understanding with consistent fervency?”
The Latch
I can still recall the sound of the latch being lifted on the backyard gate. It was a sound I loved as a child. Going through that gate led into a world of fun, where I spent hours swinging, playing with my dog, and enjoying countless imaginary adventures.
God’s Treasure Book
As I came into the room, I noticed my granddaughter sitting at the kitchen table. It was early in the morning, and I knew Elysen was going through her daily routine of getting ready for school. Her breakfast and her open Bible and journal were on the table before her. At age thirteen, reading the Bible and journaling has become her practice and her joy.
God-given Knowledge
Mankind is unique among all of God’s creation. Within us, the Lord has placed an innate knowledge that more than this physical world exists. There is more to life than what we see and experience. God has set the knowledge of eternity in our hearts.
True Light
A popular tradition at Christmas time is for families to attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service together. If you have not attended one of these, envision sitting in a dimly lit room full of people. Each individual has their own candle, and once the first is aflame—usually led by the pastor—people begin spreading the flame from one candle wick to the next until all candles are lit. Whether there are just a handful or hundreds in the room, it does not take long before the once-dark area is beautifully aglow.
Holiday Prayers
Wow! What an amazing meeting between two women whom the Lord was using!
Earlier in Luke, we can read about angels appearing to both women’s families to
announce their pregnancies. Both were susceptible to the temptations of stress, fear,
or worry, especially considering Elizabeth’s age (geriatric pregnancy), yet she is filled
with joy and humbled favor for what God had done and was doing through the birth of
our Lord.
Wonder-filled Wednesday
Whew, time for bed. What a Christmas day it had been. Up at 6—grandma, it’s time to see if Santa’s been here—followed by the Christmas story, stockings, breakfast, gifts, lunch, more presents, play, dinner, more play, exhaustion. It’s time to lay down those sleepy heads.
The Reality of Christmas
You probably are in the midst of your Christmas shopping now. I find shopping stressful, do you?The crowds, the decisions, and the costs are overwhelming. Why have we allowed commercialism to take over this special celebration?
Insta-Advent
Christmas is the time of year I look forward to the most. Friends and family coming
together, great food, and—the reason for the season--coming together for worship in
celebrating the birth of Christ. Inspired to write about this wonderful time, yet
simultaneously struggling with creativity, I turned to the most novel solution—scrolling
social media.