Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ~James 1:17 The year was 1967. The nurse handed my firstborn son to me, and I quickly peeled the blanket back to see if all fingers and toes were there. They were. That was the best day of my life. After more than thirty hours of labor and a forceps-assisted birth, … Continue reading →
That he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 1 Kings 8:59b, 60 NIV This morning, my heart felt heavy, and the day had only begun. After breakfast, my husband and I prayed about a family member struggling in their marriage and another who faced logistical … Continue reading →
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19b-20 NIV When I was young, I remember watching my cousins’ excitement as they watched a football game on television. But not everything in life is exciting. Sometimes, God gives us a gift of thorns. With every successful play, they shouted, high-fived, and danced around as if they were the ones on … Continue reading →
But for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 ESV All we could do was watch, wait, and pray. My wife and I became empty nesters when our last two children moved out and shared an apartment. Doing so was a huge step for them and us. Thirty-one years had passed since we’d been on our own. I now notice things I once didn’t: … Continue reading →
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ~John 15:13 KJV Memorial Day is the day Americans celebrate our freedom and remember those who died to preserve it. But fighting spiritual battles proves more intense. Other countries also designate days to celebrate their freedom and heroes. Freedom is ours because men and women sacrificed their time and sometimes their lives so life could be better for others. Members of my family … Continue reading →
I was surprised by unexpected rain. Without an umbrella, I began to grumble … when the Lord interrupted, telling me to look for the rainbow. … His beautiful rainbow reassured me of His faithfulness.
Continue reading →A sunrise of hope overtook the darkness as Max looked eastward towards the ocean. …
Continue reading →I took a small break and a deep breath as I looked at the mall map, searching for that circled star that would clarify my location, but I was lost. I had walked in circles, looking for the one store that was the purpose of my trip. Somehow, I had become twisted and distracted, and before realizing it, my quick stop at the mall ticked toward a second hour. Nagging questions swirled in my mind: “Had the store moved? … Continue reading →
I am only a foreigner in the land. Don’t hide your commands from me! Psalm 119:19 NLT I was just passing through; I had no plans to stay forever. As a pastor’s son, I passed through many places. We passed through Hilda, South Carolina, and stayed for three years. Next, we passed through Jackson, Tennessee, where we stopped over for four years. Then we went to Cameron, South Carolina, where we passed through in one year. Finally, we journeyed … Continue reading →
The disciples were bothered that the Samaritans didn’t receive Jesus as He traveled through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem. The disciples didn’t believe in equal opportunity for these Samaritan men they perceived to be enemies. Can you imagine James and John’s surprise when Jesus rebuked them rather than the Samaritans? Jesus knew the Samaritans misinterpreted His troubled face as disdain. …
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