Category Archives: Uncategorized

Prepped and Ready

VineWords Devotions and More

Hurricanes Ian and Nicole hit the Florida coast forty-three days apart in 2022. Since I experienced both, I quickly learned the importance of being prepped and ready with multiple backup plans. Pre-prepping for a hurricane requires collecting shelf-stable groceries, buying a large supply of safe water, fueling vehicles, and stashing some cash. Additionally, we needed all life’s important paperwork gathered and near us.  As an actual hurricane approaches, we move the outside furniture in. Dining umbrellas can become javelins. We … Continue reading →

Forgetting the Past

VineWords Devotions and More

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. ~Philippians 3:13-14 NLT To work on forgetting the past, I carried sentimental gifts, collections, and other accumulations to my garage for a garage sale. My dark and threatening path through divorce brought me a God-appointed mentor. I had joked with … Continue reading →

A Different Plan

VineWords Devotions and More

You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, but you are not the one to do it.               -1 Kings 8:18-19 NLT We almost made it . . . but then had to engineer a different plan.       My wife and I and my brother and sister-in-law were headed to Sassafras Mountain—South Carolina’s highest point. My brother and I had visited numerous times as we hiked portions … Continue reading →

Lost

VineWords Devotions and More

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 →

A Yellow-Pen Life

VineWords Devotions and More

Little did I know I was living a yellow-pen life.    “Aww, these are nice.” One daughter had gifted me my favorite journaling pens, and my oldest presented a full set of eight Bible marking pens. I held up a yellow one from each set and said, “Interesting.”  They both knew I enjoyed a lot of color in my life, and, quite honestly, yellow is one of my favorites. But, yellow pens? It only took one trial run to realize … Continue reading →

Wallflowers Can Dance

VineWords Devotions and More

I stepped outside my comfort zone, stepped into a Soul Dancing class, and discovered that wallflowers can dance.   Twice each week, I showed up in comfy shoes and a big smile, along with twenty-five to thirty other folks with varying levels of dancing ability. I’ve never thought I had natural rhythm, and I have had few opportunities to prove it. It was all I could manage to keep my right and left straight while counting continuously. I laughed a … Continue reading →

The Fruit of Kindness

VineWords Devotions and More

“Would you be so kind as to give us a drink of water from your well?” Someone needed the fruit of kindness.   My mother passed down a story told by her grandmother, who grew up on a farm located on a dusty, rural road. At that time, many people walked wherever they went, having no access to any type of transportation. One hot summer day, a family traveling on foot stopped by my great-grandparents’ farm for a drink of … Continue reading →

Kindness Matters

VineWords Devotions and More

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ~Colossians 3:12 NIV It’s that time of year when it’s cold enough for crystal flakes of snow to fall from the sky, covering the landscape in a picturesque blanket of white. It’s also a time to remember that kindness matters.   Despite its beauty, snow has challenges. Travel can be difficult. As I did, I met a lady who graced me with … Continue reading →