By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. ~Psalm 42:8 ESV When a friend, a first-grade teacher, invited me to help her with some back-to-school preparation, I eagerly accepted. Before we assembled the binders for her students, she asked her teenage daughter to find music online for us to listen to. The young lady asked for suggestions. I asked for instrumental Hawaiian. She quickly … Continue reading →
The person who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:7-8 CSB I planted a fast-growing, easily tended tree near the edge of my yard, confident it would quickly take root and shoot … Continue reading →
Mother kneaded the dough ball, rolled it into a snake, folded it over three times, worked it into a ball once more, and kneaded it again. This I knew—homemade bread that provided sustenance for our table was labor-intensive. A plethora of scents filled Mother’s kitchen. The woodsy odor of yeast tingled my senses as she measured a precisely leveled teaspoon into the center of the flour, then added the beachy aroma of salt, which she set aside. Apparently, yeast … Continue reading →
A friend and I planned to meet for dinner. I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early and sat on a bench in the lobby. Different people arrived, but my friend did not. I had looked forward to connecting with her again. I noted our meeting time and place in my planner. We had a lot of life to catch up on, and these visits had proven beneficial in solidifying a stronger relationship between us. I checked my phone … Continue reading →
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ~John 10:27 NIV When I lived in Houston, Texas, a Christian radio station bought several billboards that said, “God Listens.” I still listen to their station, although I now live in Tennessee. After being reminded of their slogan recently, I decided that listen would be my word for 2025. Our Talk with God During my quiet time, after meditating on a passage, I ask God to speak to … Continue reading →
He gives us everything we need for life and for holy living. He gives it through His great power. ~2 Peter 1:3 NLV Almost every tech object needs plugging in and recharging at the most inconvenient times. Yet, we, too, need to stay plugged into the power source. My husband and I traveled to Wisconsin to attend a Green Bay Packers game. While there, we visited a town with plentiful bike trails. We had one problem, though. My husband regularly … Continue reading →
Looking “I didn’t see it, Gra’ma,” my grandson said. One summer, I kept two of my grands for two days. Our family took two cars to visit my dad at the nursing home. The twenty-five-minute drive through the countryside revealed a treat in the trees. One of the formations held the caricature of a dinosaur, my grandson’s favorite. “Look for the mailbox with a wagon wheel and black-eyed Susans,” I said. “It’s all in knowing where to look.” Many, O … Continue reading →
I threw away a whole box of pencils after none sharpened straight. …
Continue reading →In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ~John 1:1 NIV Once, instead of doing a structured Bible study, I read straight through the Bible from one cover to the other. This takes a long time, but I’ve discovered a love for studying this way. If God draws my attention to some specific Scripture or chapter, I study it deeper and find myself hanging on God’s every word. God has brought … Continue reading →
We can awaken the dawn in many ways, but incorporating some form of worship will change our perspective on the day. …
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