I thought it would be easy to navigate my way to the expressway from my new job, but I was not familiar with the neighborhood. To further my confusion, a few street signs were missing. The only sure landmark I had was a child’s soccer ball left in a yard. After passing the ball three times, I pulled my car to the side of the road, wiped sweat from my palms, and prayed. “God, please direct me. I want to … Continue reading →
Slip ‘n slides… They provided swift and energetic water rides for my sister and me during childhood. Mom would sprinkle a few drops of dish soap onto our plastic slide, hook up the hose, and away we’d go. Dad would swoop us up at the other side, and we’d run towards Mom, ready for another go-round. Soon, neighbor kids would hear us, and they would slide with us down the slippery slope. It’s easy to slide downhill on a slip … Continue reading →
Becca longed for the simple life. She wished she could transport herself onto the set of “Leave it to Beaver.” But she knew this was just make-believe. Families weren’t that loving, marriages weren’t that kind, and children didn’t obey their parents…. Or, was that the illusion? Could Becca’s family be healed? “God,” Becky prayed, “Can my family experience Your peace?” She poured coffee and opened her Bible. The sun’s first rays glimmered through the kitchen window. “Can I…?” Becca’s … Continue reading →
Slip ‘n slides… They provided swift and energetic water rides for my sister and me during childhood. Mom would sprinkle a few drops of dish soap onto our plastic slide, hook up the hose, and away we’d go. Dad would swoop us up at the other side, and we’d run towards Mom, ready for another go-round. Soon, neighbor kids would hear us, and they would slide with us down the slippery slope. It’s easy to slide downhill on a slip … Continue reading →
She hath washed my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Luke 7:44b It was “Wash Day.” Elise got right to work. She separated the laundry into piles, loaded the washer, and reached for the cleaning agents. She meticulously measured bleach, detergent, and fabric softener, pouring each into their respective receptacles. She hit the start button, and turned away. As Elise glanced at the remaining piles, she realized the white clothes were still on … Continue reading →
Danielle’s blond curls brushed Mother’s shoulder as she peered into the stew pot from the bar stool. She pretended to stir, twirling her soda straw as if it were a spoon. Each afternoon, she watched as her mother prepared dinner. “Sweetheart,” Mother said, handing her daughter the squeeze butter and dinner rolls, “please help Mommy by putting these on the table.” Mother continued to stir, content that her daughter was away from the boiling stew. Suddenly, she realized the house … Continue reading →
Grace…. We say grace before a meal. We speak of God’s grace. But do we really know what grace is? Grace comes from the word charis and may be defined as “the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life” [Strongs’ Concordance, NT#5485]. Grace is something that happens within the spirit of man. Paul knew something about grace. He had to, because he had experienced sorrows and extreme difficulties. He had been shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, whipped, tormented … Continue reading →
