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 →
Not what I will, but what You will. ~Mark 14:36 NKJV The aroma of horsehair overwhelmed me as I buried my face in Princess’ mane. I knew there wasn’t much time. Princess grasped my ponytail scrunchie with her muzzle, slid it off, and waved it triumphantly. If a horse could laugh, she did. This was a deliberate move to cheer me up. I would have joined her celebratory disposition, but I knew we only had days together. I was moving … Continue reading →
Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. ~Genesis 6:14 NLT The encounter was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Several years ago, my wife and I had planned to visit the Ark Encounter in Kentucky, but those plans fell through. Then, my school entered a five-year training program—one of which involved teacher-training conferences and tours at the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. Although my wife couldn’t … Continue reading →
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. ~Psalm 147:4-5 ESV God’s Stars When I look up at the night sky, the awe of creation overtakes me. Innumerable stars fill the expanse, and yet God has given all of them names. What an incredible wonder. God didn’t need to create the stars, yet He placed value on giving each star … Continue reading →
God There’s not one totally good person on earth, not one who is truly pure and sinless. ~Ecclesiastes 7:20 MSG The enemy wants us to think that we are alone in our sin, the worst human being ever to live. He wants us to forget that we are fully forgiven. God’s Offer Social media presents us with snapshots of others’ lives that look pulled together. It can make us feel alone, worthless, and like a failure. So, we beat ourselves … Continue reading →
I thought about my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies. ~Psalm 119:59 NKJV Cleaning has always been therapeutic for me. Unfortunately, my kitchen countertops are speckled granite, often concealing the grime that’s in plain sight. Each evening, I adjust the lighting and stoop to see if I missed any crumbs. I usually find some in a corner or in plain sight, visible if I look carefully enough. One morning, as I cleaned and inspected, I realized that I … Continue reading →
The sky showed pink swooshes peeking over the eastern treetops. Wild birds chattered, and the chickens echoed with crows’ caws. Our two cats met me on the top step, ready for early morning scratches. And Amos, our small dog, raced around the yard trailing scents in every direction. It was a beautiful morning for a walk around the front field. Even though the dewy grass quickly soaked through my shoes, making my socks squish when I stepped, I overlooked the … 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 →
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ~John 10:27 KJV A little boy moved to a new neighborhood. He looked for friends, found some, and played all day long. As dinner time approached, his father looked for him and called his name. The boy heard his father calling and told his friends he had to go home. His father’s voice was deep and bass, and he could hear him quite easily. The Voice The … Continue reading →
Sometimes I don’t know what to do when I don’t know what to do about a problem or situation. My mind wraps around the problem and looks at it from every angle, trying to wrangle up a solution. But when I try to solve a predicament I’ve become obsessed with, I leave little room for God to work. No resolution comes. When I heard a sermon on this subject recently, I took notes as fast as I could. God has … Continue reading →
