Casting all your care on Him: for He cares for you. ~1 Peter 5:7 NKJV The reflection of blue lights flashed in my rear-view mirror. Embarrassed, I pulled over. I just knew the speeding ticket would be next. The Offense “Ma’am, can you explain why you were speeding?” “I wasn’t paying attention.” Not knowing my speed was no excuse. I was responsible for operating my vehicle safely. The officer ticketed me, and I went my way. When I got … Continue reading →
I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! ~Isaiah 57:18 NLT My children are a blessing, and I’ll always cherish the privilege of having watched them grow. Recollections of their laughter and silly antics still bring me joy. The memory of their childlike prayers fills me with melancholy and reminds me that God’s mercy triumphs. They’re adults now, and watching them make decisions on their own is more difficult than I imagined. Some of their decisions have … Continue reading →
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. ~Ephesians 2:1 NIV As I readied for the day, a terrible smell drifted through the bathroom. What’s that odor? I know it … wait. I had smelled that skunky smell before. The Smell of Skunky We opened the door and called for the dog. The smell hit us like a ton of bricks. My youngest opened the door wider to check on the noise, and the dog, covered in skunkiness, … Continue reading →
So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ~Luke 15:20 NLT As an amateur photographer, I find the golden hour one of my favorite times to look for photo opportunities. It requires the sun to be visible towards the horizon during the sixty minutes before it sets or the sixty minutes after … Continue reading →
Through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. ~2 Corinthians 6: 8-10 ESV Once, while home from missionary work, I met a neighbor on the street. He said, “Kenny, I thought you were a good boy?” … Continue reading →
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. ~Isaiah 64:6 NIV As I watch television, my hands are often busy crocheting baby blankets. Over the years, some of these blankets have gone to individuals, while others have gone to groups and churches. The ones I remember best, however, went to an orphanage in … Continue reading →
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ~Matthew 5:4 ESV When was the last time you mourned over someone or something? Or found that joy comes in the mourning? Some days, my heart is heavy over the things I see in this world: in politics, in the church, in our country. I have mourned over the death of family members and pets and the loss of relationships. Sometimes, as I mourned, I felt Jesus mourning with me. … Continue reading →
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. ~James 1:13-15 ESV My wife and I love to fish. It is relaxing, and we get to spend time together with nature as our backdrop. We cast our lines and feel the tug on the line, marking the first catch … Continue reading →
It was 2020, and we were under a mandated shelter-in-place order. Unable to go into town except for emergencies, I made use of the time cleaning house. One morning, I felt a nudge in my heart from the Lord: “It’s time to clean house.” Only this time, it wasn’t about dirty dishes in the sink. Instead, I needed to clean out the closets of my heart. Every day we see more “signs of the times”—evidence that the return of the … Continue reading →
And he answered him, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ~Luke 13:8-9 ESV Our prayers for people will bring the grace of a reprieve of their sentence, but never a guaranteed pardon. Salvation never happens without repentance. Only God can grant spiritual reprieves and pardons. Jesus uses the parable of the … Continue reading →
