A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. ~Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT On the dairy farm where I grew up, I learned the value of a cord of three. We had a couple of apple trees. On one, a swing hung from a sturdy branch. Unlike swings found on modern playgrounds, this one consisted of a wooden board approximately two feet … Continue reading →
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. ~Colossians 2:6-7 NIV I shared with my praying friends my concern that I occasionally miss times meditating on the Word of God. One friend shared a scripture that spoke to me: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, … Continue reading →
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT Giving thanks at Thanksgiving might be easy, but thanking God in every circumstance challenges the best of us. Some claim it’s impossible. I’m a nostalgic kind of guy. In my mind’s eye, I can imagine sitting around a table with the early Pilgrims and their Indian neighbors, who had shown them where to hunt and fish and how to … 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 →
This year, a friend of mine lost her husband of over sixty years, but her commitment to joy was a powerful witness to me. Watching the result of her choosing joy in the presence of sadness and the temptation to self-pity made me determined to understand the power of joy and to possess it in my daily life. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. ~Nehemiah 8:10 NIV I haven’t lost a husband, … Continue reading →
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ~Colossians 3:1-2 ESV Sometimes, we are taken by someone’s smile. The kind that lights up a room. I had the pleasure of seeing my friend beam from ear to ear only a few days after major brain surgery. Yes, I said … Continue reading →
I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friend, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. ~John 15:15 AMP Sending friend requests on social media is important. It’s in our nature to want to be liked and accepted by others. Friend requests are one way we fulfill that desire. The Friend Request … Continue reading →
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ~1 Peter 1:13 (NASB 2020) While driving down the road with my grandkids one day, Eva said, “Look! There’s water in the road.” I knew it was a mirage and told her so. She cocked her head to the side. “What’s a mirage?” “A mirage is something … Continue reading →
The first text I typed that morning was the last words we texted to one another the night before. Except that I added the question, No matter what? We had agreed to finally hike a trail new to us. The no-matter-what ended up being two inches of overnight rainfall. The trail we wanted to tackle was known for its cleared paths, steep hills, and a bonus of possible eagle sightings. Let’s do it! My friend replied quickly that morning. So, … Continue reading →
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ~John 10:27 ESV I had one recently–a holy nudge–and I can’t stop thinking about it. I was driving to work via an atypical route when I saw a sign that read, “Brocato’s Cannolis sold here.” The sign brought a huge grin to my face and reminded me of a fun childhood memory. As a middle schooler, my friend Leslye invited me to her birthday party at Brocato’s, … Continue reading →
