He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. ~Song of Solomon 2:4 ESV One Thanksgiving, I decided I would do something a little different. I had just moved into my new home and was far away from family. It looked as if I would have a very isolated Thanksgiving with just one nearby family member. A Different Thanksgiving After some thought and prayer, I considered what the initial Thanksgiving feast was like. … Continue reading →
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. ~Psalm 28:7 ESV Years ago, my mother gave me a collectible ceramic figurine that belonged to her. I had admired it as I was growing up. When the base was wound, it played “To Dream the Impossible Dream” in delicate notes as it spun around. The figurine depicted a slender … Continue reading →
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. ~Psalm 111:4 ESV A collection of photographs, magnets, and hand-drawn pictures decorates the side of my fridge. The art of remembering is often triggered by things like these. The Past The photos have images of my children and dearest loved ones captured long ago. Some magnets have Bible verses and quotes that carried me through tough moments. Others are souvenirs from vacations filled … Continue reading →
Perfume’s Unchanging Value Your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out. ~Song 1:3b ESV Consider the value of fragrance. Perfume does not lose its value, regardless of what we spill it on. We can spill it on the floor or a wealthy person’s skin, and the value remains the same, as does the fragrance. Perfume can sit on a shelf untouched or be cherished one dab at a time by someone who has saved for years … Continue reading →
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ~Galatians 6:9 ESV I spent much of my childhood in a hard-working, upper Midwest community. Farmers and ranchers comprised the backbone of the rural areas surrounding the small town I lived near. Nothing seemed to come easily there. People and animals had to push through with determined living. Springtime calving and lambing season seemed always … Continue reading →
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. ~Isaiah 54:10 NIV I think deep down inside, everyone wants a love story of some kind. Our Longing We long for someone who will choose us above all others and stand by us through our ugliest moments, darkest times, and greatest challenges. Our hope is … Continue reading →
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV Summer is in full bloom. The conversational trend tends toward complaining about the heat and comparing the weather in different locations. Some, however, will prefer a different season in every season. Some love summer in full bloom, with watermelons and sunshine while others enjoy autumn with its crisp leaves that warmly scent the cool air. Still others love fresh snow and cozy fireplaces. … Continue reading →
