When I taught the elementary grades, my litmus test for the children’s well-being was to observe them during recess and ask, “Do they have a skip in their step?” Even a child at rest will swing a foot, shrug a shoulder, or sway. I’ve learned skipping is a universal expression of joy. My children would skip in the recess line, on the playground, and to their desks when they returned to the classroom. It’s in a child’s DNA to skip. … Continue reading →
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ~Romans 12:19 ESV I looked over my class list for the new year and saw a name I recognized. Their family was very involved. I also knew one of this child’s older relatives loved me dearly and had loved me since I was a kid. I anticipated a great year. We were reacquainted at open … Continue reading →
If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. ~2 Timothy 2:13 ESV I graduated from high school convinced I wanted to be in full-time ministry as an overseas missionary, but I struggled to find a degree to pursue. Most women either worked with children or taught English classes in other countries. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do either. The following summer, I went on a mission trip to China. We traveled to the small villages … Continue reading →
People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. ~Leviticus 23:22 ESV Doing right things for wrong reasons will never bring transformational change to our lives. There was once a prison inmate who had completed a Christian discipleship program while incarcerated. After his release from jail, he was back behind bars within a few months. In one of his first meetings with the Christian group in the prison, he stood up and said, “I did … Continue reading →
Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. ~Psalm 31:3 NIV Thunk! My granddaughter’s bowling ball dropped and inched toward the white pins. Hope turned to despair on her little face as the ball crept into the gutter. She knew where to turn. “Please, Daddy, put up my bumper rails,” pleaded the four-year-old. Of course, he complied, and the next throw yielded better results. A brilliant smile lit her face … Continue reading →
Children are a gift from the Lord. . . . How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! ~Psalm 127:3–5 NLT “Would you like to keep our kids, too, tomorrow?” The holiday season had arrived. I was out on Thanksgiving break, and our daughter was great with child. We had already kept her three kids for a day while she and our son-in-law shopped locally. She didn’t feel like going out of town and could only walk around … Continue reading →
For the joy of the Lord is your strength! ~Nehemiah 8:10b NLT Sometimes, we just need a little re-joy. When I taught elementary school, there were many lessons I delivered with passion. I instructed. They practiced. The activity then became a station in the class rotation for the week. Then, after much-supervised instruction in class, I intentionally sent homework in their folders to reinforce the new skill. Finally, after several days, it was testing time. For a teacher, testing created … Continue reading →
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. look crazy as I make a fist. John 10:28 ESV Imagine being inside the fist. I drove to Rhode Island from New Hampshire to speak at a ladies’ retreat. As normal, I practiced the teaching as I drove. God gives me deeper insight and great analogies while driving. The teaching for that weekend was entitled, “Shining for Jesus in This Dark … Continue reading →
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. -John 13:35 NLT Someone had failed to pass it on. A popular talk-show host called down a seventeen-year-old for a test. She showed her a table on which were a road map—the hard copy kind—a Yellow Book, and a rotary phone. The test: refold the map, look up a number in the phone book, and call the place of business. After … Continue reading →
