Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. ~2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV I needed the presence and the peace of God. I try to spend extended time with the Lord on Sundays, reading His Word and praying. One Sunday, an overflow of prayer needs came to mind. My wife had undergone three hospitalizations the month before and was in rehab, getting healthy enough to come home. … Continue reading →
The hummingbirds found the hummingbird feeder on the front porch. At first, I only had one regular visitor: a small bird, most likely a female. She visited occasionally for a week. The next week, everything changed when two territorial male birds discovered the feeder. Every few minutes, tiny projectile-like blurs landed on the top of the feeder. They scanned for other birds. Once they deemed it safe, they dove in for a quick slurp of nectar and zipped off to … Continue reading →
“I’ve forgiven, but why am I still upset?” Why do I feel the same pain? The Pain of Unforgiveness These questions hit me every time someone hurts me. The emotions tear me down, giving me a heavy heart, even after I have forgiven. But God commands us to forgive because He has forgiven us. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of … Continue reading →
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ~2 Corinthians 4:8 NLT We are experiencing troubling times. The Bad News These are times of uncertainty. Bad news lurks on every front. COVID-19 hasn’t gone away. Inflation is through the roof. Fuel costs are reaching unprecedented highs, and food costs continue to rise. Wars and rumors of wars are the recent headlines. At times like this, however, it … 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 →
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. ~1 … Continue reading →
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:19 NIV On a recent trip to the shore with my four-year-old niece, I watched in amusement as she played in a small tidal pool. Again and again, she filled her bucket until she depleted the water supply. In distress, she cried, “Oh no, I have no more water!” I turned her around so she could see the vast ocean before … Continue reading →
Carrying My Children’s Rocks I remember my kids giving me things to hold for them when they were little–among them, rocks in my pockets. They found little rocks they thought were special. Whenever I unloaded the rocks in my pockets and the other treasures they’d entrusted to me, I smiled. These provided little glimpses into their hearts, things I got to carry to make their life more joyful or the journey less of a struggle for them. Responsibilities As they got older, … Continue reading →
Living the Blessed Life The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His deeds. ~Psalm 145:17 When we learn that people have received answers to prayers, we might say, “God is good!” When things go right, we continue with, “God is faithful!” We may associate living the good life with images of ease, comfortable scenarios, and dreamy settings. We often ascribe the words “blessed” and “blessing” to these circumstances. I have undoubtedly had this mindset countless … Continue reading →
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ~Genesis 1:1-3 NLT As a child, I dreaded nightfall. I feared the unseen and let my unrestrained imagination wander. Once tucked beneath the covers, darkness settled into every corner, turning shadows into silent figures. … Continue reading →
