And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ~Matthew 4:19 ESV We find hope in this little verse—fifteen simple words that we can easily step over on our way to weightier passages. Jesus’s promise to make us fishers of people liberates us. With it comes the invitation to come as we are and be transformed. Fishing for others is a possibility. We don’t need to come equipped to be useful to God’s kingdom. … Continue reading →
After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy. ~1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 NLT When my two daughters were young, I attended all the group presentations in which they participated. I took note of the other parents. When their child was next to do a solo or recitation, the parents’ anticipation rose. Shortly, … Continue reading →
Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones! ~Song of Solomon 5:1 NKJV Multiplication. Some kids relish practicing their times tables. Me? Not so much. But garden multiplication? Well, that’s another story. By the time I ran out of fingers on which to count, I was lost. But there is a multiplication that I do love. In fact, I relish it. It is garden multiplication. We see it in Song of Solomon 5:1. Believers are the Bride … Continue reading →
Panic hit me like a blow to the chest. I stomped on the brakes and pulled over. Car after car passed, leaving me no opportunity to turn around. Hands shaking, I prayed, “Please keep them safe. Please keep them safe.” Don’t Leave Them Behind A break in the traffic allowed me to turn around and head back to the house, five minutes away. Home, where I had left my children. How could I have forgotten them? Five minutes later, I … Continue reading →
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ~Matthew 5:14 ESV I remember receiving my first flashlight as a child. It illuminated the darkness around me and gave me a safe passage. I am a fan of flashlights. They guide us to see the dangers that lurk around us. The only catch is that they must work, and will if we have batteries and can turn them on. A flashlight with no … Continue reading →
Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink’, you would asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” ~John 4:10 NKJV What a day to have a yard sale. It was a blazing-hot day in July. At least the shade of the huge trees in our front yard provided a cooler location. Our neighbors were away for the weekend, but I … Continue reading →
And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. ~1 Peter 3:15 NLT Paying tribute is a privilege. I remember the day and the place. July 20, 1969. I was nine years old. Well, almost. In the middle of a hot Southern summer, I sat in our den, cooled, I’m sure, by a window air-conditioning unit, awaiting a historic moment in American history. The black-and-white 19-inch television sat on a shaky stand, not … Continue reading →
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ~Matthew 4:19 ESV A nearby road remains relatively easy to travel for 364 days out of the year. However, on the opening day of trout season, it becomes lined with vehicles along the nearby, swift-moving stream. This stretch of highway impedes non-fishing drivers like me, causing us to slow down. Anglers brave the cold weather and even colder water with rods, hip waders, and tackle … Continue reading →
One of my fondest memories while living at Bangor, Maine, was the night sky. I can still vividly recall the thousands of stars twinkling in the darkness and in contrast, the brightness of the moon…
Continue reading →I have eyes to see the wonders around me. So, I often play a game with my grandchildren to get them to notice the world God orchestrated. It begins with “Ridley, Ridley, Ree, I see something you don’t see.” One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. … Continue reading →
