Author: Dianne Barker

  • Isn’t It Time to Let Down Your Nets?

    The last thing a weary fisherman wants to hear is “let down your nets.” The Lord told Simon Peter after a disappointing fishing trip, “…Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (see Luke 5:1-11). A crowd had gathered around Jesus by the Lake of Gennesaret to hear his teaching.…

  • How to Survive a Stay in the Wilderness

    Wilderness…have you spent time there? Years ago my husband and I took an unforgettable vacation, driving from Tennessee to California and visiting popular tourist sites along the way. We crossed desert areas—miles of brown loneliness. Fighting anxiety over what might happen if our car broke down in the unbearable heat, I felt huge relief and…

  • God’s Truth Is Our Source of Joy

    How is your joy supply? Are you struggling to keep it flowing? Is it seeping away faster than you can replenish? During this strange time in history, many are feeling beaten down by circumstances we can’t control. We feel as if a tornado has touched down, leaving chaos and destruction. Nothing is normal. And we…

  • What Does a Helpless Baby Have to Offer?

    Who would’ve thought a helpless baby hidden in a basket along the edge of the Nile River would someday lead God’s people out of bondage in Egypt? Before I interview Moses, here’s the backstory. “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly,…

  • Joseph Prospered in the Worst of Circumstances

    My interview with Joseph surpassed my high expectations. What an amazing man! Joseph, your life took an unexpected turn when you were just seventeen. Would you tell me about it? I was just a kid—eleventh and favorite son of Jacob, being the son of his old age and born to his cherished wife, Rachel. (She…

  • If God Delays, Likely He Has More Work to Do

    Next on my interview list is Abram. You probably know him better as Abraham. I have many questions for this man who was called a friend of God. Let’s get this conversation started. Q: Tell me your story. How did your complicated journey begin? My family had settled in Haran—my father, my wife Sarai, and…

  • Noah Kept Nailing One Board at a Time

    Ya gotta love that guy Noah. Some days on this earth are just plain hard. We seek the Lord and do our best to follow him wholeheartedly—but that doesn’t insulate us from set-backs and discouragement. Many days are exhausting. At times we wonder…is it worth it to keep pouring out my life? As a journalist,…

  • Inspiration from a Rabbit’s Burrow

    I never expected to receive inspiration from a rabbit’s burrow. What’s the sweetest scene you’ve witnessed in the animal world? Growing up on a small farm, I saw kittens, puppies, and calves soon after they were born. Over the years, our family has loved assorted pets. These days, our temperamental cat elicits smiles and coos…

  • Are You Feeling the Pain of the Pandemic?

    Are you feeling the “pain of the pandemic?” I hadn’t thought of being confined to home as painful, but a news commentator used that word. Home is my favorite place. I’d rather be there than anywhere else. Since my two children and two grandchildren live out of state, I don’t see them often. We’re staying…