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Because Christ Lives, We Have Hope!
Have you ever run low on hope? Maybe you’ve felt totally hopeless. I’ve had moments when I came close. But the Lord never lets me stay long in that place. Always he refreshes me. I found this precious promise: “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31:25 NIV). Only the Lord can…
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Encouragement for the Chaos
On Saturday the purple martins returned. We’d been watching for them. I guess they didn’t hear about the virus—or weren’t worried about it. Only one couple has taken up residence. Seeing them perched on the pole and exploring the gourd houses brings great delight. They remind me to follow their example, relying on our heavenly…
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Turn Failure into Something Delicious!
It was a colossal baking failure. “How did your muffins turn out?” hubby said. “Terrible!” “Then throw them out.” “Oh, no,” I said. “I can eat them.” Immediately I began thinking of ways to make them better. I’d made those muffins several times using raisins and dried apricots. But the raisins are high-calorie. Why not…
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Fear: Could This Be Our Dress Rehearsal?
Fear has overtaken us. And it’s legitimate. The threat of corona virus is real. The virus has interrupted our lives. Of course, we’re afraid. Life has changed. For how long? No one knows. For this period, we will avoid large gatherings and self-isolate as much as possible. Who would’ve thought our world would come to…
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Obedience–How Important Is It?
Every parent knows the challenge of teaching obedience. Children must learn to respect our authority and follow our instructions. Obedience is not optional. That’s also expected of life with our heavenly Father. We must respect his authority and follow his instructions. Looking back, we can attribute most mess-ups to failure in those two areas. We…
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After the Storm, then What?
A massive storm passed through early one morning. Pouring rain, boisterous thunder, and spears of lightning illuminating the darkness. Within half an hour it had moved on, leaving my community drenched but otherwise unscathed. We soon heard reports that a neighboring town didn’t fare so well. Residents were mourning more than property loss—injury and death.…
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Sufficient Grace for Today Includes Grace to Wait
There is absolutely no circumstance that can come into my life today for which there will not be sufficient grace. That truth brought assurance when I was in a barren place, crying out to God. What am I going to do? What are you going to do? He had given direction, but his intervention had…
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Goals Interrupted? You’re Being Furnished Richly
Hubby walked in near the end of a Hallmark movie, just when things began going downhill. And you know how iffy those endings can be (smile). “Don’t be worrying,” he said. “It’ll all turn out okay.” And, of course, it did. That’s how Hallmark movies end. In real life, not so much. Don’t you wish…
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Praise and Trust Are Conjoined Twins
Praise the Lord! How often do we say those words? Usually they spill from a heart overflowing with gratitude because God has shown himself strong for us. He’s done something amazing. Something we begged him to do. And he answered with an overwhelming yes! Of course we respond with praise. In other circumstances, not so…
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The Princess and the Pea…a Life Illustration
“The Princess and the Pea” is one of my favorite children’s stories. Do you remember the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale? A prince wants to marry a princess—but she must be a real princess. After traveling the world without finding a real princess, he returns to his palace home. One stormy night a stranger knocks…