Bible Reading

Last night, my husband and I watched a video of a large boat maneuvering through icy waters. Small and large icebergs surrounded the vessel as it moved slowly, but steadily, forward. All I could think of was the Titanic. This boat, though, cruised safely through the dangerous waters and emerged safely on the other side. […]

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” –The Lord of the […]

I love to receive notes! “Just thinking of you” notes. “How are you doing” notes. Handwritten and stamped, they delight me. Emails and texts are good, but there is something special about finding a surprise card in the mailbox. God sent me a ‘thinking of you’ note in Psalm 40. Twice in this chapter, He […]

The hawk watched as I completed my morning walk. He was silent, but I noticed him when he flew from the ground to the limb. I stopped in wonder as we observed each other – my morning blessing and reminder that God is near. So often, I am lost in thought and oblivious to things […]

The substance of joy does not rest in this world. Joy lives in the hope born of the resurrection. It inhabits the incorruptible inheritance prepared for and kept for me. It is sustained by the power of God. Trial and temptation may come against me, and circumstances may flip me like a burger on a […]

Acts 1 We like to know what is going to happen. We want to know what tomorrow, or next week, or next month will bring. We want the blueprints drawn up, laid out, and specific. “Inquiring minds want to know.” Jesus’ disciples in the first chapter of Acts were no different. Jesus had been seen […]

Psalm 68 David was a warrior with a poet’s heart. He knew the majesty of God, and his greatest moments were spent declaring His praise. He had no patience for those who would defy the most high God, and his cry echoed his desire for God to be exalted. “Let God arise, let His enemies […]

Psalm 35 Deceit isn’t new. Mocking and ranting and lies aren’t new. Persecution of those who follow Christ isn’t new. Hypocrisy isn’t new. Adversity isn’t new, and the reality that people exist who make it their business to spread untruth and practice deception isn’t new either. We can read about all of these attitudes and […]

Psalm 25 From shepherd boy to king, David’s life was one of hardship, danger, exaltation, grief, remorse, redemption, joy, and friendship with God. He was crowned and chased and tempted, impoverished and blessed. He was a rags to riches epic tale, and a story of how the mighty can fall. He victoriously faced a giant, […]

We are experiencing upheaval in our way of life as we work through the ramifications of this pandemic. We are at home when we should be working. Students are not leaving the house for school. Buses are delivering meals instead of children. Businesses are closed. For the first time in many of our lives, we […]

I Peter 1:1-6 Peter wrote a message of hope and security to the Christians who were scattered throughout the known world. Read it for yourself, because it is written to us as well. Here is my take on the first six verses: You have been persecuted and scattered throughout the world. You are strangers here. […]

Psalm 28 Crisis brings out the best and worst in us! Have you seen the news lately (silly question)? What about the reports of people who purposely contaminate food and supplies? Then there are the hoarders and price gougers. Behaviors are surfacing that are destructive and deviant. While many people are working diligently to solve […]

What God has said will be accomplished! The world may question and belittle. We may fear that the wicked will overcome. I may struggle to see light in the darkness, but my heart can be settled on the truth that: God will fulfill His Word; Christ will come again. Therefore, life is too short for […]

The first chapter of the book of James gives us a lot of practical teaching. I like to think that it tells me where to focus my attention and my energy. Focus on the outcome when you are immersed in trial – patience yielding maturity. (verses 2 – 4) Focus on the wisdom God gives. […]

My mind is feeling quite cluttered. ‘Tis the season’ – right? Bombarded by input from advertisements and impeachment rantings and weather reports and planning emails and angry people and troubled souls and newsletters and great causes and ‘to do’ lists and ‘should have done’ regrets my thoughts ricochet rather than focus, and spin rather than […]

For years I avoided the task. Well, actually, I would begin on January 1st and then somewhere in Leviticus I would wimp out and skip over to begin in my favorite books of the New Testament again. I justified my actions by thinking, there is no requirement that I read the Bible through. I just […]

When I was a child, mom would send us up to the local grocery to pick up a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread. The store was about two blocks away in city terms, but we didn’t live in the city. When we got to the store, we would pick up the needed […]

Mark 6:31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. We pride ourselves on being busy people. On accomplishing and making things happen. We can’t stop, because life just wouldn’t go on if we […]

Photo by Donald Tong, Pexels The Prodigal Son is a familiar Bible story, and it is often used as an illustration when someone has wandered into an unhealthy or overtly sinful lifestyle. Sometimes we listen comfortably and think, “Wow, he was really a goner!” But we forget that there were two sons in the parable […]

Joshua 18:3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you? God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt. He had preserved them through the wilderness. He had prepared and called them into the Promised Land, and He […]