Thoughts

Standing on the shore of an Oklahoma lake, I observed the trenches and eroded surfaces of the rock. These rocks were slowly – over years of time – broken, shaped, and polished by moving water. Rain, passing seasons of freezing and thawing, and the rising and falling of the level of the lake accomplished this […]

What do we long for? Stability? Security? A settling in our hearts? A sense of perspective that transcends the demands of the day? Psalm 16:8 gives the key to these heartfelt desires. Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me: because He is my right hand, I shall not be moved. This verse […]

26…27…28…29…beep, beep, beep. That’s my morning cup of coffee coming out of the microwave – for the 4th time! I make it first thing when I get up to enjoy during my quiet time. I usually finish about half of the cup before the tasks of the day begin. I need to put that load […]

Today, I choose joy! I will smile at the sunrise and watch the soaring hawk with gladness. I will laugh at the ice cubes that spill from my hand when I am trying to fill my glass. I will hug the sticky toddler without reservation. I will stop and pet the dog. I will thank […]

Before I awoke this morning, a jet flew over my house. I know this because the early morning rays of sunlight spotlighted the remnant of the vapor trail it left. I missed the noise of its going. I did not see it moving across the dawning sky. I saw the aftermath of its journey – […]

Psalm 102 I have burdens on my heart – we all do – so the first verse of Psalm 102 caught my attention this morning. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto You. I am thankful for the God Who hears – the God Who listens. As I continued to read […]

Psalm 116 We make Christianity – knowing and loving God – so difficult! Early in my Christian walk, I was plagued by doubt and fear. These feelings overwhelmed me and paralyzed my joy and my service. During that time, I remember reading Psalm 116 (check it out) over and over again, but I focused on […]

When the God of the Universe moves into a heart, He cleans up the neighborhood. I do not work to earn God’s favor or salvation but knowing Christ as Savior changes me. He makes me a new creation, and, as a new creation, I am under new Management. Life is different. My mom used to […]

Psalm 114 God performed supernatural miracles to get Israel out of Egypt. He parted the sea. He sent a cloud and a pillar of fire to show them the way. He moved several million people across a desert – seamlessly – without tanks or trucks or government assistance. He fed them and clothed them. When […]

When the Holy Spirit is at work in my heart, He makes things happen. The Bible calls this bearing fruit. Fruit is visible, and it is pleasant. What can I expect to seeing growing in me when God is having His way in my heart? Love, even in the face of hate Joy, even in […]

How easy it is to believe that what I see, and what I feel, and what I want, and what I think are my most important parameters for living. In reality, Who God is and what He thinks are the foundational principles of life. When I forget this, I set myself up to worship the […]

A dud. That is what I thought as I watched the empty pot day after day, I had planted a bulb, but nothing seemed to be happening. When a stem finally appeared, that is all it was – a stem. The plant grew so tall that I had to put it in a bigger pot […]

Peter failed. When faced with the opportunity to stand with his Lord, he bailed, denying the One Who had called Him, the One to Whom he had declared his undying allegiance (John 18:25 – 27). After the crucifixion, though, Peter could still be found with the disciples. He showed up at the tomb. He was […]

Sometimes I hear people quote me, but the words they say don’t match what I said. Due to misunderstanding or to foster false impressions, words are taken out of context and incorrect directives are repeated. When this happens, I jokingly say that my name has been taken in vain. Names are important. They represent who […]

The hymn, This is My Father’s World, has been on my heart for several days. I remember singing this song in elementary school, and it has remained a favorite through the years. Each morning as I walk, I hear the songs of the redbirds, and I see the intricate beauty of the flowers and grasses […]

The United States flag, reflecting the growth and challenges of this nation, has gone through many changes during its history https://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagfact.html. From 1776 until today, it has flown to represent a country that honors liberty. Freedom is never free – it always rides on the back of sacrifice and hard work. The United States flag […]

Matthew 16:15 But whom say ye that I am? The disciples were surrounded by people crying out for help from Jesus and by those who wished Jesus would just go away. Speculations were flying about this Man. After one encounter with some religious leaders, Jesus asked His disciples what others were saying about Him (as […]

We talk about Jesus being our friend. He is. We say He is our brother (Proverbs 18:24). He is. We speak of His humble birth, His quiet life, and His humiliating death. All of this is true and important. We call Him Father (Psalm 103:13). He is. We focus on His grace, His love, His […]

This past Sunday, we were back in church. The logistics were a little different, but we were there! As I sat in the pew, masked and socially distanced, I thrilled as voices raised – through masks – to praise the Lord our God. My heart overflowed with gratitude for the security, the foundation, the grace, […]