Blog Posts
Hugging My Heavenly Father
Grace, Lessons from Children
|“And I bowed low and worshiped the Lord….” (Genesis 24:48, New American Standard Bible) A dear friend of mine is a “child magnet.” Children, even those Dianne* has never met, gravitate to her. When she interviewed for a position as a reading specialist, the school principal showed her around the campus. Stopping in one of…
Remembering He is Present
God's Faithfulness, Prayer
|“And remember, I am with you always….” (Matthew 28:20, Christian Standard Bible) I’m reading a book that shares what life was like when Jesus walked among us. His followers lived so differently from the way most of us live today. We rise, we pray, perhaps read a little Scripture and go about our day. Not…
The Sacrifice
Grace
|“‘…My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me….’” (Matthew 27:46, Amplified Bible) It’s almost Palm Sunday. That means Good Friday isn’t far behind. We think of the great sacrifice Jesus made for us, as we should. But there was another sacrifice, one we often miss: the Father’s sacrifice. As a mother I cannot begin…
Big Hairy Scary Giants
Faith
|“‘Do not fear, only believe.’” (Mark 5:36, English Standard Version) Another restless night. Forgive me, Lord. After several days – maybe even a couple weeks – focusing on You, resting in Your peace (mostly), I fell off the wagon – again. Frustrated by another’s reluctance to set aside pride, I reverted to imagining the worst…
In Quietness and Trust
Prayer
|“‘…in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’” (Isaiah 30:15 ESV) Sometimes I feel absent from Your presence. It’s not the absence of Your presence; You are always with me. Somehow I’m “unplugged” from You. On the best days, I rest in Your gentleness, floating in the sea of Your “peace that surpasses understanding.”…
God is Faithful
God's Faithfulness, Lessons from Nature
|“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9) The dog* had waited ten years for the return of his master, hour after hour, day after day, week after week, year after year. Part of me believes such selfless, patient, loving devotion is impossible… but…
Shamed by a Dog
Lessons from Nature
|“‘… only believe.’” (Mark 5:36, New American Standard Bible) I read a story about a dog* who would follow his master to the train station each morning and wait at the station for his return. Sadly, one day the man died at work. The dog sat waiting at the station for his master’s return ……
Olympic Gold
Faith, Lessons from Children
|“…walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him….” (Colossians 1:10, Christian Standard Bible) His daughter, Chloe Kim, had just won the Olympic* Gold Medal for Snowboarding’s Halfpipe. The Olympic Gold Medal … at only17! A photographer snapped a picture of Jong-Jin Kim side hugging the bronze medalist’s father, a look of pure joy reflected…
Bold Obedience
Faith
|“…the sons of Israel started out boldly, in the sight of all the Egyptians.” NASB The “Big Game” was over; the underdogs won. By anyone’s standards, it was a good game. The underdogs (who had never won a “Big Game”) met the five-time winner and was ahead more than three-quarters of the game. While the…
Idols
Faith
|“‘You shall not make for yourself an idol… You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God….’” Deuteronomy 5: 8a &9a&b. (NASB) Idols. We think they’re easy to spot. In this country, we typically don’t carve them from wood or mold them from metal. We (think)…