“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). NIV My boxwood scrubs were neatly trimmed. The ugly weeds that had sprouted from the soil underneath them gone, the crawling ivy threatening to choke them ripped away. A fresh layer of pine straw ... read more
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Surprise—The Heart of the Christmas Story
Image by mskathrynne from Pixabay "...She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." (Luke 2:7) Surprise is divine; it’s the heart of the Christmas story. after all. For what could be more astonishing than our Savior coming to us simply and quietly in ... read more
The Ripple Effect of Words
Last week, I attended the funeral for a woman I hadn’t seen in thirty years. She was the mother of one of my best friends in high school, who I’d also lost touch with. But I still carried both of them in my heart because of the impact they’d had on my faith journey. Not surprisingly, the service revealed the lovely ... read more
Too Busy Not to Pray
“I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” ~Martin Luther I’ve been in one of those hectic seasons of life. Overwhelmed with the busyness of moving and being without stable lodgings for six weeks, I grew weary. My life became a disorganized mess. As I focused on my to-do lists ... read more
Satan and Scammers Have Much in Common
The voice mail on my phone was robotic: You and your Social Security number have been suspected of fraudulent activities, so once you get this message kindly call us back as soon as possible on our number before we begin with the legal proceedings against you. That is XXX-XXX-XXXX. I repeat XXX-XXX-XXXX. Thank you. I ... read more
Not Now, But Soon
My every footstep sank into a mound of sand, making my early morning beach stroll feel more like a mountain climb. The sun was already hot enough to bake cookies. By the time I reached the boardwalk that led back to the air-conditioned condo, I was panting with exertion. I looked forward to a tall glass of icy water. As ... read more
Military Mom: Learning to Trust God
“I don’t know how you do it,” folks often said with a shake of their head. They were referring to my son’s deployment to Fallujah with the USMC during the height of the Iraq War. The days were easier because I was busy teaching school. I talked and laughed with friends and students, and life felt normal. But the nights ... read more
People Do Not Cross Our Paths By Accident
“Excuse me, ma’am? I wonder if you could help me,” she said softly. On my way to the checkout line with a few grocery items, I stopped and turned to the young woman, expecting a request for help in locating an elusive item needed for a new dish she was making for dinner. “I need formula for my baby,” she said. A ... read more
Guest Post: LITTLE RED (by Ellen Rose Beason)
“Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone” (Ps. 71:9). Meet “Little Red.” She’s not really red anymore. She’s more of a brownish, rusty color. She came to live on our farm in the 70s. My dad bought her from a logging operation, and she had been used and abused. He thought she’d ... read more
Holy is His Name
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him unpunished who takes his name in vain,” (Exodus 20:7 (ESV)). God’s third commandment tells us not to take God’s name in vain. Most of us understand this means not using the Lord’s name as a swear word. But it’s more than that. ... read more
