Trial… That’s a word most of us would like to avoid. Trials aren’t fun, yet look what James advises: count it all joy. If you stopped there, you’d think James needed to have his head examined. But when you read on, you understand. When we face trials, we have an…
If we had to follow a list of rules to be acceptable before God, none of us would be found pleasing. We simply cannot do enough, be enough, or perform well enough to save our souls. So God pushed aside the dos and don’ts and made a way for us…
HYMN DAY! I chose an old one that fits well with all the blossoms popping up as Spring unfolds: “New Life!” by John Peterson. (I’ll be humming this chorus all day.) Verse 1 Gone is the guilt of my sin, Peace is now reigning within; Since I believed, pardon received,…
Two weeks ago, we celebrated Easter, the day Christ emerged from the tomb in victory over death. Sin was conquered! And because Jesus gave Himself as the sacrifice for sin’s curse, each of us can emerge triumphant over death, too. We can step into life eternal, pardoned and redeemed, as…
Well, here we are at the end of our months-long foray through Psalm 119. Hasn’t it been a delightful, insightful journey? I’m glad we made it! Because I am directionally challenged. Even using a GPS, I still find myself in places I didn’t intend to go. That’s when I call…
Years (um, decades lol) ago, when I worked as a secretary/receptionist at a college, I had a stack of posters I rotated on the bulletin board. One of them showed a pair of elephants with their trunks entangled, along with this piece of advice: “If all else fails, read the…
HYMN DAY! I love this one: “More About Jesus” by Eliza E. Hewitt. More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me. Refrain: More, more about Jesus, More, more about Jesus; More…
In my former life (haha!), I taught fifth grade. Great age, fifth graders—such a strong sense of right and wrong and able to think outside the box. I really enjoyed my time with them. But I noticed something when we had a test scheduled. Some kids came through the door…
There’s this thing about rules: they’re only as good as the people who follow them. In America it’s against the law to murder, to steal, to drive faster than the posted speed limit, etc. But every day, each of those laws (and many others) are broken countless times. If only…
I love reading the lyrical language of the King James Version, but I have a whole shelf of Bibles in various translations because sometimes I need a little further clarification for a verse’s meaning. The Message translates this scripture in this way: “I follow your directions, abide by your counsel;…
