“I know that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe you sent me.” John 11:42 Have you ever hurt so much you just wanted to lash out, scream, and throw something until you expended your pain and were finally reduced to an…
Category: Obedience
Rejecting the Rat Race
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41 NIV Staring at the calendar, her heart sank. Every line was filled. She began reading. Dentist appointment. Music…
Day For Grace
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 NIV I stumbled into the kitchen, weary from tending to a sick daughter most of the night before. Searching the cupboard I sleepily began the…
Shut In and Remembered
Genesis 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” It was January in Michigan, cold, dark, and stormy. The young foreigner felt the weather matched her disposition: cold, dark, and…
Teasures Revealed
“For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.” Luke 12:34 “What about my girls?” I asked. These were the first words out of my mouth after hearing of my cancer diagnosis. In the throws of a crisis, the first words spoken can reveal a heart. In my case, my family and friends…
Choosing Joy
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3 Glancing out the frosty window, I inwardly groaned. Gray skies, bare trees, and, what-on-earth? Snowflakes! Not already! Not after a cooler than usual summer. Not so close to last…
The Perfect Ten
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23 NIV As I settled myself onto the cold, hard, gray bleachers, I chose to ignore the prevalent smell of perspiration. Once again, I was at the gym. I watched the gymnasts of varying abilities. The…
I Knew I Knew
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10 Stormily, I stared out the window as trees, fields, and flowers flashed by. My husband sat beside me, in screaming silence, occasionally revving the engine as he switched gears. “Speak to him. Reach out your hand,” the words…
Distracting Silence
“Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.” Isaiah 55:3 NIV Closing the door with a bang, her feet flew down the path, fleeing frustration, fear, and soon-to-be folly. As she rounded the bend, the beautiful…
Respectfully Uncompromising
” For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.” II Timothy 1:7, NIV “It’s not fair,” she declared as she climbed into the warm car, beside me. She flicked her hair from her face with the back of her hand, the movement adding weight to her words…