This week my backyard set the scene for a contest of character. In one corner the black and gray squirrels raced across the lawn and up the trees, busily scrounging and securing their sustenance. In the other corner were a variety of birds, not racing, scrounging, or securing. No, they […]
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“Would you like a direct phone line to God?” Chances are, your answer to this question would be, “Absolutely!” As Christians, we sometimes forget we’ve already been connected to that line! It’s called prayer. And it has no monthly fees, surcharges, taxes, or equipment to purchase. In all seriousness, praying […]
When I was starting out as a counselor, I was struck by how frequently poor communication was at the root of many clients’ problems. Not only did time not heal old wounds, but it appeared to deepen the scar tissue. That tissue then limited mobility and was a constant reminder […]
I will not take for the Lord what is yours,nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing. 1 Chronicles 21:24b There’s nothing like a loss of income to make a person sit up and pay attention to their finances. Early in my marriage, I had a basic understanding of how […]
“God, will you please let me rock the babies?” I silently lifted up the prayer as I stood in the inner-city ministry. I was among a handful of adult leaders guiding a week-long middle school mission trip, and this ministry was just one of the many places our group had […]
I had a small problem when the time came for me to write this blog post: the computer wasn’t available. My wife needed it for her job, which left me with a dilemma: Do I wait until she’s done or begin writing with a pencil and paper? Pencil and paper?! […]
The room fell silent. Jesus knelt with the wash basin, and for the first time I noticed the towel wrapped around His waist. He was dressed like a servant. My eyes darted back to the door and I realized that no one had greeted us to wash our feet. We […]
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.John 15:3 In her book Being Brave, my friend Kelly Johnson recounts a trip she and her husband took to Napa Valley, […]
A holy God has a right to determine the basis of His [plan of] salvation.~Pastor Tim Armstrong I am not a good traveler. Exploring beautiful locations, eating regional foods, and hunting for unique gifts is wonderful, but getting to my destination feels distressing! Car, bus, plane—it does not make any […]
ONE WAY The sign blared at us as we turned down the dark, unfamiliar road. My chest heaved, my heart raced as I braced myself for the oncoming traffic. My husband and I were driving late at night in the seaport capital of a foreign country, and we suddenly found […]
As I listen to Christian radio, I am struck by the daily struggles believers experience around the world. Proclaiming Christ in some of these locations can result in torture, imprisonment, or death. Their sacrifices for Jesus have gone farther than I could imagine for my own life. While they suffer […]
As she walked through the market, the smell of perfume lifted in the breeze and reminded her of Him. She smiled to herself and thought of the day she met Jesus. It felt like a lifetime had passed since that dinner at Simon’s house. She shuddered at the memory of […]