"If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." (Luke 11:13) Once a week the rattley old yellow bus would wind its way up the mountainside to the few cabins and cottages...
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) It was a wonderful snowy day. You could hear that wind whistling, and the lone, spindly tree just oustside the...
After Christmas, a few years ago, I received an email from a family friend, a young mom who was commenting on her toddler’s take on Christmas. “I think my son will really look forward to Christmas next year - now that he gets it - on the kid level anyway. He knows it...
"In the morning, oh Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (Psalm 5:3) Some people seem to be born “morning people”, and others not. I’m in the “not” group. So even though I kept meaning to walk over and take a...
“For I am the LORD, I change not.” (Malachi 3:6) A few years back when my grandaughter was visiting, we talked about maybe going swimming. Yes! She was so excited. She couldn’t wait! The next summer when she was here, we asked if she’d like to go swimming and it was,...
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." (Psalm 95:7-8, Hebrews 4:7) The snow had been piling up by the sidewalks in town for months. Huge mounds of it as tall as a small child. Topside, it was sooty from the traffic. On the edge, it looked clean...
"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (Psalm 139:16) The rosy sunset began seeping across the sky. I quickly grabbed the camera, excited for an opportunity to capture...
"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20) "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (1 Peter 5:7) The Christmas and holiday decorations packed up and closeted away for another...
The pelican duo paddled in place, bobbing in the canal. They were waiting in anticipation, expecting that scraps would be soon be swept from the fish cleaning board into the water. It was just a matter of time. There's a waiting room in our local hospital where people...
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 It was irresistible. Too warm and sunny, too lovely an afternoon to not take a few minutes to sit outside on the back porch...