Have you ever been happy with yourself, totally satisfied? I felt that way a few weeks ago when I re-wrote the first chapter of the novel I had just completed. The story, engaging and the characters, sassy and insightful. The end product was, well, a masterpiece...
Sarah was a cheerful, pleasant, person, who worked hard to communicate in a culture that was quite foreign to her. She read books to learn the language, watched TV to study the vernacular. She hired out to families, taking care of babies as a newborn-nurse. This young...
We're all familiar with the story of Joseph, how his brothers kidnapped him and sold him into slavery. We've all tried to imagine the horror that Joseph must have gone through. But have we ever stopped to try and put ourselves in the shoes of Joseph's father? Joseph...
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10) It's no doubt true that most people are facing a giant of some sort each day. You may have...
I have the world's sweetest little great niece and nephews. At ages 8, 6, and 3, they have already learned so much about compassion. Throughout my recent battle with breast cancer, these little ones have been there, every step of the way, praying for me, and making me...
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV) "Every year his parents went to...
In Part Two of our series we dug a bit deeper in the matter of how and where to pray. Today we will learn at the Master's knee about God's abundant provision and that we needn't beg God for our daily needs. "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are...
In Part Seven of our series on The Lord's Prayer we learned what the Lord expects from us to further His Kingdom. Today we will learn more about finding God's will for our lives. "your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." (Matthew 6:10b NIV) We pray to the Lord...
I had to get a new pair of eyeglasses recently. Stigmatism had started to mix with my nearsightedness making things a little bit blurry with my old prescription. Also I had to finally give in to another sign of my aging body and get my first pair of bifocals. It has...
"...rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer..." (Romans 12:12) The year was 1981, and it was my first trip to Europe. I had taken the ferry from England to Belgium, and I was on my way via train to Munich, Germany. I spoke only one...