Dried-Out

We were walking the trails at Vermilion River Reservation Metro Park in Vermilion, Ohio. Our path led us past a good-sized pond surrounded by an abundance of flourishing trees, bushes, plants, and tall grasses. A singular tree caught my eye. The tree's…

Don’t Waste It!

"Working together with Him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain." 2 Corinthians 6:1 ESV "Disgusting! This looks nasty!" I sat staring at the brown leather-looking meat, partly hidden by brown gravy. I didn't dare…

Awesome!

"The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! He is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy is He!" Psalm 99:1-3 ESV Awesome! Hey, you did…

Easy to Please

"Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10 ESV The crowd cheered loudly as ten tiny racers were positioned at the starting line.…

Blossoming

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. ...They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.” Isaiah…

Stolen

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 ESV It was a steamy, hot Fourth of July. We celebrated the holiday in a cool, dark theater, watching…

Enough Already!

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 ESV We, humankind, have a legacy of self-dependence, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and self-assurance. Early in our history, God erased humankind, except for Noah and his small family, because man's pervasive self-centered…

Shaken and Stirred

“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder " 2 Peter 1:13 ESV Do you remember being awakened by your mom or dad when you were a child? The bed…

So Beautiful

"Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready." Revelation 19:7 ESV We were tired and ready to check in as we drove into the hotel's…

Sometimes It’s No

“Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 ESV Children are persistent whenever they want something or…

Great Expectations

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 ESV We are born dreamers. We are always expecting…

Conversations

How frustrating to be party to a one-sided conversation. A conversation that, no matter what you started to say, was hijacked by the other person.   You walk away or disconnect from such a conversation, realizing you never had the opportunity to…

Distractions

"Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God." 1 Chronicles 22:19 ESV Our lives are filled with engaging, targeted, and almost irresistible distractions. We live at the mercy of our technology devices, which know us in frighteningly intimate…

Finding Home

The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 NIV We moved to Garland, Texas, in the middle of my third-grade year. I lived in that same house on Sweetbriar until I…

Cloudy Days

"Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! –He makes the clouds his chariot; He rides on the wings of the wind; He makes His messengers wind, His ministers a flaming fire." Psalm 104:1, 3-4 ESV…