What Is It To You?
“Jesus said to him, ‘If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!’” John 21:22 The Comparison Game. It’s not a game that we have to be taught. We instinctively know how…
Careless Love
“Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.” Joshua 23:11 ESV Careless Love. It sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? How can you truly love someone or something and not show genuine care? Judges 13-16, tells the story of Samson,…
A Love Letter
Dear One, Before the foundations of the world were laid, Before the glittering stars and galaxies were hung in their special places, And the planets were set a spinning, Before all creation celebrated and reflected the glory of its Creator, There is…
Truth on Trial
Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling! Psalm 43:3 ESV Truth on trial. Every day. Day in, day out. Truth has been on the docket since…
Open Hands
“Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven….” Lamentations 3:41 ESV As babies, our sons’ soft little hands were always in motion. Busy baby fingers constantly poked, prodded, grabbed, and clutched as they curiously explored their world. I…
Suffocated
"Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will… put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD." Ezekiel 37:5-6…
Soul Thirst
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters….” Isaiah 55:1a The scorching heat of Texas summer days often forced my sister and me out to the yard to find relief in a water hose or sprinkler. That was before the above-ground pool…
God Knows
“But You, O LORD, know me; You see me, and test my heart toward You.” Jeremiah 12:3 While growing up, I was frequently reminded that God sees and knows everything. There is no place to run. There is no place to hide…
Finish the Work
“I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do.” John 17:4 NIV New Year’s Resolutions. After years of not following through on beginning-of-the-year resolutions, I long ago resolved to discontinue the practice. Finally, a resolution…
Gift-Givers
Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV The unwrapped gifts sit stacked in the corner. Each one is labeled, waiting to…
Let There Be Light!
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2 ESV We lay on the floor, flat on our backs, heads tucked under the lower…
Making A List…Checking It Twice
Many of us carry fond memories of laboring over letters to Santa Claus. We wanted to be as honest as possible in touting our gift-worthy virtues and actions without grossly overstating the truth. But we didn’t want to be so honest that…
The Big Picture
“Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!” 1 Corinthians 13:9 NLT My earliest memory of puzzling with Momma was sitting at a puzzle pieces-covered card table in the den,…
Thank You
And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:13 ESV Many of the finer points of social etiquette were not included in my upbringing. My mom left the farm behind when she entered adulthood; my dad…
Fingerprints
“When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” Psalm…