Don’t Panic!
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. ...Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let…
The Gift
"Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV A long-time Christmas favorite in our home is the 1963 Christmas episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show titled "The Alan Brady Show Presents." Alan Brady's multi-talented writing staff, led…
Let Us Adore Him
"Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:2 O Come, All Ye Faithful "O come, all ye faithful,joyful and triumphant,O come ye, O…
Impatient
"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." Proverbs 16:32 NIV We are a world that lacks patience. Our many time-saving devices have spoiled us. We've created shortcuts for almost everything, and we become…
Surrender
"Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 I'm old enough to remember with great affection singing from hymnals at church. That was back in the day when the musical accompaniment was…
The Tree & The Ivy
"Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You...delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into…
Surrounded
“...steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.” Psalm 32:10 ESV I’ve always loved this scene in the movies. The bad guy seems to have the upper hand. He stands sneering with his finger on the trigger of the weapon…
Ask For A Mountain
"Now therefore, give me this mountain.... It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said." Joshua 14:12 We returned late yesterday from our almost two-week vacation in Oregon. I spent time…
Changing Winds
"Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His…
Treadmill Christians
Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Philippians 2:16 ESV We begin slowly, taking one step at a time. Then,…
Tick Tock
To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:25 ESV I remember sitting in grade school, junior high (middle school wasn't a thing then),…
Potent Prayer
The rocker creaked gently as my grandma moved back and forth. Her early morning chores were completed. Each family member had eaten the breakfast she had prepared according to their preferences and time schedules. Everyone had headed off to work or school;…
Choices
"Choose this day whom you will serve...." Joshua 24:15 ESV Choices, choices, choices. Numerous studies and online resources cite 35,000 as the average number of choices we make daily. Experts estimate we make over 200 food-related choices daily—do I eat it or…
Overwhelmed
The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made. Psalm 145:9 ESV When you say "overwhelmed" or hear someone else use the word, what associations immediately come to mind? Perhaps you picture yourself buried under…
Deepwater
Water closed over my head; I said, "I am lost." Lamentations 3:54 ESV Momma decided we needed to learn to swim the summer before I turned twelve. Living in the landlocked Dallas area, with summer temperatures hovering around 100 degrees and a…