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…
Gifts For The King
"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 ESV What a sight it must have been in the humble Bethlehem neighborhood when a…
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…
Ledge Walker
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV “You go first.” “No, you go first.” “Hey, you’re the oldest. You go first!” With that, the oldest cousin carefully rounded the old banister…
What do you know?
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land.... My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge…. Hosea 4:1, 6 In case you missed it, here’s a news flash. We live…
Rooted
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted, and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 ESV Russ steadily paddled the kayak down the lazy…
BIG
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:5 Have you ever said, “I serve a big God”? I know that I have. But think about that...BIG. What is big? Bigger than a bread box? Bigger…
Open Wounds
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy…. Psalm 103:2-4 Last week I…
Scarred
"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24 ESV Back in the olden days, my momma and most other…