When I look at my students, I see endless possibility. On my classroom wall, I’ve posted a verse: “All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23). My students memorize Luke 1:27: “For nothing is impossible with God.” But I wonder if I’ve stopped believing for myself. Do I no longer see any possibility […]
“And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.” (Neh. 3:5 ESV) As soon as we entered the building, we knew something wasn’t right. I was teaching kindergarten in a trailer-like building behind the church sanctuary and elementary school. When we arrived at school one morning, we found our […]
2022 came in with a bang. After the warm glow of Christmas festivities, the cold reality of Covid smacked us in the face. Suddenly, New Year’s Eve parties became risky. Then our church services were once again only online (temporarily, but still….) Covid-19 has taught us one important lesson: take nothing for granted. Airplane flights, […]
Announcing….some good news for a change! Today I stumbled across this awesome announcement in I Peter 1:6-12. God has prepared “gracious salvation” for us. When I read this passage from the New Living Translation, the words seemed to jump out at me. Like the first century Christians, some of us are enduring hard times. But—good […]
“We become what we behold.” William Blake “We are being transformed into His likeness by looking intently on who He is.” Ruth Chou Simons in Beholding and Becoming. In the middle of a tough season, when many are having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, one of my friends has been radiant with newfound joy. […]
“As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”(Luke 3:15-16 ESV) Risking Disappointment As a kid, I […]
“I wonder as I wander…” A traditional Appalachian ballad begins with those words. So simple, yet so poignant. “I wonder as I wander out under the sky…” Likewise, I’m inclined to wonder. Why did Jesus the Savior come to die for poor, ordinary (or ornery) people? Did you ever stop and really consider the wonder […]
When you feel troubled, God is…the Quieter of our Souls The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV) When I was the mother of a newborn, I was always on […]
Perched on my kitchen barstool, eyes fixed on my laptop screen, I opened a Word document and prepared to write. But social media beckoned, Come see what your friends are doing. Advertisements enticed, Come see what’s on sale. Click bait urged, Stop and read this article. An hour later, my Word doc was still blank. Then, like Eve […]
In a world full of conflict, Jesus is the Prince of Peace. (I’ve been studying the attributes of God—one for each letter of the alphabet—and discovering how knowing God’s character makes a difference in my life. This week I’m on P.) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;and the government shall […]