Love Was Born in a Bethlehem Stable
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”—Isaiah 9:6 (ESV). When a baby is born, we celebrate. Parents count toes and fingers. Are they all there? I wonder if Mary was concerned about that. Keeping her Son warm and protected from the dirty straw was probably at the top of her list. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. Luke 2:7 says, “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him …
Do Healing Miracles Still Happen Today?
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”—Matthew 19:26 (NIV). Watching my four-year-old dog trying to move his back legs so he could stand, I was heartbroken. He couldn’t even wag his tail. I was beside myself, fearing he’d end up having to be euthanized. I didn’t think I could handle losing another dog after losing my 15-year-old Chiweenie to cancer in 2015. I made a veterinarian appointment for Harley. As the vet examined him, she didn’t offer much hope. Since Harley is part dachshund (just like my other Chiweenie), he has inherited the breed’s tendency …
Distracted by Dust and Other Mundane Things
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, …
Where are Your Steps Leading?
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps”—Proverbs 16:9 (NLT). Using a step counter to monitor the miles I walk each week helps me to stay on track with my plans to stay healthy. To log 25 miles a week, I must walk 50,000 steps from Monday morning to the following Sunday evening. I never realized how many steps I logged each day doing the following: cleaning the house, taking a break from writing to add a load of laundry to the washer and then the dryer, or walking out to get my mail. Numerous other household …
Give Thanks to the Lord for Spilled Milk
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds”—Psalm 9:1 (NIV). Did you know giving thanks is not a spontaneous emotion? It’s a habit we need to develop, according to an article by Pastor Rick McDaniel. After reading the article, I contemplated the above statement and I had to agree with him. I’d never considered that giving thanks wasn’t an automatic response. Think about a recent reaction you might have had, let’s say, to spilled milk. I used to get upset when one of my children—when they were younger—turned a …
Listening for God’s Voice
The Lord called Samuel a third time; he got up, went to Eli, and said, “You called me, and here I am.” Then Eli realized that it was the Lord who was calling the boy, so he said to him, “Go back to bed; and if he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. The Lord came and stood there, and called as he had before, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak; your servant is listening”—1 Samuel 3:8-10(GNT). Making a point in a recent sermon, our pastor said, “Our listening to God’s …
Don’t Let Your Hearts be Troubled
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me”—John 14:1 (NLT). Waking up to an overcast sky recently, I smiled in spite of the gloomy weather. When I thank God for a cloudy day, I always say, “God, while the sun is not shining, your Son always shines upon us. Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Redeemer, the lover of my soul.” Fluffing up my pillow for a few more minutes in my warm bed, I recalled a recent conversation with one of my best friends. Her heart was troubled by …
Finding Pleasure in the Simple Things
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore—Psalm 16:11 (ESV). “If the simple things in life don’t put a smile on your face, then you will never be truly happy.” When I came across this anonymous quote, I realized just how true it is. Sitting down at my desk, I can glance outside the windows in my home office. One faces south; the other faces west. I have a view of my front and side yard where I can enjoy the different birds visiting …
Every Day is Better with Jesus
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today”—Matthew 6:34(NRSV). Ugh! What a mess. Was this an indication of what the rest of my day would entail? A tiny pinhole in a quart of milk had leaked overnight, leaving a small lake of white in the top door shelf of my refrigerator. After relocating the rest of the shelf’s contents, I placed the milk jug on my kitchen cabinet and then carefully removed the plastic bin holding its milky residue and dumped it in the sink. Of course, I …