Contentment Can Be Found in God’s Plan
“But godliness with contentment is great gain—1 Timothy 6:6(NIV). Growing up in the lazy, humid days of a Louisiana summer, we found ways to entertain ourselves outside. We didn’t have air conditioning—just attic fans. We didn’t spend our time indoors with our noses glued to a black and white TV screen. From dawn to dusk, we were riding our bicycles up and down the sidewalks. We’d filch some of our mother’s wooden clothespins, and with an incomplete deck of playing cards, we’d attach them to our bike’s spokes to rev up the sound of wheels whirring across the concrete. But …
Reflections on God’s Grace, Hope and Peace
“Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory”—Romans 5:1-2 (CEB). Rarely am I outside at 5:30 a.m. But, the whining of my ailing dog roused me from a deep sleep recently. Normally, I would just let him outside to go do his business. However, he’s recuperating from a back injury, requiring me to assist him onto his favorite chair or to carry him up the …
God Can Do a New Thing in Your Life
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland”—Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV). Stepping outside in the waning daylight, the flickering of fireflies in the evening breeze summoned memories of growing up in southwestern Louisiana. A pleasant recollection, treasured and stored in my memory banks, left me yearning for simpler times and a simpler life. I treasure those times spent with my sister and neighborhood friends. In the summer, we’d grab empty Mason …
Praying for Others is a Privilege
“Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people”—Ephesians 6:18 (CEV). Waiting to checkout at the grocery store recently, I noticed an older woman—probably in her 80s—in line behind me. Leaning on her cart, she was nursing what I assumed was a broken wrist. She looked up to see me watching her. I smiled. She acknowledged mine with one of her own. Lifting up her wrist, she said, “I did something silly for an old woman. I wasn’t paying attention and caught my foot on a loose brick. I stumbled, fell and …
Clean Your House and Renew Your Spirit
I like a clean house. But, as I grow older, it seems to take me longer. What used to take me three to four hours on a Saturday morning, now takes all day—and then some. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.—Psalm 51:10 (TLB) I attribute it to my wandering mind, or should I say forgetfulness. Here’s how it works. I start in one room, usually the master bath, with intentions of working my way from north to south. However, while wiping the bathroom mirrors clean, I remember something I need …
Could it be this still and peaceful the day after the storms?
Could it be this still and peaceful the day after storms wreaked havoc across Oklahoma? The sun was shining and I could hear the birds chirping. I spied a fat Robin sitting in my bird bath, which overflowed with several days of relentless rain. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble”—Psalm 46:1 (NIV). Tornado sirens had blasted their warnings, not once, but twice the previous night. Since I’d experienced a tornado’s destruction three years ago, I take precautions, preparing for the possibility of one tearing across our corner of northeastern Oklahoma again. It’s exhausting. It’s nerve-wracking, …
Could it be this still and peaceful the day after the storms? Read More »
The Lord Will Work Out His Plans for Us
When you discover your purpose in Christ, you’ll also understand God has a wonderful plan for your life—plans for good and not for evil.
Flowers Fade but the Word of God Stands Forever
The grass withers, the flowers fade but the word of our God stands forever—Psalm 23:4 (NASB). On my daily walks through the neighborhood, I love seeing God’s creation throughout the seasons. Observing the changing flora reminds me of life. Our lives are not constant but in a state of change. We try to cling to the past, fearing what the future might bring. We try to hang onto our youth by purchasing products or undergoing elective surgeries to reverse the signs of aging. But, like the spring flowers fade, so do our bodies, in spite of our attempts otherwise. Lessons …
Don’t Let Fear Dominate Your Life
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me—Psalm 23:4 (NIV). On April 29, I found myself huddled in a closet with my dog. Tornado sirens were blaring for the second time that evening. I took deep breaths, and then exhaled prayers for safety, not only for myself, but for everyone who was in the path of the storms relentlessly barreling across several states that day. According to the news, at least 18 tornadoes were sighted across Oklahoma this past Monday, leaving behind …