Do You Believe in Miracles?
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”—Matthew 19:26 (NIV). Until I surrendered to God in October 2001, I never considered I was a miracle. Of course, we’re all miracles, if you think about it. We might think of miracles as the larger-than-life events in the Old Testament, like the parting of the Red Sea or Daniel’s escape from death in the lion’s den. Or the miracles Jesus performed during His three-year ministry, like turning water into wine or the healing of lepers and cripples. The Miracle of Conception So, …
Maintaining a Sense of Wonder as We Age
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents.”—Proverbs 17:6 (NRSV). In May 2018, my seventh grandchild was born. Fifteen years separate my youngest granddaughter from her oldest sibling. Because my youngest grandchild before Ruby’s birth was almost nine, I’d forgotten the joys of having a baby in the family. Seeing Ruby grow, and watching her explore the world around her, brings new meaning to my 60 plus years on earth. She’s another crown in my aging life. Embracing each birthday isn’t easy, especially when we accept the inevitable aches and pains accompanying the …
You Find What You Seek
“You will see me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”—Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV). While cleaning house recently, I tuned my TV to a local news broadcast. My attention wasn’t completely focused on the interview of a woman who writes book reviews. I heard bits and pieces of her remarks as I dusted the furniture. It seems I don’t multi-task as well as I used to. The following statement, which ended the segment, did grab my attention: “You find what you are looking for.” Several scriptures came to mind, including Jeremiah 29:13. In Jeremiah 29, the prophet, …
God Doesn’t Make Junk
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well”—Psalm 139:14 (NIV). “Excuse me, hon, but I just love your hair.” Focused on shopping at one of the Big Box stores, I was startled when I turned to see a woman beside me in the cereal aisle. I estimated she was in her mid to late 70s. Her hair, except for a few stray curls, was completely covered by a knitted beanie cap with a pom-pom on top. “Thank you,” I replied. “I sure wish my hair looked that good,” she …
Letting Go of Fear
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”—Psalm 23:4 (ESV) As a young child, my fear of the dark fed my overactive imagination. After I was tucked in bed each night, that fear began to manifest itself in the form of shadowy shapes illuminated by the tiny night light in my bedroom. Looking back now, I can laugh my fear. But, at the time, those childhood fears conjured up evil people just waiting to pounce on me. I’d …
Is Clutter Separating You from God?
“He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt’”—Luke 9:3 (NIV). I’ve been on a decluttering mission lately. Crammed in a padded window seat in my home office are piles of used, odd-sized mailing envelopes I’d saved through the years. I can’t stand to part with any of them. After all, I need to be recycling, don’t I? After organizing my envelope stash, I riffled through the other items hidden there for safekeeping. When I began to pull out reusable shopping bags, tote bags and gift bags I’d forgotten about, I …
Are you storing up treasures on earth?
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”—Luke 12:34 (NIV). “I had to have it.” This statement made by a 50-year-old man in a recent newspaper article, and the accompanying photo, drew my attention. I’m a headline skimmer. This one definitely intrigued me. What did this man have to have that made news? I shook my head in disbelief when I read the story. This man had gifted himself with a flamethrower for Christmas. He stated, “It’s a Christmas gift from me to me. I saw it and knew I had to have it.” Although he admits …
What does Hope look like to You?
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” ~ Isaiah 40:31 (NIV). What does hope look like to you? If you’ve been through some tough times this past year, hope may not be something easily grasped. Although 2018 wasn’t a tough year for me, it was a year of changes, of new adventures and of making decisions based on God’s plan for my life. Sound exciting? In some ways it was; in other ways, it has …
Choose to Give Thanks
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus”—Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT). We have a standing invitation from our Heavenly Father. After we’ve accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord, we are invited to tell Him of our daily needs. Philippians 4:6 tells us we don’t have to worry about anything. Instead, we are to pray about everything, tell God …