General

Good Soil

Good Soil

Soon it will be time to plant our garden.  While still new at this, it brought such delight to our hearts last summer to just step outside and be able to pull basil leaves, parsley, oregano, or even peppers and tomatoes.  But as I look at the garden-to-be, reality sets in: it needs some work.   I am reminded of the parable told by Jesus of the sower, the seed, and the soil.  These verses have...

read more
Divine Disappointments

Divine Disappointments

It is possible that our greatest disappointments lead to our greatest blessings.   As a young woman, we can only imagine the disappointment and grief Anna suffered at the loss of her husband.  Married for only 7 years, widowed for about 84, we can presume that with the death of her husband came the death of her dreams, hopes, and all that she envisioned for her life.  While we don’t...

read more
Your Unique “Song”

Your Unique “Song”

As winter has faded into spring, it has brought about one of my all-time favorite moments: hearing the songbirds’ morning songs.  Every year, I am reminded of how much joy these songs bring to me.  I love how some belt out loud calls, while others are quiet, in the background, yet  beautiful.  Some have feverish and fast songs, while others are slow and steady.  Put together, these birds form...

read more
Never Too Late

Never Too Late

The first step in growing is so often found in lowering:  lowering ourselves in recognition that I need help, I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to respond, and I certainly don’t have it all together. “Lord, how I need You!” Or as Eugene Peterson wrote, “The first step in learning is bowing down to God.”  Think about that as we ask ourselves, “Is that typically MY first step?  To bow down...

read more
Flourishing

Flourishing

Aren’t you so grateful to know that your story is not over?  That regardless of how things appear today, in this moment, you have a God who is in control and working all things out for His glory and your good? I sure am.  And I find such comfort - and hope - in today’s verses: “The godly grow like a palm tree; they grow high like a cedar in Lebanon.  Planted in the Lord’s house, they...

read more
Just Three Words

Just Three Words

“Increase our faith!” the disciples cried, after Jesus’ teaching. “Lord, help me!” begged the Canaanite woman, whose daughter was suffering. “Be our help!” the psalmist exclaimed, when all seemed hopeless. In each scenario, it took just three simple words to move beyond themselves, their sufficiency, or their perspective and reach out to the heart - and for the help - of God. John Bunyan (writer...

read more
Our Confidence

Our Confidence

God with us -  the reason for our confidence God with us is not only the source of our comfort (see previous post) but is also the reason for our confidence. As Moses approached the burning bush (Exodus 3), we read, “The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering....

read more