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...
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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...
God is mightier than the uncontrolled chaos around you and even that which is, perhaps, raging within you: “The Lord reigns; He is robed in majesty. The Lord is robed; He has put on strength as His belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods...
What comfort can wash over our souls when we know, really know, that our loving and capable Heavenly Father is in control! Click here to view this message
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...
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...
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...
“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...
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....