Frenzied anticipation for their walk elevated the canine energy to chaos level.  Happy leaps, flailing lashes and snapping teeth prophesied an impending eruption. “ENOUGH!” Restoring peace required a reprimand and a walk.  Sometimes God uses the same techniques on me.  When I see something I define as a need, I ...

Jesus taught his disciples how to pray as he knew that they would need to know to be persistent. From time to time we need this reminder as well. Luke 11:9 says to ask God and it will be given to you, “So I say to you: Ask and it will ...

Feelings of being alone or forgotten come to all of us at times, but someone is watching over us just the same. One couple who lived many years ago knew this truth firsthand, and their faith inspired a much-loved hymn still sung today. The couple’s name was Doolittle, and they ...

It’s not an easy role to fill.  It’s not the natural way of things, it’s not always the ideal situation.  However, life is rarely considered ideal.  It sure wasn’t ideal for the little girl I once was.  I lost my mom to cancer and then the worst thing that could ...

“ … for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26b Are you still searching for the silver lining? It’s an old saying, one we often toss out glibly, hoping it’s true, not putting much stock in “fate.” But we are not victims of “fate.” As Christians our faith in ...

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers” (Psalm 1:1). We often listen to those who are not quite who they pretend to be, or who we perceive them to ...

Many years ago, a group of oystermen in the northeast were growing increasingly frustrated. Despite their hard work and numerous attempts to harvest oysters, they constantly pulled up nets full of starfish. One night, a tired and angry oysterman decided to fix the problem the only way he knew how. ...

God is speaking all the time, whether we know it or not, whether we hear it or not, whether we take note or listen and obey or not.  Recognizing that still, small voice is easy once you know it. “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of ...

On His way to Caesarea, Jesus asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I am?” (Mark 8:27) It wasn’t that He didn’t know the answer, but He wanted to help them understand that who He was would demand a commitment that cost everything. Because it’s easy to repeat what ...

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). I had the privilege of homeschooling my wonderful daughter for ten years–from four-year-old kindergarten (even though she was only three) through eighth grade.  As an elementary teacher, ...