My daughter, Savannah, and I took a trip out west some years ago and had a wonderful time touring many of the great National Parks.   The beauty of nature and the wonder of creation inspired us everywhere we went.  The one place my daughter was not looking forward to seeing was the Grand Canyon.  I tried to show her photos of the beauty of the Grand Canyon, but none quite captured the magnificence.  She would just respond, “Dad! It’s just a big hole in the ground!”  But finally, the day arrived, and we drove all day and arrived at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon ..read more

I love Easter with the surprises and celebrations and family dinners.  And I love Easter worship with sunrise services, beautiful flowers and victorious hymns and messages of hope.  Easter is a wonderful and blessed day to celebrate.  But Easter isn’t over.  The resurrection is not just about Easter worship once a year.  For the follower of Christ, the resurrection is something we celebrate each day, as we daily walk with a risen Lord who cares about us.  Peter writes that because of the resurrection we have a living hope that sees us through the darkest night or ..read more

Are you anxious or frustrated your prayer seems to go unanswered?  Don’t lose heart.  Just because you do not yet see the answer to your prayers, does not mean God does not hear you.  Wait!  The Lord is working.  Waiting time is not wasting time.  Waiting time is time for God to mold us and strengthen us and deepen our relationship with Him.  God is at work.  Trust God!  God will see you through.  God is at work even though you might not be able to see it.  Hear again these encouraging words of the psalmist, David, who many times in his li ..read more

All of us at some point will find it easy to stray from the path along which God is leading us.  Like a hiker distracted by some sound or sight, we easily find ourselves looking this way or that and straying from the path Christ has marked for us.  Life has its hills and valleys, but the most important thing is to focus on Christ and follow him as our guide.  Paul warned his listeners to be on guard and to stand firm in the faith—words that were used by those who stand watch in the military.  Likewise, we need to be vigilant, guarding our faith, keeping ourselves focused on ..read more

Most of us have challenged ourselves to grow personally and spiritually over the next year.  Whatever the challenges and obstacles we have faced; and whatever the joys we have shared, most of us would like to look back and see personal growth in our lives over the next year.  The secret?--Deep roots.  Deep roots come from regular worship and Bible reading, and taking time for prayer.  Come sunny skies or stormy nights, like a tree planted by the water we only grow stronger with time, when we nurture our life in God.   Listen to the psalmist: (verse of the week ..read more

  Today is Valentine’s Day! Happy Valentine’s Day!  May love fill your heart and life!  Today, is also Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.  Most of our culture knows more about Mardi Gras than Lent, just as most of us would prefer celebration over repentance.  Both have their place in the seasons of life.  But all of us value love as we should.  Love is the highest value for all of us and gives us the greatest meaning of life.    But here is where hearts and ashes come together.  The ashes of Lent remind us of the 40 days Jesus sp ..read more

 (scripture of the week) "And my God shall supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4.19)     When you first read those words from the Apostle Paul, you might think he was writing from the comfort of a safe, secure suburban home.  But he was not.  Or you might think he was writing to a group of people safe in the comforts of life.  But he was not.   In fact, Paul was writing from the confines of a prison, where he had constant surveillance and where he knew he could easily loose his life for his beliefs.  ..read more

 Like much of the country, last week we were in the midst of a snowstorm, with snow piling up faster than many of us can shovel it out of the driveway and sidewalk. I do enjoy an occasional snowstorm and the beauty of the snow swirling and sparkling in the night sky.  I like the way the morning sun glistens off the snow-covered branches like white lace covering the trees.  I like the smell of wood burning in the fireplace and the sound of children laughing as they build snowmen or pull each other on sleighs.   I also think it is good for all of us to slow down a bit and enj ..read more

It’s easy to get caught up with our culture’s focus on power and prestige. We sometimes find it hard not to covet the sumptuous lifestyles of people we so often read about in newspapers and magazines. Nice cars.  Big homes.  Fame.  Fortune.  But Paul reminds us that the most important thing in life is not what we have or don’t have, but the one in whom we put our trust--Christ!   (scripture of the week) "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being in content in any and every situation, whether well fed ..read more

 God put a star in the night sky to guide the wise men to where the Christ child lay. God still puts stars in the sky to light our night and guide our way.    On that first Christmas challenges had to be overcome, long distances had to be traveled and a king tried to deceive and misguide them, but through it all God guided the ancient magi with a star.  The star was a sign of God's love to all people in all places that God's love was reaching out to them.  Through darkness and adversity, God will guide you, too.  In your darkest night, through your greatest t ..read more