Do you like what you see in our judicial system, our government, our public schools?  We can become discouraged, to the point of giving up hope when we examine our country and culture.  Matthew 24: 12 states, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” I do not want my love for God and His truth to grow cold, even lukewarm. How can we avoid that?  Remember, we are not promised justice on earth even in our justice system, which is better than most countries.  We are not promised that institutions will embrace God’s truth. We are promised that Go ..read more

Some things don’t change.  Like temptation.   We’re tempted to value what this world values, not God: the desires of the flesh, what feels good, desires of the eyes, what looks good, the pride of riches, what brings us power.  I John 2: 16. The evil one knows that.  He tempted Jesus.  In Matthew 4, Jesus had just fasted 40 days and was famished.  The tempter challenged him to make bread from stones–which Jesus could do.  He took him to the pinnacle of the temple and told him to throw himself off asking angels to catch him–which Jesus could have done.&nbs ..read more

I love looking back through my old Bibles and reading the notes I’ve scribbled. Isaiah 51: 12–14 was highlighted in Romania as I sat with Lidi and Jeremiah Russu. Lidi clung to this verse 4 years before Jeremiah was in prison for possessing Bibles.  Lidi was quaking at home with their two babies.  Nicolae Ceausescu was a violent leader killing at will. She tossed and turned fearing that she would never see her husband again.  She picked up her Bible and read. “I am he who comforts you: why then are you afraid of a mere mortal who must die, a human being who fades like grass?&nbs ..read more

In this season of my spiritual journey, I’m focusing on Being rather than Doing.  Most of us can get so caught up in expected activity that our actions define our identity. Of course, when we can no longer be doing whatever we were doing, we’re adrift wondering who we are.  Men and women equally suffer from this ‘doing’ thing.  But we’re not human-doings.  We’re human-beings.  Jesus commended Mary for being; worshipping, listening, learning.  Her sister Martha was distracted with doings. Jesus teaching in Matthew 5 defines how we are blessed.  In each case we ..read more

Daily we all select what we will wear.  Some of us grab repeatedly our old favorites and others from packed wardrobes.  Will it be right for the occasion? for this day’s activities and demands?  make me look better?  My friend, Dee Armbruster, owner of Shopkeeper’s Scones, tucked this advice in her scone boxes. “Chosen by God for this life of love, continue to dress in the wardrobe that God has picked out for you:  kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline …. and regardless of what else you put on, wear LOVE … it’s your ALL-PURPOSE garment.  Never be without ..read more

Never devalue the lessons learned from your past.  They don’t define you, but they certainly inform you.  The twin Benham entrepreneurs left professional baseball to be a salesman on a phone in a cubicle and a school janitor, hardly the professions they dreamed of after college and pro ball.  But they credit their success to their work ethic, giving any task their best, including plunging toilets. Work (unless God forbids it) is worthy.  Period.  Being diligent, honest, industrious will bring spiritual rewards.  I Thessalonians 4: 11.  We are not guaranteed l ..read more

I recently read a professor’s words.  “You can talk to God whenever you want.  You just can’t expect an answer.” I beg to differ. Isaiah 59:1. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.”  He listens.  He speaks to us through our ears of faith.  Hebrews 11 tells of people of great faith who acted knowing that God had heard their prayers.  But they did not see His answers, His results in their lifetime. If we expect an immediate answer that fits our wish, we might be deafened by His silence. If we delight in Him, He rewards u ..read more

What old news matters to you?  1798 Dept of Navy forms,  1904 ice cream cone makes its debut, 1952 Mr. Potato Head is 1st toy advertised on television. With a grandson in the navy, that news is interesting. He is a part, not just of the military, but tradition.  The ice cream cone, a neutral in my life.  Mr. Potato Head a nuisance my children enjoyed, but parts in shag carpeting routinely destroyed my vacuum. How does God see the news of today?  As I try to imagine his perspective, it changes my focus for today.  Time spent, dollars spent, prayer focus and much mo ..read more

We imagine Heaven.  My husband in his terrible illness repeated, “Heaven will be perfect.”  Yes, we’ll be drawn to Jesus face first. Face to face in heaven How long we will gaze will not matter, as heaven is forever.  No ticking clock.  Yes, I’m curious about others and would like to hear my husband sing there.  An amazing baritone here, what will he sound like in heaven?  I have another goal.  I want to seek out every widow in Scripture named, unnamed, famous, infamous, and just sit at their feet and listen.  I want to hear their story in THEIR voice.&n ..read more

I live on a hill.  At the bottom of my drive, the road winds around a pond and beyond a grove of trees.  It is my custom, when folks leave my home to watch them from my driveway until they are out of sight.  My friend, Sandy, related that to my farm-girl childhood.  That’s what farm folks did. True.  Four little girls climbed up the ‘buying post’ and watched until any friend or relative was out of sight.  I still do.  I’ve watched the car transporting one son to the Marines.  I’ve watched grandsons driving with new licenses.  Some ‘watches’ are too ..read more