“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 The wooden wisteria frame at the back of our yard provides the perfect arms to hold hanging baskets. “I suppose you’ve already seen what I need to confess,” my husband smiled, pointing to a fuchsia with brown, withered leaves and blooms that hung lifeless on the limp branch. Bill had inadvertently stepped on and snapped off the strand while the baskets were down for feeding. He jammed the detached piece into the soil and hoped for the best. Initially t ..read more

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3-4A What strikes me about this verse is the phrase “a living hope.” It’s not a future hope; it’s a hope that it is with us right now. We were utterly lost, condemned to die, and through Jesus we’re reborn to hope and life eternal. I lose sight of that sometimes. In the midst of an ordinary day I forget that I have this incredible hope. When I fe ..read more

“Our Father who is in heaven”  With these words Jesus escorts us into the Great House of God. Shall we follow him? There is so much to see. Every room reveals his heart, every stop will soothe your soul. And no room is as essential as this one we enter first. Walk behind him as he leads us into God’s living room. Sit in the chair that was made for you and warm your hands by the fire which never fades. Take time to look at the framed photos and find yours. Be sure to pick up the scrapbook and find the story of your life. But please, before any of that, stand at the mantle and study the pa ..read more

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.” Proverbs 25:11-12 When I was about ten years old, my older brother and I were riding our bikes on a trail that ran along the edge of the bank of a river. I was carrying a six-pack of Coke in my basket on one side of the back wheel. As I rode through the narrow path, I lost my balance and landed in the water. I started thrashing around yelling “Help, I’m drowning!” My brother simply yelled back at me, “Stand up.” Even though I fell i ..read more

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). While in church one Sunday morning, I was introduced to the song, Above All written by Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche. I cried when we sang the chorus. In fact, for years, I could not sing the song without being deeply moved. I still can’t. Crucified laid behind a stone You lived to die rejected and alone Like a rose trampled on the ground You took the fall and thought of me Above all! Just to imag ..read more

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 I believe God reveals Himself in many ways- through Scripture, the wisdom of a friend, a soul-stirring hymn, an ant dragging ten times his weight, a squirrel romping in the autumn mist, a parent in a giggly embrace with their child, a sunset after a storm, or in a whispered comfort as you cry into your pillow. He promised if we seek, we will find. God will make His presence known each and every day – You just need to open your faith eyes. That’s not always easy to do, especially  when the pressures of this world have cl ..read more

“In all their affliction He was]afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old”.  Isaiah 63:9 At medical checkups, children periodically need immunizations. Boys and girls may not understand that inoculations protect them; from their point of view, they are experiencing pain—while someone who loves them is allowing it! Such an experience affords a little insight into God’s dealings with His children. It answers one of the questions we often ask when painful things happen to us: Where ..read more

“He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.“Matthew 17:5 (ESV) A few years back life gave me a little squeeze, to find out what is really inside, where and what my priorities are, when push comes to shove. I have been busy both at home and at work. At home, with the addition of two kids, whilst being a great joy and pleasure for a maturing father, they are nevertheless all-consuming for Caroline and I, so we find it hard to find the time for us. At work, with the clo ..read more

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT Worship God when you find yourself burdened with the cares of this world. Worship him when you feel lost and alone. Worship him when you are afraid. Worship him when you are hurting, and the pain seems to linger longer than expected. It is when we worship our God that we begin to create an atmosphere of worship that brings freedom. Isaiah 61:7 encourages the believer to “put on a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” It is here that we find how fear dissipates. It is in the ..read more

“faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Hebrews 11:1-2 Many people know the hymn, “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” The melody soothes, the words bring hope. But like many familiar pieces of verse, Louisa Stead’s words can easily slip like quicksilver off our lips without lodging in our hearts and minds. We may be tempted to think that Louisa wrote the words while gazing at a beautiful sunset with a light breeze rippling through her hair. In fact, however, it was while living in a culture far from her own and af ..read more