God delights in lavishing us with gifts. He loved us so much He gave His only Son for our sins. "How will He not also, with Him, freely give us all things?" the Apostle Paul asked (Romans 8:32). In the beginning, He made us a fresh, luxuriant garden, where we could work and walk, at…
I Grieved the Missed Opportunity When the Store Burned
What? Our grocery store had burned down the night before? I was shocked, and not just by the news. The worst part for me was that I had been there the previous day. I had felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to talk with the cashier about knowing Jesus. For some reason I avoided…
What Kind of Music Do I Want to Play?
Don’t do this at your home! Coming distractedly down our uncarpeted tile stairs some years ago, I missed a few of the last steps and fell, painfully spraining my ankle. The good thing about the situation was the first thing out of my mouth. “Thank You, Lord!” I sang out. I was surprised and happy…
Just an Ordinary Sail in a Double Outrigger Canoe
It was our 20th anniversary. Ed and I were about to take a romantic sunset sail around the beautiful Philippine island of Boracay, just four miles long and one mile wide. Two guys would sail the large double outrigger canoe, and we would sit back and enjoy the view. Or so we thought. Sailing around…
His Power and Glory Resting on Me
For the first time I can remember in a devotional time, I sat completely stunned. I covered my eyes as though a literal brightness had blinded me. After a difficult turn of events in our family, that morning I had turned to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient…
His Show is On All the Time
My son gestured to the view from our back porch. “That’s your TV,” he said to me. He’s right. God’s amazing show is always running and always worth watching. I love to look out and see Venus shining brilliantly in the dark morning sky. The outrageous oranges, pinks and golds of sunrise make me wonder…
It’s the Little Things That Make You Blue
It's the Little Things for Ed It’s the little things that just won’t wait. It’s the little things that make us late. It’s the little things that I must do, It’s the little things that make you blue. I’ll dye my roots; I’ll bake some bread. I must put clean sheets on the bed. This…
Fortune Cookies, A Conference, and A Romance
“Will it ever be my turn?” I wondered as my plane winged its way to Washington, D.C. that July. Would I ever marry? Most of my friends had married by then. I longed for someone to lavish my love on, but had never met that someone who was just right for me. The five-day planning…
I Really Don’t Want to Miss What He Has to Say
I love to read. As a girl, immersed in a book, I would ignore my mother’s voice calling me to set the table for supper. This would usually get me into trouble. Interesting how I sometimes ignore my Father’s voice when I am reading a good book now. His call is a whisper to my…
A 3,000-Year-Old Conversation Taught Me About Holding My Husband in Weighty Esteem
My marriage has had its ups and downs, like any. But God has had His finger on one area for a while now: RESPECT. Where women crave love, men crave respect. God designed us that way. To make the deal sweeter, He commanded spouses to give each other the very thing they crave. Men are…
The Nearness of God 