The new year has dawned. How’s your heart toward God? How's mine? Pressing close, softening? Or withdrawing, hardening? No matter how difficult our challenges, will we lean in to Jesus with hope and faith, resting in His love, keeping our hearts tender with obedience? Or will we turn away in cynicism or fear, doubting His…
Can You Make a Choice to Stay in the Joy?
Phrases etched in my memory nearly 40 years ago came back to me again recently: “…como propuso en su corazón…porque Dios ama al dador alegre.” In the small church I attended in Cuernavaca, Mexico, we quoted the verse these phrases come from every Sunday before the offering was taken. With my dear church friend Amparo…
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…
What Was He Created For? The Tale of the Young Nobleman
Far away in the Limmerey Isles, a young man grew up happy and carefree. He had become feudal lord in place of his noble father (for his parents had given him full control of their lands while on a distant quest), and he was much heralded in the villages that were part of his domain.…
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…
The Nearness of God 