“There is this idea called “the ministry of presence.” Those who have suffered a tragic loss of some kind can tell you about it. It occurs when people who love you come to sit by your side in the midst of your tragedy. At the moment when no well-meant words can offer you comfort, when…
I don’t like the Subaru commercial “They Lived” for obvious reasons. It came on last night and brought up strong emotions. Times like that remind me all the more that I must keep my eyes on Him, remember His Truth, and control my choice of thoughts. If a commercial or show, movie or book causes…
I’m reading a book about Joseph by Voddie Baucham. He makes the point that we cannot truly understand the Old Testament unless we study it through the lens of the New Testament, the redemptive work of Jesus. The Old Testament is not just a bunch of stories to teach us good morals; the entire Word…
I spent Saturday evening and all day yesterday with Evelyn Husband Thompson. Her husband Rick was the commander of Space Shuttle Columbia which disintegrated on reentry on February 1, 2003. As she was leaving our home yesterday, we talked about yet another family grieving over the suicide of a beautiful young woman. We noticed how…
I was reading about the shooting this morning in DC. Congressmen and aides playing ball. Shot. Because they belonged to a different party than the shooter. Please don’t blame this on mental illness or on guns. This was caused by hate. I know many with guns who would never do such a thing. They would…
I’m studying Galatians with local friends on Monday evenings and online with my long distance friends on Tuesdays. Here are twelve things I’m grateful for from Galatians. “Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—” Verse 1:1 tells us God our…
It’s not hard to help strangers. Earlier today I was in Target with our son Adam. A 15 month old was throwing a fit as his parents tried various shoes on him. We’d heard him yelling for a while. As we walked past the shoe aisle, I smiled at him and said, “Hi, buddy!” He…
Many years ago, as an ice breaker at church one morning, the Bible study leader asked, “When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?” The other women in the class answered things like scientist, teacher, mommy, princess, nurse. Typical little girl answers. We all smiled and laughed. …
A while back I went LIVE on Facebook while driving down the Hwy. don’t worry, it’s not a busy Hwy. Rural north Texas. It’s become a fun thing. Here Today’s Tractor Talk. (2 minutes) I was thinking while mowing this morning. Why is it so hard for us women to share wonderful things about ourselves?…
So many Facebook rants full of anger and rage! Many posted by folks who confess Christ. Yet God tells us in Galatians that strife, divisions, fits of anger are works of the flesh. We are to live by the Spirit. No, I’m not happy with everything going on in Washington, but I don’t have time…
I have not personally known anyone who gave his or her life while serving in the military. But too many of my friends and my son grieve those they stood beside in school, boot camp, training, and battle and who paid the ultimate price for this country. I have friends whose sons or grandsons died…
I’m reading “Stepping Heavenward” a novel about a young woman growing up in the 1800’s. It is written as a diary chronicling her life and walk with God, including struggles. She wrote the following about her sickly infant girl. MAY 1.—My delicate little Una’s first birth day. Thank God for sparing her to us a…
For those who lead online Bible studies, I have a question: How do you assign grades to your students? In my local Bible study, these ladies all earned an A: Melanie – brought me cake Nell – brought cinnamon roll and stuffed shells Courtney – brought me ice cream. But my online students cannot bring…
“Here’s the deal: Pain affects us. It affects every part of who we are and how we live. We often cannot see the pain others are experiencing. Many people we see each day have invisible illnesses: MS, migraines, heart disease, diabetes, and many others. Lots of folks live with chronic pain that we don’t see.…
If a Rhino Pushme Pullyou doesn’t put a smile on your face, well, that makes me sad.
