“Happy Valentine’s Day, Arlene!”
“Hiiiiii, Miss Déirdre!”
“I made you some cookies and just want you to know that I love you.”
“Awww, thank you.” [big hug]
I got to hear this delightful conversation repeated several times this evening while making Sunday school visits with my friend, Déirdre.
But one conversation ended more memorably. Continue reading
“Hey, Monica. How ya doing?”
Funny that this simple greeting, spoken several years ago, stands out so brightly in my mind. In fact, I remember the exact place I was standing when I heard it, and which direction Mrs. Harp was walking as she passed and said hello!
So what made it so memorable?
It wasn’t the words. It was the timing. Continue reading
I’m reopening a blog post draft that I began almost six months ago, which wouldn’t be so bad if the first post hadn’t been about transmission trouble.
I’m no mechanic, but I know more about a failing transmission now than before I began this post—either time. And I know that the loss of a transmission signals one of two events—days of misery or an unfolding adventure.
Thankfully, both times I got to experience the adventure.
Adventure 1
My brother Daniel, my friend Jill, and I were 627 miles into our 2,000 mile drive home for vacation when our transmission gave out. That left us stranded on the shoulder of the interstate at 5:30 p.m. on a Friday night. Not good. Continue reading
I’m not eavesdropping, but I can’t help overhearing snippets of the conversations walking past me. I’m on a layover and am sitting in a row of chairs along a long hallway between terminals in the airport. There’s a steady stream of people walking by, but they mostly come just a few at a time, so I can easily overhear their conversations.
Catching just single sentences or parts of phrases is either disturbing or humorous. Here, you can sit by me for a few moments—I typed some snippets verbatim as people walked by.
And the classic one, just before two girls stepped on the elevator nearby: Continue reading
The first Christmas gift had the most miraculous label.
To: sinners
From: God
What love!
Christmas is a miracle because of what God did, but it’s also a miracle because of who He did it for—me. And you.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.—John 3:16
You know that line you’re tempted to use in a thank you note: “I can’t tell you how thankful I am for…”? Usually that phase would be more accurately worded, “I don’t know how to put into words…”
There are very few emotions, ideas, or responses that cannot be communicated through the English language. Sometimes we just don’t want to put the effort into finding the words to express them.
But Christmas is different. Continue reading
Have you ever wanted to say, “Yes, Lord, but….”
I have. Just recently, actually.
I was faced with a difficulty with which I had no choice but to trust the Lord. I couldn’t control, change, or manipulate it if I wanted to. (And, frankly, I wanted to!)
When my fate of no control was confirmed, I gave it to the Lord with the words “Yes, Lord.” Yet, in my heart, I added “but….”
Even as I thought “but…” the Lord whispered a substitute word to my spirit—and. Continue reading
…marks 171 years since David Livingstone first sailed for Africa.
I recently had the opportunity to read another biography about Livingstone this summer. I was especially impressed as I learned that, in the minds of many, he didn’t have much “missionary promise” when he sailed for Africa. He wasn’t a bombastic preacher, and he didn’t have a charismatic personality. Not likely to succeed.
Much of what Livingstone did in Africa was tedious and slow-going. He preached the Gospel everywhere he went, but he was navigating unexplored territory, usually sick, often hungry, and sometimes deserted. He persevered and died without seeing the full fruit of his labor. Continue reading
Have you ever felt too little? Like the task before you was too big? Like the role you were expected to fill was too large?
Sometimes the answer is not for us to “get bigger” but for us to get wiser.
Proverbs 30:24–28 tells about “four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise.” In every case, these very little animals conquer daunting need—with wisdom. Continue reading
Whoever came up with that advertising tagline was clever. Who wouldn’t want to give a gift that would “keep on giving” all year long?
Far better than this tagline, however, is the reality of having a gift that keeps on giving—especially when that gift goes on forever…and ever.
Friday of this past week was my spiritual birthday, and I was able to spend time that morning reading the book of Romans in one sitting. With each chapter, I was amazed anew at the riches of God’s grace, freely given to me—as a gift. It was like reading an ever-growing gift list—not of what I can only wish for, but of what God has already given to me.
In a nutshell, I was reminded that salvation is so much more than a future home in Heaven. It is peace with God through His incredible sacrifice on the cross. It is freedom from the bondage of sin. It is a relationship with God as my Father. It is the opportunity to serve Christ—to make my life count for eternity. It is the power and the liberty to live for God’s eternal purposes. Continue reading