Propagation Season

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:26‬ ‭ Succulents are the new garden rage. There are classes on how to pot them. Seminars on how to care for them. A whole line of pots and containers designed to hold

Chasing the Light

“Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭ There’s no grump like a report card grump. Jaw clenched. Eyes on screen. Toes curled with determination. Body rigid. Mind completely consumed with one thought. Get. Finished.

Crying Over [Unspilled] Milk

“As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.”‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭ Little: “I didn’t get any milk today!” *deep, heart-wrenching sobs* Me: “Do you think all the milk has disappeared from the school?” Little (startled): “No.” *sniff* Me: “I wonder. If there is still

An Excellent Adventure

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ Whoever shot this arrow had excellent aim, wouldn’t you say? That’s one way to illustrate the word

Frozen Over

“He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:17-18‬ ‭ Brrrrrrrr. You know when the windchill values are pushing closer to the -50 Celsius mark that you are frozen over. At these temperatures, our regular

On Lamps and Such

“You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:28‬ ‭ I love sunsets. Sunsets through a magical canopy of lacy frost? *contented sigh* The glow of this particular sunset was so dazzling that I stopped and held up my hands in worship. I stared. I snapped photos. I thought

In Praise of Poverty

““God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:3‬ Are you poor? I mean, totally bankrupt? I’m not referring to your list of assets or net worth financially. What I really mean is – do you realize your poverty? (In a spiritual sense, that

Becoming an Oasis

“But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92:12‬ ‭ I know, I know. You’re all a bit travel starved, and here I am rubbing your nose in palm trees. I get it. But hear me out. If you know the feeling of gawking at your first

Chosen

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you…”‭‭John‬ ‭15:16‬a It was a long time ago, but I still remember. I remember how it feels to be the last one chosen. A ball player I am not. Never have been. And my peers knew it. A spelling bee, a history quiz, a word game, a spot of

Worth Celebrating

“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; celebrate his lovely name with music.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭135:3‬ ‭ “It’s 2021!” “It sure is!” I agreed. “Happy New Year!” The exclamation came at me again. “It’s 2021!! It really really is! It’s 2021!” I giggled. (It slipped out. It does, sometimes.) He was just so – so –