“...let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength.” (Judges 5:31b) I have a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth.  I’m not kidding. Okay, it’s from her lady-in-waiting. But it’s on royal stationery, and I’ll still claim it as a real letter from the Queen herself (see below).  Several years ago, my little book group... Continue Reading →

“But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.” (Luke 24:2) This Easter morning has been...profound and glorious. It began with a breathtaking view from the hill above our church at daybreak—the first “sunrise service” I’ve ever attended. There was something mysterious, promising, and enthralling about meeting our Savior there to worship Him. As we listened to... Continue Reading →

“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” The King of Israel!’” (John 12:12-13) Even though our country hasn’t... Continue Reading →

“By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen.” (Job 37:10) We stood on the thick ice, just beyond the lake’s shore. Much further out from us, cars and people wandered aimlessly across the surface—an unfathomable danger to us Southerners who might see only an inch or so of ice on... Continue Reading →

“...for in Him we live and move and have our being....” (Acts 17:28a) The latest media news cycles have been chock full of devastating events. After more than two years of pandemic headlines, we now watch the unfolding of a catastrophic war in Ukraine.* Economic turbulence and woes assail us. Political parties blast each other. If... Continue Reading →

“And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.” (Psalm 89:5) When the waves lap at your feet along the seashore, the moon may not be at the top of your thoughts. But if it weren’t for the gravitational pull of Earth’s biggest satellite, the ocean wouldn’t roll... Continue Reading →

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) On Saturday morning, we woke up to a beautiful snowfall with large, chunky flakes. Just spectacular. It’s not uncommon in the South to have late snows, even into April. But this snow was on the heels of a warm spell that teased us... Continue Reading →

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes....” Romans 1:16a The story was told, at our church’s missions conference yesterday, of an eye surgeon who traveled to a remote region in China to perform cataract surgeries. One of the surgeries restored the... Continue Reading →

“He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4) War. Even after all the conflicts throughout the centuries and in recent years, it is still... Continue Reading →

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) I love walking on a beach, watching crabs skittering about, seeing the landscape change before my eyes as the tides ebb and flow. When I stick my feet, though, into the waves at the edge, I feel the surface moving—shifting, eroding, sucking all support out from under me...taking me... Continue Reading →