“...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 →

“...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge....” Ephesians 3:17-19a Shuffled in with other old documents at our home is a 1908 stock certificate.... Continue Reading →

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love....’” (Jeremiah 31:3a) A few years ago, my beloved and I were roped into serving as contestants for a homemade version of “The Newlywed Game” in front of a crowd of friends.  Even though we’d been married nearly three decades at that point, we were... Continue Reading →

“When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.” Acts 15:31 In the mornings when I open my email inbox, I shove aside the spam to open the little “jewel boxes” waiting for me.  I’m referring to blogs I receive from a number of Christian writers, and they never fail to bring joy, conviction,... Continue Reading →

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” (Psalm 139:14) Fences are good...as long as you’re on one side of them. Good fences, as poet Robert Frost quoted, “make good neighbors.”* They discourage trespassing, keep livestock enclosed, and even protect us from ourselves. Fences, however, were never meant... Continue Reading →