Several nights a week, Rick and I sit by the fire pit in our backyard. Rick builds a fire, carefully arranging the kindling and small logs. When the kindling is lit, fire flares up as the logs catch …
Wondering Which Way is Best? Are the Directions Correct?
Recently, Rick and I were driving along an interstate highway in eastern Illinois and needed a break. We stopped at the next wayside rest area. When we walked around the sidewalks through the grassy …
Wondering Which Way is Best? Are the Directions Correct?Read More
Remain Secure in God’s Promises
Psalm 121 is one of the pilgrimage psalms sung by ancient sojourners (Israelites) travelling to the hills of Jerusalem. They looked forward to arriving at the their destination with hope, believing in …
Audacious Faith Online Conference June 6
"Audacious" is a big word to describe our faith. It means intrepidly bold and daring. In these unprecedented times, we need audacious faith to face the daily challenges of life with confidence. One …
Redemption of Workmanship
Although we are God's unique workmanship we are still in need of redemption. We set out and sail our own way. God went to great lengths to bring us back. Not only did he form us in his image, …
Confidence in a Time of Crisis
"Confidence in a time of crisis" is the subtitle of Psalm 77. The Psalmist cries out to God, seeking God in the day of trouble. "I cry aloud to God for help; aloud to …
Waiting When You Don’t Want to Wait
Waiting is hard. We are not wired for it. When I'm are put on hold on the telephone, I get impatient, while being forced to listen to terrible music for an undetermined amount of time. If we …
Where Do You Dwell In Your Mindset?
People dwell in many different types of houses. Some are huge with many rooms made from expensive materials snd others are simple one room homes. Igloos, cabins, and condominiums shelter …
A Better Perspective in the Pandemic
Do you need a better perspective in the midst of bad news? I admit I can easily be distressed by watching too much news about the pandemic and all the problems it has created. These are …
Pathway to Praise: Holy Week
Holy Week, the last week of Jesus' life, began with praise, endured sorrow, and ended with glory. “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the …
Shelter in Place, in Peace
"Shelter is place" has become a way of life, requiring us to stay at home during the CoVid-19 pandemic. This is an unprecedented time in our lives, with uncertainty of how long it will last. The …
Choose Faith Over Fear
Every day we can decide to choose faith over fear. The world is changing unbelievably fast. Almost every day has some sort of "breaking news." Unprecedented news of CoVid19 pandemic, economic …
Journey Into Lent
Lent began on Ash Wednesday, marking the forty days before Easter. Ash Wednesday is the day of remembering our human condition of sinfulness and our need for God's forgiveness. Lent can be a time …
Four Aspects of Unconditional Love
We all have a need for unconditional love, especially on bad days. The hard days when people fail us, situations frustrate us, or an unexpected bill arrives. When the kids don't cooperate when you …
Ending One Year, Preparing for the Next Year
Ending one year and preparing for the next year with purpose takes thought and prayer. Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NIV Another year will soon be …
Imagine Mary’s Deep Trust in God
Imagine the deep trust shown by Mary when the angel Gabriel came to her, changing her life (and ours) forever. "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Luke 1:28 NIV Questions …
What’s the Difference Between Praise and Thanks?
What the difference between praise and thanks? Many times we use them interchangeably in our prayers. Both of the words are nouns and verbs. Each word has a specific objective, yet the words overlap …
Can You See Plentiful Blessings?
Can you see plentiful blessings around you? We moved into our new home the end of summer, when the mature oak trees provided wonderful shade. Many large trees in our neighborhood are beautiful as the …
Choose Faith and Hope
What do you turn to when you learn of yet another tragedy, be it the force of hurricanes, earthquakes, or tragic massacre of innocent folks? Questions arise in our shock. How can we understand …
Transitions Abound
Transitions abound during this time of year. The summer routine is over as the school year begins. Bedtimes become more regular. Kids are in different classrooms with new teachers. Students …
