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, …
Wrap God’s Love Around You
Wrap God’s love around your heart. Try to grasp how wide and far and deep and high it is, like standing on the ocean shore seeing the infinite sky and water. Find comfort in reading the words of …
Perfect Love, The Gift of Christmas
Perfect love came a a gift through the child in the manger. God gave the purest gift to us, but many do not receive the gift. Who doesn’t love to get gifts at Christmas? What is motive for …
Redemption In a Manger
Christmas brings the redemption of many things. For one, the boxed Christmas tree is spread out, fluffed and decorated with lights and ornaments. The once smashed tree is transformed into a beautiful …
Refuge in the Storms of Life
Refuge. A safe place where you can breathe a sigh of relief from the storm. A shelter or protection from danger or distress. Often we need protection from the storms we face in daily life, a …
Christmas Hope Versus Darkness
Hope gets stirred up during December through the anticipation Christmas gifts. Kids anticipate their favorite toy or video …
Christmas Peace versus Chaos
Everyday situations and people rob us of peace is we let them. A baby in the night cries and the mom wonders if she’ll ever have a silent night again. The caregiver of a terminally ill person wonders …
Simplicity at Christmas
Simplicity becomes elusive during the Christmas season. We are bombarded continually with advertising to buy something NOW. Shopping with the deadline for the best price brings stress …
Abiding in Christ and The Grace Impact
As we grow in our faith, we learn more about abiding in Christ. Abiding is a life-long process of nurturing faith through seeking and worshipping God. This develops through prayer and …
A Lesson of Commitment
My word for year–commit–tested me. Rather, it guided me in making a decision. I wanted to back out of a commitment I made months ago, something that is to continue through the next …
Abide – 2014 in Review
The one word that guided me through 2014 was ABIDE. As I reflect on the past year, I see how I’ve been encouraged by those five letters. I discovered this word is both an active and …
Seven Tips to Prepare for Christmas
Prepare for Christmas! Tis the season for massive to-do lists, increased spending, and high expectations. The decorating and shopping have begun. Family get-togethers are formulating. It is easy to …
Praise and Thanks
What’s the difference between offering praise and thanks? Praise and thanks are closely connected but separate. Each has a specific objective, yet they overlap in purpose. In thanksgiving we list …
Summer Faith
Summer is upon us! It’s transition time again! The next three months could be full of ball games, picnics, vacations, extra lessons, and camps. A different kind of agenda settles over the …
The Ultimate Valentine
The ultimate valentine has been sent to us. It expresses is an unending love of such magnitude that it is hard for us grasp, far beyond our limited comprehension. But it is so real. The Word of God …
True Security
Hatchlings in a nest. A baby asleep in mom’s arms. A family hunkered in a warm house while a winter storm paralyzes the outside world in snow and ice. All these are images of security. Security …
8 Verses for Abiding in Christ
The tiny leaf in the middle of the photo illustrates the word “abide.” It is new growth, protected by larger leaves. The smaller one shares the same source of nourishment for life. But if …
Abide in Grace
Last year, instead of resolutions, I chose one word to focus and guide my actions. This approach was new to me. The word for 2013 was “intentional.” This word helped me focus on and …
Time in His Hands
Time passes quickly when we are enjoying life, but creeps slowly when we walk through trials. We yearn for control over time. Everyone has the same amount of time every day. The Bible uses two …
Time, Days and Wisdom
This is the time of year we think about resolutions, goals, a fresh start, and TIME. A new year has begun with all its promise, opportunity and challenge. We have many choices ahead regarding how we …
