Inward and Outward Appearance

Inward and Outward Appearance

For nineteen years, my home church has brought ladies together to hopefully instill a moment of being still, taking a breath before the holiday season begins, getting us in the mood to begin decorating, shopping, and preparing our hearts and minds for Christmas. The...
Jonah: Are we so different?

Jonah: Are we so different?

There’s so much more to Jonah than just the story we always hear about him being in the belly of a great fish for three days.  When you read all four chapters of Jonah, you may discover that you’re not too different from him. Why? Because although he had a closeness...
Hopeless to Hopeful

Hopeless to Hopeful

Question number one: Have you ever been lost or separated from your family or friends? It can be terrifying for the one lost and the ones searching. For years, my mom and stepdad worked the Lost and Found station (an old caboose) at the Florida Strawberry Festival....
Are you a Funky Formation or Beautiful Creation?

Are you a Funky Formation or Beautiful Creation?

It’s that time of year when people are carving pumpkins and feeling fallish.  You may have already carved a pumpkin. The creatively chiseled creation just may be shimmering in the night on your front porch. If you live where the weather is cool, and it actually feels...
Eagerly waiting

Eagerly waiting

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Romans 8:19 This morning I was sitting on the back porch, reading God’s word, and attentively aware of all the sounds of nature around me. I would read a few...
Forgive and forget?

Forgive and forget?

“What is forgiveness?” “When someone does something to you that hurts your feelings, how does it make you feel?” “Have you ever hurt someone and then you felt bad about it later?” “Should we forgive others?” While casually asking the above questions to a group of...
Be courteous

Be courteous

I was sitting on the edge of the stage, ready to share a bible story and lesson with about seventy energetic kindergartens through second graders. While they were entering the room and finding their place to settle down, one precious little girl sat in front of me....
We must Persevere in life.

We must Persevere in life.

Life is hard. Agree? We often hear the quote, “No one ever said life is going to be easy.” Not even Jesus said it was going to be a piece of cake. In John 16:33, Jesus Himself said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will...