This was originally written in December of 2014 as part of my “Cooks Corner” column. I have edited it to make it more “timeless.” However, I left my grandchildren’s ages the same as they were at the time. Vivian is 12 and Liam is 11 as of this “edition.” And I have to say that we laughed about the story this year (2022) when she unwrapped a plain cardboard box… It is difficult to believe that this year is almost…..
While browsing through a hymnal recently, I ran across one of my favorite songs from when I was a young child: “Will There Be Any Stars?” Memories rolled in like a flood, and I could not keep myself from associating the hymn with a sheet of blue construction paper. On that paper was a childishly drawn circle that represented my crown. When I accomplished tasks assigned to me or was helpful in some way, my mother gave me a star…..
October 9, 2020 The times we are living in are unsettling. This year has been filled with one thing after another that causes us to look at life with apprehension. We wonder what is coming next. As Christians, we know that we are commanded not to worry and fret; however, we somehow can’t seem to “be anxious for nothing,” as we are told to do in Philippians 4:6. Between the coronavirus, rioting, hurricanes, and the political situation, not to mention…..
April 25, 2020 Sometimes, as I read Scripture, I wonder about the mushroom effect Jesus’s ministry must have had. I am reminded of John 21:25: “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.” HCSB I guess the writer in me gets carried away sometimes because I think about the “second-hand” influence of the actions of Jesus. …..
Relaxing in the Lord’s Care March 17, 2020 I have had many cats over the years, and I can’t even begin to tell you how many times God has used them to teach me. The cats I have currently, Zander and Sebastian, are the latest in the long line of object lessons. I obtained Zander close to the first anniversary of my husband’s departure to Heaven. At the time, I had other cats; all of them have since passed away. …..
January 9, 2018 My trash gets picked up early in the morning, so I always put it out the night before. The company provides a large, wheeled tote that holds several bags. I keep it in the garage until it is time to roll it down the driveway for its weekly emptying. Since I live in the country, it is quite a ways to the road. In nice weather, this is not a problem, but when it is rainy or…..
It is the day after Christmas. My outdoor thermometer registers fifteen degrees. What I really would like to do is curl up in my recliner with a good book to read and a warm cat on my lap. However, I feel a calling to write, and I cannot ignore the Lord’s prompting. I have a story to tell; it is not one that I am proud of, yet the Lord taught me such a lesson through my circumstance. I hope…..
My Echinacea plants (coneflowers) bloomed beautifully this year, attracting lots of butterflies. Now they are drying up and becoming very ugly. The flowers turn brown after losing their petals but rapidly change to an unattractive black. I can see the coneflowers from my kitchen window’ and one morning I decided that I needed to snip them off to get rid of the eyesore. Suddenly, there was a burst of color as several yellow finches landed on the dead flower…..
My parents took me to church soon after I was born and I have attended worship services almost every Sunday since. During those sixty-plus years, I have developed a deep appreciation for the hymns that have played such a vital role in church life. Many congregations have abandoned these songs for more modern tunes, but I am thankful to be a part of a church that still incorporates them in our early service. One morning not so long ago I…..
In February of 2001, I wrote the following devotion. In 2011, something very thrilling happened dealing with the subject I was writing about. A friend suggested that I write the story and share it because it was such a blessing. This is “the rest of the story”, at least for now. But first, I will share the original devotion instead of re-telling it: One Sunday during his sermon, our minister suggested that as we read through the Bible, we…..