“Stretch out your hand,” Jesus whispered to the man whose hand was withered. I’m sure the man quickly responded by offering his good hand, thinking to himself, “This one, the Master should be able to use.” But Jesus observed the lump carefully tucked into the man’s cloak, “The other one,” He ...
Day 6: Why Should We Pray for One Another
2 May God send you help—and strengthen you... [a] 4 May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. 5 We shout for joy when we hear of your victory... May the LORD answer all your prayers. 7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the ...
Day 2: Some Days I Feel Too Small
Post #2 in 40 Days in the Shade of God’s Care Psalm 3 O Lord, I have so many enemies…against me. 2 So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” There are those days. Days I feel small in this big world—days the enemy says I’m too small. Too small for God’s notice. Too ...
The Rocks that Amplify the River’s Roar
I hadn't beheld such beauty in a long time. This was a new hike. Gary and I enjoyed it together. The mossy rocks and cedar groves were breath-taking, but it was the surprising sound of a rushing creek that called for our attention. Long before it came into sight, the distant roar ...
A Surrendered Hideout
Trees have offered boundless hiding spots and shelter since the beginning of time. They have served as a fortress to playful children, lovers, and convicts alike. Jesus addresses the misuse of their timber in Matthew 7 when He asks us, " Why do you see the splinter that is in your brother’s or ...
When a Light Shines Into Our Darkness
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 (NIV) Do certain dates mark a time in which God shined a bright light into your deep darkness? Today is such a day for me. It's this day, 28 years ago (January 7, ...
Never Beyond Repair
I spent a couple of hours recently in the office of an orthopedic surgeon with a hamstring injury that had developed into a chronic inhibitor of fun. One of the first questions the doctor asked me was, "When did this injury occur?" After recounting the original sports injury in 2004, the doctor ...
Once Broken
I felt a bit giddy as we drove up the hill toward home, carrying a precious tomato plant I had searched for weeks to find: a Super Sweet 100. I had tasted it's fruit and knew it to be as good as candy. We discovered one nursery with one overgrown Super Sweet left in its stock, a reject left behind ...