SUSANNA WESLEY’S PRAYER APRON
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark . . . Jesus went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35) BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, Susanna, mother of the famous John and Charles Wesley lived a challenging life. She married a preacher who could not manage […]
A win-win proposition
Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. (Lev. 19:32) MY DAUGHTER KIMBERLY visited Emeritus nursing home every week and taught a senior citizen exercise class. Her job there was part of a college class on the aging […]
God’s Lamp
While grieving over my brother Johnny’s death, I buried anger towards God deep in the caverns of my heart. Yet, like a miner searching for precious gems, the Lord continually probes our hearts with his penetrating light. His word says, “The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a […]
Personal Wailing Wall
The ring of the phone startled me. I glanced at the caller ID and quickly lifted the receiver. “Hi, Dad. What’s up?” “Suzi, the hospital here in the Keys is unable to do anything more for your mother.” I sensed the helplessness in his voice. “They are ordering an ambulance […]
Titanic
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.” (Matt. 13:47) THE GREATEST SHIPWRECK STORY of the twentieth century, that of Titanic, captures interest even today. Built in 1912, the British-registered ocean liner was designed for […]
A Parable of Joy
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.” (Matt. 13:44) THINKING OF A MAN FINDING HIDDEN TREASURE by happenstance reminded me of the famous English preacher Charles H. Spurgeon’s conversion. One Sunday morning in January 1850, a bad snowstorm forced Spurgeon to cut short his intended journey […]
Living Loved
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (Ps. 36:5) CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES can result in twisted views. For example, those who have been abused may grow up feeling inadequate and unworthy of love. In today’s passage, we are given a peek into the mind of […]
Eye of the Tree
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. (Rev. 21:4) WALKING PAST THE TREE countless times before, I never noticed. But yesterday, I looked up and saw a perfect eye in the bark of my neighbor’s tree. Pulling […]