Dry Clouds Thunder rumbled in the distance. Dark clouds floated along the horizon, inching toward me. Someone was getting rain. An hour later, the sky cleared. Someone did receive rain, but it wasn’t me. After a prolonged dry season, sunny south Florida needs...
Unnecessary Burdens Have you noticed how some things are becoming smaller and lighter these days? The first computer took up an entire building. Now you can hold a mini iPad in the palm of your hand. The first mobile phone looked and felt like a brick with an...
My "One Word": Courage New year, new word. For the past several years, I’ve adopted “one word” to focus on as a substitute for resolutions. I choose a word to apply across multiple areas of my life. I say “I choose,” but most years I have the distinct sense...
Catch Up to Scripture A friend recently shared a tender prayer request, then closed our conversation by saying, “I just want my heart to catch up to what Scripture tells me.” Wow. That conversation occurred two months ago, but her statement has stuck with me....
Crochet Hooks, Workmanship, and Weavers I recently took up crocheting again. It’s a hobby I enjoyed for years but had set aside. Over the years I’ve used a crochet hook to create everything from Christmas tree ornaments to my junior high school prom dress. My...
Have To, Want To, or Get To? Ever feel burdened with all the have-tos in your life? Many mornings I awake with my thoughts circling a list of “have-tos,” sapping my energy like water circles a drain with increasing speed until it disappears. Things to do that I...
Looking Good . . . Not! What do window blinds and a cell phone have in common? I learned the answer to that question the other day when God used experiences with both to catch my attention. The first situation involved my cell phone. I charged it on Wednesday....
No-Comfort Zones God and I have been having an ongoing conversation. Then again, it hasn’t been so much of a conversation as a monologue on my part. An ongoing monologue centering on my affection for comfort zones. I like being comfortable. Working with the familiar....
Expect the Unknown David Perkins, a retired U.S. four-star general, once said, “We should expect the unknown . . .” We’ve heard versions of that quote before: Expect the unexpected. Be prepared for the unknown. But is this really possible? If we expect the unexpected,...
Time to Shed My Snake Skin I found an unwelcome surprise outside my front door a few weeks ago: a two-foot-long shed snake skin. Of course, I posted a photo on social media—not much else excitement during these days of pandemic “sheltering at home.”...
Spiritual Heroes and Practical Obedience Have you heard the story about a man who escapes his boring life by...
Spiritual Growth When God is Silent I don’t usually do well with long periods of silence . . . especially when...
Time Constraints . . . Or Not It has been almost two weeks and I’m finally adjusting to the time change after...