One summer Scottand I flew to San Diego to visit our cousin Zelda. While there, we spent some time at the Pacific Ocean’s shore. Just standing at a very small edge of this huge body of water wasawe-inspiring. Looking outward from myvantage point on the sand, I could not imagine the immensity of this vast bodyofContinue reading “At the Beach”
Category Archives: Christian devotion
A Hungry Soul
The little soul lived for many years in the same woods. The sun shone on her leafy branches, and she produced much fruit. After many years the trees around this soul grew and their branches met above her head. Those branches provided comfortable shade. She was content in the place she’d always grown. She knewContinue reading “A Hungry Soul”
Cleaning the Stove
This morning I cleaned my stove. Youknow, took out the burners and the drip pans and cleaned all the accumulatedgunk. Most of it wiped up easily, but a few spots took a little elbow greaseand some steel wool pads. Before long, the stove looked shiny and (nearly) new.As I worked, my mind meandered, as ittendsContinue reading “Cleaning the Stove”
The Eyes Have It
The Eyes Have It As I taught the simple rhythm game, dozens of pairs of dark brown eyes danced with glee. Huge smiles covered the faces of the beautiful children sitting on the floor with me in this church in the poorest section of Matamoros, Mexico. In spite of the language barriers—the children spokeContinue reading “The Eyes Have It”
Seeing the Dawn
After an unusually difficult two months—several lingering illnesses that left me constantly fatigued, my father-in-law’s serious stroke, caring for my mother-in-law—I was feeling tired, stressed, and discouraged. Driving to work, I shed a few tears of self- pity. As I turned to the east, a gorgeous sunrise greeted me. Thin clouds created a golden pinkContinue reading “Seeing the Dawn”
Estes Park
I sit at the edge of the amphitheater where the rangers give their nightly talks. Early in the morning I’m the only one here. The sun has just risen above the mountains, and I stare at the beauty all around me. Everywhere I look, the majestic Rocky Mountains raise their granite peaks skyward. Even inContinue reading “Estes Park”
Footprints in the Sand
We walk along the water’s edge, watching the foam from the waves rush up, attempting to capture the sand, then fall back to join the blue ocean water. Our heads down, we look in the sand for shells or coral unbroken by the battering waves. I stoop to examine a piece of elkhorn coral brokenContinue reading “Footprints in the Sand”
Wordless Love
I don’t remember hearing my parents telling me, “I love you,” but I know they do. They have shown their love in countless ways. When I was growing up they worked hard to provide a comfortable home, food, and clothing. They made sure my brothers didn’t pick on me, at least not too much. EvenContinue reading “Wordless Love”
A Woodland Sanctuary
As I walked the nature trails, I wandered off the beaten path. Large toadstools nestled under a grove of blue spruce trees attracted my attention. Pushing aside branches, I walked fifteen feet, entering a small clearing. The ground, carpeted with years of accumulated needles, felt soft beneath my feet. A chorus of crickets broke theContinue reading “A Woodland Sanctuary”
Dropping the Stones
Caught in the act, they dragged her into the temple courts. Head down, hands trembling, she avoided the eyes of the angry men surrounding her. The men couldn’t wait to pass judgment on her. Their faces turned hard as the stones they longed to throw. After all, that was God’s law. But the man whoContinue reading “Dropping the Stones”
Growing Our Faith Together 