Unexpected Blessings

Unexpected Blessings Walking along the trail, I just happened to look to my left. What I saw stopped me in my tracks. There, only ten to twelve feet away, stood four white-tailed deer, staring at me. I stopped, breathless, and stared back at them. They stood so close I could see the black markings onContinue reading “Unexpected Blessings”

The Supremacy of the Son of God

Autumn is my favorite season. The glory of the changing leaves amazes me. The bright red, yellow, orange, pink, and rust of the changing leaves is a glory to see. Walking along nature’s paths, I hear the soft crunching of the leaves beneath my feet. Each step cushioned from the hardened earth. After a hot,Continue reading “The Supremacy of the Son of God”

Walking the Nature Trails

The path opens to a clearing larger than a football field.  Waist high brome grasses sway slightly in a gentle waltz with the faint breeze.  Nearby branches merely watch, too heavily laden with yellow-green hedge apples to dance.  On the far side of the field lies a painter’s palette of trees showing their colors—green, yellow,Continue reading “Walking the Nature Trails”

Dress for Success

(This devotion was first published in “The Secret Place.” Every morning as I prepare for my day, I decide what to wear.  Looking in my closet and dresser, I have choices to make.  Do I wear a skirt today?  Slacks?  Jeans?  What top coordinates with the skirt or pants?  Both must match in color andContinue reading “Dress for Success”

Through the Psalms, 33

As the leaves turn color, we rejoice in the cooler weather and the autumnal colors. Even though we know that those colors signal the coming of winter, of cold weather and bare trees. But even so, we have hope, for we know our Lord is faithful. Yes, the autumn leaves will fall, and winter willContinue reading “Through the Psalms, 33”

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”

Be Nice to Your Brother

I wrote this several years ago for “The Secret Place.” It seems we need this reminder even more today than we did then. When my grandsons were younger, they loved to torment one another: A poke here, a kick there, and a headlock for good measure. I had a mantra for them, “Be nice toContinue reading “Be Nice to Your Brother”

Flowing Over Obstacles

The stream meanders, making its way through fallen leaves, gray, broken branches, and rich, fertile earth.  My feet crunch the dried leaves as I approach the stream. Bending and twisting, it flows around rocks and under the narrow walking bridge. Algae flourishes just beneath its green water. I find a large, flat rock and sitContinue reading “Flowing Over Obstacles”

Fields of Grace

Good morning! Here’s your Wednesday devotion. Enjoy! Fields of Grace During my morning walk on the nature trails, a song kept running through my head: “Dancing with my Father God in fields of praise.” But my mind changed “praise” to “grace.” Over and over I heard those words in my head: “Dancing with my FatherContinue reading “Fields of Grace”

At a Snail’s Pace

At a Snail’s Pace During a recent walk, I noticed a tiny snail, its shell no bigger than a dime. It appeared motionless, but when I knelt down for a zoomed-in photo, I could see its forward progress. Ever so slowly, it traveled, a millimeter at a time, across the sidewalk. Satisfied with my photo,Continue reading “At a Snail’s Pace”