Book-satchel in tow, I scrambled off the dusty, yellow school bus onto where the farm-to-market road comes to a “T.” Finally home, I was glad to leave the hand-clapping game in the front of the bus and the loud kissing in the back. My second-grade stomach grumbled loudly, anticipating the brownies my mother promised to bake. As I rounded the …
Before time existed, the Fire burned. This blazing Fire ignites character, consuming one and sparking another into a warm glow. Those that stand the test of fire kindle into a pinpoint of light to shine within darkness. They themselves are not the Fire but re-present the Flame, like an ever-ready pilot light. You are that pilot light. Small but unquenchable, …
As we look into the unknown territory of hearing God’s voice, we discover a keyed entry through which we must pass. It is a singular narrow gate, accessed one way and one way only. A writer in the New Testament explains this succinctly: “God…spoke long ago..in many ways, (but) in these last days He has spoken to us in His …
Timidly, I stood at the entryway, peering into the light. With a tiny seed of tremulous faith, I stepped inside while my eyes adjusted to the radiance. I paused and noticed that beside me, just inside the door, sat a large box heaped with various items. The contents caught my eye because of the value of the assorted items. From …
There’s a dimension where all things are possible. A realm where the tangled becomes loose, and the unfeasible becomes achievable. Images of the place appear in our dreams, but we seldom access the sphere during daylight hours. We’re vaguely aware of its presence, yet we rarely enter. This place is very close, yet not in our immediate element. Whether located …
Riding in the back of a Taiwanese ambulance is not for the faint of heart. Especially if it lasts for three hours. Only the night before, my 17-year-old daughter experienced her first ambulance ride from an accident site to the small, rural hospital in Kenting. She and her friend, Kristen, had been in a scooter incident on the streets of this village resort …
“When you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6). How often do I really “shut the door” in private prayer? Multiple device media has retrained our minds to expect distractions. Giving God full attention seems near impossible in our day. If we could only turn back the clock to when life proved simpler. …
I tumbled off the school bus with a satchel full of childhood woes. An imperfect score, a classroom bully, and a lost jacket weighed heavily on my mind. In my nine years, this day had possibly been the worst. I needed my mother. Trudging onto the back porch, I swung the screen door open and my satchel to the floor. The …
“Mama, what do you think is my greatest weakness?” I’d been at junior high camp for the week, and the youth pastor had challenged us to ask this question of someone that knew us well. Who better than my mom, who’d known me all fourteen years? Granted, I was a bit nervous as I awaited her answer. She’d probably say …
By: Kandy Persall Eulogies. Not usually a source of joy for most people. But, as I wrote the tribute recently for one of my favorites, I glimpsed the power of a steadfast life. I’d been writing this eulogy for years, first by tucking away conversations and then sealing them with pen and ink. It helps put syllables on a page when …
