Take an empty glass. Set it in the sink, under the tap. Now turn on the water. No matter how much you open the spigot, the glass will eventually brim over. Leave the water running and plug the drain. What will happen? The sink will begin to fill from the overflow. If left long enough, the level of water will exceed the …
The height and depth and breadth of parables happen around us all the time. But sometimes, you must wait a lifetime to realize the significance of the moment. Kernels of truth dropped in mundane soil will bear fruit only when given space in your memory. My parable starts with a sticky preschooler I knew well and was trying to raise …
By: Melynda Schauer Has hope ever looked to you like a pregnant belly? Or felt like morning sickness? Or arrived as a screaming baby? I can’t stop thinking about Elizabeth and her role in the Christmas story. Her story and her son, John, are linked both relationally and chronologically from the beginning with Mary’s story and Jesus’. Elizabeth and her …
As I wound down the narrow road, I felt anticipation build. Every bend of the foliage and arc of the bridges increased my expectancy. When the shuttle bus rounded the last corner, I gasped as the 55-foot-tall Norway spruce and encircling evergreens illuminated the front lawn. Over a century ago, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted suggested this spectacular approach to …
Some things cannot be duplicated with words. I can’t adequately describe the experience of moving internationally, for all adjectives for the sights, sounds, and smells fall short. Suffice it to say we uprooted our family from rural America to metropolitan Asia. And we took along a two-year-old. Suddenly, the following will make perfect sense – no matter where you live. It …
“Pain became the pathway by which He drew near. And as I saw Him, my faith enlarged, knowing that this same Presence and Comfort would be available each day anew. The power of His personal appearance transforms us from within, resulting in a greater change than merely removing unpleasant circumstances. Faith grows as I see Him. Sometimes only tears can wash my eyes …
By: Traci Payne A few years ago, I was struggling with recurring thoughts about a situation that, when dwelled upon, caused me to experience a wide array of negative emotions. The feelings of rejection, sadness, guilt, fear, and not being good enough came out of nowhere. Since I’m not a fan of such a barrage of unpredictable and spontaneous thoughts such as …
Oh, My sweet child, Thank you for celebrating My Sent One. I delight in your joy this season. You are falling in line with a great cloud to rejoice more robustly than those who merely witnessed My Son’s birth. Joy is not a religious experience but being with Me in My Presence. Coming before Me is the way to abundant …
“How can the joy of the Lord be my strength?” It was the second time that I had heard that question within a few weeks. Two different friends. Two different situations. One similar struggle. I began to ponder the question myself. What does it mean for the joy of the Lord to be my strength? The oft-quoted verse is hidden …
Guest blogger Hartlee Kirk is returning this month for a series on Simplicity. I’m always encouraged by her fresh words, simply served and lived. Join me as we seek refreshment in our lifestyles and outlook. Returning from an afternoon of shopping, you hear the sound of sirens growing louder. Turning the corner, you can not see your house …
