Christmas Music
Don’t you enjoy the music of Christmas? Well, I don’t want to start listening in October. But it’s special to hear it throughout the month of December. It wouldn’t hurt us to share it the year ‘round. But then it…
Christmas Curiosity
When the Christmas presents start to pile up beneath the tree, some people are very curious, trying to guess what’s in the pretty boxes. They lift a package and shake it, trying to figure out what it might be. My…
Advent Reflections
This morning was our first advent service of the season at our church. We looked at Matthew’s account of the birth of Christ. You would think that all we talked about was joy. But we looked at the heart-breaking verses…
Balance
Recently I took a tumble. I lost my balance in the night on my way to the bathroom. Surprise! Not a fun one, either. At least there are no broken bones. Just bruises. In reaction to this fall, I’m working…
Reminders
When I wake each morning, I am surrounded by reminders of loved ones who are now in heaven. My grandma’s painting is above the bed. My other grandma’s antique chairs are beside me. That’s where I sit and read my…
Devastation
Have you ever suffered great destruction or overwhelming shock or grief? If we live long enough, we probably all have at some point. But when I compare what I’ve gone through to what others have endured, my problems seem relatively…
Perspective
Sometimes we lose our perspective. We make “mountains out of mole hills,” as the expression goes. Although I believe that everything in life has significance, we need to weigh things in the light of eternity. Now that’s a difficult thing…
Object Lessons
When a teacher uses objects to illustrate a lesson, it helps us remember the object of the lesson. It ingrains the real meaning in our minds and hearts in a special way. Jesus, the Master Teacher, used lots of object…
Mercy
Today I was reading in Isaiah about the Lord’s mercy to the children of Israel. So I’ve been pondering on the word mercy. It’s a desirable trait, but not a word we use often in normal conversation. The dictionary describes…
GPS
Kansas City is a huge city. There’s Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City, Kansas, and many sprawling suburbs surrounding both of these cities, spread over two states. So we often use our GPS to navigate this large territory. I am surprised…