A recent visit to a local thrift store provided an unexpected lesson. While shopping for a specific project in the rear of the store, I struck up a conversation with a fast-moving, wiry 65-year-old worker named Michael. With his long frizzy hair and frenetic work pace, he struck me as a fusion of Bob Ross …
Have you ever tackled a jigsaw puzzle? At first, a pile of scattered, oddly shaped pieces can feel overwhelming. Yet with patience and focus, a picture takes shape. Here are a few life parallels for a believer. 1. Every Piece Has a Place Just as each puzzle piece fits perfectly somewhere, each believer has a …
Recently I heard my wife voice sudden surprise as she made her breakfast protein shake. Apparently the blender jar’s seal wasn’t tight at the base and the shake’s ingredients were leaking all over. I remember a similar experience after an oil change, when the mechanic failed to adequately tighten the oil filter or oil pan …
Walking the greenbelt behind my house yesterday I encountered a neighbor picking weeds to fill a vase. This unmown area offered plenty to choose from, and there was no weed-picking competition out there. We’re talking weeds you’d pull up or spray to remove from your yard. She later admitted disappointment with the results once she …
The Bible is filled with stories of ordinary people who struggled with fear, insecurity, and unworthiness—yet were called by a God who saw past their limitations. Far too often, when God asks us to do something, we focus on our inadequacies and try to excuse ourselves. Yet God speaks a different identity over us—one rooted …
Do you live in a place where seasons change? If so, you’ve probably looked forward to the vibrant growth of spring after the dull browns and grays of winter. But along with grass exiting dormancy, bulbs blooming, and perennials waking from their sleep, emerge little green sprouts you don’t recall planting. If you’ve ever gardened, you …
Do you enjoy nature? I sure do! While I was stuck inside all day, working remotely the last few years for a technology company, I decided to put a bookshelf under my window and grow some plants. I’d read somewhere that if you can’t get out in nature, the next best solution is to have …
I’m not talking to you! Ever been given the silent treatment? It usually comes from hurt or offense—someone cuts you off, refuses to communicate, and pretends you don’t exist. This behavior signals emotional immaturity and relational dysfunction. Healthy relationships are marked by good communication; poor ones by negative patterns or avoidance. This applies not only to …
My sister recently asked us to care for her birds while she’s on a road trip. We now have her two lovely—and very vocal—canaries next to the window in our family room. I sent a friend a recording of a particularly long series of loud and varied songs yesterday. And the reply? “Quick! Throw a …
“Do you really need that much dental floss?” I heard one guy describe as his knee-jerk reaction to his wife casually pulling out almost two feet of floss from the dispenser. In his mind, he was calculating how fast that 43.7 yards of Glide would go, at $5.59 plus tax. I get it. True confession: …
God highlighted a quality to me this morning that we all admire, but typically hope to never need: fortitude. One dictionary defines it as mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously. Fortitude will empower us to face challenges in this world and still be of good cheer. I’ll share three …
As I write, I am babysitting our youngest grandchild while his parents close on their first home. Packed in a one-bedroom apartment with a baby for the past 8 months, the two of them are eager to move! Soon they’ll start preparing the new house for their growing family. No doubt, they are excited with …
