We grow a variety of flowers and vegetables every summer–thanks to my husband. But my sister-in-law surpasses our collection with her veritable botanical garden. These two green-thumbed siblings amaze me with their gift of gardening. Yet even I, the weakest gardener among us three, know the two key factors to successful gardening: sunlight and water. …
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to worry? I don’t even watch the news (a virtual fear factory), and yet just going through life gives opportunity after opportunity for me to get caught up in anxious thoughts. Jesus recognized this challenge and invites, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, …
I Chronicles 16:24-26 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. The Bible calls all of this world’s gods mere idols–but the Lord, who made the …
You never know what a day may bring. We’ve experienced that truth over the past few months. When COVID hit, our youngest daughter’s college closed its doors and she moved back home. One month later our oldest daughter, suddenly faced with drastic and undesirable changes to her living situation, also moved back home. I rearranged …
From over 30 years’ experience, I’ve noticed we can learn many lessons in the kitchen if we’ll pay attention. For instance, have you thought much about plastic wrap? Alone, its flimsy floppiness appears virtually useless. And left to its own devices, it mostly sticks to itself. Or, as if it had a mind of its …
Some of our family enjoys movies based on Marvel comic book characters. Ironman, Thor, Spider-Man, Captain America — these superheroes use superhuman power to fight bad guys. And while we see their flaws, we still root for them to win. They inspire us to keep going when the going gets tough. Did you know that …
Recently we decided to visit a new automatic car wash. What a cool machine! We drove up to their conveyor, shifted into neutral, then just sat in the car as it pulled us through. After powerful streams of soapy water, we passed through a forest of suspended scrubbing strips, followed by a final rinse and a blow dry …
This summer I work with a bright, ambitious young college student who, among other things, performs wonders with spreadsheets. When I draw attention to his solo accomplishments, he deflects my praise, saying “we” did it, because “we’re a team!” His humility catches me by surprise, and his unassuming manner reminds me of David in the …
When I was a boy living in the panhandle of Florida, my family visited our little beachfront cottage in Gulf Shores, Alabama in the summer. One July evening when there was no moon and calm seas, my dad announced conditions were just right, and we would go floundering that night. Now you may have floundered …
With growing season in full swing, we spend many hours weeding, planting, and watering our lovely flowers and (struggling) lawn. Spending time outdoors invigorates our souls and brings us joy. And Genesis 1:1 tells us where gardening began: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. From this verse and the rest of …
