I’ve always enjoyed Christmas lights, especially on the tree. My father allowed me to help with setting up the tree and putting on the lights and it was a big day when I was allowed to be responsible for the lights all by myself. Sometimes, late at night, I would go downstairs and light the tree. I would lay on the sofa and just take […]
Sitting here, watching the Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade, smelling the scent of our holiday dinner, and enjoying time with family, I am very aware that there is so much to be thankful for. Too often we wait for special events to appreciate the blessings of our lives, yet every day gives us many reasons to give thanks. Even when we face pain and challenges, there […]
Yesterday was All Saints Day. Admittedly, this is a day created by the church of the past to offer a more Christian focus for celebrating the transition from October to November. It never quite eclipsed the celebration of Halloween, but it did add an important day of remembrance to the church calendar. When the Bible refers to “saints” it is clearly a reference to all […]
Yesterday, our family celebrated with some good friends as they stood before the Lord and said, “Yes,” to each other. It was a wonderful wedding on a beautiful day and we were so thankful to be included with other family and friends to witness and bless their act of holy covenant. While nearly every wedding is special and beautiful, when the couple clearly loves God […]
Change is never easy. It can be fun, even worthwhile, but there is always a period of adjustment. The most inspiring possibilities still fail to completely eclipse the twinge of grief we feel toward letting go of the familiar, and touch of fear for what is to come. From the simplest adjustment to the most profound transition, change makes an impact on each of us.At […]
Everyone wants to be wanted. We all want to know that we have value, that we belong and that our life makes a difference. Lacking that sense of belonging and worth can lead to all sorts of destructive behavior that wounds both the individual and the people surrounding them. Even if things do not go that far, people can be left with an emotional wound […]
As many of us head to Worship Services this morning, I wonder what we expect will happen while we are there. Sure, we know there will be hymns, some Scripture and a message from the pastor. We likely expect to see some friends, pray for our church family, and hear the list of announcements. All this and more may well happen, but that is not […]
In the digital would we live in, it is easy to appear lost should you decide to unplug for a while. We are accustomed to speedy responses and easy accessibility leaving a myriad of open-ended questions if we fail to respond as expected. Take too long responding to a friend request on Facebook and someone’s feelings are hurt. Take some time away from the computer […]
I have an extra large umbrella, partially because it keeps me drier, but mostly because it is fun to share. It does not happen often, but there are those special times when my wife and I are together while the rain is falling I can bring out the umbrella and we can walk together. It is a pleasure to share my covering with her and […]
The past two days, my morning devotional readings were on the subject of encouragement. Specifically, they were focused on the value of being and encourager. At first, I found myself walking away from the readings saying to myself, “That’s nice. It is a good idea to encourage others,” but honestly, I was not very moved by what I read. Little did I know, those readings […]