In case you didn’t notice, Thanksgiving is coming up this week. Tom and I are “hosting” Thanksgiving this year. Having one brother and one sister, the three families rotate who is hosting Thanksgiving. The last time Tom and I hosted, John and Jackie got the honors at their house. But this year they are going …
From Worship Experiences
People God Puts in Your Way
I recently read that Debbie Macomber, a best-selling author and avid knitter, made a list at one point of 30 people she would like to meet in her lifetime. Because she is now famous, she had gotten the opportunity to meet 19 of them. But, she said, she realized over time that the well-known people …
Protestant Services on our Cruise
We were on the Eurodam for 17 days – three of them Sundays. So, of course, we wanted to “go to church” while we were on the cruise. Every Sunday there was one Protestant service, listed in the “When and Where” as “congregation-led.” The Roman Catholics got a priest to lead a daily service but …
Prayerwalk by Janet Holm McHenry
As part of my morning devotions, I recently read two books on prayer. One was an old book that I have read and used to lead prayer groups many times. “What Happens When Women Pray” by Evelyn Christenson. The other was a new to me book, “Prayerwalk” by Janet Holm McHenry. Both are valuable resources …
Sunrise Always Comes
Who or what can you count on? Who is there for you every single day? Who do you know that always has your back? What can you depend on no matter what? Even in the darkest, worst times of your life? Those questions came to mind when I recently read this poem by Celia Thaxter, …
Please Help Me with my Homework
I recently read a story about a child that wanted her parent’s help with her homework. When she told her dad she couldn’t do it, she held out the paper and expected him to write the correct answers for it. The author of the story drew a parallel between the father in the story and …
God of Little Things
Do you ever feel like you should be doing more with your life? That God is calling you to something’s awesome but your boss or your students or your kids are making so much noise you can’t hear? Do you get overwhelmed by the everyday tasks and wish there was something big you could do. …
Point Man of Our Salvation
Yesterday at church, Pastor Joe used Hebrews 2:10 as one of his core verses. “For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (KJV). Instead of translating the Greek word ἀρχηγὸν as “Captain,” however, Pastor …
Adrift or Sailing with Direction
Here in the Pacific Northwest lots of people have boats. We are dependent on boats to get around from one island to another. Some people live on islands not served by the ferries. If they didn’t have their own boats, they wouldn’t be able to get groceries or other necessities. So it shouldn’t surprise me …
Everlasting God Who Loves Forever
I recently came across a list that enumerated all the times the word “everlasting” appears in the Bible. In the New International Translation the word appears 61 times. Compared to the word “forever” this is just a drop in the bucket. “Forever” appears 289 times in the NIV. Have you ever thought about the difference …