I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. —Psalm 143:5 ESV New England is the best place to be in autumn—in my biased opinion! When my husband, Ray, was in the military, and we lived abroad, I missed my beautiful part of the country most in the fall. I wanted to see the brightness of the leaves against an October sky and hear their crunch under my feet while tromping through the woods. It’s a beautiful season. Trees light up the sky in a blaze of glory—before winter comes and blankets them all white and quiet during its own lovely season. We had the great privilege of caring for Ray’s father during […] Read more »

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” —Mark 14:32 NKJV It’s been one of those long, exhausting days. You’ve just drifted off when you hear those dreaded words: “Mommy, my tummy doesn’t feel good.” Your late-night shift turns into back-to-back all-nighters as the tummy thing rips through the whole family. You’ve spent the day running errands and meeting needs when your dearest friend’s emergency trip to the hospital presses you into service. We all know what it’s like to have that “one more thing!” Maybe it’s not even one more thing on top of a ton of other stuff. Maybe it’s just one big tough season that requires your tending to […] Read more »

For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. —Psalm 95:3-5 NIV Overlooking Puget Sound from the top of the Space Needle on an unusually clear day in Seattle, I saw the late morning sunlight glinting off the water as tiny sailboats glided by. In the distance, Mount Rainier’s massive, white peaks stood proudly in the haze. Not only was the height of the Space Needle overwhelming, but the beauty I was able to consume was arresting … like I was looking down from Heaven. Not surprisingly, towers like the […] Read more »

… Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. —Philippians 2:12b-13 NLT It’s Labor Day, and I am contemplating a conundrum that I have as a Christian. The Bible instructs me to work hard and to surrender to God, who works in me. I am to do my utmost to please Him. Yet, I must also understand that apart from Him, I can do nothing. How on earth do I live that out in a way that is right and pleasing to God? Am I working too hard in my own strength? Am I being lazy, just hoping God […] Read more »