Encounter God here
Nutricia — that's one name that I'll never forget! It was given to a baby girl. Her mother got it from a label on a tin can. She liked the name, so called her daughter by that name. Nutricia was a brand name for milk supplements. In … Read more
Occasionally, my husband and I argue over a matter that neither of us knows enough about, like our current roofing issue. Wrestling over such matters is a silly waste of energy and a needless source of strain. These are times to simply … Read more
Have you noticed how often the apostle Paul opens his letters with expressions of thanksgiving for people, specifically the believers? – I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. *(1 Corinthians 1:4 NIV … Read more
Recently, I started reading through the Old Testament. While wading through the dark details of intrigue, revenge, and cruelty, and the long catalogues of ancient names and repetitive information, I found myself praying, "Dear Lord! I … Read more
It kept returning — that pesky little spider! The creature was free to explore the wide world of nature during the outdoor worship service. Yet it preferred my notes — the very spot from where I was preaching. Finally, after several … Read more
This is a wise question — especially in view of today's wastefulness. Questioning needless waste is reasonable! But apparently, it wasn't one day when at a dinner party a woman poured an entire pint of perfume on Jesus. It was worth a … Read more
Stones and words have one peculiar feature in common, which I realized after hearing a mom share this story: My four children and I were on an expedition to pick wild berries. I happened to turn over a stone and let the children see what … Read more
Today's verse reminds me of advice that I found years ago in a children's book on science. I've forgotten both the title and author's name, but I did preserve this quotation: One of the hardest things for any of us to admit is that we … Read more
This devotional was inspired by the devastating forest fire at Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Sometimes, God is like a forest fire in how He manages His church. To us, a forest fire is intensely destructive because it consumes hectares … Read more
One morning, I decided simply to gaze at some blue jays just outside our window. I did that for a reason: I felt that I was becoming too complacent about blue jays. They're always around — plenty of them. I saw them mostly as raucous … Read more