Hope-Full Living

Last week, I headed to a new restaurant in my community. Confident in my directional skills, I chose not to use my GPS. Three wrong turns later, I finally conceded and pulled over to examine the map on my phone. Sometimes, we do the same with the Lord, don’t we? Relying on our own strength, we charge into the day believing we know and understand the path ahead. Then, when obstacles come, we cry ou...

I used to be a doer, in fact, a super doer. I used to be the pianist, choir director, youth director, Sunday school teacher, food pantry coordinator, and activities director. All that while trying to be a wife and mother to three children under 2 1/2 years of age. What was I thinking?! I look back at all I accomplished then and feel guilty that at 65, I’m no longer a super doer. I don’t have the e...

On January 9, 2026, with the two of us remembering the 33rd anniversary of our daughter Becky’s death in a Seattle hospital, our cell phone rang with an unknown number and name. My wife decided to answer and gave me the phone. On the other end of the call, an 81-year-old pastor of a church in the Florida Keys was preparing to retire after 40 years of service in Iowa, Minnesota, and Florida. He was...

Sometimes it is hard to accept the fact that our heavenly Father knows what is best for us. We want to be in charge of our lives. Many years ago, I suffered a miscarriage after praying for another child for about five years. While I was waiting to have surgery, one thought kept going through my mind, “Well He knows what best to grant me.” Later I found comfort in the whole hymn verse, “Well He kno...

I sing in the choir as a member at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Prescott, Ariz. Our pianist/organist is a former opera singer. With her expertise, our 16 voices are instructed in timing, correct pitch, and necessary tone changes when appropriate. As an 81-year-old retired missionary, teacher, and pastor, I have been involved in many choir/ worship services. We come together to make joy...

A few years ago, my husband suffered a heart attack that required bypass surgery. After we arrived home from the hospital, church members and friends regularly checked on him. They brought food, sent cards, made phone calls, and took care of some household chores. The outpouring of love we received reminded me of one reason why God tells us not to forsake assembling ourselves together (Hebrews 10:...

Perhaps you’re thinking that your life is in such a routine that it’s almost boring — same schedule, same meals, same TV shows, same medical visits. “It’s the same every day,” you might say. We are to be mirrors of Jesus — to be His followers, His imitators. Note this Biblical attribute of our Savior: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His sameness is as powerful Creator (...

“I do it myself!” This is the exclamation of every 2-year-old striving for independence. This is great when the goal is to dress oneself, but independence is not always the best strategy. In fact, Christians are not designed for independence but to live “in-dependence” of God and of fellow members of the Body of Christ. As we mature, we learn how vulnerable we are to the attacks of Satan, the worl...

Intending to call a friend with whom I had not spoken to recently, I scrolled through my cell phone contact list. Among the names of family members, businesses, and ministries, I saw A. and S., former students from the Middle East. Have they trusted Jesus as Savior? I say a quiet prayer for them. I give thanks for C. who still serves God in her mid-nineties. I thank God for the lives of some who n...

Isaiah 41 was written to the Israelites while they were in exile in Babylon. For 70 years, they experienced hardship, fears, and abandonment. I’ve never been in Babylon, but I have endured a different version of what the Israelites felt. When my husband died, I was thrust into my own exile — bills to pay with much less money, decisions that needed to be made, and loneliness. I questioned the prese...

Before me lies the local funeral home’s photo calendar. I admire Big Ben (July), Mount Rainier (August), and an Indiana shoreline (September). During these months, our neighbors and church members are away on vacation. Soon I will notice they’ve returned. Maybe they’ve had a memorably good time: good weather, seeing family, enjoying the land or water. Maybe they’ve had a disappointing experience:...

Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — are making what’s old new again. Buying vintage from secondhand stores and consignment shops is the new craze. Some call it “thrifting.” I call it “re-purposing.” As we age, it’s tempting to think we are “past our expiration date,” or that we no longer serve a purpose. While it’s true that we can no longer do everything we used to, through Christ we have...

I’ve been to lots of funerals. The best and most comforting ones are where Jesus is talked about the most. It is good to remind the people at the funeral of the good things about the person who has died, but it should never be the last word. The best, most fitting, last words are, “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!” We mourn, but not like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)...

My mom used to recite all the presidents and vice presidents to keep her mind sharp. My mental exercise involves naming the multiples of nine, forwards and backwards. I also recall facts from the past, such as, “29 Army Trail Road,” my childhood address. Can you remember yours? How about your zip code? Hopefully, our recollections include more than history and math facts. All the verses and hymns...

Lately, I have been dealing with cancer, and I appreciate receiving get-well cards with Bible verses on them. I’m amazed how so many cards contain different Bible passages that all speak about God’s healing ability. Actually, I really appreciate the get-well cards where friends wrote, “I am praying for you!” One person offered to pray for me over the phone! St. John wrote about prayer: “Beloved, I...

The children of Israel were in constant trouble after the death of Joshua. They fell to the temptation of the idols around them. That put them into conflict with God’s plan. Their disobedience came with a high price. When they cried for help, God raised up judges who rescued them. That was a reoccurring cycle: people sin, they cry for help, God sends a judge, people repent, peace is restored — rin...

Years ago, as a New York City police officer, my friend, Mo, had spent months combing the wreckage of 9/11. Mo had experienced the death and destruction up close. When he recently reminded me, “We’re just passing through,” he reflected life through a vivid, personal lens. Now retired, Mo carries bodily reminders of those days digging through the rubble on Manhattan. As a Christian, he knows, “We’r...

Sometimes I wonder if God really and truly hears my pleas and requests. Isn’t He too busy to tend to my pains and problems? Does He get irritated when my thoughts wander and I forget to finish my prayer? This verse clearly squashes any doubt that almighty God does not hear our prayers. God speaks in the first person, saying, “I will answer ... I will hear.” These words in Isaiah portray our Lord a...

There have been many times in our lives that Liz and I have wondered how we will get through a difficult situation. For us, one such day was on July 23, 2025, when we had to bury our son, Joel. The pain was overwhelming, and we didn’t know if we would be able to get through the day. It was at that time we realized there was Someone by our side, namely, the Lord. He is the One who could give us str...

When Roy waved to his neighbor, he noticed John’s usual smile was absent. He walked over and learned that John had lost his job. Roy shared that he experienced the same years ago. “We had to learn new ways to trust God. He provided what we needed and the patience to wait.” Roy went on to say, “If God knows the hairs on our head, He knows your need and has a place for you.” Before they parted, the...

The woods behind our house give us multiple opportunities to view wildlife. One spring morning a doe walked out of the trees with two spotted fawns. Our dog barked through the window at the trio, but all they did was perk their ears. The youngsters stayed close to the security of mom as she led her children to fresh grass and leaves. The babies were never left alone for even a short amount of time...

My husband and son enjoy fishing together. They find a place on the lake where they can turn off the motor and drop anchor so they will be safe from drifting off course. Then, they cast their reels knowing they are in a good spot with a solid hope of successfully bringing home a good catch for supper. A life centered solidly on Jesus Christ is our best place to find lasting peace. With our faith a...

Relationships sustain us. They connect and support us. But sometimes the strength of the ties with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and even our spiritual connection with God, becomes strained, tested, or lost. In the immediacy of our lives, witnessing misunderstanding, disappointment, betrayal, illness, and separation — through death or otherwise — can disconnect us from the perceived conf...

When I walk early in the morning, and it is not too cloudy, the sunrise is spectacular. The Lord paints the sky with wild abandon, and my heart knows wonder and joy. From my front porch at night, facing west, I witness the Lord visiting from on high at the close of the day with an awesome display of heavenly color. A heart of wonder knows the peace of God. Today’s words from Luke come from the beg...

Before my operation I was worried. I am feeling better now, but it didn’t happen right away. The apostle Paul reminds us to “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18a). Things that are seen are only temporary, but things that can’t be seen last forever. This passage encourages believers not to lose heart in suffering because their inner selves are...