Hope-Full Living

Umpiring was an avocation I had for 47 years. I did many levels — Little League, Pony League, high school, American Legion, and college. Regardless of the level, the plate was always 17 inches wide. Sometimes I had a wide strike zone and sometimes a narrow zone. You wouldn’t think umpires would have trouble calling balls and strikes when the plate is always the same width. When it comes to sharing...

This ancient blessing pronounced at the end of many church services brings with it a powerful reminder that God is the source of all goodness in the world. When we close a morning of worship by singing the well-known hymn, “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” it has the same effect. All blessings. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,”...

If we compare our life’s journey to an ol’-fashioned road trip, the “road trip” comes to an abrupt halt when we lose a spouse or loved one. It feels like simultaneously the road map has blown out the window, the road signs are upside down, the tires are flat, and the engine has stalled. Dealing with death can feel like a complete highway breakdown, often with no desire to get back on the road agai...

My sister, Donna, suffered from cancer for many years. When the treatments were no longer preventing the spread of that dreadful disease or shrinking the tumor, she decided to “let go and let it to God.” I visited her often in the last days; we enjoyed reminiscing about our life as sisters 17 months apart. Together we planned her final service. My sister, baptized as an infant, lived her life as a...

I was sitting outside hoping to enjoy a beautiful evening. We’ve all experienced some dark times, and this was one of those for me. As I watched the sun set, I prayed for a brighter tomorrow. Heading indoors, I noticed a gift bag nearby. Inside was a book about the realities of heaven. A note attached revealed the giver was my friend, Bette. She knows firsthand about the challenges of life yet alw...

Not long after my parents sold their home, a raging fire burned down about a third of the houses in their neighborhood. Years later, I visited the nearby cemetery where my dad was buried. A light rain fell. Charred tree trunks still surrounded the gravestones. This desolate environment portrayed my emptiness. I lovingly rubbed my fingers over my father’s name engraved in the stone. Searching for p...

“I pledge: my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living.” I made that pledge at each meeting as a grade-schooler in 4-H club. I understood that I was to offer myself in service to others. God has given each of us time, talents, gifts, and money to use for honoring Him and blessing others. I may not be as active and available f...

Some thoughts are locked into our minds and consume our days — and nights. We try to release them, but they remain. Will someone call today? Will the doctor find the cause of this pain and discomfort? Will strength ever be available to me again? The release is discovered in Christ. Lying sleepless at night, we allow His Spirit to help us focus on the mercies and grace of the Lord. We imagine His g...

As I anxiously prepared for a recent trip, I worried about the weather. I checked on current road construction. I packed all the necessary things. The stress was overwhelming. As we travel on our journey through life, our days can be full of worry too. Our health, finances, and other concerns burden us. Yet, our heavenly Father has promised to provide all that we need: “He has caused us to be born...

Hard-hearted. We’ve all known people who fit that unpleasant description. There’s also a good chance we’ve been hard-hearted ourselves at times. God’s Old Testament people regularly grew hard-hearted, worshiping idols and profaning God’s name. That’s why God sent Ezekiel to tell them He would transform their hearts. He does the same for us today. By the power of His Spirit, God transforms our hear...

The 27 military cemeteries in Normandy, France, are a practical result of this verse. More than 9,000 American service members are buried in the main American facility there — men and women who gave their lives for the safety of those they loved. Being a veteran, married to a veteran, it hurt my heart to walk among those graves. And, I don’t think for a minute that veterans are the only ones affec...

Another high school reunion is coming soon! Since our last reunion five years ago, two close friends from the planning committee are now with their Lord. They will be missed. Reunions can be both happy and awkward. As our memories fade and age lines appear, we don’t recognize as many faces or know what they have been through. However, we do know that God says we will see our loved ones and have a...

While raising four very active boys who were involved in various sports and activities, I was constantly on the go. A regimented schedule during their school years was a must. Housekeeping, schoolwork, meal prepping, and countless hours in the car were my daily rituals. And I loved every minute of this very purposeful life. Then, my youngest son went to college. I felt a deep sense of loss. My pur...

Dahlias resist my efforts to produce the blooms I want. My last effort laughed at me, then withered. But later what I thought was dead pushed through the soil and produced orange petals. When I watered my other plants, the dahlia also benefited from refreshment. I couldn’t see what happened under the ground, but the roots absorbed water and nourished the plant. This dahlia was stubborn enough to r...

A controlled burn had left a blackened expanse near a hiking trail. Like a single star in a night sky, a golden blossom shone from its midst — a lowly but durable dandelion, its life sustained by its deep root. Its whorl of green leaves offered nourishment. When its golden head, like most of ours, turned gray, it would scatter its seeds — like the Word of God — on the breeze. We can learn much fro...

What a gift to find a birthday breakfast on the dining room table — poached eggs, bacon, toast, strawberries, and hot coffee. My husband had prepared delicious food and the surprise of pink roses. Psalm 23:5 tells us God prepares a table for us. When we pull up a chair to His table in prayer and Bible study, we find the gift of His presence. In our time with Him, we can exchange fear for the gift...

God spoke life-giving words at our Baptism: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Is this certain? Absolutely! When time began, all life started similarly. “In the beginning, God (the Father) created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Then, “the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) was hovering over the face of the waters” (v. 2b). Finally, God brought ev...

I learned some things from watching my grandson’s track meets. One is that you shouldn’t look back. It distracts you and slows you down. As you run the race of faith, don’t keep looking back with guilt and regrets. Let go of the faults and failures that plague you because they have already been forgiven and forgotten by our gracious God. Secondly, keep your eye on the finish line. In one race, a r...

We may be tempted to break with the call of our friend Jesus, as the Bible verse explains. But we are commanded to follow God’s directions. Because we are sinners in thought, word, and deed, reviewing the given commands is helpful. How many times do we lapse from our daily Bible readings and devotions? How many times do we forget who our real friends are? The church community should be the source...

Anyone who has been around a boat knows that the anchor is a very important piece of equipment. Without an anchor, a boat, even though it is stopped, can be lost by floating away in any direction with very little current or a bit of wind. However, once the anchor is set, the boat will stay put and stable. Having an anchor for one’s soul is a beautiful promise. It gives us confidence and stability...

We do not have any eagles in our neighborhood, but we do have hawks. I enjoy watching them soar. I have also noticed something: They seldom flap their wings. Hawks, like eagles, have learned that the secret to soaring is to let the air current take them higher. I believe there is a lesson here. Human nature tells us to work harder. As a result, we spend a lot of time flapping our wings. As discipl...

Born into a military family, I planned to attend the Air Force Academy and then to serve my country. In high school, I did well. However, I injured my knee. I then realized that I would not pass the Academy’s physical exam. I enrolled in a college with a military officers training program. While there, I had knee surgery. After graduating, I volunteered for the Army but failed my physical. Apparen...

Holidays hold special memories of my childhood. Memorial Day ranks high on my list. It always included parades, picnics, and the beginning of summer fun. For my family it also meant a day to visit the cemetery, remembering “that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13b). In Wisconsin, lilacs are one of the first early flowers to bloom in spring. It’s pure joy to sto...

We almost always use the word “hope” to mean a desire or wish: “I hope this works.” But in the Bible, hope means something more. When the psalmist writes, “My hope is in you” (v. 39:7), hope means a sure, rock-solid confidence in God’s action on his behalf. We see “hope” again in Acts 2. On the first Christian Pentecost, Peter quotes Psalm 16: “my flesh also will dwell in hope” (emphasis added). H...

At one time, young women had hope chests — a place to keep household goods and that special embroidered tablecloth for when she would hopefully meet and marry Mr. Right. If marriage wasn’t part of her life’s journey, she had plenty of items to start her backup plan. The Christian “hope chest” is filled with the sure hope of God’s promises, equipping us for our journey: We who are baptized into His...