Hope-Full Living

One weekday afternoon, a mother and her young daughter entered our church office. “She wants to see what’s in your castle,” the mom explained. “She likes the pretty windows.” As I led them into the sanctuary, I explained: “This is our church, it is where we worship God. Each of the windows reminds us of something God has done for us. This is where we feel close to him.” We are blessed to have so m...

What’s your “family home?” For me, it’s where I had my own room, where Mom did so much cooking, where we had a tree house and the wishing well Grandpa built. Over the years, five generations of us gathered there. I love how Psalm 90 calls God “our dwelling place” — our shelter, where we gather and are nourished, where we play and rest, a place which we and uncounted generations call “home.” Howeve...

Deep in the darkness of winter, I need to see seeds sprouting, so I plant herbs on the table. But as I write today, it’s May Day! The birds are serenading our sunny walk. I hear and see robins and mockingbirds, among others in the flowering trees. The birds’ chorus reminds me that we each have a song to sing. The Lord loves us and guides our song all our lives. God gives us a wonderful variety of...

I recently saw a sign outside a nearby church that said, “If you don’t feel close to God, who moved?” God is eternally present. Some people, however, distance themselves from him. This can occur for several reasons. They may take him for granted, are distracted by other priorities, or think they have no need for him. Others feel unworthy of his help. God always invites people to know him better. H...

Mirrors reflect and magnify. Let’s consider Jesus’ cross as a mirror. The cross reflects our past. It reveals the Advent of Jesus — born to die. It’s the culmination of thousands of years of prophecies telling of the soon-coming Messiah. The cross reflects our present. It illustrates our current sinner/saint state in which we live. It represents where our sins were atoned, as it simultaneously ech...

Such a simple question; such a profound answer! When Andrew and John first met Jesus, it was natural that they wanted to spend more time with the Teacher. They had no idea how their lives were about to change. The Greek word (meno) for “staying” can also be translated as “abiding,” “dwelling,” or “remaining.” Over time Christ would come to dwell in their hearts and minds, a continual, abiding pres...

The times I most sense the inspiring presence of God is when I am writing a sermon. But there is something that goes on before I write a sermon. I remind myself that this sermon is for me. I have no right to step foot into the pulpit to share a biblical message with others, until, and unless, I know this message is for me; for the assurance my sins are forgiven, for the strengthening of my faith,...

Jesus promised that when his followers gather in his name, even just two or three of them, he is present with them (Matthew 18:20). When we come together to worship our risen Lord, we can be sure that he is there. The Lord is present in community, but his presence is also very personal. We hear the personal promise of his presence as Jesus hung dying on the cross. He told the repentant thief: “Tod...

A new church year begins in Advent. In fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy, Jesus came in the flesh to save us. He still comes to our hearts through the wonderful Advent readings, hymns of praise, and the Lord’s Supper. And he will come at the last day as RISEN LORD AND KING to welcome all believers into his presence. In the richness of the liturgy handed down to us, one generation commends God’...

We older folks can always use a good laugh, and Abraham was no exception. When told by God that his ninety-year-old wife, Sarah, will become pregnant with a son, he falls on his face in laughter. “That’s’ a good one, Yahweh,” you can hear him gasp between the chuckles. Then, old wife Sarah will laugh when she hears an angelic messenger tell her husband of the impending miraculous birth. The Lord’s...

Today is a day to remember all the blessings that we have been given. Yet, there are many who have no one to share this day with, feel isolated, or are experiencing difficult times this Thanksgiving. It is at these times that we must remember that our Lord promises that he is with us and will give us strength to move beyond our circumstances. Many of the challenges we face cannot be eliminated ins...

How many minutes does your family spend eating their Thanksgiving dinner? American humorist, Erma Bombeck answered this question with the following quote, “Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Football half-times take twelve minutes.” In the rush to eat and get back to the football game, some very important parts of the Thanksgiving meal are for...

Each year at this time, the past, present, and future collide in a whirlwind. We view the past through the hazy glow of memory as we remember holidays long ago. The present is all too real as we rush to complete even relatively insignificant placeholders on the schedule. And the future? Simply look into a mirror, reminders of age slip into each day. The years continue to pass, while time seems to...

When I was 18 years old, I had to decide where to go to college and what to study. I opened a career catalog, read the job descriptions, and chose Dental Hygiene. For 40 years, I’ve worked in this profession, through my children’s early years, during our homeschooling journey, alongside my professional writing career, and now, as I help care for my parents and grandkids. The Holy Spirit didn’t bri...

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the words, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” etched in metal plates on the pulpit at our church. At first it struck me as quite odd, but as I’ve been a pastor now for many years, it makes perfect sense. As I get tempted to spend the precious few minutes I have in that pulpit talking about the latest trend or railing against the latest thing that offends, the Lord b...

Time sometimes makes us tense. There always seems a need to be somewhere on schedule. Some cultures are much less compelled by time. Languages operate by tenses. Some count it vital. (Like the astronaut adjusting to connect with the space station.) Does God ever let time get in the way of his loving us? Does he ever miss an “appointment?” God has his own time zone. He is the God of time, no matter...

A friend recently wrote me that she had been sitting in her doctor’s office waiting for her scheduled appointment when she suddenly had a heart attack. Some might see that as convenient, a remarkable coincidence, or a lucky break. As Christians, we recognize it as God’s perfect timing. She was grateful, looking back later, that she was in a place where immediate help was available from medical per...

Over a cup of coffee, Lyn sighed, “I’m making a seasonal readjustment. It’s not just holidays, temperature changes, and different clothes, but a mental readjustment.” As we talked, she wondered what life would look like as the year ended and a new one began. We often become overwhelmed as we turn pages on a calendar. As the months and seasons change, so do we. Our interests and health change. We d...

How do you feel as you “get older?” What changes do you experience as “you age?” Now, wait a moment. As near as I can tell, I’ve been “getting older” since the day I was born. That’s simply the process; that’s how it works! It is a matter of how you approach that query; of how you approach life. Is every day seen as an adventure? As a great opportunity to explore the boundaries of new experiences?...

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a helper with you 24/7? I could have used an extra pair of human hands with my busy four-year-old, my potty-training two-year-old, and my nursing newborn. Even with my children being much older now, I’d love to have a constant helper for all I do. The good news is that we always have our Helper — the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised he would send this Helper to us once...

Confined to a nursing home due to her advanced dementia, my grandmother seemed to be reverting further and further into her early years, even lapsing into the German language she had not spoken for eight decades. As my mother prepared her for bed one evening, Grandma closed her eyes and prayed, “Ich bin klein, mein Herz ist rein ...”, the prayer she had learned as a little girl. What a beautiful p...

There are people who believe in the Big Bang Theory, which maintains there was a large fireball floating around that exploded one day — and poof — the world began. Others believe that God created the world, but then disappeared to let it run on its own. However, believers contend that God created the world and is still active in it today. Job had no answers to all of the Lord’s questions to him. A...

The future is any time after right now. It is a year or two away, it is tomorrow. The one sure thing about the future is that it shall come. The Beatitudes speak about the future. Each verse expresses a future hope. Sometimes it’s implied, but usually it’s clearly stated in the words, “they shall.” Before we reach the future there’s the present. People grieve, are treated unfairly, deal with many...

Two young boys were playing with their trucks in the dirt in front of the garage. Unaware of their presence, a man entered the garage from a back door, got into the car, and started backing out. Screams brought the car to a halt, but not before leaving tire marks on the forehead of the younger boy. That little guy survived the scary moment, grew up, and became my husband and the driver, my father-...

“Dear Lord, I need healing NOW.” It’s our sinful human nature that tends to make demands. It’s God’s nature to give us opportunities to practice patience. He says his grace is sufficient for us. As the desert dwellers of 40 years were about to enter the Promised Land, Moses preached a pretty long sermon, recounting the key events of the time since their forefathers left Egypt. Read the whole accou...