Hope-Full Living

Screen addiction is real. Whether the screen hangs on the wall or slips into a pocket, anyone can become addicted. Reproaching a grandchild, or even another adult, for unhealthy tech habits is only part of the answer. For a Christian, reproaching another, regardless of the behavior that needs correcting, begins with loving the other person. That’s sometimes forgotten when reproaching another. The...

As we traverse the dog days of summer, we probably dread the days of hot, humid, stormy weather that typifies this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere. Ancients thought dog days were caused by the rise of Sirius in the night sky, bringing not just unstable weather, but also drought, bad luck, and sickness. We know that stars rising do not cause bad things to happen. Since the fall, calamities...

I once worked at a manufacturing plant. One day, I learned that I would have to give a key customer some disappointing news. There would be an unforeseen delay in the delivery of parts needed for his project. Concerned, that evening I sought advice from my father. After listening, he said, “You cannot communicate a problem without offering a solution.” The next day, my staff and I revised our work...

What might be learned from a servant like Job when we live in a world filled with suffering in our own lives and everywhere? Suffering caused by natural disasters, violence, crime, and wars with deadly consequences leaves us exhausted and questioning, “why.” Job was a righteous man. He trusted God’s promise of a coming Redeemer. He knew he was a sinner and offered sacrifices to God for himself and...

My pastor once told this story to illustrate righteousness: There was a man intent on restoring a classic car, but no matter what he tried, the engine would not run. He took it to a mechanic and when he came to retrieve his car, the engine worked perfectly. The mechanic stood back and said, “Now, that’s righteous!” What had seemed irretrievably broken had been made new. The same is true for us. We...

Brian dropped his backpack on the floor and sank into his favorite chair. His eyes looked as though he had been crying. “Did something bad happen at kindergarten today?” his mother asked. “Josh and this other kid were teasing one of the girls. They even laughed at her when she was trying to read,” Brian answered. “What happened next?” Mother asked. “The teacher made Josh and this other kid stay in...

Have you ever ruined your life with a bad decision, then blamed the Lord for the trouble that resulted? I can recall times when I knowingly chose the wrong thing, then pouted that God didn’t fix my situation. Secretly I blamed God because he is all-knowing and all-powerful and could have intervened for my benefit. My misplaced anger quickly became a barrier between me and the Lord. It would have b...

As a pastor’s wife of many decades, I’ve noticed a common phenomenon among senior citizens. As we age, we may subscribe to the philosophy, “Been there, done that; it’s time for the young folks to take over.” But God put a thought in my heart: Abraham and Sarah were 100 and 90 respectively when Isaac was born, and according to Luke, Zechariah and Elizabeth were “well advanced in years” when John wa...

Little Gracie squished the play dough shapes she had made with her Daddy. She wanted to make more but the play dough scraps were too lumpy. Her small hands couldn’t smooth out the dough again. “Make it new again, Daddy,” she said. Just like the play dough, our hearts daily become dirty and lumpy with sin. No matter how we try to make them new again, we fail. But our Loving Father sent his Son, Jes...

Many people have made sacrifices. A parent chose to work a second job to provide for his/her family. A child postpones a promising career to take care of an ill parent. Abraham prepared the sacrifice of his beloved son, Isaac. There’s also our Heavenly Father who chose to send his only begotten Son into this world. God “did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). Why are s...

People are planners. They plan for the current day, week, month, or year. They may plan for some needed chores or family events, especially a vacation. No doubt, as we age, our plans include medical visits, rehabilitation stays, or hospital treatments. We can plan everything to the smallest detail, BUT something may interrupt the plan. We then, no doubt, get upset and say, “Now what should we do?”...

The call was unexpected. “Lisa’s asked for a divorce.” Stunned silence on our end of the call! The pain and catch in our son’s voice were unmistakable. Our hearts were breaking. Figuring out how to love and support our son while living thousands of miles away wasn’t easy. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit touched Jason’s church community. They became HIS heart, hands, and feet as he navigated his way to...

Our Lord created Adam and Eve to enjoy this world. We can’t fully understand why God allowed Satan in Eden. However, God put man in The Garden with the ability to make decisions. God reproached Adam and Eve after the temptation by banishing them from Eden. They and their descendants were forced to live lives of hardship. That’s you and me. Our God is a forgiving God. Jesus had to come to earth to...

I’m writing this devotion in the middle of winter on a dark and cold day. It will be read in the middle of summer. Hanging on my wall is a needlework with embroidered flowers and the verse, “Sunshine and flowers bring light to the heart.” I’m reminded how our lives resemble the seasons. Today I might be feeling the darkness of winter filled with regrets and sins. But I know that in a few months I...

Ouch. These are harsh words of Jesus, because It’s really hard for me to forgive those who hurt me. Thankfully, I know Jesus’ death covers and removes all my sins, including the times I’m unable or unwilling to forgive people. But I can’t ignore these harsh words. Why is my forgiveness of others so important to Jesus? Perhaps it’s because relationships are so important to Jesus. He died to restore...

Are you going to renew your driver’s license? This question lurks in the shadows for older adults. After all, a license is more than a card. A license promises independence and freedom each time it is renewed. Another type of renewal doesn’t require smiling for an updated photo yet offers even more benefits than the card in our wallet. The positives of spiritual renewal begin with freedom from the...

I once worked with a wonderful man at a college where I taught. One of his most endearing traits was his spiritual humility. He would occasionally realize that he had made a mistake. Either he had sent others information that was incorrect or had forgotten to do something that he had promised to do. He would immediately apologize to them and ask for their forgiveness. That would be followed by his...

I’ve heard someone boast that “If you never go to the doctor, you’re never sick.” Many people think the same of God. They don’t want the great Physician to examine them and find the fatal disease of sin. But we all sin. Ignoring the problem doesn’t help. Thankfully, there is a remedy. Jesus took on our flesh but did so without sin. He lived a perfect life and took each of our sins to the cross whe...

In our lives there are certain things that need to be renewed. Renewing our driver’s license, our passport, and our gym membership are important for daily living. Renewing our faith through the Holy Spirit is more important for our spiritual lives. There are numerous ways that the Spirit works to renew our faith. The Spirit renews our minds to be more like the mind of Christ. The Spirit gives us p...

My brothers and sisters scattered from our farm and hometown for education, jobs, and adventures. Now I see my children and grandchildren scattering to new places. The tight-knit family and community that our parents knew and envisioned did not last long. This Bible verse assures me that God knows where his children have sojourned, and he will find them wherever they land. He will rescue them duri...

At the start of a new year, a new month, or even a new week, we may resolve to develop better habits. That is a worthy goal, even if we are not always successful in keeping our own promises. In Baptism, we are united to Jesus, buried with him and raised to new life: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The sinful self, dedicated to fulfilling our selfish desires, “h...

We renew magazine subscriptions, driver’s licenses, and Netflix memberships. We do that in order to live our daily lives in the manner to which we are accustomed. What about our spiritual lives? God encourages us to “renew our strength” so that we might gain hope, courage, and determination. The image of the strong and powerful eagle provides a glimpse into the strength we can gain by hoping in th...

Many things in life require ongoing renewal of our mind and spirit: friendships, family issues, finances, and even our faith. When a loved one was in the hospital fighting for her life, I could barely get housework done between hours of worrying and praying; a lost friendship due to thoughtless words has yet to be reconciled; finances in retirement are challenging. Only faith and God’s Word gives...

A tool supplied by my health insurance company helps me calculate my “biological age,” that is, a measure of how well (or not) my body functions relate to my actual calendar age. I’m proud to say that I’m getting younger! My biological age decreased 2 years due to healthy lifestyle changes. Even more encouraging is God’s word that reminds us that even though our physical bodies decline, we are con...

Every so often, I feel an interior nudge. It’s not stomach gurgles; it goes deeper than that. Sometimes I feel this spiritual nudge after I read the Scriptures, all of which are inspired by God. That nudge is the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The Holy Spirit guides and influences us through God’s Word. God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit through his Son Jesus Christ to renew us. Do we always follow...