Hope-Full Living

When the Lord God created humans, He first provided for and talked with them in a garden — the Garden of Eden. It was there that they found peace and communication. Gardens are indeed a place of comfort and tranquility. It is no wonder that Jesus, on the eve of His impending death on the cross, journeyed to another garden that He often frequented — the Garden of Gethsemane. He needed to talk with...

The disciples directed this statement to their Teacher, Jesus, as He was telling them what was going to happen in the next several days. It was hard for them to grasp the details of His passion that would soon unfold. Like them, we may find it difficult to grasp God’s characteristic of omniscience — knowing everything. Much of our personal information is now being gathered through AI, Artificial I...

At an art show several years ago, I purchased a cross pendant cut from an antique flow blue plate. Its cobalt hue often attracts attention when I wear it. Unfortunately (or perhaps not), it bears a scarcely detectable line of glue where it was dropped and broken. It has occurred to me that perhaps I should point out the faint line of repair when people comment on my necklace. I, too, was broken. W...

I look forward to the change of seasons. This year I added a fifth one which I call the road construction season. Since road repairs must be finished before winter, summer travels have been altered. As I write this devotion, major bridges are being rebuilt. Road closures and detour signs make travel slow and frustrating. Our lives are similar at times. Just when we think we’ve mapped out our futur...

Nunc Coepi (pronounced “cheppy”) is a Latin phrase that comes from Psalm 77. It means, “Now I begin,” and was popularized by an 18th-century Italian, Catholic priest, Venerable Bruno Lanteri. Fr. Lanteri wrote, “If I should fall even a thousand times a day, a thousand times, with peaceful repentance, I will say immediately, Nunc Coepi, now I begin again.” What a blessing it would be if we could se...

I woke up on my 80th birthday to find the world spinning like a wild amusement park ride! I had never had vertigo before, and this experience lasted 10 days. I came to find out that it is caused by the tiny crystals in the ear canal ending up in the wrong place. So tiny that the doctor said he couldn’t see them on the CT scan, and yet big enough to upend my physical world. It made me realize that...

Regardless of age, it’s not uncommon to find ourselves in a gloomy mood, feeling agitated or unfocused. But after some self-reflection, we recognize that we might be lonely, tired, anxious, or physically ill. So, we try to change what we can: take a walk or nap, pray for a fresh attitude, participate in a group activity, or schedule a checkup with our doctor! Christ, the Great Physician, can heal...

I once enjoyed playing many sports. Those days are behind me. I find that I have been content watching my favorite teams on my TV. My doctor, however, recently challenged me to increase my exercise. “Now that you are retired,” he said, “you have more time and no excuse.” I agreed with him. Asking God for help, I became determined to improve. I started by setting small and attainable goals. For exa...

My morning routine is always the same. I love sitting in my sunroom with a cup of coffee. I watch the birds, read my daily devotions, and talk to God. One morning I noticed a displaced brick on the patio floor. Where did that come from? Along came a small bird. He looked at the brick and pecked at it. He went around the back of it and laid down. I was quite sure he was in trouble or injured becaus...

LeAnn and her husband had to move to a senior facility so that she could have round-the-clock care. LeAnn said her heart was broken when they had to give away so many of their beautiful furnishings. They had lived in their home for more than sixty years. As hard as the move was for LeAnn, she’s beginning to smile again. Last week she said she was making new friends and enjoying her new home! “Who’...

Our neighbor invited her young grandson, “Why don’t we sit down, and I’ll read you a book?” He replied, “Nope, too busy. There’s farming to do!” During the upcoming planting season, farmers will find her grandson’s statement to be especially true. As seniors, we should be busy with a planting season, too. We may not be able to drive a tractor, or plant a vegetable or flower garden anymore, but we...

Only a handful of people in the Bible were raised from the dead and had a second chance at life in this world. The raising of Lazarus is the most memorable. His was an irrefutable miracle. Jesus raised Lazarus to life again after four days in a tomb, wrapped up like a mummy. Ironically, because so many Jews were now believing in Jesus as the promised Messiah, the religious leaders made plans to ki...

When I lived up north, I always looked forward to early spring. The new season and the promise of new growth often beckoned me outside despite the chilly temperatures. Occasionally, a crocus would emerge where I expected a daffodil to appear. Did you know that throughout winter, those bulbs remain protected, yet they are not entirely dormant? Beneath the surface, they sprout roots and store nutrie...

Which season is your favorite? Do you prefer day or night? Remember, God created them all! Summer brings sparkling sunlight and long, lingering days that briefly fold into dusky slumber. In autumn, the wind He rides cools the earth and adorns it with resplendent foliage; the light that begins at dawn and the dark that initiates twilight take equal shares of time. Soon enough, waning winter rays lu...

Our Heavenly Father sent Jesus to take away the sins of the world. His purpose was to provide redemption, salvation, and hope for eternal life. I cannot rid myself of sin; I deserve punishment and death. Jesus bore the punishment for my sins. God’s forgiveness is the way for my sins to be forgiven. He redeemed me and I’ve been given a clean heart and renewed spirit. Just as God forgives me, I forg...

Did you catch that in the opening verse? Abram was an older adult when God called him to journey from Haran to Canaan. He had already journeyed from his homeland of Ur to Haran, and now God directed Abram to relocate again. Abram did not question God; he just did as he was told. About a year ago, I accepted the part-time position of senior adult ministry coordinator at my church. I am a few years...

On our recent trip to Ireland, we saw dozens of plaques on souvenir shop walls with a traditional Irish blessing. Most of them ended with, “May God hold you in the palm of His hands.” This blessing is filled with hope and promise. Throughout the Bible, God promises to be with us in times of trial and uncertainty. The image of sitting in the palm of God’s hand instills security and comfort. We know...

A few months ago, my wife and I moved from our house to the campus of Lutheran Life Villages. Oh, what a transition! Moving from a three-bedroom home to a two-bedroom apartment! Our move was from one side of town to the other side. I had to learn new traffic patterns, time allotments, morning routines, and the like. I seemed to be at my wits’ end. So, I decided to join new classes to get to know n...

To reflect means to think on something quietly and calmly. I do that as I read my Bible. I sit quietly and think about God’s grace and mercy. By grace I receive His love when I don’t deserve it. By mercy I receive the undeserved gift of God’s kindness and compassion, a debt I couldn’t pay, but is paid by His love. There’s another definition for the word reflect. It means to send back light from a...

St. John describes the ultimate new start being prepared for us and all those who die in faith. His vision while on the island of Patmos provided a glance of the new earth as a cube with specific dimensions, “12,000 stadia” in each direction. Using our measurements, that is estimated to be 1,380 miles on each side. Calculate: 1,380 x 1,380 = 1,904,400 square miles. That’s the size of the United St...

I remember the first time I was given a brand-new bike. It was shiny — green and silver. My eyes must have shone just as brightly. I was given a gift today. Precious, though I didn’t initially recognize that. It is the first time I have received this particular gift: the gift of today. My heavenly Father gave me this gift for a specific purpose. Perhaps it is so that I can write this devotion, or...

My bike was always getting flat tires. The innertube was full of patches. I needed that bicycle for my paper route. When my neighbor saw all the patches, he bought me a new innertube and a new tire. What a nice surprise! God’s Son Jesus bought mankind a gift of new life; it was very expensive. The gift from Jesus fixes what is broken inside of us. We, who are sinners, were given this present of et...

The other day I was waiting for my doctor to begin my exam. I heard a knock on the door, and I said, “Come in.” The doctor entered. His smiling face reassured me that he would help me with my ailment. I’m glad that I said, “Come in.” In the same way, Jesus knocks on my door and enters. He’s also smiling because He knows that He can heal whatever spiritual ailments I have — my fears, my hurtful sin...

My hike up the mountain trail required determination and deep breaths. I willed my legs to pull me up over rocks and tree roots. My effort and tired legs reminded me I needed regular exercise. I hesitated when I saw bear tracks and glanced up at the incline with trepidation. Just past a patch of ferns, I heard the waterfall’s roar and forgot the bear. Minnehaha Falls cascaded over multi-step rock...

As I am falling asleep, sometimes negative thoughts begin to swirl in my head. If I permit one negative thought to progress, it seems to gain power and spiral inward. It attaches to other negative thoughts and a real “pity party” can evolve. Releasing my problem of negative thoughts to Christ can enable me to recognize and then harness undesirable thinking. I have — we all have — the honor of seek...