Indholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2022 i Mornings with Jesus

JESUS IS OUR MOST TRUSTED companion and friend, the One in whom we can always confide and find comfort. The writers in this issue of Mornings with Jesus explore how Jesus has guided and uplifted them through the challenges of life, providing them with the love and strength only a faithful friend can offer. Though these devotions are easy to read, their messages are profound and will demonstrate how even in the most seemingly ordinary situation, you can find the extraordinary love of Jesus. Let the heartwarming stories in this issue—all told from an intimate first-person point of view—bolster your faith as you continue your walk with Jesus. You may even find a friend in each of the writers, who—like you—are on a spiritual journey to experience moments of His…

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) YESTERDAY, MY ELDEST SON, WILL, and I drove to pick up some raised plant beds that I had ordered from a carpenter online. We took the back roads to get there—beautiful farmland surrounding our growing city. As we drove, we passed grazing cattle and goats. We saw cute farmhouses and irrigation canals. It was a patchwork quilt of newly budding fields and freshly tilled soil. Our Idaho town is the perfect region to start a garden. I’m attempting to grow my own vegetables this summer—I know it’s a big leap, but I am excited to try. I want to plant peppers, green beans, and herbs,…

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24 (NIV) ONE OF MY PREVIOUS HOMES was a double-wide mobile. It sat on concrete blocks that were a bit of an eyesore, so we installed metal skirting around its base to hide them from view. One afternoon, I felt our house sway. At first, I thought my imagination was messing with my mind, but then I saw the dining room fixture swing from side to side. That’s when I suspected an earthquake. A radio report confirmed it. Thankfully the tremor was mild and left our home standing. I have no doubt that a stronger quake could have toppled it. No matter how we tried…

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1–2 (NIV) THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE been a season of transition for me, and over the next week, I’ll be writing about it. For instance, my family of five has moved three times in the last three years. That’s a whole lot of change. Our first move was across town. We downsized from our 1,400-square-foot home to a two-bedroom, one-bath, 800-square-foot cottage. The cheap rent was great, but we kept bumping into each other. Our second move was a thirty-minute drive north, from our sunny hometown of Redwood City to foggy Daly…

I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:5–6 (NIV) EXERCISE IS NOT MY FAVORITE thing. Some of my closest friends love to work out. I love to sit on the couch and read fiction. While this is wonderful for stretching my imagination, it does very little for my hamstrings. The other day, I had a few hours to sit and read. It was great until my shoulders started to seize up, my hips started to ache, and my neck got sore. I had to get up and stretch. I felt like the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz needing a tune-up. My muscles need to be moved. It is what…

You will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV) THIS PAST YEAR, I HAVE experienced the power of the video call. Linking up with others online has changed how I live. For work, I coach clients who are writing books. FaceTime helps me offer constructive feedback as they progress in the writing process. Every Sunday night, my sisters and I have what we call the Sister Briefing. We connect to share stories about the stresses and joys of life, and pretty much laugh our heads off. I love their faces. My Zoom calls with my parents lead to chats about writing and parenting questions and walks in my backyard as I ask for gardening advice. I can show them…

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV) “WHY DON’T YOU GIVE AWAY those books?” my husband, Kevin, asked me. “Everyone loves bloopers!” Kev was referring to a recent incident. A friend asked to buy five copies of my first book. She wanted me to sign the books with the names of the ladies she planned to give them to. One of the names was Kealah. In the first book, I misspelled it. Setting that one aside, I grabbed another book. And then made the same silly mistake! I practiced writing the name several times to ensure I wouldn’t end up with three unsellable books. Although I speak in public frequently…

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) THIS AFTERNOON I CHOSE TO take advantage of the beautiful spring weather. I grabbed a glass of iced tea and claimed a favorite spot in the backyard to relax. Sprawled across a chaise lounge, the air soft and sweet, I closed my eyes. I lay there for several minutes, surrounded by spring’s fresh scents, with sunshine caressing my face. The everyday sounds of my neighborhood—children playing, dogs announcing the postal carrier’s arrival, a bee buzzing past en route to a flower—hummed in the background. When I opened my eyes, feathery clouds cast lines across the sky. I sighed, refreshed and eager…

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3–4 (NIV) WE HAVE A LARGE THREE-CAR garage with glass doors on the north and south sides. One morning, I found a bird flying inside the garage. The bird, desperate to get out, kept slamming into the glass. Feisty little guy, I thought. He’s not giving up. This struck me because that morning I had felt like giving up. I felt burdened with worries about my aging parents, a friend in hospice, and our financial struggles. And I had a nagging stiff neck. I backed my car out and left one of the garage doors open, hoping the bird would find its way to freedom. When I…

But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV) MY AUNT HAD A LONG battle with cancer. She suffered greatly and it was excruciating to watch. When she died there was peace at last—for the soul set free from her ravaged body, and for those of us who loved her. There was sadness, of course. But in the dark place of grief there was also a light to move toward. A place to warm my heart. A place for hope, because I know she is with Jesus. And because He is also with me, I believe I will see her again. My kids sang “Because He Lives” at her graveside service,…

When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” Acts 3:12 (NIV) THIS PAST WEEK, I HAD the privilege of reading comments from an online book club discussing one of my novels. Several people shared ways Jesus had used the story to bring them encouragement as they applied its themes to their own lives. I was touched and grateful. But soon after, my stomach began to knot. Free-floating anxiety swirled in my thoughts. I have a new novel releasing soon, and I suddenly felt pressure to measure up. What if the new story didn’t touch hearts in the same way? What if people were…

Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Matthew 14:28 (NKJV) WHENEVER I READ THE STORY of Jesus walking on water to reach the disciples’ boat, I always pause when I get to Peter’s request. It boggles my mind that such a thought even entered his head. It probably amazed the other disciples too. None of them seemed eager to join Peter. No one piped up and said, “Me too, Lord! Me too!” Only Peter asked Jesus to command him to walk on top of the water. On a dark night. In a storm. Jesus said, “Come” (Matthew 14:29, NKJV). And Peter didn’t hesitate. Everything went swimmingly until Peter got close to Jesus. He faltered when his eyes turned…

But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Psalm 66:19 (NLT) THE EMAIL’S SUBJECT LINE WAS “It’s time, y’all.” The message was an invitation from a friend to join several other sister-friends on a video call. We hadn’t seen one another in quite a while, so there was great anticipation until the appointed time when we would gather together virtually. When the call finally started, we excitedly greeted one another. Then several of us started talking at the same time—asking and answering questions, our words tumbling over each other’s. From time to time I had difficulty following who was saying what among the constant chatter. That’s how I picture it must be for Jesus hearing us speak to Him 24-7. Along with my desperate cries, joyful praises, probing…

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 (NLT) I’M NOT SURE HOW HE got there, but Jesus is in my car. Well, not Jesus Himself, but a card with His picture on it. My husband, Jeff, surmises a worker may have put it there during my car inspection. I don’t care how He got there; having Jesus riding on my console has changed my life! The picture features a close-up of Jesus’s face, His hair long and shining, His eyes looking toward heaven. Some days, I think He’s looking right at me! Each day, I get in my car, put on my seat belt, start…

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8 (NIV) THE SUN WARMS MY BODY as I lounge on my favorite chaise. A gentle breeze stirs the air. Neighborhood sounds meld into calming white noise, and I smell a barbecue nearby. I reach for my glass and sip some iced tea. Sprawled across my lap, my tuxedo cat, Milo, stretches his paws to knead the air. His adoring gaze never leaves my face. A loud purr rumbles against my ribs. I haven’t petted him or scratched his chin. I’ve done nothing aside from giving him a quiet place to rest. He’s elated just to be…

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) WHEN OUR DAUGHTER, MARIE, AND her three kids moved from 350 miles to 6 miles away, I was elated. Our teenage grandkids? Not so much. Especially Daniel, who had to leave his beloved orchestra, where he’d played bass viol for his first two years of middle school. Our local schools have only bands. I told Daniel we’d seen a bass player in the high-school band last year at graduation. “Perhaps you can play next year, when you’re a freshman.” But Daniel refuted my every word of encouragement. He said that the school might not own the bass, and if not, his…

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Proverbs 4:27 (ESV) RIDING CLOCKWISE IN A BRITISH roundabout, I screamed when a car to my right sped straight at us. The rental car my husband and I were in was hit broadside! Our English holiday began with a bang! Literally. Blessedly, the right front wheel received the impact—not the passenger side where I sat. Our vehicle was disabled, and our adventure continued with a ride in a British police car. The constable humored me, turning on the revolving lights while I took pictures of my husband in a police car on the first day of our holiday in England. At our bed and breakfast, we tried to order a tow truck. That’s when…

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23–24 (ESV) RECENTLY IN MY BIBLE STUDY, I shared my struggle with waffling between fear and faith during uncertain times. Sometimes I’m confident of God’s control and have faith He is up to something incredible. Other times, I feel fearful. Sometimes I doubt God has meaningful work for me during this stage of life, or I’m afraid of aging and the aches and pains that come with it. I shared how I couldn’t hold faith and fear at the same time; it was either one or the other that dominated my thoughts and actions. Then one of the girls…

Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! 1 Chronicles 16:29 (NKJV) MY FRIEND DIANA NEVER SEEMS to age. On Facebook recently, her daughter Aimee posted a photo of Diana at an outdoor farmer’s market. I’ve also viewed photos of Diana during a messy home repair or while cleaning out roof gutters. Somehow, she manages to look like a model even in those settings. Whenever I compliment Diana on her youthful looks, she says, “I inherited good genes.” But I know her loveliness runs deeper than genes. Diana takes excellent care of her health. And she has a close relationship with Jesus, resulting in what the Bible calls “the beauty of holiness.” Do…

You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14 (NIV) MY FATHER WAS HANDY, BUT also thrifty. The techniques he chose for household repairs could lean toward the unconventional. Paper clips and bubble gum sometimes found their way into his “fixes.” Not so with my husband, Dave, whose grandfather constructed houses using conventional building materials. When one of the windows in our historic home required work, I scrutinized every step Dave took to restore it. Like an interrogator, I questioned the supplies he’d selected. When I continued demanding to know the point behind each process, he grew tired of my endless queries. I heard the frustration in his voice. He knows repair work. I don’t. Like Dave with household maintenance, Jesus knows which areas of my faith…

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7 (NIV) I DON’T LOVE MESSY. I like tidy. When I drive past a well-manicured lawn, I get a sudden craving for a full-time groundskeeper, someone who will take our property’s Northwoods-casual to a pristine yard with crisply defined edges, trees in neat rows, and every weed banished. I’m not looking for yard accolades. In our neck of the woods, I don’t even have a homeowners’ association with a manual full of guidelines. But I do appreciate a well-tended, symmetrical, neat yard. Though I’m rethinking that stance today. Through my office window, I can see what I would otherwise consider an unsightly, overgrown corner of a pasture. It’s messy. Hundreds of…

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1–3 (NIV) I RECENTLY VISITED ONE OF Oregon’s natural areas, a level path edged with mature oaks and ancient hawthorns. Native grasses spiked skyward as western meadowlarks and red-winged blackbirds sang from the treetops. Early wildflowers bloomed underfoot, testimony of the changing seasons. Hiking here brought me a sense of peace. My spirits rose along with the birds taking flight. This park focuses on reestablishing a population of western pond turtles, native to the region. Seasonal watersheds form during the wet months, often drying up completely before the rains return. Until that…

Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13 (NKJV) MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON TY was scheduled to retake his driver’s license test. Last week he’d failed because he’d hit a curb while attempting to parallel park. The tester had sent him home to practice and then return the following week. Ty had been devastated. A chronic illness had kept him housebound for almost three years. He went to school online and rarely left his home. But this past summer, he’d found a bright spot when he took driver’s training. He’d reunited with old friends he hadn’t seen since middle school. He’d laughed, chatted, and had fun. When he’d passed the written test, he’d been able to drive with…

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV) TWO YEARS AGO, ON MOTHER’S Day, my daughter Brooke gave me a lovely orchid plant and my heart soared. Then my heart sank. I have a brown thumb. I love plants so much that I kill them. I overwater, overfeed, and offer too much sunshine or too much shade. I didn’t have much hope for this gorgeous purple orchid. But I thanked Brooke and kept my fingers crossed. Two months later when Brooke came to visit, my lovely orchid was on its last leg. “Mom!” Brooke said, groaning. All I could do was apologize and sink into my old familiar guilt that I sometimes feel about plants. I couldn’t bring…

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS ever. (Of course, I’m completely biased!) The hardest thing about moving from California to Idaho was losing the face-to-face connection with them. My middle school colleagues—Crystal, Joanna, and Bethany—were my sisters-in-arms. They brainstormed and laughed with me daily while we drank copious amounts of life-giving coffee. Their strength buoyed me. I met Jenn fourteen years ago at a park, by the beautiful working of the Holy Spirit. She is my long-lost sister. We each have three boys and knew all the dance moves from the early ’90s. (Our children cringe when we bust them out now.) Despite distance and work, we connected…

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) LEAVING OUR HOME, FAMILY, AND friends in California was hard for our sons. Jack, a college freshman who stayed in California, wasn’t able to travel home on the weekends like his buddies. Sixteen-year-old Will and thirteen-year-old Addison had to adjust to new way of life in Idaho. Everything was different. Neither wanted to attend youth group at our new church—there were too many new faces. The first time we drove to school, Will said, “Mom, you brought us to the country.” As a city boy, he wasn’t thrilled. When we were invited to a hot-air balloon event, Addison…

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:22 (NIV) YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND AND I put in landscape beds in our backyard. We used a wood-chip mulch around the bushes and perennials, but in no time, the beds were overrun with creeping Charlie, stinging nettle, and other weeds. These threatened to choke all the plants we wanted to thrive. Jesus offers clues to the source of thorns that choke my spiritual life. He plants the seed of His kingdom in my heart, but if I’m not mindful, then anxiety about the day-to-day cares of life and belief in the false promises of wealth can hinder healthy…

So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. John 8:36 (MSG) I CAME OUT OF HAND surgery with my forearm laid against a plaster splint and wrapped up like a huge mummy arm. As the nurse helped me dress, she shared a warning that sounded strange. Whenever I had to move my numb arm, I should hold it down with the other arm; otherwise, it would involuntarily fly up and hit my face. A minute later, she helped me arrange a sling over my shoulder and sure enough, my arm flew up and whacked my nose. Still groggy from the anesthesia, I giggled. Thirty-six hours later, when the nerve block finally wore off, I had bumped my face a lot. After the first few times,…

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV) WHILE TALKING VIA FACETIME WITH my younger sister, Nan, I felt as if I was looking at myself. I never thought we looked much alike while growing up—she was the spitting image of our mother. But now, the older we get, the more we both not only resemble Mom but also sound exactly like her. People tell us that all the time. It’s funny how that transformation took place. I never really paid attention to how my appearance was changing, but then—bam!—I could see the difference. The shift was subtle over time, but it was change nonetheless. Like the apostle Paul, I want to imitate Jesus too. But that’s going to take intentional change on my part. Every…

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) I OFTEN SEE LETTERS AFTER a person’s name in an email or document that indicate the individual is educated and certified in a subject matter or profession. Some of the letters are familiar, such as PhD, MD, JD and CPA. Others aren’t as well-known. In fact, out of curiosity I recently asked a colleague what LPD stood for. Turns out it stands for “doctor of law and policy.” Who knew? I can’t claim any academic letters after my name. But that doesn’t matter. Before I was born, God prepared special works for me to do in my lifetime. He has equipped me with the ability…

The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs 20:24 (NLT) SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I ATTENDED a writers’ conference with a book proposal in hand. I showed it to three editors. One invited me to email it to her. I did, but never received a response. Two shared it with their publishing committees, who said, “No, thank you.” I felt disappointed. The book’s concept had lived in my head for months. Had I not developed it in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s prompting? Or had I just concocted it myself? Perhaps my book-writing days were over. I filed the proposal and went on with my life. Every so often the title came to mind, and I sensed the need to change it. I toyed…

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. Psalm 103:2 (NLT) WE HAVE AN AMAZON ECHO in our kitchen that displays photos in a continuous slideshow. Every day I get to see a variety of images that remind me of good times and good people—a summer evening at a baseball game with my husband, visits with my spunky mother, birthday celebrations with girlfriends, my grandson as a toddler, and much-loved family and friends who are now with Jesus. I can’t help but smile as I view the photos throughout the day. I’m grateful for this slideshow of memories because it helps me remember the multitude of blessings that Jesus has poured into my life. He has provided me with…

Give me back the joy of your salvation. Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit. Psalm 51:12 (NCV) ON ANOTHER OCCASION, PETER’S FAITH faltered in a more serious manner. During the night Jesus was arrested, Peter had vowed to lay down his life for Jesus. But before the rooster crowed three times, Peter denied even knowing Jesus, just as Jesus had predicted. When he later met the resurrected Jesus, Peter needed courage, but a different kind than the boldness that prompted him to walk on the water. Peter needed the courage to be honest about his failure while accepting the forgiveness and restoration that Jesus extended. It took trust in Someone stronger than himself for Peter to publicly confirm his love and commitment to Jesus after failing Him…

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34–35 (NIV) MY OLDEST SON, JACK, IS home from college right now. My two younger boys, Will and Addison, are still in school, but are more than ready for summer. The other night, after everyone had gone to bed, I tossed and turned until midnight. When I couldn’t sleep, I finally got up to go check on the boys. Mom habits die hard. I checked Will’s room, and he wasn’t there. Neither was Addison. I opened the door to Jack’s room to find all three of them watching a show on Jack’s computer. They…

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body. Philippians 1:20 (KJV) IN MY LIFE I HAVE learned that there is a direct correlation between shame and fear. They go in a cycle: Shame leads to fear, which in turn leads to more shame. Nowhere is this more obvious to me than in my own body. For years, I was caught in a cycle of food addiction. I would feel afraid or stressed or lonely or bored or some other uncomfortable emotion, and I would try to medicate my feeling with food. Then I would feel ashamed, which added to my discomfort. So I’d medicate myself with…

He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:19–20 (ESV) ON A WEEKEND GETAWAY, MY husband, Ted, and I took a boat tour of sandstone caves on the south shore of Lake Superior. The boat captain told us about fishing charters he led. When he spotted a boat of fishermen, he headed toward them. “How’s it going?” he called. The men shrugged and admitted they hadn’t caught anything in several hours. Our captain held up a lure and asked if they’d tried it. He also suggested a better spot at a different depth. They thanked him, and after we motored away, we looked back and saw them moving to the new location. Jesus taught his…

No wonder we are happy in the Lord! For we are trusting him. We trust his holy name. Psalm 33:21 (TLB) WHENEVER I GET TO VISIT my daughter’s family, I always enjoy the dinner conversations. One evening, four-year-old Lilah gazed across the table at her big brother, age nine, and asked, “Roman, what’s it like to be so handsome?” She sighed. We all chuckled and watched Roman shake his head as he kept on eating. Then, without looking up from his plate, he responded, “Okay, you want to know the worst thing about being handsome? Your legs get tired from running away from all those girls.” We got a good laugh out of Roman’s observation, but later I decided it perfectly illustrates the old adage: “Be careful what you wish…

We say with confidence,“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 (NIV) MY DAD IS A DOER. Sitting around and doing nothing is not his gig. When my parents visited our new home in Idaho for the first time, Dad went out and bought us the essentials for our beautiful new lawn: a lawn mower and an edge trimmer. Next, he set about teaching me how to use them both. This took a minute, but my dad was kind. He didn’t make fun of me when I almost pulled my arm out of the socket trying to start the lawn mower the first time. He was also patient when I flooded the engine, causing us to wait another fifteen…

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) I SLOWLY PUSHED THE SHOPPING cart along the aisle, my eyes scanning the shelves for liquid soap. I was in a new grocery store that had just opened in my neighborhood, so I wasn’t familiar with its layout and where everything was located. In my quest to find the soap, I heard a voice: “There are arrows on the floor. You’re going the wrong way.” I looked away from the shelves, and a woman near me was pointing downward as she passed by. Indeed, there were arrows pointing shoppers in the direction they should move throughout the store. I apologized and…

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) JUST OFF OREGON’S COAST, MASSIVE rock monoliths jut skyward, hundreds of feet above the sea. Every year atop those pillars of stone, mother murres lay their eggs. As the babies grow, both parents tend to their needs. But soon the time comes for them to seek food on their own. Floating on the water’s surface below, the fathers call up to their offspring. The hatchlings’ answering cries fill the air as they realize what they must do. They’ll need to leave their colony, the only home they’ve ever known, and not return. But they’ve never flown, never touched down on the ocean. These babies recognize their fathers’ voices,…

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” Acts 9:13–15 (NIV) HAS JESUS EVER ASKED YOU do something you’re sure is a bad idea? Ananias had good reason not to seek out Saul. He explained the problem to his Savior, but when Jesus affirmed His call, Ananias obeyed. Recently, Jesus challenged me with an opportunity to teach college classes in an online format. My conversation was…

We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 2 Peter 1:18 (NIV) I LIVE NEAR A WORLD-FAMOUS mountain considered by many to be sacred. People from around the globe worship Mount Shasta, claiming, “The mountain called me.” Myths and legends associated with this majestic, snow-covered volcano include everything from extraterrestrial activity to beings from ancient civilizations dwelling underneath this mountain. Enhancing its mystique are the extremely rare and fantastical cloud formations, called lenticular clouds, which often encircle this mountain like a halo or float above it. Consequently, this local geographic celebrity—with its spectacular, ever-changing beauty and ephemeral cloud formations—is photographed daily by tourists and locals alike, and is often featured on the front page of local newspapers. Granted, this mountain…

I would hurry to my place of escape, far away from the wind and storm. Psalm 55:8 (NCV) This covering will protect the people from the heat of the sun and will provide a safe place to hide from the storm and rain. Isaiah 4:6 (NCV) EVERY SPRING, A FLOWERING PINK dogwood tree steals the show in my garden when blossoms cover its bare limbs. Next, leaf buds unfurl into fresh green foliage. As spring wind currents and rainstorms blow the flowers from the leafy boughs, fallen petals transform the lawn below into a carpet of pink confetti. As I was enjoying my morning with Jesus today, something outside the window caught my eye: Although the dogwood flower show is over, a trio of blossoms remain securely attached to the…

This mystery . . . is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 (KJV) JESUS IN ME—THIS IS A mystery indeed. When my daughter Grace was tiny and curious about faith, I tried to explain to her what it means to have a relationship with God through Jesus. I told her, “It’s like Jesus is standing at the door of your heart and He’s knocking. When you hear His voice, you open that door and ask Him into your heart, and He comes in and stays there forever.” I will never forget the look of deep concentration on her face, like she was putting together a puzzle. A few minutes later, she bowed her head and prayed out loud, asking Jesus in. As soon as she finished, her…

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:8–9 (NIV) BEING A MOM IS ONE of the most beautiful, challenging, difficult, exhilarating, anxiety-ridden, and hopeful jobs in the world. Moms walk around with their hearts split wide open with love for their kids. I know this because I’m a mom. My oldest son, Jack, left for college this year. I felt like a piece of my heart moved to Southern California. He was ready to spread his wings. And I couldn’t stop wondering if he was getting enough snacks. But since he’d just turned nineteen, I’m pretty sure he was good on snacks. Making sure that her people…

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1–2 (NIV) THIS IS MY FIRST SPRING in Idaho. The flowers that my mom and dad helped me plant in my garden last summer weathered snow, hail, and ice. I was anxious to see if all the flowers survived. As the days have grown warmer, it has become clear that the lavender in the backyard did not make it. At all. One of the rose bushes is sprouting little green leaves. The other one has areas of green growth along a couple stems that are black and withered. My mom…

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV) THE LAST TWO YEARS OF transition have been tension-filled. With my high-stress teaching job, I developed the habit of going home, grabbing a bag of chips, and collapsing on the couch. My body craved salty, fatty comfort food. My former healthy eating had been replaced by a chips-and-salsa habit. Unfortunately, the habit didn’t disappear when I quit teaching. Almost a year later, I still want my afternoon chip fix. The pantry has a magnetic pull. Transitions…

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NASB 1995) WHEN I ATTENDED BIBLE COLLEGE in Colorado almost ten years ago, I befriended an older couple who acted as house parents for the students. The wife told me of her dream to open a branch of the school back in their hometown of Boston. She felt there was an urgency to do it, but her husband—not so much. However, they both attended upper-level classes that would qualify them to be school directors someday. She shared with me the pain of waiting for it all to come together and for her husband to get fully onboard. I shared with her the…

Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life.” Luke 12:22 (NIV) “IF I HADN’T BEEN IN such a worry . . .” I mean, hurry. “If I hadn’t been in such a hurry. . .” That’s how the saying goes. I use it to explain away forgetting my phone at home. I chide myself with the phrase when I stumble or when I realize the food cooler for our camping trip is still in the garage sixty miles away. I pull out the phrase “If I hadn’t been in such a hurry . . .” to defend myself when I fail to notice a new stop sign or a friend across the street. But how many of life’s “oopses” and agonies would fit…

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies. Song of Songs 6:3 (NIV) SCOTT AND I HAVE BEEN married for almost twenty-four years. It is crazy how quickly time has passed . . . and how much gray I have in my hair. (Some of the gray is genetic. The rest comes from life with three teenage boys.) I love that Scott still calls me his girl. Despite the way my knees crack when I stand up too fast, I still feel like a girl. And I really like being his. Scott was my first boyfriend. That sense of possessiveness that we feel about each other is not a weird or jealous thing—it is a grounding, hopeful thing. We like belonging to each other.…

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) JESUS’S DISCIPLES WERE IRRITATED WHEN children flocked around Him, but Jesus was not. Interruptions were a frequent occurrence in Jesus’s life. His mother called on Him to turn water into wine at Cana. The woman who was hemorrhaging accosted Him on His way to healing Jairus’s daughter. He was interrupted when He was praying, when He was sleeping, and when He was speaking to a crowd. But the interruptions didn’t seem to bother Jesus, no matter how inconvenient they were. He used them for good purposes. My children have a way of interrupting me at inconvenient times when they need help editing papers, essays, or speeches. As a former English teacher,…

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV) OUR BARN CAT, IVY, RECENTLY recovered from an illness requiring medication. We set up a feeding station and cozy bed for her in the basement. That’s when I learned that the only thing she dislikes more than our other pets is being cooped up. Whenever I headed down those stairs, there she’d be, complaining loudly. This week, Jesus chose to do the same for me. I’d strained my back, making bed rest necessary. Lying in bed, barely able to move, I wished I could get up and get out. But there was another problem, one of equal importance, that the Great Physician needed to tend to. Sometimes illnesses affect…

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:48 (NIV) CERTAIN HYMNS AND WORSHIP SONGS bring me to tears. With my husband on a fishing trip this week, I’ve used the alone time to crank up the volume on songs that touch something deep in my soul—music that reminds me of what a privilege it is to love and be loved by Jesus. Lyrics and melodies marry and give birth to expressions of praise beyond what the tongue alone can tell. So this week, the house has been filled with worship and occasional teary outbursts of gratitude. I’m overwhelmed that Jesus would choose to love me and die for me and will one day welcome me into an endless eternity with Him. How interesting that this week—my “drench…

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) THERE IS A DOWNWARD SLOPE in our backyard that invited all the runoff water from our next-door neighbors’ yard to collect at the side of our fence. It looked like a baby pool, but one that was full of mud. When we had the sod laid in our backyard, the landscape designer noticed the flooding issue. He built up a small ramp of topsoil against the side of our fence with the runoff. He used this built-up slope to redirect the flow of the water. Since then, we have had zero flooding in the lawn. We love that landscape designer. He knew what he was doing! Encouragement is a whole lot…

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105 (KJV) A FEW YEARS AGO, MY husband and I toured Israel with two other couples. One of my favorite moments was walking through Hezekiah’s tunnel. Built during the reign of King Hezekiah, it brought water from one side of the city to the other. It is also the water shaft David led his army through to conquer the Jebusites and seize the city of David (2 Samuel 5:8). As we traveled through the dark, earthy-smelling tunnel in knee-deep rushing water, we imagined an army silently heading to fight for what is now Jerusalem. At one point, we turned off our headlamps. In the pitch-dark, we started to sing, “Thy word is a lamp unto…

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2–3 (NIV) MY SON ADDISON IS GRADUATING from eighth grade. My baby is going to be in high school. The years have flown by. His school asked us to send in a baby picture and his school picture for the eighth-grade celebration. They wanted to show the amazing growth that has taken place in the years between. As I sorted through photos, it was fun to look back on all of Addison’s milestones: his first birthday, his first day of preschool (we both cried), his first day of kindergarten (only I cried), starting at a new school in fourth grade,…

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. John 15:26 (NIV) MY HUSBAND, TED, SETTLED BESIDE me so we could watch a talent show on television. I noticed the bowl in his hands. “Cherries? Where did you get cherries?” I asked, my mouth watering. He shot me a puzzled look and slid the bowl within my reach. “We’ve had them in the fridge since I got groceries a few days ago. I wasn’t hiding them.” I had missed several days of enjoying juicy cherries because I hadn’t looked on the bottom shelf. Jesus has placed blessings of His Spirit in my life, but because I’m not looking in the right places, I…

As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. John 13:30 (NIV) OF ALL THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, phlebotomists are not patients’ favorite people. I used to be a phlebotomist. We come with needles and tourniquets and extract what looks like too much blood. During my years as a phlebotomist, I dealt with calm patients, nervous patients, and screaming patients (who were not necessarily children). Most took the approach of “Let’s get this over with.” Why am I thinking about that today? Because I recently read an important but complex passage of Scripture from John 13. Jesus said something that sounds like “Just rip off the Band-Aid and get this over with.” At the Last Supper, Jesus told Judas, “What you are about to do,…

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV) I WAS IN COLLEGE WHEN the ground-breaking TV mini-series Roots premiered in 1977. My friends and I gathered around the television on eight consecutive nights, riveted by the story based on author Alex Haley’s family history that detailed the enslavement of Haley’s African ancestor Kunta Kinte to his descendants’ liberation. While Roots was unsettling to me and my African-American friends, it gave us a real appreciation of our ancestors and all they overcame to survive. The characters in Haley’s story talked about the Lord and called on Him for help and protection throughout their trials. Although they were in bondage, they dreamed of freedom. But when I stop to…

This I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. 1 Corinthians 7:35 (NKJV) MY CAT KRIS LIKES TO drink water from the bathroom sink, preferring the water be running, so he can lick it as it flows. I indulge him because he’s the boss. One recent day, I ran the water for Kris before jumping in the shower. I washed my hair and sang a song or two, and when I stepped out, the water was two inches deep on the floor, a stream still flowing merrily from the sink. Had the cat inadvertently pushed down the stopper? Kris sat in the closet, momentarily safe from the encroaching flow.…

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8–10 (NIV) MY FRIEND JOYCE CAME OVER on a lovely summer day to take a walk with me to a local creek. At the park across the street, a city employee drove a huge riding mower back and forth across the field. The sound roared, so we walked quickly to the corner, eager to get past it. But in the parking lot between us and the creek, a man was using a leaf blower. Once again, the sound escalated so…

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. Matthew 12:34–35 (NRSV) I HAPPENED TO BE VISITING my daughter Holly’s family, when two of my grandkids, Lilah and Roman, had dental checkups. After their exams, the office assistant dragged out a big cardboard box shaped like a pirate’s chest. Roman and Lilah leaned over and rummaged through the pile of rings, bracelets, whistles, and tiny animals—all made from thin plastic. What looked like treasure to my grandkids looked like a pile of junk to me. I knew something they didn’t: Whatever they took home would likely be cracked or broken by the next day. While…