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This week, we’ve looked at the verses that In-N-Out Burger uses on five pieces of packaging. If you don’t have an In-N-Out Burger in your area, you might be interested to know that these verse references are very discreet – usually at the bottom or underside of the packaging.

Mar 11

Mar 11 You’re an Overcomer!

Today’s verse makes me want to dance.

This verse appears on the bottom of the fry container at In-N-Out. By the way, you may want to dance just to burn some of the calories if you eat the fries Animal Style (yes, another secret menu item).

Mar 10

Mar 10 The “Secret Menu” of Your Life

Today’s verse comes from In-N-Out’s milkshake cup. My California friends, who introduced me to In-N-Out, love the Neapolitan shake. You won’t see it listed on the menu. It’s considered part of the “secret” menu and made with all three regular shake flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

Mar 9

Mar 9 Does Jesus Want a Bite of Your Burger?

Today’s verse comes from In-N-Out Burger’s hamburger wrapper. I think it’s fitting because Rev. 3:20 sounds like Jesus wants to eat with us.

Mar 8

Mar 8 Friends

Challenge

I wish I had known Jonathan. Scripture does not tell us much about this man, but when I think of him, I envy the friendship he shared with David. We know from 1 Samuel 18:1 that Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

Mar 5

Mar 5 A Woman’s Prayer for Loved Ones

Prayer

You’re invited to pray aloud with me during my morning commute.

Mar 4

Mar 4 Keep Your Lamps Burning

Jesus

Hopelessness is the deepest darkness. I know. People are dying. People are taking their own lives in despair.

… darkness was over the surface of the deep (Genesis 1:2b),

Mar 3

Mar 3 A Friend Who Sticks

Friendship

Let’s zoom in on a snippet of a mutual friend’s experience…

Decades ago, young Ellen’s forehead and gums erupted frequently with large, painful boils. Itchy dandruff patches covered her scalp. Classmates taunted her, adding to her shame.

Mar 2

Mar 2 Hang on to These!

Obedience

You’re thinking to yourself as you roll your eyes: not these same old verses again! Wait. Hear me out.

Repetition is good. I’m a slow learner and I’m forgetful. Nagging is annoying, but repetition isn’t nagging. Repetition is effective communication. Brain scientists believe seven repetitions help us remember almost anything. One form or another of the phrase “do not be afraid” in the Bible is repeated 365 times. One encouragement on fear for every day of the year!

Mar 1

Mar 1 Certainty in Uncertain Times

Hope

“How are you doing in these uncertain times?” I asked this of some of my long-distance relatives by email at the beginning of the worldwide pandemic.

We all tend to experience less peace and have plans thwarted during troubling seasons.

Feb 26

Feb 26 Generous Helping Hands

Obedience

In Texas this week, we have had an unusually long period of snow. We do occasionally get snow but it rarely sticks around more than a day or two. Today is the first day since the snow began falling that the temperature has risen above freezing. Icicles are falling, and the snow is finally melting.

Feb 25

Feb 25 The Heartbeat of Life

Singer Danny Gokey recorded a song entitled “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again.” This beautiful song gives me encouragement to keep going when I am tired or depressed. https://youtu.be/eUHRDCYnFfg

Feb 24

Feb 24 God, Where Are You?

Fear, Comfort

How had his world collapsed so quickly? Only days before, Jacob had lived a life of security, comfort and ease. Now he was running for his life in an unfamiliar land. Jacob’s brother wanted him dead. Jacob had lied and deceived his father.

Feb 23

Feb 23 I Need Help

Forgiveness, Salvation

I have two houseguests as of last night. They had been surviving without heat and electricity in the freezing temperature. I wanted to cook them a nice, hot breakfast this morning. As it turned out, a bowl of cold cereal would have been preferable. Rubbery eggs and ugly waffles, anyone?

Feb 22

Feb 22 A Labor of Love

Love

An ambulance arrived at my house. My son, David, had had a seizure and had taken a pretty hard fall. He dislocated his shoulder and gashed his chin. Before loading my son into the ambulance, the paramedics informed us they would be cutting David’s sweatshirt off to care for his shoulder.

Feb 19

Feb 19 A Thirsty Soul

Daily Walk, God's Will

The sad houseplant looked like how I felt. Forgotten, parched, brittle and malnourished. I had been so busy these last few weeks with all the responsibilities of keeping a family fed, clothed, and content, that I’d neglected that plant. I rushed it to the sink like a heart attack victim to the ER. Refreshing water flowed, but the soil was so hard and dry that the life-giving liquid just ran off into the sink. No matter how heavy the flow or how long the water ran, it just poured off the surface, wasted and unappreciated. I finally placed the weary plant in a pan of water to soak and hoped that the leaves would rise, the color would return, and the plant would be vibrant again.

Feb 18

Feb 18 Wholesome Talk

Obedience

Mean words. Potty-talk. Critical comments. It was the beginning of a long summer, and I purposed to tackle the issue of the ugly mouth I heard coming from my children. For that summer, my children and I focused on the verse above. We memorized it. We talked about it. We defined words and explained concepts within it. We looked for it lived out in others. We noticed the opposite qualities lived out in others. And most importantly, we asked God to help us walk out this verse in our family relationships. That was hard for a big sister with a huge vocabulary that could slice and dice, and a little brother who had strong, fast arms, fists and feet!

Feb 17

Feb 17 Taught by God