A biblical passage in the Old Testament triggers a somber memory: The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants…. (Deuteronomy 30:6a). I wince as I recall holding my newborn sons during their circumcisions. Those mental images confirm that circumcision of my heart will involve pain as God removes anything that prevents Him from claiming first place.
Bits of my tattered prayer journal’s cover stick to my hands after holding it. The yellowed pages identify needs of those dearest to me. It also contains various prayers I turn to when my own words fail to express my heart.
As I sorted boxes of my children’s artwork, I admired how their childhood imaginations defied rules of perspective and laws of nature. Time has since redirected their imaginations from free-form artwork to the demanding issues of adult problem-solving. However, a quote by Oswald Chamber recently challenged me to rekindle my own child-like imagination:
I occasionally wear my father’s WWII ID bracelet. He wore it as a pilot and, tragically, as a prisoner of war. When reading Paul’s words of Christians being “in” Christ, I glanced at the I.D. bracelet and reflected on Dad’s time “in” a guarded compound—a very different experience from being “in Christ.”
As “little Christs,” we are called to love others, but love does not mean allowing toxic influences to shape our lives. Proverbs 22:24-25 warns us about the dangers of close association with people who are ruled by anger. Their temper can become a snare, pulling us into patterns of frustration, bitterness, or even sin. That is why setting healthy boundaries is not just wise—it’s biblical.
In rural Africa, farmers often guide yoked steers to market, their strength combined to pull heavy loads over long distances. These animals must be well-matched in size and strength, moving in unity under the farmer’s direction. If one steer pulls too fast or the other lags behind, the journey becomes difficult, and the load wobbles. But when they work together, guided by their master, they accomplish their purpose with far greater ease.
Paul’s words in Philippians 4:9 remind us that faith is much the same. It’s not just about
knowing Scripture or listening to sermons; it’s about putting what we’ve learned into
action. Just as a basketball player must apply their training in real-game situations, we
are called to live out our faith in daily life—showing kindness, practicing patience, and
standing firm in truth.
No one enjoys the sight of a brown, overripe banana. In addition to appearing wasteful,
the texture changes, and the smell and flavor become overwhelming. However, with
some more ingredients and a little creativity, that seemingly useless banana can
become something that brings joy and nourishment—banana bread.
Our dog, Duke, is aging, and with age comes health problems. He recently had surgery to remove a tumor from his eyelid. Afterward, he had to wear “the cone of shame” around his neck to protect his eye.
In the picture above, Duke and I are on our daily walk. Normally Duke walks by my side. However, notice his leash is tight, and he has a cowardly position. Every morning when we walk by this certain home, Duke shifts to the center of the street, getting as far away from the house as possible. Something happened near this home that scared Duke. Out of fear, Duke has left my side.
Duke, our labrador retriever, seldom retrieves a ball in our yard. However, the first time we took Duke to our land, he quickly found the pond and plunged in. Don threw a stick into the water. Duke immediately swam to the stick and brought it back. Duke retrieved the stick again and again and again. With his webbed feet, he is designed to swim and retrieve. He naturally does what he’s created to do.
My long-time ministry was ending. Following prolonged prayer, I believed God was guiding me to train my puppy, Duke, to be a Therapet. Therapet dogs, alongside their masters, visit schools, hospitals, and many other places. Training would require much time and hard work, but I was excited about this new ministry.
I love dogs! Every dog we have owned has been my close companion. Therefore, when our 7-year-old Chocolate Lab died suddenly of a stroke, I was heartbroken. Two days later, Don noticed an advertisement in the newspaper for a litter of chocolate labs. Though I was still grieving, I decided to begin looking for a puppy.
As I ate lunch with a fairly new friend, I shared my adoption story with her. Conceived in an act of adultery, my biological mother chose adoption. After seven months in a foster home, a young couple became my adoptive parents.
Have you ever felt an impending “shipwreck” looming on the sea of life? The waves of distress feel insurmountable and going under for the last time inevitable. Looking off in the distance, only the disaster seems visible, not the remedy.
I do not know about you, but when I finally joined Facebook, I experienced so much heartwarming fun. I heard from people I never dreamed I would touch base with again. Everyone seemed cheerful and glad to connect with each other.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 jumped off the page at me. I realized it referred to public prayer, but how often did my private prayer time consist of me doing all the talking? I determined I would spend time listening.
Have you ever heard of Senioritis? A conversation with High School or College Seniors may contain that word. Seniors have tired of studying, going to class, and the routine of school. The anticipation of their next endeavor could stand in their way of finishing strong.
It had been raining and gloomy for days. The girls and I played with every doll, conquered many board games and watched Doc McStuffins episodes too many times. We needed a break!
