All in God's Promises
Adoption stories can be very sweet, emotional, and inspiring to hear and share. These stories often involve unexpected twists and incredible bond-forming in families. They can highlight love, resilience, and connection so that instant families turn into forever families.
The term providence came to my attention this past year. Frankly, I didn’t know how to define providence; I had to look it up: “The theological doctrine of providence is that God both possesses and exercises absolute power over all the works of his hands.”* Constable goes on to say, and this I love, that providence means “the hand of God is in the glove of human events.”*
Who do you know well? It may be a family member or a best friend. According to AI, knowing someone well means you grasp their core motives and can predict how they think about things because you have a history together, a shared experience that connects you.
Receiving a hand written letter feels like a gift of love! Writing one requires time, thought, and a signature—most often a simple signing with “Love Linda.”
What a blessed Thanksgiving we had. Eight adults and 6 children at our table, the merriment delighted us. Soon, after everyone left and the clean up had taken place, out came the pre-lit Christmas tree. Much to my dismay, half of the lights did not shine.
The Christmas story is about small beginnings. It revolves around the birth of an infant—one vastly different from any other infant ever born. This infant was the majestic, eternal Son of God. The mighty Lord God became man to fulfill His work of salvation offered to all mankind. A small beginning became God’s greatest work and greatest gift to you and me.
What’s over the hill or around the bend? Does it scare you when you cannot see ahead? My two great-grandsons in the photo were excited to get over the bridge to get to the ocean. A trip to the beach is a big adventure!
In a world constantly shifting beneath our feet, where even the most steadfast people, institutions, and laws can prove fallible, what can we truly depend on? While few things are 100% reliable, the Word of God offers an unwavering anchor.
My best friend betrayed me and later apologized, but I could not forget what she did. Even though it’s been years, I still remember the hurt of that betrayal. It threatened to destroy our relaitonship.
When my daughter decided to decorate her new baby’s room in Hyland cows, my sister-in-law sent me a pattern to do an appliqué of one on the sewing machine. She thought using the leftover scraps from the baby quilt I had done made a great idea. She even supplied me with a YouTube video about how to do it.
Our young family moved twelve times. Each move felt more chaotic and unceremonious than the last. In comparison, move-in day for Solomon’s Temple must have transpired very differently! Enormous crowds, prayers, and a fourteen-day celebration marked the occasion. On the first day, Solomon asked an interesting question during his prayer of dedication: “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens even the highest heaven cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built” (1 Kings 8:27).
The compassion for God’s creation lingers as part of the legacy of St. Francis* of Assisi. In fact, a crumbling statue of St. Francis embracing a small bird graces my garden and reminds me of my own increasing sensitivities to God’s creation.
A perfect day for a drive through the country, my friend and I set out to find bluebonnets. We had heard about some good places to look, so with the GPS set for success, we headed out.
There are times when we feel alone as if God has sent us into exile, like the Israelites felt when exiled to Babylon for seventy years. The pain can be excruciating. Questions may arise that may lead to denial of the reality of our situation. We often cry when we recall our familiar, comfortable, and safe place where we felt God’s presence.
When my daughter was about two years old, she loved to play games with her daddy. During one of these games, she would run to her daddy, he would catch her and throw her up in the air. She would giggle and as he put her down, she would run away and say, “Do it again!” and run back toward him giggling.
God’s work of judgment is “strange” to Him. It’s a task alien to His nature. Scripture is clear that God’s act of judgment is always righteous and just, but as Lamentations states, God’s act of afflicting His people is not an act from His heart.
Sarah laughed but it was laughter of doubt, as if to say… “Ha, that is not happening!”
Has God ever told you something that seemed laughable?
I have learned why my soul blesses the Lord.
David understood this too and says…
The last time I recall seeking help with everything-within-me was in a dream -- actually a nightmare. A vicious snake coiled up at my feet and held me frozen with his gaze. I called for help, but no one heard me. With all my physical strength, I filled my lungs with air, then screamed H-E-L-P! with everything within me. I awoke to a pounding heart and a sweaty night shirt. I still vividly recall the emotion of that dream—that moment of desperation.
