Ebenezer

My life is in flux—my husband and I are entering a new chapter and both of us are in the waiting mode to see where God leads us now. He is retiring from full-time teaching; I am, after a 4-month re-entry into part-time work at the Write Place, again approaching the great unknown—on what will… Read More

The Emporer’s new clothes

Hans Christian Anderson’s story (the brief version) goes like this: The Emperor’s new clothes were the talk of the town. The weavers (swindlers who spun tales, not cloth) showed them to the Emperor and  his court–lifting up their arms as if holding something and describing the splendor of each article of clothing. “The whole suit… Read More

Colossians 3:7-8 Holy Spirit Eraser

Can you erase a life-time of bad habits? Seems impossible, doesn’t it? But here’s the good news–the Holy Spirit is just waiting for you to ask Him for help. You don’t have to–can’t–do it on your own, but with God, all things are possible. Just ask for help. The Holy Spirit is waiting.    … Read More

Colossians 1:24-25 Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Is there anyone who asks God for suffering? That’s a little different from seeing it coming, knowing that if you follow God you will suffer. Even then, we hope to avoid it. But through suffering, we grow in our faith and share the gospel. Through a recent illness of an infant grandson, (he suffered physically,… Read More

Colossians 1:10 1 + 2 = 3

I’m not an equation kind of person–I learn by stories and visuals–but this verse is an equation for life, and God gave it to us. We pray (for ourselves and others) asking for wise minds, attuned spirits, and understanding. Why? So that we can life a life worthy of the Lord (with His help) with… Read More

Colossians 1:9 We haven’t stopped praying for you

There’s no such thing as too much prayer. And what am I praying for–a grocery list of my desires or a growing relationship with the Lord for myself and others?       Colossians 1:9 (The Message) Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking… Read More

Colossians 1:3-5 Our future is heaven

When I read these verses, I drew a straight line to represent our ascent and growth in faith and hope when we join in God’s purpose and are filled with his love. But circumstances, sins, doubts, pain–the reality of life–make the line full of hills we struggle up and valleys we careen down into despite… Read More