Focal verse “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received” (1 Peter 4:10). Reflection At our church, fourth graders are invited to learn how to serve in worship as acolytes. My daughter counted down the days until the training. During worship, she’d watch […]
Focal verse “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). Reflection The camper was mostly packed. Clothes had been washed. The reservations made. Our family’s yearly camping trip to the lake […]
Focal verse “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:3). Reflection On the second shelf of a large bookcase in my office sits a clear plastic box filled with letters. The earliest letters are from 1990, when I was 8 years old. I’ve saved letter after […]
Focal verse “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Reflection On summer evenings, with the sun setting and my hands shielding my eyes, our family comes to the softball […]
Focal verse “From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the cattle and plants for people to cultivate, to bring forth food from the earth” (Psalm 104:13-14). Reflection In Missouri, where I live, we had a wet spring. […]
Focal verse “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8). Reflection The season of the open door is upon us. With warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, my children are in and out of our house. They take to the yard for a soccer […]
Focal verse “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power” (Ephesians 6:10). Reflection Just before my 9-year-old daughter read in church for the first time, she turned to me and said, “I’m nervous.” Once a month our congregation invites children to read the lessons and psalm. As my daughter continues to […]
Focal verse “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray’” (Matthew 26:36). Reflection From my spot in the kitchen while prepping dinner, I can tell there’s been some mishap. I hear a thud. Cue the tears and screams. […]
Focal verse “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8). Reflection I enter the elementary gym to the sound of kids’ […]
