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’ […]
Focal verse “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). Reflection When the new year rolls in, I’m all for making plans and dreaming dreams. Goal-making or coming up with a word of the year brings me joy. […]
Focal verse “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). Reflection We found the cat in our garage one morning. […]
Focal verse “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8). Reflection I remember that, as an elementary school student about to embark on a cross-country move, I waited for the school bus at the top of our driveway and debated whether I could pull […]
