Be Safe

As I prepared to end the phone call, the salesperson said, “Be safe.” I thought this was odd since I hadn’t heard this phrase used in impersonal conversations. However, it is now common to my daily life, including the plethora of emails I receive each day that close with “Be safe.” I find myself wondering what each person is actually suggesting I do to be safe.

Your Will Be Done

With a highly contagious virus roaming the earth, I find myself resisting. I have been sick for the past several years and am just starting to climb out of the pit of pain and fatigue. My fleshly desire is for the slowly progressing momentum to continue so that I can regain enough function to return to some of my former activities. The prospect of contracting a virus that would tax my body and likely reduce it back to a quivering lump of jelly is not my will. Yet…

Sinful Discontent

Current events and the resulting “at home” status in many areas of the world tempt us to desire other than what we have. We want to be able to choose where we go, when we can go there, and what we can do once we get there. However, we must remember key truths about God in order to prevent sinful discontent from sprouting and flourishing. My intent is to briefly examine these truths over the course of several blog posts.

Dwell on What is True – Continued

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

Current events tempt us to become discontent and afraid, but a focus on biblical truths helps a believer to compose and quiet the soul. This written list reminds me of what I know to be true and prompts right thinking. I am republishing it now from a previous post after hearing from several who are afraid during this time. A pdf version without links is provided at the end of the post for anyone desiring a printed version.

I AM Doing Something

I wonder how Habakkuk felt. Wickedness was rampant in the land, and he wondered when God would do something about it. Habakkuk wanted God to intervene and restore righteousness. God’s ways are not our ways though, as Habakkuk would soon discover.

Learning to Be Content

Do you find yourself thinking, “If only things were different”?

No Stress Required

It occurred to me today that being homebound is advantageous in one respect. The fact that I can no longer attend Christmas parties, family get-togethers, and plays or go shopping among decorations, loud music, and bright red and green lights means that there are fewer distractions. As a result, the true miracle of Christmas is clearer in my mind than it was when I was “having Christmas” as I used to call it.

It Is Well with My Soul

It has been almost a year since I was diagnosed with cancer following years of illness. I praise God that He has not allowed the cancer to return! Please praise Him with me and pray that my check-up later this month reveals no new cancer.

The Heart

Each summer, I plant zinnia seeds harvested from the previous year’s planting. Butterflies and hummingbirds swarm the tops of the flowers, seeking the sweet nectar presented in little 5-pointed yellow flasks. Goldfinches pluck petals while clinging to the stems just under the flowers; treats in the form of seeds present themselves at the base of each petal. Small piles of rejected petals collect on the leaves as evidence of a goldfinch satisfying his hunger.

Wash Me, Please

While studying John 13:5-20 one day, I found myself imagining I was with the disciples, about to have Jesus wash my feet. I felt peaceful and warm, knowing all was well with Him there. Gone were my previous thoughts regarding how awkward it would be to have someone as glorious as Jesus stoop down to do a menial task for my benefit. Before this day, I had only understood the lesson of humility taught by this passage. A second, deeper meaning swelled in my heart, helping me to appreciate, once again, the richness of Scripture.