Misunderstood Lyrics This morning Marty played “Wonderful Peace” for the offering in church. It’s an old, traditional chorus that always makes me smile for more than just its lovely, devotional feel. You see, back in the day when we always sang that as a chorus in church, before there were big screens with lyrics up front, I could never quite understand all the words. Instead of “Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love,” I heard... Read more
A Word of Encouragement God Really Does Intervene Today I am making some plans for our high school seniors’ annual trip. I have been a senior class advisor 18 times in my years of teaching, and although seniors are a lot of work, I love them. In fact, one might say that I feel called to minister to students on the edge of the real world. So today I’m making plans for this year’s trip, and a memory returned. I’d... Read more
Narcissism? 1 Corinthians 13:5b: “Love is not self-seeking.” I’m so sorry, but you are not the center of the universe. These days, it is so easy to get caught up in me, me, me. Second Timothy 3:1-5 (AMP) reminds us that “in the last days, dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant,... Read more
A Time For Love Stories For the past month, most people I know have been watching cheesy, sappy, romantic movies. One can find them 24/7 on Hallmark, Lifetime, on bookstore shelves, all over the place. You know, the Bible is full of great love stories, too. Famous couples include Adam and Eve (well, they didn’t have much to choose from), Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba, Abraham and Sarah, Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah … the greatest love stories... Read more
Love Songs, Love Letters, and Musical Messages What is more romantic than a love letter? What is more romantic and intimate than a love song? Combine the two and you have a very emotionally charged situation. All the sappy romantic movies take advantage of music and lyrics that offer an etherial dialogue between the characters. When we hear certain music with or without lyrics, we know what is taking place in the movie. But, as Erin Wathen says in... Read more
Romans 1:20 says, “For [God’s] invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” If you find joy in visiting “the things that have been made,” you might want to visit this gem in the West Virginia hills. Seeking the Gem Over the Christmas holidays, I was once again reminded of the great blessing it is to live in the tri-state area where... Read more
This is from last year, but I decided to resurrect it in honor of the day: The Many Faces of February 2 February 2 is about to arrive. Most people around here (less than 150 miles from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania), are anticipating the ruling of the prophetic rodent, Punxsutawney Phil and hoping for an early spring. Some may look for the same forecast from the legendary Wojak, rising from his winter sleep. In a third narrative, many around the world contemplate the... Read more
An Island Destination The name of Blennerhassett Island first crossed my mind when my husband and I were driving from St. Clairsville, Ohio to Charleston, West Virginia to visit our daughter and her family. I noticed signs along the road, but I had never heard of the place. One day, I asked Marty if he knew anything about Blennerhassett Island. He said it was somehow connected to the infamous Aaron Burr. Well, we enjoy visiting history, so we decided to pay... Read more
Daydreaming of Spring Break I’m sitting here on this mushy, slushy, mid-winter day daydreaming about spring break. There is a place my heart visits much more than my body, my favorite place for spring break. It may be a rather modest, humble place for some, but for my husband and me, it is perfect, and we go as often as we are able. That place is Tybee Island, Georgia. Tybee Island, Georgia Tybee Island is a barrier island... Read more
Believe Have you ever felt entirely unprepared and ill-equipped to do something the Lord has asked you to do? I think if we’re honest, all of us would admit that we have, at one time or another, felt inadequate to do the work of the Father. It can certainly be intimidating. Jesus said that to do the work of the Father is to “believe in me,” and He also directed us to “Go into all the world and preach... Read more
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