When my grandmother died, her eulogy/obituary were . . . well, less than. Her life was reduced to a few sentences about her cooking, her hospitality, and her crafting abilities. Seriously?  There was so much more.  Where was the space for the Wahoo! games at Grandmother’s kitchen table, the steaks she and Papa cooked for my…

(ID 41629192 | Literature © Kolinkotanya | Dreamstime.com) To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Daniel 1:17 NIV Once upon a time . . .  As a kid, those four words hooked me every time. Little did I know how much they would build…

Two of my grandchildren start kindergarten this year—and the tension is already building. Back to school means new teachers, new classmates, and new material. Perhaps even a new school or a new season. A transition to kindergarten, high school, or even college.  While beginnings offer a fresh start, the unknowns can be scary. Unsettling.  And…

By Gayle Veitenheimer Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18 The handoff. The trickiest part of a relay.  Races have been won and lost at the handoff.  But the stakes…

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 1 Samuel 17:50 NIV You don’t have to be a fiction writer to hear voices in your head. Friends, family, and the enemy all have an opinion on what…

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV Have you considered taking on a partner?  Whether you work…

You thought I meant blessings, right?  No. Blessing. Singular. Only one.  November shifts our attention to gratitude. Thankfulness for all we have and for those closest to us. And that’s good.  But let’s not stop there. In fact, I want to back up to the One from Whom all blessings flow.  Jesus. And not just Jesus, but His…

Jesus is in the house. Your house. With his friends. At least twelve, but probably more.  Do you:  Martha, of the famous Mary-and-Martha sister duo in Scripture, committed to B. All the way. If you’re not familiar with Martha’s story, here’s the account from Luke 10:38-42: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came…

Every afternoon, Blaze, my Belgian Malinois, appears with his toy. He dumps his ball into my lap and onto my current project. I set it on the floor. He picks it up. Lap. Floor. Lap. Floor. His brown eyes plead. Play with me. He just wants to be together. What an invitation.  No hidden agendas.  No expectations. …

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV As summer approaches, what do you plan to capture?  Moments with growing kids?  Memories with friends and family?  How about thoughts? No, not the ones you add to the to-do list before you forget. Out-of-bound thoughts.  Like complaints.  Complaints are…