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"God bless America, my home
sweet home!"
"What in the world is that?" exclaimed my husband, Terry,
making a quick path out to the front porch.
We had just moved into a summer rental house across the street from a sleepy park. But from the sounds of it, the park was not so sleepy! The gazebo was filled with band members and a rather buxom woman was at the microphone. She was belting out patriotic songs in a high soprano voice. read more
"Who gives this woman to
be wed to this man?" Even though I was expecting this question, hearing
it asked by the minister (who is my other son-in-law, Evan) caused a bit
of pause. Keep in mind that other than writing a bunch of checks, this
was my only real part in the ceremony. I was being asked to give my
daughter to the man standing beside Evan. Not to go on a date. Not for a
weeklong vacation. But forever!
This beautiful bride-to-be,
standing beside me and holding my hand was my daughter.
When she
was born I cut the umbilical cord. My wife and I stood beside her hospital bed
a
1 year of age as she fought an unexplainable blood infection. I taught her to ride a bike. To swim. To drive a car (hence much of my gray hair). Much of the money I have made in my life somehow poured through her hands. read more
I was recently scared—really, really scared. I saw something that so frightened me it threw me back and stopped me cold in my tracks. What I saw was ugly, threatening and dangerous. It was large, intimidating and daunting. What was it? Spots! I saw spots.
I have seen spots that freaked me out before—age spots … well just
one, but it was there and its presence was horrifying. I have seen other spots
too: sore spots, weak spots and soft spots. But none of
these shook me like the spots I saw recently: blind spots. read more
I have reached the age
at which it is hard to tell the difference between a Holy Ghost rush and a hot
flash. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't come to rely on body temperature as a
spiritual thermostat to tell me when the anointing had hit. But now I just have
to move out in faith, trusting that God is the initiator even when I don't feel
a thing—or when what I'm feeling could be the result of a hormone imbalance
rather than the prompting of His Spirit!
This season has brought other
physical changes, too—a tiredness I can't seem to shake, wrinkles, sagging skin,
body parts that don't want to get in shape no matter how much I do to encourage
the process. Perhaps worst of all is the lack of desire to extend myself beyond
the minimum requirements for sustaining life. If an activity isn't going to
satisfy a crucial need, it isn't worth the effort. read more
In Deuteronomy 8, Moses told the Israelites three times that God tested them in the wilderness for the express purpose of humbling them: "The Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee...and he humbled thee...that he might humble thee" (Deut. 8:2-3, 16, KJV, emphasis added). By inspiration the apostle Paul added that their trials were recorded as examples to us in this Christian era: "Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition" (1 Cor. 10:11). In his epistle, therefore, James exhorts Christians everywhere, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord" (James 4:10). Peter orders the same in his general epistle, "humble yourselves...under the mighty hand of God" (1 Pet. 5:6). read more
There probably isn't a mother alive who doesn't love McDonald's. Not for the cuisine, mind you, but for the convenience. Due to today's busy lifestyles, many moms frequently take advantage of this fast-food phenomenon.
At one time I was among the millions who do, and I
have to admit, my kids loved it, too. It was amazing how my tots could spot
those golden arches from their backseat vantage point! They would squeal with
delight at the prospect of "driving through."
The real thrill came,
however, when we actually pulled in, parked and went inside. read more
After Mother went home to be with the Lord, the family held an estate sale of her possessions that had been sitting in boxes for years.
As I rummaged through the boxes of elegant china, laces and linens, one box in particular caught my eye. This one smelled musty, and a piece of straw was poking through the top. I pried it open with scissors and began to sneeze. read more