Here's a sobering thought to ponder: Sometimes God will lead us to a metaphorical cliff, then cause a strong wind to push us over the edge. His loving arms will catch us, but the fall is frightening, to say the very least. "Why would God do that?" Well... in this life on Earth, there are necessary steps we would never take without a push from the Lord. As humans, we would simply be too afraid. Our reasoning would get in the way. "Common sense" would tell us to flee from

When I get alone with God and praise Him out loud, the Spirit will often help by giving me words. During a recent time of early morning worship, the Spirit prompted me to thank the Lord for "directing the steps of my heart." I recorded the phrase in my journal because it seems significant. Now I'm becoming aware of how God leads my heart on a regular basis. Christians are cautioned to not take action based on emotion, and that sounds like good advice. But the Spirit unden

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together - Psalm 34:2-3. When I get up early to spend time with the Lord in my prayer room, first I light one or more candles. (This is not a "religious" thing. I do it because meeting with God is special.) Then I open the mini-blinds so I can watch the dawn. I'm in a rural location, so I feel sure that no one is looking in at me.

I love the line in the 1991 movie, City Slickers, when Billy Crystal tells his downhearted friend, "Your life is a do-over. You've got a clean slate." A clean slate. Hmmm. That sounds like something from the heart of God. In fact, it is. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning - Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV. When we wake up each day, we get a "do-over." That's just how our Lord is. People may hold grudges, but the mercies of God are new every mor

A special "Hi" to all the baby-boomers reading this. I think we were privileged to be born at a wonderful time in history. Ours was a unique era when simplicity crashed head-on with industry and invention. I have vivid memories of my early years. Living on a 140-acre farm meant that Mama still churned butter, but she had the option of buying something new called "Oleo." Our family was fairly independent, and the farm was self-supporting—echoing the rural lifestyle of