So Hot Even the Bees Are Dropping Like Flies

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It was so hot even the bees were dropping like flies. In our desert area of Southern California, we get used to the soaring summer heat and I thought the insects would too, but we kept finding dead bees by our front door. We thought, “Can’t do anything about it and it can’t be anything too serious,” so we just ignored the strange phenomenon. Until we also noticed a dark spot on the wall near the ceiling—a wall close to the front door. We called out pest control and they checked the attic. The truth was revealed. Bees had taken…

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The Power of Discouragement

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  The enemy I battle most is Discouragement. I know better than to give that rascal a toehold in my life. But it slips in subtly, whispering hopelessness, just like long ago. Remember how the Israelites responded to Moses when he came to lead them out of bondage in Egypt. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country…‘Therefore, say to the Israelites: I am the Lord and I will…

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Tech Issues? God Still Loves Me!

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How do you deal with daily crises? Mine seem to cluster around my computer, which affects my writing. Any day now, I’m expecting a friendly response from the Apple folk: “Oh, hi, Ellie. How’s it going? What’s your issue today?” I recently went through two levels of their techies, and even an operating-system upgrade didn’t fix it. The problems are seldom simple, and I find it unnerving when a techie says, “This is really odd!” One day, my multiplying issues involved Apple, Microsoft, and Google Chrome. The following day, a second-tier Microsoft tech did a screen-share and fixed that one!…

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Waiting with Hope

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With Christmas wrapped up and neatly tucked away, we are almost to the end of January. But the hope that a new year brings is still fresh in our hearts and minds. Maybe this is the year you hope to find a new job, earn a degree, or travel abroad. Maybe this is the year you hope to meet that special someone or start a family. Hoping for a change, or for something new, is exciting. But when our hopes and dreams are put on hold, it’s hard to be patient. Proverbs 13:12 says “hope deferred makes the heart sick,…

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The Gift of “Newness”

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 Someone once said there are regulators on our lives that help control and shape our destinies. These regulators include things we often take for granted like energy, sleep, food, money, and time. Wise management of these regulators can mean the difference between an average and an abundant life. Another important regulator is what I call “newness.” Every 24 hours we are greeted by a new day at Midnight. Sunday morning brings a new week. On our birthday, we celebrate another new year of life. One way we human beings tend to “clean the slate” is by leaving behind the old…

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A Reader’s Record

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  This time of year, people are posting like crazy on social media the number of books they read in 2018. There are even some pretty cute videos and memes that you can use to illustrate what a productive reader you were last year. While it’s perfectly fine to tally up your reading year, I don’t happen to keep track, nor do I want to know how many books I read. On the one hand, the number would be interesting. On the other, I will more than likely be depressed at the low number of actual books. I read…a lot…like…

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Feeling Thirsty for God

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Most cats hate water, right? Nope. Colonel Brandon, my kitty, loved it when he was little. He would smack the water in his dish and watch it fly in the air, landing all over the floor. Who knows? Maybe he could see a rainbow of colors while he splashed. His joyful game usually ended when he knocked over the bowl, saturating the floor underneath. He’d walk away with droplets of water all over his face. When he got older, he used to sit with his water dish between his paws, as if he feared it might get away. His actions…

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Got Electricity? Try the Room Key

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When Larry and I arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, our missionary hosts directed us to our hotel room and left us to freshen up. Larry plugged in his shaver but it didn’t turn on even though we used the adaptor we brought. I tried to plug in the coffee maker provided in the room and still no electricity! “The room’s electricity must be broken,” I said and quickly dialed the front desk to tell them of the problem. They said a repairman would be right up and within minutes, we heard a knock on the door. The man looked into the…

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A Strong Dose of Charity

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  Excerpt from Christmas Charity by Susan G Mathis “I heard you were newlyweds from Canada. From Wolfe Island? It’s a mighty lot to adjust to, that’s for sure. But how’s you doing, dearie?” Susan bit her lip and studied Mabel. Could she trust her, this stranger? Susan needed to talk with someone, especially since her mama wasn’t here. “It’s … all so sudden. Patrick is a good and kind man, but …” She looked toward the door and sighed. “I’m sure I’ll adjust … with time.” Mabel took Susan’s hand in her tiny, wrinkled ones. “Change ain’t easy, I’ll…

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The Child Who Gave His All

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  “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10 NIV). I can’t imagine losing one of my children. A friend recently lost her adult child and to see her grieve ripped my heart out of my chest. Christmas should be a time of joy. After all, God sent His son that He might save us, and for the most part the season is joyful. Still, when I turn my Christmas tree on at night, and listen to the sweet sound of the nativity music box play Silent Night, I find my heart…

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