He Exults with Loud Singing

, by

  The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV). I love walking with God anywhere, but I especially like the quiet, serene walks where I’m surrounded by God’s creations. Recently, I walked and talked to God in the silence of a north-Georgia mountain path, enjoying the beauty around me. The quite enveloped me much as the foliage on the path did. But then I paused long enough to realize that it…

Read More

Never a Panic in Heaven

, by

Never a Panic in Heaven by Janet Chester Bly Which of these  statements do you most relate to? What I see is all there is. I’m governed by chance, ruled by fate. Mine is a bleak, empty existence, leading nowhere. My life is governed by my good choices and happy thoughts. We’re ruled by fearsome forces who can attack at any moment. Or I believe in a loving, powerful God who has a benevolent plan for the world, and for me, and the power to see it through. Charlie Shedd wrote, “Even when things seem to the contrary, I believe…

Read More

Social Distance, Stay Home, Be Still

, by

Social Distance, Stay Home, Be Still By Christi Grace I have had a lot of time on my hands since this whole Corona Virus quarantine thing started. I’m sure most of us are so tired of hearing about social-distancing, stay-at-home, and all the other newly coined phrases that have been conceived in the last six weeks. But, in this time of forced solitude, God has shown me some amazing things. He’s taught me a lot, and it’s been the most incredible blessing amid what the world has considered confusing and turbulent times. A perfect time to “be still” and listen…

Read More

Help in Times of Trouble

, by

Help in Times of Trouble by Kimberly Rose Johnson I once had a conversation with a friend who was dealing with the death of a loved one. At the same time her career was shooting off into a new and exciting direction. God opened doors she never imagined. She went on to tell me that her brother was experiencing a similar situation with his career. It was all very exciting, but it was in the midst of their mourning. She told me how her brother couldn’t understand why God always ruined the good stuff with bad stuff and went on…

Read More

Honoring the Fallen

, by

Honoring the Fallen This Memorial Day feels different than those in recent memory. I’m sure its sense of untimeliness is related to the COVID-19 issues swirling around us. We need community – as believers and as humans – and that sense of community has been threatened. Today is a perfect day to remember those who have fallen while fighting for our communities. Those warriors cannot hear our thanks, but their families and descendants can. May we acknowledge their sacrifices by remembering that nothing we possess or enjoy has been gained or achieved on our own. Others have contributed. The Psalmist…

Read More

Special Gifts for Grads

, by

  Are you searching for just the right gift for a graduate in your life? Consider giving high-school or college grads something they will cherish for years to come—a “YOU Gift.” It’s free and it will make this season special. Here are five suggestions: Express value. Graduates are under a lot of pressure. They’re adults now but they may not have every detail of their future in place. (We don’t either, right?) One way to encourage them is to tell them the positive qualities and skills you see in them. Resist offering advice but instead, affirm them. You just might…

Read More

Riding in a Covered Wagon – Vicariously!

, by

  By Donna Schlachter Several years ago, hubby and I visited a museum that offered a virtual Covered Wagon ride. We sat inside a wagon bed and looked ahead of us where the driver and oxen or horses would normally reside. Then a short film played about the wagon going down over the river bank and across a fat-flowing river. The wagon bed we sat in rocked and rolled according to the view on the video, and about the only thing missing was we didn’t get dunked. That was a lot of fun, and the experience gave me a whole…

Read More

As  I Ponder Humility

, by

  I must admit. I am a prideful person. While I want to emulate a humble spirit, I know within my own reasoning I’m chasing an elusive butterfly. Trying to be humble is not humility at all. Because I want to appear humble when I’m really very prideful, I struggle with advertising my achievements. Oh, I’d like to brag about this new book or a contract I’ve recently signed. But the Christian in me smacks me silly. “Bragging is not Christ-like.” What’s a writer to do? According to my publishing contracts, I’m required to promote my books. It’s hard to…

Read More

Words Sweet to the Soul, Healing to the Bones

, by

By Julie Lavender Beautiful sights and scents of spring adorn my south-Georgia town. Honeysuckle and wisteria vines twist throughout the trees in the back yard, and yellow Jessamine dots the edge of the forest beyond. The dainty flowers attract nectar-seekers, especially honey bees, this time of year. Married to an entomologist, I’m quite fascinated with God’s diminutive insects, though I prefer to enjoy them from a safe distance. The honey bee is one of my many favorites, because it often reminds me of a writer’s pursuit. According to a trivia page on the National Honey Board website, honey bees must…

Read More

Thoughts on the Lockdown (Kingdom Economy)

, by

  “(Misfortune) can ruin your life only if it ruins your character. Otherwise, it cannot harm you—inside or out.” Aurelius “The great objective of this life is character, for it is the only thing we can carry with us into eternity.” Austin Phelps Doesn’t it help to keep in mind, when life feels particularly hard, that God has our character growth in mind? Right now with the COVID-19 epidemic keeping most of the world in lockdown, with economies declining, it is easy to see loss and limitations. The usual props we rely on to keep us afloat seem suddenly tenuous,…

Read More