So, I was talking with my sister-in-law after church today, and she said something I just couldn’t resist expounding upon: “Isn’t it so kind of God to give us hope before the hurdle.” When track runners face hurdles, they take them at speed. They train relentlessly to build the muscle memory and strength required not only for running but also to develop the rhythm of lifting their bodies up and over hurdles without breaking stride. And, they learn that speed and confidence are their friends; for, if they lose speed or hesitate before meeting a hurdle, they risk injury. Does that sound a little bit like life? We often talk…

I was a single parent of three teenagers. And in those years before they left home and began making their own way in the world, I knew both the depths of despair and the miraculous grace and saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Time and time again, when I wasn’t sure I’d make ends meet, somehow there would be enough. When I feared for the wellbeing of my children’s fragile hearts, there was Jesus and the comfort only His Spirit can provide. God used so many people in my life to support, supply and sustain us physically, emotionally and spiritually. I am forever grateful for the beauty of the…

More than three decades ago, on a major interstate highway, somewhere in the southern US, dense fog suddenly obscured the visibility of motorists. The resulting catastrophe consisted of a series of multiple-vehicle collisions that ultimately involved 99 vehicles. There were 12 deaths and 42 injuries. I still recall the television images that accompanied the breaking news. Not just for the motorist is visibility crucial and dense fog treacherous. As followers of Christ, you and I must have clear vision unclouded by doubts and fears. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV) Yes, we must clearly see the way ahead, and more importantly we need to clearly…

There is a storm coming. The sky has darkened, the wind is gusting, and the tree branches are wildly whipping. Evidence that there are forces beyond my control. Yes, I am safe within the walls of my home, but without there is an environment that is not tame. A reminder that God will not be mocked. He is high above the heavens. Majestic and holy. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1 NKJV) The Kingdom of Righteousness is His and only His. He is not made in the imaginations of men; rather, He has imagined us and created us for His own good…