Reflections and Devotions

Romans 8:28-30: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And… Read More »

Because of original sin, the world and everything in it is in bondage to decay, enslaved to corruption (Rom 8:21). This means that from the moment of conception, creation, formation all things living and inanimate move towards decay, corruption, death. Everything we purchase will one day fall apart, fail and be discarded. Roots rot. Even… Read More »

Last evening we were sitting outside on the patio when an insect (or what appeared to be a large insect) arrived, hovering over the flower garden. Getting up to inspect more closely, we discovered it to be a baby hummingbird collecting nectar. We were awed. Inside myself, I felt joy, admiration, sweetness as we watched… Read More »

It never fails. Try to quiet the mind and thoughts start jumping around like little monkeys. I actually wrote down the thoughts that entered my mind in the first minute of prayer this morning: What time do I have to leave? What’s that smell? Sun’s coming up, Jim running water at sink. Muffin (the cat)… Read More »

Special events mark important times in our lives. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, births of children are all examples of milestones in one’s life. The word “milestones” came about in the Roman period, during the 3rd century, when they built roads and marked every 1000 paces with a stone. It signified a journey’s progress achieved, a current… Read More »

The heat has been persistent. Brown grass. Flowers droop. Then, a slight rumble is heard in the distance. Clouds begin to form and blacken. A breeze arrives bringing the scent of rain. The roofer says, “Work fast, boys, we will have to stop soon and come back tomorrow.” They see the clouds promising rain as… Read More »

Adam and Eve committed sin and when they heard God walking in the garden of Eden, they hid themselves from his presence. Then, God asks man His first question to humankind: “The Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ (Gen 3:9).” Of course, God knows where Adam and Eve are hiding. He is… Read More »

The Old Testament tells of God’s people who turned from God and worshipped other gods, for they no longer respected, revered, feared the Almighty God. God was angry and poured out his wrath on them, but not forever. Jeremiah 32:38-41: “They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them… Read More »

Taking care of my 5-year-old granddaughter one day, she asked to do something but added, “but don’t tell mom and dad because they would say no. Another time, I watched with amused interest as my other granddaughter sat at the counter, deep in thought, choosing between the “no” thing she wanted or the “time out.”… Read More »

In How You Can Be a Peacemaker, by Mary Evelyn Jegen, the author states that “it is by God’s grace that we are offered the gift to accept ourselves as we truly are: fragile, weak, disordered – yet loved and loving, a little less than the angels, entrusted with each other’s lives.” It is so… Read More »