“Give, and you will receive gifts — the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!”—Luke 6:38 I was a single mom, trying to support three kids on my own. Their father was in prison, and I received no child…

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. —Galatians 6:9 When my daughter and family came to visit last month, my son-in-law trimmed a bush for me. He discarded the debris at the edge of the yard and returned with two baby pumpkins. Imagine my surprise…

God is in his holy Temple.He is a father to orphans,and he defends the widows.God gives the lonely a home.He leads prisoners out with joy,but those who turn against God will live in a dry land.—Psalm 68:5-6 If a dam (mother cow) does not bond with her calf immediately after birth, there’s a good chance she will reject it. In the case…

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”“A staff,” he replied.The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”—Exodus 4:2-3a Many Southern Maryland farmers used to grow tobacco, but twenty years ago they voluntarily accepted funds from Maryland’s Tobacco Buyout program, agreeing to give up tobacco production in lieu of an alternative. Since then, many have turned to produce,…

He who continually goes forth weeping,Bearing seed for sowing,Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,Bringing his sheaves with him.—Psalm 126:6 My heart was hurting, my steps heavy when I set out for my morning walk, thoughts centering on hopes that hadn’t come to fruition—hopes for relationships, healings, my work and ministry, even my weight loss. Pained and bowed down, I caught glimpse of…

You are all around me, behind me and in front of me. You hold me safe in your hand.—Psalm 139:5 It was time to change out my tabletop décor. I opened the china cabinet and carefully cupped the ceramic bird in the palm of my hand. I dared not drop it, for the pastel “baby blue” bird was special to me. It…

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.—Luke 5:5-6 Have you ever worked so hard that you gave it your all, all your physical and mental strength, yet in the end…

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.—Ephesians 2:10 I am 58 years old and just created my first vision board. Months ago, while introducing vision boards as a project for my students, I clipped images from magazines and slipped them inside an envelope, with the intention of…

Then the women went away quickly from the tomb, their hearts filled with awe and great joy, and ran to give the news to his disciples.—Matthew 28:8 PHILLIPS I arose early on Easter morning and decided to take a walk. As I started out, something stirred in me and I took off running. I am not a runner, so this was odd,…

He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.—Isaiah 53:3 NLT When I realized I had to cancel my spring break trip to visit my family in Texas, I was overcome with deep sorrow. I had longed for this…