“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…

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.—1 Chronicles 16:34 I approached the kitchen table and caught glance of the single red rose, its stem stuck in a vase and head bowed toward me. Instantly, I wanted to bow my own head in shame. How could I have forgotten? My mind traveled back to the day before…

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…