I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. -Psalm 40:1 NLT I didn’t enjoy the experience, but then again, the
Read moreTag: Faith
Christmas Comes Regardless
Christmas comes regardless of circumstances in the world or our personal lives. That first advent was no different for the participants. Events leading up to Jesus’ birth brought many unexpected challenges to the young couple
Read moreGiving Thanks During the Holidays
Giving thanks during the holidays might seem easy, but thanking God in every circumstance challenges the best of us. Some claim it’s impossible. I’m a nostalgic kind of guy. In my mind’s eye, I can
Read moreA THANKSGIVING PORTRAIT OF NANNA
A Thanksgiving Portrait of Nanna Lately, I have been thinking about family. And thankfulness. My mother’s mother Helen, Nanna to us, was Swedish and thoroughly American. Born in South Dakota in 1917, the day before
Read moreWrestling with the Deep and Hard
I’ve been wrestling with the deep and the hard these last few years. God knows it. I know it. The bell sounds and we go another round. I think of Jacob wrestling all night long
Read moreHeld by the Waters of Grace
The day I was baptized I was sprinkled with water. I remember my pastor giving me a handkerchief so I could wipe the few drips of holy water that pooled around my eyes. Even at
Read moreRemembering When with Family
I tried remembering “when” with family, but it didn’t work too well. When I asked my son, “Don’t you remember?” he didn’t. My son and his family hadn’t visited our home in two years. His
Read moreCHILD SPONSORSHIP – FAITH IN ACTION
SPONSORSHIP – FAITH IN ACTION Our daughter Grace held a photo of a girl in her hand. Winter Jam 2013, the Holt-sponsored Christian concert tour, was revving up as the Newsboys played “We Believe.” Is this
Read moreNever Will I Leave You
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). When I was eight years old, I read Bible verses that explained God’s love, my sin, Jesus’ sacrifice, and my need to
Read moreHow to Lead Children in the Faith
I learned all I needed to know about how to lead children in the faith by watching animal documentaries. Okay, that is not entirely true. But watching Animal Planet and National Geographic will tell you
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