A Fresh Perspective on “To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice”

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. – 1 Samuel 15:22b Don’t you love it when familiar lines of Scripture take on new clarity and depth? For me, that’s one of the most exciting things about reading Scripture. When the Holy Spirit shares His insight (and I am sensible enough to listen), it’s a…

The Literal Meaning of Trust

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5 I have many hobbies, but perhaps one of my favorites is cooking. To me, the entire process of creating food from scratch is satisfying – and, in varying degrees, my kids have grown to enjoy cooking and baking as…

The Bittersweet Experience of Changing Churches

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. – Psalm 32:8 This week, my husband and sat across from our pastor, a man whom we respect and admire, and let him know we would be attending a different church, one closer to…

What Does Suffering Teach?

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. – Hebrews 5:8 There’s an expression my family and I use to keep life in perspective whenever we feel like grumbling about little inconveniences. “I know, it’s such a first-world problem,” we say. When the internet is down at our…

Perfect Peace: Shalom, Shalom

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. – Isaiah 26:3 In early August, our family vacationed in Wisconsin near Lake Michigan. We are not the sort of vacationers who like to do things on vacation – instead, we prefer not to do things. We…

Your Reputation Precedes You

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. – Matthew 7:20 My family and I have spent the past few days packing for a long-awaited vacation to the Great Lakes region. Because we’re not big fans of hotels, we reserved a place to stay through Home Away. It’s a family home on several acres within walking distance of a…

Struggling to Grow Spiritually

Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. – Zechariah 10:1 For the past several months, my family and I have been transplanting perennials, bulbs, and shrubs from one garden bed into another across the driveway. We didn’t…

Forgiving Others (Even When It’s Tough!)

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. – Luke 23:34 I’ve been reading about forgiveness this week, in The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. The author made the point that it is possible – and we should make it a goal – to forgive others…

Best Friends

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends. – John 15:15a Close friends came to visit our family last week. Missionaries to Tanzania, they had quite a harrowing journey back to the States recently, and much to share with us about that adventure…

Planting, Watering, and Harvesting

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. – 1 Corinthians 3:6 I’m a huge fan of the PBS series “Poirot,” which ran intermittently over the course of twenty-five years. In the series, David Suchet brought to life Agatha Christie’s super sleuth with the unequaled “little gray cells,” Hercule Poirot. I’ll finish the final season…