This Time Next Year
***This story is a finalist in the 2023 Selah Awards (Devotions in Print).*** “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”(Genesis 18:14–ESV) By this time next…
Freedom In Forgiveness (Selah Awards 2023 Finalist)
This was previously posted, but I’m sharing again. It’s a timely Resurrection Sunday message, as well as a finalist in the 2023 Selah Awards, “Articles in Print” category. (It was shared in our local newspaper, The Mountaineer.) And God’s truth–that there is freedom in forgiveness–never…
Linda Teague–A Good Neighbor
“You’uns come and sit sometime.” That’s what she said on more occasions than I can count. And when I said, “We will,” I meant it. Truly. But time passes, life stays busy with too many missed opportunities. Frankly, that’s a shame. I’d never written a…
Jesus Loves Me
***This appeared first at Arise Daily. It’s a finalist in the 2023 Selah Awards (Devotions Online category).*** The picture hung on our wall. It was a simple portrait depicting our Savior, and as a girl of seven, I imagined this was how Jesus looked…
Lucinda–My ‘Soul Strong’ Friend
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11–NIV). Sometimes we meet people we just know will influence our lives. I met Lucinda Secrest McDowell…
If Jesus Had a Dog (Selah Awards Finalist 2023)
Honored that this essay (first posted Summer 2022), inspired by our late Finley, was chosen as a Selah Awards 2023 Finalist. If Jesus had a dog, I’ll bet His would be a good shepherd—inclined toward tending goats and sheep, striving to keep them safe. His…
God of This City–Of Every City (Part 2)
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (II Chronicles 16:9 NIV). (***To read Part 1 of God of This City–Of Every City, click HERE. It was the last post at Penning Pansies,…
God of This City–Of Every City (Part 1)
“I want [people] everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer…” (I Timothy 2:8a NIV). It was never our intent to encourage a worship service. We were just two people, celebrating Bill’s birthday at Elaine’s, a popular dueling piano bar in the basement of Asheville’s Grove…
Why a Word for the Year?
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path (Psalm 119:105 CSB). ***Read to the end for a chance to win a wonderful new book!*** You’ve heard it asked. What’s your word for the year? This inquiry is everywhere come…
Peculiar Place
It happened almost exactly thirty-two years ago today. Alone in my living room, I went to the window for the last time. And on this particular morning, I did so out of obedience. At first, I thought I’d heard wrong. After all, my loving Father…