Let’s take a look and see — It had been over six weeks of running a fever, and I was not improving. The hospital nurses drew blood every time my fever rose several times daily, to no avail. The many tests gave no clue about what made me sick. I continued to deteriorate. With my vitals unstable…

Oh, no! I’m in trouble! — You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. (Psalm 139:1–2, CEV) My whole life, I have read and heard the story of four men who cut…

A tattoo may not be so bad after all — Several years ago, my daughter begged me to get a tattoo with her on our last day of vacation. Then she pulled at my heartstrings when she said, “Come on, Mom! It will be a mother-daughter memory we can share forever with matching tattoos.” Well, that did it. Sarah is…

Lessons learned from the past to help us now. — I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 I started taking piano lessons as a child. That was a decision my parents made for me. I wonder if they even imagined the ripple effect of my life as a church…

A journey through the next operation — For those who did not read the first story, A Journey Through Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery, I suggest you read it first. My second surgery was nine days after my first procedure. I was told wires stored inside my scalp would be threaded down my neck and into my right…

It was a little more than I had planned. — As a little girl, I had a vivid memory that stayed with me all these years. Why would this tiny memory leave a lasting imprint? Was God warning me of my future? Possibly! I don’t know. I was sitting on a back pew in the church. I looked at the…

Faith in a Triune God may bring us closer to solving the mystery. — As I write this devotional, I ask you to read my article, The Magical Mystery Tour. Taking time to see the magnitude of Jesus will help to understand how He views this world's poor, unfortunate souls. Ursula, the villain of the Disney Movie titled Little Mermaid, sang a seductive song…

Times of sadness are inevitable — I want to begin by saying that living in this world will not always be sunshine and rainbows. Times of melancholy are inevitable. Guess what? It’s okay to sing the blues sometimes, to sit and cry, and to sulk in the corner. One specific time in my life when I…

Is this Biblical? — Sun Tzu, a military general, philosopher, strategist, and writer from the Eastern Zhou period of 771 to 256 BCE, is credited with saying, “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” This phrase refers to keeping an eye on your enemies so that you will be ready for a possible…