When the Menu is Manna

   Faith is an abiding confidence in things hoped for, and the certainty that such will happen even if we can't see it." I can still picture myself standing on the edge of the pool with my mother, saying, "Jump, I'll catch you," during one of our many swimming lessons. Though I was still nervous, I was confident my mother would catch me because she said she would, and I trusted her because she always did.  Another time, a much older me, a college student, stood in my apartment, wondering, like many other poor college students, how I would make it until payday. The situation looked relatively bleak this time, and I knew I needed a financial miracle. I thought about what I could do to remedy the situation, but my resources were limited. I decided to release the problem, and asked God to provide however he chose to meet my needs for the next few days. Soon afterwards, while doing my laundry, I picked up a piece of clothing, and a ten-dollar bill was at the bottom of...

  This morning, like every morning, I am having some quiet time. I look forward to this beginning each day, drinking my morning iced tea (with no sugar) out of my favorite glass, a Nolan Ryan collector glass. It's just the right size for the morning brew, and it reminds me of someone who, over the years, gave me these wise words. "Keep these safe, referring to the set of collector glasses; one day, they will be valuable." I'm not a collector of much. I accepted the advice, but I didn't take my father's words to heart. Over the years, he had given me random gifts, like the miniature grand piano that, when opened, was a music box because He knew I wished for a baby grand, and this oddly shaped jewelry box that resembled a free-form puzzle that I came to love because of a great life lesson I learned from it, along with other very individual gifts. My dad had a remarkable way of being generous to others, even beyond his means, which often was both his strength and...

                                                         Trust in the Lord is blessed because it keeps us rooted like a tree by water, reminding us to rely on His timing and plan. Jeremiah 17:7-8 Early in my teaching career, I taught first grade. Never since have I taught a grade level with more fascination for learning. Blessed with an excellent mentor teacher with a strong interest in science, we hatched butterflies, mealworms, and chicks.  We grew a vegetable garden, made soup from its bounty, and experienced the effects of droves of ladybugs intended for our garden being let loose in the classroom! We had an explosion of gerbils and saw the wonder of beautiful Monarchs migrating south one year. The experiences of that time were rich, purposeful, and fun, and each passing one helped develop a foundation for future learning that would ex...

But  as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. Deuteronomy 1:40 NKJV What was I thinking? How many times have you said these exact words or thrown your hands in an upward direction in disbelief at what you have just thought, said, or even done? The only way I can answer this is more times than I care to count!  Such runs much deeper than those senior moments I would like to blame for my behavior. It's more like a battle between an attitude of 'I know best' in every situation and the good sense to stop and listen for God's guidance. It's hard for me to admit, but my hastiness sometimes causes me to bypass him completely. Without even a thought for wait time or seeking God's guidance in a matter, I plunge right into a solution with my own remedies, forgetting that all the while God's answer is waiting for me. If any of this resonates with you, friend, you're in good company, as you can see, I am guilty of all......

  When it comes to puzzles, some people seem to place each piece with ease and confidence. Others… not so much. I fall into the second category. I try, but spatial awareness is not my strength—not even close. Isn’t life like that sometimes? There are seasons when the pieces seem to fall into place effortlessly. And then there are moments when we search endlessly for understanding, turning situations over in our minds, trying to make sense of what feels incomplete. The longer we look for answers, the more frustrating it can become when clarity doesn’t come quickly. When life feels puzzling—when something seems broken, unfinished, or unclear—God’s Word gently offers us a small but powerful word: trust. It’s a simple word, one we hear often, perhaps so often that we underestimate its depth. Yet when applied to our lives, trust has the quiet ability, in God’s timing, to fill the spaces where understanding is missing. This is not an attempt to over-spiritualize life’s difficulties. ...

W orry. I once thought of it as my responsibility—a self-appointed role, one I carried faithfully. One morning, I woke feeling unsettled. My heart was racing, and a wave of anxiety seemed to linger from a dream that had felt far too real. Within moments, I realized it was only a dream, and relief should have followed. Instead, I began replaying it in my mind. Since dreams tend to fade quickly, I worked to hold onto every detail. Before long, fully awake, I was already forming a plan—just in case that imagined situation ever became reality. I sometimes wish I were naturally carefree, the “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” kind of person. It’s not that I walk around spreading discouragement. I truly try to bring light and encouragement wherever I can. But quietly, often unseen, I do wrestle with worry. When I read Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25–34, they don’t always align with my instinct to prepare and problem-solve. It's difficult to simply not worry about daily things. Doesn’t Jesus underst...