Laughing with Jesus
I laugh every time I read Jeremiah 29.11 – “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This promise was originally given to God’s Old Testament people as they were being…
Tigers … Prayers
It gives me so much joy having the Detroit Tigers live on TV once again (finally) that I really want to write about them. In fact, I wanted to last week, just in anticipation of the season opener. Then, on Monday afternoon as I drove home, the owner of…
Busy … Busted … Bursting
After two of what felt like the laziest weeks ever in my life, things are now accelerating at breakneck speed. I wake up Monday morning, and before I know it, I look at my watch and it is Wednesday afternoon - and I still haven’t completed what I hoped…
Gentle Breeze
It was 4:00 a.m. and a gentle breeze was flowing in through the window next to our bed. The rhythmic sound of the leaves stirring in the treetops accompanied the breeze. I lay without covers for a few minutes, savoring the early morning refreshment,…
First Things First
This past Sunday afternoon our 2.5-year-old granddaughter burned her hands. In a situation like that, what is the very first thing a person should do? If your answer is “attend to the wound” … “comfort the child” … “pray” … my reply would be a definite…
Life on the Edge
A few years ago, Monica was riding one of those huge scary roller coasters with a friend of ours (I am the type who volunteers to sit with the backpacks on the bench). Just as they hit the apex prior to the big drop, she turned and asked him, “Did you…
Delayed, Canceled, Created
In our family last year, we received a notification that Father’s Day was being cancelled because a certain family member was turning 60 on that day … and priorities are priorities! This year I was told it would be delayed because of a death in the…
Saying Farewell
One day we were celebrating Monica’s birthday, the next morning we got a call that her mother was on her deathbed. I was already at work when Monica’s sister contacted her, so my wife picked me up at church on our way to Livonia. Fifteen minutes into…
What is Happening!
I have no explanation for it – I am hoping you do. My Thursday’s Thirst is never opened by more than 35% of the people it is sent to. Often the number is under 30%. But last week’s message about “Trust”was opened by 42.7% - at least 50 more people…
Trust
We are only midway through the first season – watched episodes 12 and 13 last night. Somewhere a few episodes ago – probably around episode 9 – Reddington said, “Most of all, I want to sleep like I slept when I was a boy.” That line got my…