“I will extend peace to her like a river . . .” (Isa. 66:12)
God can speak to us anywhere, through anything. Often, he uses nature. After all, nature is his creation, and his fingerprints are all over it. Over the years, I’ve found peace by taking walks, enjoying the fresh air, and studying the things that God has made. But I’ve found the most peace—the place where God speaks to me the most clearly—near water. Continue reading “Peace like a River”
This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Is. 48:17)
When I was growing up, my family went on a road trip almost every summer. My dad, a teacher, had summers off, and since his mom lived in Nevada, we would take off and explore various points of the West on our way to visit her. Continue reading “The Map for Our Lives”
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God . . . (Rom. 1:1)
On a recent trip to Michigan to visit my brother, my family and I wanted to find one of the excellent roadside produce stands the area is known for. We had almost given up on finding one when a trip to a nearby state park took us by an Amish farm with a roadside stand. The stand was set so far back from the road that we weren’t sure it really was one, so after exploring the state park, we decided to see if we could find it again.
We did, and what a fun experience it was. Items were placed on shelves and tables and inside a cooler that wasn’t turned on (no electricity!), with price tags attached or on signs in front of the items. A bucket to collect payment sat on one of the tables. No one manned the stand—it was completely on the honor system. The stand was just a few feet from the house, and while we shopped, we could hear the women inside chattering away in a language we couldn’t understand, most likely preparing supper based on the time of day. Continue reading “Set Apart”
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Heb. 6:19)
My parents and I visited my brother and his wife in western Michigan this June, and on our first full day there, we took a day trip to Grand Haven, where we visited Lake Michigan and the Grand Haven South Pierhead Outer and Inner Lighthouses. Last summer, I wrote a blog post about my fascination with lighthouses and all they represent for me as a Christian, and these lighthouses were no exception.
Painted bright red, they are located on the south pier where the Grand River enters Lake Michigan. The inner lighthouse is tall and cylindrical and what we picture when we think of a lighthouse. The outer lighthouse looks like a little square barn and sits right at the end of the pier. Originally, the outer lighthouse contained a foghorn to warn sailors they were approaching land when the fog was so heavy the light could not be seen. Continue reading “The Anchor of Our Souls”