“He is not here; he has risen!” (Lk. 24:6)
Because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, we can live a victorious life connected to him. By his grace, our sins are forgiven. Today, on Resurrection Sunday, I want to honor the occasion by sharing five verses to turn our hearts toward Jesus and lift our spirits. Continue reading “5 Bible Verses to Celebrate Easter”
Do everything without grumbling or arguing. (Phil. 2:14)
I scurried into my office and pushed the door shut behind me. In my hurry, I didn’t make sure it caught. There was a slight gap between the door and the frame—just wide enough for a curious Yorkie to stick her nose through. As I connected to the Zoom meeting, I heard snuffling, and the door swung open as Lilly ambled in.
She walked in a circle, ran to the door, and skidded to a stopped. She turned and stared at me, trying to communicate telepathically. I tried to focus on the discussion on the screen, but Lilly’s pacing distracted me. Suddenly, I realized the problem—she had gotten in, but the door wasn’t open wide enough for her to get out.
I opened the door, and she scampered out without another glance. She had gotten what she wanted—to be in the same room with me—but once she got it, she decided she would rather be in the room she had just vacated. Continue reading “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen…” (Mt. 28:5)
Easter, unlike Thanksgiving or Independence Day, is not celebrated on a single day. Instead, the Easter season begins with Lent, a forty-day period of prayer, reflection, and penance that leads to Easter Sunday. It represents the forty days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry. Continue reading “Why Do We Celebrate Easter?”
For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land (Song of Solomon 2:11-12).
Spring is a time of renewal, when everything is bright and fresh. I look forward to it every year, and even more so this year. As I write this, the ongoing pandemic is hopefully easing due to the vaccine rollout. The long, hard, dreary winter, which started here in Oklahoma with a historic ice storm at the end of October and ended with a historic snowstorm in February, has given way to sixty-degree days and lots of sunshine. Continue reading “Spring Renewal”
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” (Mt. 22:37)
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation to make February American Heart Month. With the ongoing, global COVID pandemic, paying attention to our heart health carries even more importance since the virus impacts the heart.
One of my first jobs out of college was working for an Area Agency on Aging. I monitored the nutrition program, among other things, and I learned about the importance nutrition has on our heart health. Even before that job, I was interested in taking care of my heart because of the health problems run in my family. All four of my biological grandparents had heart problems, and three of my mom’s five brothers have now passed away from heart attacks. Continue reading “The Heart: What Makes Us Who We Are”