Honoring My Grandma’s Legacy on Her 100th Birthday

“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” (Prov 31:31

If my grandma Rena were still with us, she would have turned 100 on September 1. I could tell you story after story about her and her love for life and her fun personality. But what I remember most is her love for people and for Jesus. She is the person who taught me the most about the value of relationships. Continue reading “Honoring My Grandma’s Legacy on Her 100th Birthday” →

Developing Deep Roots

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jer 17:7-8)

Most of Oklahoma, but especially the area in southwestern Oklahoma where I grew up, is experiencing extreme drought right now. Less than a year ago, we had one of the wettest summers on record. It rained so much that I couldn’t keep up with the yard work. When it finally stopped raining long enough for me to mow, the thick grass was so tall and wet from the rain that it was hard to get the mower through it. Continue reading “Developing Deep Roots” →

Celebrating the Easter Season

Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. (Mt 9:14-15)

Easter, unlike Thanksgiving or Independence Day, is not celebrated on a single day. Instead, the Easter season begins with Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, reflection, and penitence leading up to Easter Sunday. Lent fell on Valentine’s Day this year, the first time that’s happened since 1945. Easter will be on April Fool’s Day. Continue reading “Celebrating the Easter Season” →