As my husband strolled down the rocky beach taking photos of the Hawaiian horizon I sat on a large rock fretting over another medical setback Though my problems would be waiting for me when I returned home I needed peace in that moment I stared at the incoming waves crashing against the black jagged rocks A dark shadow in the curve of the wave caught my eye Using the zoom option on my camera I identified the shape as a sea turtle riding the waves peacefully Its flippers spread wide and still Turning my face into the salty breeze I [... more]

While serving as my mom rsquo s live-in caregiver at a cancer center hundreds of miles away from my home I asked people to pray for us As the months passed isolation and loneliness sapped my strength How could I care for my mom if I gave in to my physical mental and emotional exhaustion One day a friend sent me an unexpected care package Jodi had crocheted a purple prayer shawl a warm reminder that we had people praying for us daily Whenever I wrapped the soft yarn around my shoulders I felt God hugging me with the prayers [... more]

As a full-of-energy preschooler my son Xavier avoided afternoon quiet time Being still often resulted in an unwanted though much needed nap So he rsquo d wiggle in his seat slide off the sofa scoot across the hardwood floor and even roll across the room to evade the quiet ldquo Mom I rsquo m hungry I rsquo m thirsty I have to go to the bathroom I want a hug rdquo Understanding the benefits of stillness I rsquo d help Xavier settle down by inviting him to snuggle Leaning into my side he rsquo d give in to sleep Early [... more]

As my husband and I prepared for a cross-country move I wanted to ensure that we kept in touch with our grown sons I found a unique gift friendship lamps connected by wireless internet which can be turned on remotely When I gave the lamps to my sons I explained that their lamps will turn on when I touch my lamp mdash to provide a shining reminder of my love and ongoing prayers No matter how great the distance between us a tap on their lamps would trigger a light in our home too Though we knew nothing could replace [... more]

After doctors diagnosed their first-born son with autism Diane Dokko Kim and her husband grieved facing a lifetime of caring for a cognitively disabled child In her book Unbroken Faith she admits to struggling with adjusting their dreams and expectations for their beloved son rsquo s future Yet through this painful process they learned that God can handle their anger doubts and fears Now with their son reaching adulthood Diane uses her experiences to encourage parents of children with special needs She tells others about God rsquo s unbreakable promises limitless power and loving faithfulness She assures people that He [... more]

As I waited in the breakfast buffet line at a Christian conference center a group of women entered the dining hall I smiled saying hello to a woman who stepped into the line behind me Returning my greeting she said ldquo I know you rdquo We scooped scrambled eggs onto our plates and tried to figure out where we rsquo d met I was pretty sure we had a case of mistaken identity though When we returned for lunch the woman approached me ldquo Do you drive a white car rdquo I shrugged ldquo I used to A few years [... more]

Looking at the handmade Christmas ornaments my son Xavier crafted over the years and the annual mismatched baubles Grandma had sent him I couldn rsquo t figure out why I was not content with our decorations I rsquo d always valued the creativity and memories each ornament represented So why did the allure of the retail stores rsquo holiday displays tempt me to desire a tree adorned with perfectly-matched bulbs shimmering orbs and satin ribbons As I began to turn away from our humble decor I glimpsed a red heart-shaped ornament with a simple phrase scripted on it minus Jesus [... more]

When Philadelphia Eagle rsquo s quarterback Carson Wentz returned to the field after healing from a severe injury the NFL team rsquo s backup quarterback Nick Foles graciously returned to the bench Although competing for the same position the two men chose to support each other and remained confident in their roles One reporter observed that the two athletes have a ldquo unique relationship rooted in their faith in Christ rdquo shown through their ongoing prayers for each other As others watched they brought honor to God by remembering they were on the same team mdash not just as Eagle [... more]

During a trip to celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary my husband and I read our Bibles on the beach As vendors passed and called out the prices of their wares we thanked each one but didn rsquo t buy anything One vendor Fernando smiled wide at my rejection and insisted we consider buying gifts for friends After I declined his invitation Fernando packed up and began walking away still grinning ldquo I pray God will bless your day rdquo I said Fernando turned toward me and said ldquo He has Jesus changed my life rdquo Fernando knelt between our chairs ldquo [... more]

My husband Alan stood below the towering lights illuminating the athletic field as a member of the opposing team hit a ball into the air With his eyes fixed on the ball Alan ran full speed toward the darkest corner of the field mdash and slammed into the chain link fence Later that night I handed him an ice pack ldquo Are you feeling okay rdquo I asked He rubbed his shoulder ldquo I rsquo d feel better if my buddies would have warned me that I was getting near the fence rdquo he said Teams function best when they [... more]

When my grown son faced a difficult situation I reminded him about God rsquo s constant care and provision during his dad rsquo s year of unemployment I recounted the times God strengthened our family and gave us peace while my mom fought and lost her battle with leukemia Highlighting the stories of God rsquo s faithfulness stitched into Scripture I affirmed He was good at keeping His word I led my son down our family rsquo s God-paved memory lane reminding him about the ways He remained reliable through our valley and mountaintop moments Whether we were struggling or [... more]

After a recent move Mabel rsquo s seven-year-old son Ryan fussed as he prepared to attend a summer camp at his new school Mabel encouraged him assuring him that she understood change was hard But one morning Ryan rsquo s out-of-character grumpiness seemed excessive With compassion Mabel asked ldquo What rsquo s bothering you Son rdquo Staring out of the window Ryan shrugged ldquo I don rsquo t know Mom I just have too many feelings rdquo Mabel rsquo s heart ached as she comforted him Desperate for a way to help him she shared that the move was hard [... more]

During his visit to Mexico Bill Ashe helped fix windmill hand pumps at an orphanage Fifteen years later inspired by a deep desire to serve God by helping provide clean water to villages in need he founded a nonprofit organization He said ldquo God awoke me to lsquo make the most of the time rsquo by finding others with a desire to bring safe drinking water to the rural poor rdquo Later having learned about the global need for safe water through the requests of thousands of pastors and evangelists from over countries Bill invited others to join the ministry [... more]

My anger percolated when a woman mistreated blamed and gossiped about me I wanted everyone to know what she rsquo d done mdash wanted her to suffer as I rsquo d suffered because of her behavior I steamed with resentment until a headache pierced my temples But as I began praying for my pain to go away the Holy Spirit convicted me How could I plot revenge while begging God for relief If I believed the Lord would care for me why wouldn rsquo t I trust Him to handle this situation Knowing that people who are hurting often hurt [... more]

A severe thunderstorm passed through our town leaving high humidity and dark skies in its wake I took our dog Callie for an evening stroll The mounting challenges of our cross-country move grew heavier on my mind Frustrated by the countless ways things had strayed so far from our high hopes and expectations I slowed to let Callie sniff the grass I listened to the creek that runs beside our house Tiny lights flashed on and off while hovering over the patches of wildflowers climbing up the creek rsquo s bank Fireflies The Lord wrapped me in peace as I [... more]