A pair of eagles built a giant nest in a tree a few miles away from my house Before long the enormous birds had eaglets They cared for their hatchlings together until one of the adult eagles was tragically struck and killed by a car For several days the surviving eagle flew up and down a nearby river as if searching for the lost mate Finally the eagle returned to the nest and assumed the full responsibility of raising the offspring In any situation single parenting can be challenging The delight a child brings combined with possible financial and emotional [... more]

Adolf Hitler believed big lies were more powerful than small ones and tragically he tested his theory successfully Early in his political career he claimed he was content to support others rsquo aspirations When he came to power he said his party didn rsquo t intend to persecute anyone Later he used the media to portray himself as a father figure and moral leader Satan uses lies to gain power in our lives Whenever possible he provokes fear anger and despair because he rsquo s ldquo a liar and the father of lies rdquo John Satan can rsquo t tell [... more]

nbsp Rescue workers cooperated to help two men stranded on an island in Micronesia Teamwork was necessary because a widespread health crisis required them to limit their exposure to each other The pilot who first spotted the castaways radioed a nearby Australian Navy ship The ship sent two helicopters which provided food water and medical care Later the US Coast Guard arrived to check on the men and deliver a radio Finally a Micronesian patrol boat taxied them to their destination We can accomplish a lot when we work together to achieve a common goal The Philippian believers pooled their [... more]

The first time we met our neighbor Henry he pulled a well-worn Bible out of a bag he rsquo d been carrying Eyes sparkling he asked if we rsquo d like to discuss Scripture We nodded and he flipped to some highlighted passages that he excitedly explained He showed us a notebook full of his observations With a humble grin he announced he rsquo d also created a computer presentation full of other related information Henry went on to tell us how he rsquo d come from a difficult family situation and then alone and at his worst he accepted [... more]

After a game a college basketball star stayed behind to help workers throw out empty cups and food wrappers When a fan posted a video of him in action more than nbsp eighty thousand people viewed it One person commented ldquo The young man is one of the most humble guys you will ever meet in your life rdquo It would rsquo ve been easier for the basketball player to leave with his teammates and celebrate his role in the team rsquo s victory Instead he volunteered for a selfless job The ultimate spirit of humility is seen in Jesus [... more]

The whispering wall in New York City rsquo s Grand Central Station is an acoustic oasis from the clamor of the area This unique spot allows people to communicate quiet messages from a distance of thirty feet apart When one person stands at the base of a granite archway and speaks softly into the wall soundwaves travel up and over the curved stone to the listener on the other side Job heard the whisper of a message when his life was filled with noise and the tragedy of losing nearly everything see Job ndash His friends blabbered their opinions his [... more]

An international research team has created a flapping-wing drone that mimics the movements of a particular bird mdash the swift Swifts can fly up to miles per hour and are able to hover plunge turn quickly and stop suddenly The ornithopter drone however is still inferior to the bird One researcher said birds ldquo have multiple sets of muscles which enable them to fly incredibly fast fold their wings twist open feather slots and save energy rdquo He admitted that his team rsquo s efforts were still only able to replicate about ldquo percent of biological flight rdquo God has [... more]

The air smelled of leather and oats as we stood in the barn where my friend Michelle was teaching my daughter to ride a horse Michelle rsquo s white pony opened its mouth as she demonstrated how to place the metal bit behind its teeth As she pulled the bridle over its ears Michelle explained that the bit was important because it allowed the rider to slow the horse and steer it to the left or right A horse rsquo s bit like the human tongue is small but important Both have great influence over something big and powerful mdash [... more]

After an unsuccessful surgery Joan rsquo s doctor said she rsquo d need to undergo another operation in five weeks As time passed anxiety built Joan and her husband were senior citizens and their family lived far away They rsquo d need to drive to an unfamiliar city and navigate a complex hospital system and they rsquo d be working with a new specialist Although these circumstances seemed overwhelming God took care of them During the trip their car rsquo s navigation system broke down but they arrived on time because they had a paper map God supplied wisdom At [... more]

Theologian Kenneth Bailey shares how he taught the Bible to students who rsquo d been educated in a system that denied God When he asked one student how she became a believer in Jesus she told about reciting the Lord rsquo s Prayer when attending a funeral as a child The words captured her imagination she wondered what they meant where they came from and to whom they were offered When she finally could explore this prayer she searched until she found its meaning and its Author In doing so she placed her trust in Jesus and committed to serving [... more]

When my son was nearly three I needed an operation that would require a month or more of recovery In the days leading up to the procedure I imagined myself in bed while stacks of dirty dishes accumulated in the sink I wasn rsquo t sure how I rsquo d take care of an active toddler and couldn rsquo t picture myself standing in front of the stove to cook our meals I dreaded the impact my weakness would have on the rhythm of our lives God intentionally weakened Gideon rsquo s forces before his troops confronted the Midianites First [... more]

I frowned at my cellphone and sighed Worry wrinkled my brow A friend and I had had a serious disagreement over an issue with our children and I knew I needed to call her and apologize I didn rsquo t want to do it because our viewpoints were still in conflict yet I knew I hadn rsquo t been kind or humble the last time we discussed the matter Anticipating the phone call I wondered What if she doesn rsquo t forgive me What if she doesn rsquo t want to continue our friendship Just then lyrics to a song [... more]

The buzz in the room faded to a comfortable silence as the book club leader summarized the novel the group would discuss My friend Joan listened closely but didn rsquo t recognize the plot Finally she realized she had read a nonfiction book with a similar title to the work of fiction the others had read Although she enjoyed reading the ldquo wrong rdquo book she couldn rsquo t join her friends as they discussed the ldquo right rdquo book The apostle Paul did not want the Corinthian Christians to believe in a ldquo wrong rdquo Jesus He pointed out [... more]

At a garage sale I found a nativity set in a beat-up cardboard box As I picked up the baby Jesus I noticed the finely sculpted details of the infant rsquo s body This newborn wasn rsquo t cocooned in a blanket with closed eyes mdash he was awake and partially unwrapped with outstretched arms open hands and fingers extended ldquo I rsquo m here rdquo he seemed to say The figurine illustrated the miracle of Christmas mdash that God sent his Son to earth in a human body As Jesus rsquo s infant body matured His little hands played [... more]

When my daughter received a pair of pet crabs as a gift she filled a glass tank with sand so the creatures could climb and dig She supplied water protein and vegetable scraps for their dining pleasure They seemed happy so it was shocking when they disappeared one day We searched everywhere Finally we learned they were likely under the sand and would be there for about two months as they shed their exoskeletons Two months passed and then another month elapsed and I had begun to worry that they rsquo d died The longer we waited the more impatient [... more]

Everyone in high school admired Jack rsquo s easygoing attitude and athletic skill He was happiest in midair above a half-pipe ramp mdash one hand holding his skateboard the other stretched out for balance Jack decided to follow Jesus when he started attending a local church Up to that point he rsquo d endured significant family struggles and had used drugs to medicate his pain For a while after his conversion things seemed to be going well for him But years later he started using drugs again Without the proper intervention and ongoing treatment he eventually died of an overdose [... more]

Ironclad beetles are known for their tough exterior which protects them from predators One special variety however has extraordinary strength under pressure The insect rsquo s hard outer shell stretches rather than cracks where it joins together Its flat back and low profile also help it to resist fractures Scientific tests show that it can survive a compression force of nearly times its body weight God made this bug extra tough and He gave resilience to Jeremiah as well The prophet would face intense pressure when he delivered unwelcome messages to Israel so God promised to make him ldquo an [... more]

A couple who stopped to admire a large abstract painting noticed open paint cans and brushes underneath it Assuming it was a ldquo work in progress rdquo that anyone could help create they stroked in some color and left The artist though had purposefully left the supplies there as part of the finished work rsquo s display After reviewing video footage of the incident the gallery acknowledged the misunderstanding and didn rsquo t press charges The Israelites who lived east of the Jordan created a misunderstanding when they built a massive altar next to the river The western tribes viewed [... more]

In Lorenzo de Medici the ruler of Florence Italy escaped an attack on his life His countrymen sparked a war when they tried to retaliate for the attack on their leader As the situation worsened the cruel King Ferrante I of Naples became Lorenzo rsquo s enemy but a courageous act by Lorenzo changed everything He visited the king unarmed and alone This bravery paired with his charm and brilliance won Ferrante rsquo s admiration and ended the war nbsp Daniel also helped a king experience a change of heart No one in Babylon could describe or interpret a troubling [... more]

A little girl waded in a shallow creek while her father watched Her rubber boots reached her knees As she sloshed downstream the water deepened until it flowed over the top of her waders When she couldn rsquo t take another step she yelled ldquo Daddy I rsquo m stuck rdquo In three strides her father was at her side pulling her to the grassy bank She yanked her boots off and laughed as water poured onto the ground After God rescued the psalmist David from his enemies he took a moment to sit down ldquo pull off his boots [... more]

Catherine and I were good friends in high school When we weren rsquo t talking on the phone we were passing notes in class to plan our next sleepover Sometimes we rode horses together and partnered on school projects One Sunday afternoon I started to think about Catherine My pastor had spoken that morning about how to have eternal life and I knew my friend didn rsquo t believe the Bible rsquo s teachings the way I did I felt pressed to call her and explain how she could have a relationship with Jesus I hesitated though because I was [... more]

During a summer study program my son read a book about a boy who wanted to climb an Alpine mountain in Switzerland Practicing for this goal occupied most of his time When he finally set off for the summit things didn rsquo t go as planned Partway up the slope a teammate became sick and the boy decided to stay behind to help instead of achieving his goal In the classroom my son rsquo s teacher asked ldquo Was the main character a failure because he didn rsquo t climb the mountain rdquo One student said ldquo Yes because it [... more]

When I stopped to browse through a box of books marked ldquo C S Lewis rdquo at a used bookshop the store owner appeared As we chatted about the available titles I wondered if he might be interested in the faith that inspired much of Lewis rsquo s writing I prayed silently for guidance Information from a biography came to mind and we began to discuss how C S Lewis rsquo s character pointed to God In the end I was thankful that a quick prayer had reoriented our conversation to spiritual matters nbsp nbsp Nehemiah paused to pray before [... more]

ldquo I don rsquo t get it rdquo My daughter slapped her pencil down on the desk She was working on a math assignment and I rsquo d just begun my ldquo job rdquo as a homeschooling mom teacher We were in trouble I couldn rsquo t recall what I rsquo d learned thirty-five years ago about changing decimals into fractions I couldn rsquo t teach her something I didn rsquo t already know so we watched an online teacher explain the skill As human beings we rsquo ll struggle at times with things we don rsquo t know or [... more]

In the city of Mysore India there rsquo s a school made of two refurbished train cars connected end-to-end Local educators teamed up with the South Western Railways Company to buy and remodel the discarded coaches The units were essentially large metal boxes unusable until workers installed stairways fans lights and desks Workers also painted the walls and added colorful murals inside and out Now sixty students attend classes there because of the amazing transformation that took place Something even more amazing takes place when we follow the apostle Paul rsquo s command to ldquo be transformed by the renewing [... more]

When a medical treatment began to provide relief for a family member rsquo s severe food allergies I became so excited that I talked about it all the time I described the intense process and extolled the doctor who had created the program Finally some friends commented ldquo We think God should always get the credit for healing rdquo Their statement made me pause Had I taken my eyes off of the Ultimate Healer and made the healing into an idol The nation of Israel fell into a similar trap when they began to burn incense to a bronze snake [... more]

What do you imagine dinosaurs looked like when they were alive Big teeth Scaly skin Long tails Artist Karen Carr recreates these extinct creatures in large murals One of her panoramas is over twenty feet tall and sixty feet long Because of its size it required a crew of experts to install it in sections where it resides in the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History It would be hard to stand in front of this mural without feeling dwarfed by the dinosaurs I get a similar sensation when I read God rsquo s description of the powerful animal called [... more]

Given enough sunlight and water vibrant wildflowers carpet areas of California such as Antelope Valley and Figueroa Mountain But what happens when drought strikes Scientists have discovered that certain wildflowers store large quantities of their seeds underground instead of allowing them to push through the soil and bloom After the drought the plants use the seeds they have saved to begin to flourish again The ancient Israelites thrived in the land of Egypt despite harsh conditions Slave masters forced them to work in fields and make bricks Ruthless overseers required them to build entire cities for Pharaoh The king of [... more]

I can close my eyes and go back in time to the house where I grew up I remember stargazing with my father We took turns squinting through his telescope trying to focus on glowing dots that shimmered and winked with eye-catching brilliance These pinpricks of light born of heat and fire stood out in sharp contrast to the smooth ink-black sky Do you consider yourself to be a shining star I rsquo m not talking about reaching the heights of human achievement but standing out as a light against a dark background of brokenness and evil The apostle Paul [... more]

I was exploring a library on the bottom floor of a new community center when an overhead crash suddenly shook the room A few minutes later it happened again and then again An agitated librarian finally explained that a weight-lifting area was positioned directly above the library and the noise occurred every time someone dropped a weight Architects and designers had carefully planned many aspects of this state-of-the-art facility yet someone had forgotten to locate the library away from all the action In life as well our plans are often flawed We overlook important considerations Our plans don rsquo t [... more]

More than two hundred volunteers assisted October Books a bookstore in Southampton England move its entire inventory to an address down the street Helpers lined the sidewalk between the two buildings and passed books down a ldquo human conveyor belt rdquo Having witnessed the volunteers in action a store employee said ldquo It was a really moving experience to see people helping They wanted to be part of something bigger rdquo We can also be part of something much bigger than ourselves God uses us to reach the world with the message of His love Because someone shared the message [... more]

Farming is difficult in areas that lack freshwater To help solve this problem The Seawater Greenhouse Company has created something new mdash ldquo cooling houses rdquo in Somaliland Africa and other countries with similar climates Cooling houses use solar pumps to drizzle saltwater over walls made of corrugated cardboard As the water moves down each panel it leaves its salt behind Much of the remaining fresh water evaporates inside the structure which becomes a humid place where fruit and vegetable crops can flourish Through the prophet Isaiah God promised to do a ldquo new thing rdquo as He provided ldquo [... more]

After a holiday meal at my house everyone opened party favors filled with candy small toys and confetti But there was something else in the favors mdash a paper crown for each of us We couldn rsquo t resist trying them on and we smiled at each other as we sat around the table For just a moment we were kings and queens even if our kingdom was a dining room littered with the remnants of our dinner This sparked a memory of a Bible promise I don rsquo t often think about In the next life all believers will [... more]

One morning I visited a pond near my house I sat on an overturned boat thinking and watching a gentle west wind chase a layer of mist across the water rsquo s surface Wisps of fog circled and swirled Mini ldquo tornadoes rdquo rose up and then exhausted themselves Before long the sunlight cut through the clouds and the mist disappeared nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp This scene comforted me because I connected it with a verse I had just read ldquo I have swept away your offenses like a cloud your sins like [... more]

The country of El Salvador has honored Jesus by placing a sculpture of Him in the center of its capital city Although the monument resides in the middle of a busy traffic circle its height makes it easy to see and its name mdash The Divine Savior of the World mdash communicates reverence for His supernatural status The monument rsquo s name affirms what the Bible says about Jesus John He is the one who offers salvation to everyone Jesus crosses cultural boundaries and accepts any sincere person who wants to know Him regardless of age education race past sin [... more]

A wildfire in Andilla Spain scorched nearly acres of woodland When scientists entered the area they expected total devastation and they did indeed see miles of blackened oaks pines and junipers However in the middle of the wreckage a group of nearly bright green cypress trees remained standing The trees rsquo unusual ability to retain water had allowed them to safely endure the fire In the days of King Nebuchanezzar rsquo s reign in Babylon a small cluster of friends survived the flames of the king rsquo s wrath Shadrach Meshach and Abednego refused to worship a statue Nebuchadnezzar had [... more]

The room was dim and silent as I pulled a chair close to Jacquie rsquo s bed Before a three-year battle with cancer my friend had been a vibrant person I could still picture her laughing mdash eyes full of life her face lit with a smile Now she was quiet and still and I was visiting her in a special care facility Not knowing what to say I decided to read some Scripture I pulled my Bible out of my purse and turned to a reference in Corinthians and began to read After the visit and an emotional time [... more]

My friend Ellen calculates payroll for an accounting firm This may sound like a straightforward job but there are times when employers submit their information later than requested Ellen often makes up for this by working long hours so employees can receive their money without delay She does this out of consideration for the families that depend on those funds to buy groceries purchase medicine and pay for housing Ellen rsquo s compassionate approach to her job points me to Jesus On earth He sometimes ministered to people when it was inconvenient for Him For instance Jesus wanted some alone [... more]

At a children rsquo s music recital I watched a teacher and student seat themselves in front of a piano Before their duet began the teacher leaned over and whispered some last-minute instructions As music flowed from the instrument I noticed that the student played a simple melody while the teacher rsquo s accompaniment added depth and richness to the song Near the end of the piece the teacher nodded his approval The Christian life is much more like a duet than a solo performance Sometimes though I forget that Jesus is sitting next to me rdquo and it rsquo [... more]