Little Pictures

“Do you have any tattoos?” The little girl circled me inquisitively, picking up one of my hands and examining my arm. “No tattoos,” I answered. She continued looking anyway, explaining that her teacher and her mom have tattoos.  “Why don’t you have tattoos?” she asked. “Well, why do they?” I was hesitant to answer herContinue reading “Little Pictures”

Rooted in Memories

I can tell Christmas is coming by the flood of magazines in my mailbox. Everyone wants a little piece of my holiday spending, and they try all kinds of tricks to persuade me to buy their merchandise. This week, a magazine boasted personalized needlepoint stockings, just like grandma used to make, alongside the words, “ThinkContinue reading “Rooted in Memories”

Christ’s Gift

An old ornament hangs on my tree. It says, “Baby’s First Christmas 1983.” My first Christmas happened a long time ago, and I don’t remember any gift or event from that day. However, Christ’s Gift only grows more poignant and memorable with time. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” John wrote. Christmas DayContinue reading “Christ’s Gift”

The Three R’s of Peace

An Excerpt from “Receive Him: A Disciple’s Advent” Philippians 4:4-6; Luke 2:22-40 Anna had many reasons to grumble, complain, and lament. She had been married young, but after only seven years, her husband died leaving her alone and childless. In her day and time, there was no way she could provide for herself. How wouldContinue reading “The Three R’s of Peace”

Paul’s Peace

When my grandmother passed away, I inherited a unique Kurdish kilim. It is a woven hall runner with intricately made designs. When I turn it over to clean, I am always amazed at the tangles of knots and thread on the back. The artisans who weave kilims have an amazing skill. Psalm 139 tells usContinue reading “Paul’s Peace”

John’s Love

The disciple John chose a nickname for himself: the disciple whom Jesus loved. He defined himself by the love of Jesus. He knew what love was because He had known Jesus. When a woman finds out that she is expecting a baby, she often starts eating differently, exercising differently, and planning differently. You can tellContinue reading “John’s Love”

Peter’s Hope

1 Pet. 1:3, Mark 14:66-72, Lamentations 3:16-26 Believe it or not, a lot of people disagree on when an unborn baby is alive. Even with all our technology that shows fetal development and heartbeat, society still wrestles with the question of when a baby is a living person. In his book Discovering Design with Biology,Continue reading “Peter’s Hope”

Made Visible

When Dr. Ian Donald was drafted into the Royal Air Force as a medical officer in 1942, he had no idea how the Lord would use the knowledge he gained using sonar and radar.  In 1946, he was discharged from military service and awarded for his bravery during the war. He returned to practicing medicine.Continue reading “Made Visible”