Tag Archives: Christianity

Timeless

This article first appeared in the Devils Lake Journal August 28, 2025. In a conversation with my favorite three-year-old, I said, “I will come pick you up at five o’clock.” She promptly reversed the camera on the phone she was holding so that I could see the digital clock in her mom’s car. “Look Grandma,”Continue reading “Timeless”

Made Beautiful

“Hello? This is Dakota Baptist Church.” “Sarahcanyoubringmeapop??” One of my responsibilities the summer I was seventeen was to answer the church phone. The caller was a twelve year old girl. She spoke so quickly that all her words ran together, and we had the same conversation everyday. “Well, where are you?” “Atmyhouse.” “Where’s your house?”Continue reading “Made Beautiful”

Urgent Need

“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,” my husband was preaching from James. I happened to turn and glance over my shoulder at the kitchen where two ladies were making a potluck meal. A third lady stood toward the back of the entryway waving frantically. I wondered if she might beContinue reading “Urgent Need”

Carrying the Banner

wp-1753043391164 I love that movie from the nineties called, “Newsies.” Homeless, streetsmart boys find employment selling newspapers, and they often do it by embellishing the headlines. Their theme is that they are “carrying the banner.”  I thought of the movie, and its catchy song, this week at backyard Bible club. The kids in my neighborhoodContinue reading “Carrying the Banner”

Survey Says…

I only see that old game show “Family Feud” now in doctors offices, but I watched a lot of it as a child.  I remember the host saying in his dramatic voice, “Survey says…” while all eyes turned to the results on the screen. Every summer, I get a general survey of what is troublingContinue reading “Survey Says…”

Big Sins, Little Sins

I cradled the little rubbery model of a 12 week old fetus in my hand. “You were only this big when your mother was three months pregnant,” I said to the little girl I was talking to. Her eyes grew wide. “I was so little!” she said. We talked about how God made her, plannedContinue reading “Big Sins, Little Sins”

Acquainted with Grief

A married couple came to me after Sunday school. They had eaten supper with one of our students, and they were troubled. “This little girl shouldn’t even know about the things she was telling us,” the wife said.  The husband agreed and asked the girl’s name again so that they could pray for her. BothContinue reading “Acquainted with Grief”

Safe Room

Impending thunderstorms prompted the Spirit Lake Nation to announce locations for taking shelter last week.  Many people planned to shelter in the sturdy recreation centers, and some of our church family planned to use the basement of the parsonage house as their place of safety. Everyone in our community formed a plan before we heardContinue reading “Safe Room”

An Earthenware Vessel

While we were at family camp last week, Israel bombed Iran, and I sprained my ankle. Forty-five people went with us to camp, and it was a wild and woolly week full of Jesus, fellowship, and fun. We were worshiping together around a campfire when a friend leaned over and showed me her phone screen.Continue reading “An Earthenware Vessel”