Tag Archives: Hope

The Substance of Hope

The hope of catching a fish keeps the fisherman casting, but it isn’t what he eats for his supper. The substance of hope- the outcome of it- is the tangible result that fills his belly.  This summer, my kids have done a lot of fishing. They have probably hoped more than they’ve caught, but theContinue reading “The Substance of Hope”

Those Who Mourn

All summer at Bible Club, I have been teaching these famous words: “Blessed are those who mourn.” This week, hugging children who have lost their mother, looking into the eyes of those who lost their brother, baking pink and purple cupcakes for the grandmother who lost her grandchild, I have had to think deeply aboutContinue reading “Those Who Mourn”

Floundering

I took my sons fishing this week. All we caught were northerns, but when I was growing up in south Florida, my favorite type of fishing was floundering. We would go at night- with nary a chance of sunburn!- and my dad would load the boat with the spotlight, three-pronged gigs, life jackets, and water.Continue reading “Floundering”

He Came Down

The distressed peeping from the pigpen was not a piglet.  As I leaned in closer to look, I saw a speck of movement in the mud.  It was a fuzzy yellow pheasant chick. My son jumped in the mud, reached down, and took hold of the struggling baby. He handed it to me. It wasContinue reading “He Came Down”

The Balm of Humility

It happened while we were playing Wolves and Sheep at Bible Club. The “wolves” were tagging the “sheep,” freezing them in place. My oldest son was the “Good Shepherd” who was able to unfreeze the sheep by tagging them, and the wolves did not have the power to freeze him. Bea, a spindly seven yearContinue reading “The Balm of Humility”

Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

This week’s article details abuse and sensitive subject matter. It is my aim to uphold the healing and comfort of Christ instead of controversy or hurt. I recommend the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors if you or a loved one would like to seek counseling on any of these topics. After her mother died, aContinue reading “Sitting at the Feet of Jesus”

Perspective

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I ask the ten-year-old in my Sunday school class. “A teacher.” There’s a short pause after my slightly distracted, “Oh, that’s nice.” Then, she says, “But really, I just want God to come back.” This gets my attention. I know she’s talking about Jesus. “HowContinue reading “Perspective”