Stories Wrapped In Scripture

I could hardly believe it. I was trapped - two of my fingers caught in the fold of my garage door. The garage door opener didn’t work, so I manually opened the door to back out the car, then got out, leaving the car running, to pull the door closed. And just like that, the door closed on two fingers of my right hand. The pain was excruciating, and I felt as if I might pass out. There was no one near to hear my cry, much less set me free. I knew I had to act quickly. My only o

Since childhood, the Bible has been a part of my life. Admittedly, there were times it sat untouched on a shelf. Then there were days I opened it when life felt out of control. Now, I may finish reading my Bible for the day, but it is never finished with me. When I close my Bible, the words follow me into my conversations, prayers, decisions, and circumstances. Looking back, my relationship with the Bible has reflected my relationship with God. At first, I believed it because

When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.” – Exodus 16:15 (ESV) I imagined lake living as idyllic, with peaceful sunrises and breathtaking sunsets. And it was… until May, when thousands of mayflies hatched and covered our boats, docks, and trees and hovered like thick black clouds at dusk. I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut whene

The other day, my daughter called in a to-go order for our family and was told it would be ready in 20 minutes. It took us that long to drive to the restaurant. When we arrived, the parking lot was packed. Alex went in to pick up our order while I waited in the car. Then, we waited… and waited… and waited. Alex checked on our order several times, each time receiving a different explanation for the delay. Meanwhile, I watched as customers who arrived after us received their

I went to the conference to sharpen my writing, but my most profound lesson came on a hilltop outside the classroom. A Journey of Growth A friend encouraged me to attend a writers' conference in North Carolina. In late May, my husband and I headed to Ridgecrest. While he worked remotely, I mingled with authors, editors, and publishers who, with their impressive credentials, overwhelmed me. Many topics were taught by godly men and women, and their words replayed in my head. I

“How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand...” Psalm 139: 17-18 Sometimes, when you think you need something small, God reminds you that you already possess something bigger. I stood on the pier taking in the view. It was sunny and the waves at Pensacola Beach folded into ribbons of translucent greens and blues. Shallow waters beckoned even the timid to step into its liquid delight.

There are moments in our church service when everyone else seems to fade away, and it’s just me and Jesus. It feels like I'm standing face to face with Him—feeling both broken and full at the same time. The Power of Worship This often happens when our worship leader, Sam Swaim, begins to sing “Mercy.” The song starts slowly, softly, and thoughtfully, with its story-telling lyrics sweeping across the room. When I listen, it becomes an experience that transcends the ordinary. I

Reliving the Moment Peter Encountered Mercy after Failure The sun was just beginning to rise when the disciples jumped out of their fishing boat and onto the shore of the Sea of Galilee. I can imagine they appreciated the aroma of warm bread and fresh fish roasting over glowing charcoal embers. But, I would think their eyes were on the man tending the fire. Their fishing trip had been a bust. Then from the shore, a man called out to them to throw their net on the right side o

Sometimes the safest place isn’t where we are found… It’s where we are held. “You are my hiding place.” - Psalm 32.7 A Hiding Place With No Walls My parents were busy doing yard work when they realized it was unnaturally quiet. A quick scan of the landscape caused their hearts to race. By their calculations, it had been 15 minutes since they had last seen me. I couldn’t have wandered far. Still, I imagine they panicked. Quickly, they searched, calling my name. Soon, the neigh

Gently, he asked if I was okay. The words, “breast cancer” and “awaiting more test results” tumbled out of my mouth. I couldn’t believe I was telling a stranger about my fear.

I was not the valedictorian of my high school graduating class. When I received my diploma 50 years ago, I was an average student with perfect attendance - I knew how to show up. You might wonder what a 1976 Tate graduate could have in common with you. Well, once upon a time, I was you; anticipating life and the freedom of adulthood. In school, I was assigned books to help me understand the world, prepare for my future, and dream big.

“So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her. ‘You are a God of seeing,’ for she said, ‘Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.’” ~ Genesis 16:13 Despite The Years, God Saw Us Both My story and Hagar’s are separated by thousands of years, but God’s unwavering gaze exceeds time. Hagar was an Egyptian girl who served Sarai, the wife of Abram. God had promised Abram, that he would be the father of a great nation. But, at age 75, Sarai was weary of waiting on God t

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ~ Luke 5:32 A Life-Saving Conversation Between Jesus And A Thief Two unnamed men were found guilty of theft and sentenced to a public death. On execution day, soldiers bound them to wooden crosses that were hastily dropped into two deep holes on the left and right sides of a hill outside of Jerusalem. A third man would hang that day. His name was Jesus. He was the Messiah, God’s Son.

It was early March in our sunny Florida yard, yet it already looked like spring, with unfurled leaves and blooming buds and flowers that had survived the last gasp of a frosty winter night. I was at my desk, intent on writing a piece about the light of Christ while our four-year-old daughter, Alex, played outside. I had typed only a few sentences when she burst through the door clutching a flower in her tiny hand. Carefully, she unfolded her fingers to reveal a single azal

Have you ever sat in a restaurant eating your meal and been forced to listen to a know-it-all sitting nearby? Of course you have. Voices carry, and sometimes no attempt is made to turn down the volume. We’ve all had to listen to their loud phone and table conversations. It’s a bit like being served a delicious burger with a side of rotten fruit. In between bites of fast food, people bitterly complain about their messy lives and lay blame on other people.

I believe in God the Father, Jesus, His Son and The Holy Spirit. They are three in one, working interchangeably. The moment I accepted Jesus as my Savior I was irreversibly sealed with the Holy Spirit - the active, powerful presence of God, living and working within me. Because of the Spirit of God, I am a changed woman. I prefer the light to the dark. My desires are more spiritual than worldly - though at times I struggle with this.

I was feeding my baby girl a bottle of formula when God gave me a visual, I will never forget. It was nearly bedtime, and I sat quietly rocking my 6-month-old, studying her sweet face. It was then that God showed me my resemblance to my adopted daughter. While not audible, I heard Him say, “You’re her spitting image. You’ve known me since you were 17, and now at age 33, you’re still an infant drinking milk. It’s time to grow up! Move on to solid food!

My phone dinged and alerted me to a new text. It was from my cousin. Earlier, Jenny and I had talked about my ministry to share Christ with others. I admitted to feeling vulnerable because I am transparent about my spiritual walk. When I read Jenny’s text, I recognized the reason she sent it to me. There were photos of three different pages from her mom’s journal. Her mom died years ago, and eagerly I read the words written by my Aunt Delores.

Most days, Bartamaeus (Bart for short) and his friend sat at a strategic spot on a busy roadside begging for handouts from people traveling in and out of Jericho. It was a monotonous way of life for the two blind men. But this day would be different. Jesus was traveling the road with his disciples and a large crowd, and He came near to them. When the blind men heard him pass by, Bart yelled, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd reacted by shushing and scolding

I had an eye on the clock. Reverend Franklin Graham had asked Christians to pray for our nation at noon, and I wanted to take part. As the minutes ticked down, I began humming a tune I had not heard in years, while recalling an incredible moment of worship at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fl. Backed by the church choir, the pastor’s wife, Liz Traylor, stood on stage and sang, ‘Statement of Faith.’ The song’s arrangement, lyrics and recitation build to a triumphant