Mornings with Jesus

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US! It’s hard to forget the Providence of Jesus in our lives during this beloved season. We gather with family and friends at Thanksgiving, thanking Jesus for the blessings of the past year. Soon after, our Christmas tree is top

WHEN I MEDITATE ON TODAY’S Scripture verse, I always envision the tree. I imagine myself becoming a mature, strong tree with lots of fruit and flowers, standing by a gently rolling stream. Since this tree is planted near Living Water (Jesus), it is a

GENE AND I HAD MOTORED up the river to a fuel dock to fill our sailboat’s tanks with diesel. Task complete, we found a nearby cove in which to anchor for the afternoon. Our anchor hangs off the bow with a sturdy chain and weighs about eighty pounds.

THERE’S NO WORSE PLACE TO be on a Saturday night than in an emergency room. Yet here I was, in Houston’s Memorial Hermann hospital, waiting and watching over my daughter Brooke, who’d been seriously injured in a car wreck. In a treatment room, doctor

WHILE ON VACATION, MY HUSBAND, Jeff, and I had just picked up our to-go dinners when we received simultaneous emergency text messages from our daughter Brooke. Figuring it was a mistake, I called Brooke. When she didn’t respond, I called her boyfrien

“I’M SORRY, BROOKE, I KNOW you were counting on getting a cast, but it’s too soon.” My daughter’s face crumpled when she heard the surgeon’s words. Weeks before, she had been hit by a drunk driver. Her ankle was shattered, and all the ligaments were

As AN AMATEUR GREEN THUMB, I’m reading about tough plants for tough places. Plants are like people. Some are happier in warmer climates. Some can go longer than others without a drink of water. Some thrive in sunlight whereas others sunburn easily, r

I WAS JOGGING DOWN THE street when two dogs, a yellow hound and a small bulldog, ran up to me. I kept moving. I’d heard it’s a bad idea to meet a dog’s eyes, so I didn’t, but I was alarmed by the yellow dog’s snarling and the fact that every hair on

WHEN I WAS A STUDENT, one of my favorite books was The Red Badge of Courage. The author, Stephen Crane, created a character who was self-shamed for his cowardice and believed that the only thing that would erase the shame and legitimize him as a sold

WHEN YOU HEAR THE NAME Jesus, what image comes to your mind? Depending on the season, it might be a sweet baby sleeping on a hay-filled manger or a bleeding Savior wearing a crown of thorns and hanging on a cross. Or maybe you envision a man with kin

MY MOTHER RECENTLY FELL FLAT on her face and split open her lip. The nurses at her assisted living home called the EMT squad, who whisked her away to the hospital. Doctors kept Mom for several days to make sure she had not suffered any other injuries

WHEN MY BIBLE STUDY COORDINATOR assigned Carla to my table, she told me that Carla was new in town. A kindred spirit, I thought. We’ll become good friends. Later, I learned that Carla had moved only an hour away from her old home and now lived next t

WHEN I ENCOUNTER PEOPLE WHO are struggling with drugs, abusive relationships, and repeated crimes, I have to be careful to remember that it could’ve been me. And I remember the first time my friends introduced me to cigarettes, drinking, and drugs. I

MY ITALIAN MOTHER WAS VERY superstitious. Some superstitions were familiar, while others had an obscure Italian angle. I remember someone once broke a mirror, and the whole family made a pilgrimage down to the nearest lake to ceremonially dispose of

“YOU’RE THE STRONGEST PERSON I know.” “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” “Stay strong.” We throw the word strong around as if we know what it means, just like the word hope. “I hope things work out.” “Hope you have a good day.” “She has high

I LIVE IN THE NORTHWEST, where heavy rains define autumn and winter. Every year, as the temperatures drop and the skies drip, I begin winterizing my garden. I follow the weather forecasts, watching for the final smattering of dry days. That’s when I

WHEN PEOPLE LEARN THAT I live on a boat, they often ask where I get drinking water. I explain that the city supplies it and that we use a hose reserved for only that purpose to gain access to it. One end of the hose connects to a spigot on the dock.

I’M AN AVID JOGGER. MOST days, I run three to five miles. Running is vital to managing middle-aged spread, my mental health, and even my relationship with Jesus. I consider my morning jog to be my meditation, because my mind is quiet enough to hear f

LAST SATURDAY MORNING, KEVIN STOOD in the doorway of our bedroom with his cell phone in his hand. “I was going out to warm up the car when I got this text,” he said. “I think you should see it.” He snatched off his knit cap and took off his winter co

STORIES OF CONTRABAND PLANTS SMUGGLED from one place to another intrigue me: heirloom roses brought west by pioneer women in covered wagons, tomato seeds hidden under postage stamps, seed potatoes smuggled in horses’ feed bags, and garden seeds smugg

NEVER AGAIN WILL I DYE a twelve-year-old’s—or anyone else’s— hair purple. When my granddaughter, Grace, asked if I’d dye her hair violet, I said, “Sure!” I’d been dying my own hair since I was thirty-five. That was—ahem—several decades ago. I could m

IVY, OUR CALICO, IS A handful. She comes from a long line of barn cats, and it shows in her behavior. She isn’t like our other pets, who are prone to relaxing in a spot of sunlight. She doesn’t even like to stay indoors, unless the weather makes it n

NO CARING FATHER WOULD SAY to a small child, “Get out there and learn how to ride your bike. And don’t you come back inside until you can!” Instead, good moms and dads instill courage by instructing, coaching, cheerleading, guiding, and affirming the

THERE WAS A FESTIVE AIR in the small room filled with wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, and countless bags stuffed with gifts. Lively gospel music played in the background as five of us chattered away while we busily wrapped toys, clothing, and games to

WATCHING A NEWBORN GROW INTO a toddler has been such a lesson in wonder. The child goes from no skills to many. From an unformed personality to recognizable uniqueness. From grunts and gurgles to words and room-lighting smiles. From an involuntary ti

MY FRIEND ASKED IF I had been living under a rock. She’d just mentioned binge-watching a television show with her teenage daughter. My response had been “Who’s Marie Kondo?” Later, a quick online search filled me in about the tidying expert known aro

LAST NIGHT MY HUSBAND AND I stood outside, bundled in our jackets. He slipped an arm around my shoulders as we took in the sky show, our breath forming tiny “puff clouds.” Stars above twinkled and glistened like a blanket of crystal. Could I be gazin

THE TIPS OF MY SKIS hung over the ledge of a small cliff into a steep chute. I watched my son ski over the edge and down the mountain. I’ve done this before, I thought. Yet fear gripped me as my confidence diminished. All I needed to do was take a le

MY ELDERLY NEIGHBOR KEEPS A small china vase on the windowsill above her kitchen sink. It’s obviously been broken and glued back together, as there’s a tiny triangular gap from a missing piece. Tucked inside the little vessel is a note justifying why

MY GRANDSON’S DOG, MISTER MIDNIGHT, is a high-spirited Maltipoo. A city dog who’s comfortable in gentrified neighborhoods, he is a frequent visitor to doggie salons and pampering daycare spots where he romps with other canine pals. Midnight had never

I LOVE THE WHOLE CHRISTMAS story in the Bible, but if I had to pick a favorite Christmas verse, Matthew 1:23 would be it. There’s just nothing else that expresses what really happened—what Christmas means—like “God with us.” We have a tradition in ou

OUR CHURCH’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MUG Exchange is an intimate get-together, attended only by a few women. One Sunday after the annual event (which I had not attended), I asked a friend, “Did you attend the Mug Exchange?” Nodding, she replied, “Yes, did y

WE GATHER IN CHURCH TO sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The hope-filled lyrics welcome Jesus to the world. Like the Israelites long ago, we yearn for His presence. As I join the others, I’m pulled in different directions. In my mind’s eye, I see the

EVERY DECEMBER I SEE ARTICLES that mention the practice of “regifting,” giving someone a gift that someone else has given you. When I thought about it, I realized that’s what the wise men did. John 1:3 says that Jesus created all things, which means

AS WE ENTER INTO THE season of peace that Christmas brings, I’m reminded of an overachieving peace lily that outgrew every pot I put it in and offered literal shade in a corner of our family room for longer than I can remember. The peace lily was giv

JESUS TALKS ABOUT FEAR a lot because He knew we would face fear frequently. As a mother of three adventurous sons, I battle fear regularly. For example, one of my sons likes to hike 14ers (mountain peaks with an elevation higher than 14,000 feet) wit

I HAVE BEEN DOING a research project to help a writer friend of mine. She is working on a book about Christians who have been martyred in the last century. It is not lighthearted research. There are no funny stories to be found. Most of the people we

MY MOTHER HAS BEEN IN my thoughts because this year she would have celebrated her hundredth birthday. She was Norwegian, and both her parents had emigrated to Minnesota from the “old country.” Her father, a commercial fisherman, drowned when she was

I LIVE IN A DIVIDED household. My husband, Hal, always wants a real tree for Christmas. I am fond of artificial evergreens for their convenience. After more than twenty years of marriage, Hal has won the annual tree standoffs. One recent Christmas, I

I LOOKED AT THE MISHMASH of scraggly people and felt a familiar tug inside. Removing a bill from my wallet, I rolled down the car window. One man hurried closer to claim it before the traffic light changed. As his fingers touched mine, I fought the u

IN THIS OLE HOUSE WHERE we live, any renovation project reveals layers of living within these walls. We find treasures in the old insulation when we take down a wall or cut a hole for a larger window. When we replace an outlet, we discover layers of

I’M A MARTHA. I ADMIT it. And never is my “Martha-ness” more apparent than on Christmas morning. If Jesus were here, He’d admonish me, but I can’t seem to help myself. I’m up at dawn, rattling pans, getting ready lor my family to come for brunch. Six

CHRISTMAS IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY about how God came to earth as a baby and dwelt among us. We love hearing about the shepherds, angels, and wise men following the star. It’s magical. But there are elements we don’t hear much about, even though these pa

BEFORE MY KIDS MARRIED, I assumed that someday, when they were on their own, they’d want to celebrate Christmas Day together at our home. They had grown up opening presents early Christmas morning and then enjoying a brunch of bacon and pancakes serv

SOMETIMES I HEAR PEOPLE MARVEL at how they can look back over their life and see God’s hand working out every circumstance for the best. Yes, I can recall specific answers to prayer. And I can pinpoint incidents that can be explained only by divine i

MY FAMILY IS GATHERED AROUND the table for a holiday dinner. My husband’s eyes, full of mischief, follow me while I serve the food. At the opposite end of the table, my son-in-law smiles, his face alight as he glances at my daughter. I lock eyes with

EVERY YEAR, I BAKE SCORES of Christmas cookies for friends and neighbors. They’ve come to expect them! This year I agonized over one customary recipient. Should I take cookies to my next-door neighbors? On prior holidays, our neighbors had brought us

I’M A “MESSY-ANIC” (MESSY, ABSENTMINDED, Normal-ish, Imperfect, Creative) person. I coined that acronym because cluttery, scatterbrained, nonconforming, and flawed creative just sounded too embarrassing! But I admit… my house is messy. I can’t functi

DURING A SMALL-GROUP MEETING WITH couples from our church, we witnessed a miracle. As we sat in the host couple’s home, the husband, who had been unemployed for eight months, shared how he felt peace because he trusted God would provide. While he was

I SHOPPED THE MALL, SPURRED by the excitement and joy of the Christmas season. Moving from store to store, I searched for the perfect gifts to delight my loved ones. Elves, penguins, and reindeer decor greeted me, and the scent of peppermint filled t

FOR YEARS, WHEN UNPACKING CHRISTMAS decorations, my husband, David, and I talked about replacing our ancient artificial tree. We’d remember how, late one season long ago, we’d been blessed to find one still available. We laughed at the way the branch

I’VE SPENT THIS MORNING WRAPPING presents. The sofa was blanketed in items awaiting my attention, and the dining table stood awash in paper and ribbon. It was a scene of happy chaos: cookies in the oven, a scented candle burning on the hearth, and Ch

OUR FAMILY SHARES HOLIDAYS, SPENDING Christmas Eve at my home and Christmas Day at my daughter and son-in-law’s. On Christmas Eve, after our meal, we open gifts and then end the evening with a candlelight church service. I always look forward to our

CHRISTMAS MORNING CAME TOO QUICKLY. I rose early, planning to spend a few minutes alone with the Lord. I poured a cup of coffee and struggled to reflect on Him, but my thoughts raced here and there. Praying calmed me, and my eyes settled on our Nativ

IN THE PAST YEARS, MY neck and back have seized in crippling pain multiple times. My doctor noticed a pattern: It happened each time I faced significant stress. It hit when the delayed move-in date to our new house caused issues with switching our ki

MY HUSBAND GAVE ME A great dress for Christmas—a long-sleeve tent dress in an eye-catching, bright-red African print. It even has pockets and can double as a long jacket! I receive lots of compliments when I wear it. I love the dress because it’s com

AFTER CHRISTMAS, MY HUSBAND, ZANE, and I decided to do a fiveday detox because of all the unhealthy foods we indulged in during the holidays. I found a plan that included various protein powders, with a complete shopping list and day-to-day menu to f

I LOVE A GOOD BARGAIN, especially after a holiday. And especially if that holiday is Christmas. My husband, Kevin, and I will peruse the clearance aisles, looking for presents we can give next Christmas, new gift bags, and 75-percent-off dark chocola

MY HUSBAND, KEVIN, TAUGHT ME several techniques for memorizing Scripture. Kev has memorized thirteen entire books of the Bible. While I haven’t done that, I did learn Romans 8. (It took me months!) This chapter of Scripture is one of my favorites. A

TODAY IS THE PERFECT TIME to look ahead and think about what I want to accomplish in the upcoming year: new goals and dreams, healthier habits, new activities. I pull the old calendar that’s full off the wall to make room for the new empty calendar.

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