Weather permitting, my best mornings begin like this: My coffee and I walk out to the deck. I turn on the stone fountain and let caffeine percolate in my brain. I place my Bible, journal, and coffee mug on the table, then raise the umbrella. Seated in my outdoor sanctuary, I pray and study God’s Word—unless distracting thoughts and unwise choices obstruct my view. Did you notice I said, “my best mornings?” True confession: They don’t all start that way. Even when the weather and my decisions allow deck time, stray thoughts surface. What time is that appointment? What…
Tag: jeannie waters
Lessons from a Fawn: God Sees Me, Hears Me, and Protects Me
Look closely at the photo for tiny white spots. See her? Yesterday our granddaughter discovered a newborn fawn in the woods and observed the deer’s first wobbly steps. This morning she noticed the doe moved her baby closer to the house. Our son’s family observed through a bedroom window as the mother nursed her fawn and then left her alone in the tall, camouflaging grass. The doe’s God-given instinct led her to find a safe place for her baby and feed her. Our daughter-in-law’s research revealed another part of God’s plan. Mother deer may leave their young alone for hours,…
Four Ways to Put On Christ’s Love and Share It with Others
“Mom, you don’t need to buy new clothes,” my daughter said as she helped me plan for an upcoming conference. “Shop your own closet.” Numerous website’s offer the same advice: Survey the contents of your own closet to create new outfits. Why buy more if creative planning can multiply the potential number of outfits? Makes sense. The strategy of shopping our own closets saves time and money. It also provides opportunities to try new combinations and accessories with the clothing we already have. God’s Word teaches us how to dress our hearts with the Christlike behaviors and attitudes He has…
Renew Your Walk with God This Spring: Put on Patience
When I was eight years old, my dad taught me to fly fish from his boat. I loved watching his technique and longed to learn. The graceful arc of his rod positioned the artificial fly inches from the bank with a gentle landing. After Daddy’s casts—when the tiny ripples subsided—we patiently watched to see if a fish would bite. Fishing with an eight-year-old requires an extra measure of patience. One day my entire rod landed in the lake, but Daddy rescued it before it sank. My flies would often land a few feet in front of the boat with a…
Renew Your Walk with God This Spring: Put on the Humility of Jesus
When my youngest brother was five, he changed clothes often because he wanted to look like my dad. He’d watch Daddy enter a room, then he’d dart toward his own closet to find a way to match his hero. If Daddy changed into khaki pants after work to tend his garden, Carson would toss his clothes down the laundry chute, change into khaki pants, and follow my dad outside. He didn’t even care about losing playtime. Scripture instructs us to “put on” the same characteristics Jesus exemplified so that we look and sound like our heavenly Father. Today we’ll look…