During the summer of 2012, I took some courses at Blue Mountain Christian University. While there, a dear friend, Ms. Anna, opened her home to me so I could stay while finishing a few classes before heading to seminary. As I stood on Ms. Anna’s covered porch, waiting to enter her home, she began sharing the most intriguing story about a flock of birds, a torn-down nest, and a struggle to return, which kept everyone quite busy. Before my visit, two birds built a nest in the top right corner of Ms. Anna’s porch, where they started their family. As the babies grew, the porch became a busy area, with birds flying everywhere, disturbing guests trying to enter my dear friend’s home. Eventually, the decision was made to remove the nest, hoping the birds would find other places to nest, like the birdhouses in Ms. Anna’s backyard. To everyone’s surprise,…
Have you ever faced a mountain that seemed impossible to climb? Have you tried to ‘move’ those mountains or taken your own approach to…
I love the word of God. It brings healing, conviction, and transformation. It offers truth—who God is and how to live—guidance for those seeking…
The sidebars of life are calling our names at every turn. They do not require a lot of effort and often promote camouflaged victories that are easily obtained. What exactly are the sidebars of life? They are basically moments where “hard” is traded for “easy” and comfort for discomfort. It is a period where the “roads less taken” remain the “roads less taken.”
There she was–my beautiful granddaughter Hensley. “Nana, I want to go to the playground,” she stated. “Okay,” I replied. On this particular day, I was staying at a cabin surrounded by a beautiful lake. Frequently visited by family, the area afforded breathtaking scenery. Close to my cabin was the perfect place for kids to play. So, there we were–Nana and granddaughter.
As he looked intently into Nana’s face, the look in my grandson’s eyes said it all. Beckham spoke no words, but rather had a…