I John 3:24 “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” I love being a Texan! I think Texans are some of the greatest people in the world. They are friendly, […]
True Love
I John 3:23 “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” When I was a teenager – long before I met my husband – I had a habit. An addiction, really. I was addicted to being “in love.” I […]
Can I Have a Skateboard?
I John 3:21-22 “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.” My daughter wants to paint her room. Purple. Now, I hate to paint! But my daughter is a good girl. She […]
Second-Guessing God
I John 3:19-20 “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a jr. in high […]
A Full Pantry
I John 3:17-18 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” As I write this, I am sitting at my computer […]
Steel Magnolias
I John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Have you ever held a magnolia? I have. We have a magnolia tree in our yard. The flower looks delicate. But actually, it’s a pretty […]
Murder, He Wrote
I John 3:15 “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” I used to love watching that murder-mystery show, “Murder, She Wrote.” I actually still watch the reruns whenever I get the chance. One of the key elements to finding out whodunnit is uncovering […]
Dead Man Walking
I John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” Have you ever been around a person you just didn’t like very much? Shhh. Don’t answer that. The truth is, we’ve all met people who are hard to love. […]
My Trip
Whew! I finally feel like I’m getting back in the swing of things. But I can’t go a step further until I tell you about my trip to the Colorado Christian Writers’ Conference. It was amazing! Beautiful surroundings. There were snow-capped mountains and elk and whispering pine trees . . . You couldn’t ask for […]
Back to Reality
Dear friends, I have been away from home for two wonderful, restful weeks. Today, I am unpacking. Ugh. Blessings to you all! –r