As the American celebration of Thanksgiving approaches, we, here in the US, are reminded about the importance of giving thanks for all we have. The Psalms are full of words of thanks and praise, praising God for who God is and thanking God for all God has done. But what is a sacrifice of thanksgiving, […]
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That first sip of coffee or a frothy latte on a cold morning. Chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven. Pumpkin donuts and apple pie. Children at play. A baby’s smile. A bike ride through a tree covered lane, especially when fall colors are abloom. The joy of becoming lost in a good book. […]
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I’ve recently finished a beta read for a book on the Psalms where the author looked for psalms not included in the book of Psalms. This got me thinking – what is a psalm? How do you differentiate from other poems in the Bible? And how did some come to be included in the book […]
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Images of Afghan refugees are all over the news. We also have the ongoing immigrant crisis at our borders. What are they seeking? A new life. A place where they can live and prosper, safe from harm. A home. What can we learn about home in the Psalms? What is Home? Webster tells us that […]
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If someone asked you what kind of bird are you, what would be your response? I would choose a sparrow. Sparrows are small and insignificant. They are not showy like some birds. Nor do they draw attention to themselves. They are commonplace. Yet Jesus notices them. Sparrow in Scripture Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows […]
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Usually this time of the summer, I’m busy ushering at the productions put on by the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. Unfortunately, once again this year, the company has remained dark due to the difficulty of successfully offering a season amid a pandemic. And so, I’ve decided to offer you some of my thoughts on Shakespeare and […]
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If you’ve ever watched the waves coming in on the shores of Lake Michigan on a windy day, or on ocean beaches, you know what the psalmist was talking about when he proclaimed, “Let the floods clap their hands!” (Psalm 98:8) The waves truly appear to clap when they crest and approach the shore. Just […]
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A common device in crime shows and dramas is to allow your opponent to fall by their own devices. It’s a form of poetic justice. Or to use a phrase from Shakespeare, they are hoisted by their own petard. But did you know that this concept was around thousands of years ago in the shape […]
Read More Are you looking for pennies from heaven? If so, you need look no further than the Psalms. In it are golden nuggets, words of wisdom, expressions of human emotion, beautiful poetry, all for the taking. All you have to do is open your Bible. Why Pennies? Maureen O’Brien, in her post, Pennies from Heaven, talks […]
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There have been many tears over the past year. What happens to those tears? Do they fall unnoticed into tissues and sleeves where they are tossed or washed away? Psalm 56 tells us that God catches all of our tears. “My wanderings you have counted; my tears are stored in your flask; are they not […]
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