Jesus: The Promise Fulfilled

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

A Reflection on Prophecy, Hope, and the Faithfulness of God

One of the most beautiful threads woven throughout Scripture is this: God keeps His promises. From Genesis to Revelation, every chapter, every symbol, every whisper of hope points toward a Savior who would rescue the world from darkness.

And when Jesus stepped into Bethlehem’s humble night, prophecy didn’t just come true—it came alive.

Long Before the Manger

Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, the prophets were already telling His story:

  • Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
  • Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
  • A descendant of David (Jeremiah 23:5–6)
  • A light to those in darkness (Isaiah 9:2)
  • A suffering Savior who would bear our sins (Isaiah 53)

These were not vague predictions or poetic hopes. They were specific promises—clear signposts that pointed to the One who would come.

When Prophecy Stepped Into Our World

When Jesus was born, the impossible became reality. The Word became flesh. The Messiah foretold became the Messiah revealed. Every fulfilled prophecy reminds us that God’s timing is never late, His plan is never uncertain, and His love is always intentional.

The birth of Christ wasn’t an isolated miracle.
It was the culmination of centuries of divine preparation.

Why It Still Matters Today

Jesus fulfilling prophecy isn’t simply a theological fact—it’s a reminder for our hearts today.

  • God sees the end from the beginning.
  • He is faithful even when we are afraid.
  • He keeps every promise—even the ones we’re still waiting on.

When life feels uncertain, when the world seems dark, or when our prayers feel delayed, Christmas reminds us that God’s promises never fail. The same God who orchestrated the birth of Christ with perfect precision is working in your life with the same care.

A Promise You Can Hold On To

Every fulfilled prophecy invites us to trust Him more deeply.

The Savior who was promised…
The Savior who came…
The Savior who is coming again…

He is faithful.
He is present.
And He is for you.

So as we read the familiar story this season, may our hearts rekindle with awe. The Child in the manger wasn’t just a baby—He was the living proof that God always keeps His word.

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Pausing to Listen by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Nancy J. Farrier

One of the joy of living in Arizona, is the many beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The amazing array of colors and textures often make me stop and stare in awe and imagine the skies are God’s canvas, the sunset the picture He’s painting.

I recall one evening, as I drove home with my four daughters, the clouds caught the rays of the setting sun and changed from pinks and oranges to purples and blues. Three of my daughters and I were oohing and aahing as we watched the display. My fourth daughter glanced out the window and said, “I don’t see what’s so special.” We were shocked that she didn’t enjoy the sight as much as we did.

Thinking about that evening makes me also remember the story of the birth of a special baby in Bethlehem. I picture that city teeming with people who were there to be counted for the census. The inns were full. I’m sure people’s homes were filled to the brim with relatives. I imagine even the stables were overflowing with animals brought by the influx of travelers.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13-14 KJV

You are probably very familiar with the story of the shepherds out in the hills with the sheep. A choir of angels appeared to them. An amazing sight. I wonder if the colors were blazing into the heavens, making the shepherds speechless with awe. What matters most is those shepherds heard the message and sought out the baby, Jesus.

Meanwhile, what about the people in the city? The teeming crowds? The overflowing inns? This is a question I ponder every year. They were even closer to the Christ child. Did they forget to seek God and thus missed one of the most important message of all time? I picture the song of the angels rippling through the air, there for anyone to hear, if they’d taken the time to listen. I picture the skies lit up with the glory of God as praises were sung to Him. 

Were the women in Bethlehem too busy cooking, cleaning, making sure everyone had a place to sleep? Were they visiting with people they hadn’t seen in ages? Sharing recipes? Talking about their children?

Were the men busy caring for animals, talking about planting or raising herds? Were they discussing the government and how difficult the trip had been? Were they back-slapping and greeting one another? Maybe arguing or talking about other tribes.

What were they all doing that they missed seeing the glory of the message of Christ’s birth? Perhaps, they did see, but for whatever reason, chose to say, “I don’t see what’s so special.” 

Each Christmas I am threatened with all the hubbub of shopping, candy making, parties, decorating, visiting, and on the list goes. Every year there seems to be one more thing added to my to do items. If I’m not careful it’s easy for me to lose focus and to forget to acknowledge the One the season is celebrating. I am in danger of keeping my eyes fixed on all that is around me, pulling me to get this or that done. 

Like those shepherds of old, I want to hear that singing and to gaze up—to see the wonder and glory of a God who loves me beyond understanding. To see a Savior who gave His life for me. To bask in a reminder of beauty beyond anything I’ve ever experienced before.

I hope you will take a moment to “listen and look up” this Christmas season. Enjoy the love that is pouring out of Heaven. Enjoy God’s gift to us all.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…” Is. 9:6 KJV

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An Ordinary Christian Speaking to Other Ordinary Christians by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 7, 2025 by jrcoggins

My mother was a godly woman. It was no accident. My parents got up early, and my father worked hard for long hours, so my mother would prepare a large breakfast for him. When he had gone to work, Mom would sit down at the kitchen table with a second cup of coffee and “prepare her Sunday school lesson.” She had about an hour before it was time to wake the three children for school. That in-depth study of the Bible changed her life.

For decades, my mother taught Sunday school in the small Baptist church in our small town. She began with elementary school children, and in her later years she taught adult Sunday school. I knew she often went to “mission circle” when I and the other children were at school. What I did not know was that she was a frequent speaker at these meetings and even in regional meetings of mission circles from other Baptist churches. She was humble and not one to publicize her achievements. But her role should not have been a surprise to me. She was a homemaker, but being a homemaker in those days meant that she did laundry with a wringer washing machine and clothesline, baked her own pies and cakes, and sewed clothes and canned food for her family. It was a demanding occupation rarely recognized today. I knew that Mom also found time to maintain strong relationships with friends, neighbors, and family members. And she maintained an extensive correspondence with distant missionaries, friends, and relatives. Unusual for her time, she had not only graduated from high school but also attended both teacher’s college and business college. She had worked as a teacher and an office worker before marrying my father in 1946.

My mother did not just read the Bible. She studied it. According to her notes, she also read many of the key Christian books of her time, some that she owned and many that she borrowed from the church library. She also read letters and reports from missionaries, and a variety of Christian and other magazines.

Mom was also somewhat of a packrat. After she died, we found among her possessions many of the “meditations” she had prepared for mission circle meetings and other occasions. I read them first as part of my own daily devotions. Then, I decided to collect and publish them in a book. The book, What Is God Able to Do? The Devotional Meditations of E. May Coggins, has now been published. It contains my mother’s meditations, presented mostly as they appeared in her notes, with occasionally a few words added to fill in the gaps.

Why do we pray? What is God able to do? Why is the Bible like a valentine? Is God alive? Can you sign up for immortality? What causes worry? What are you searching for? What do we see? What do you have in the house? Why hobbies? Do we sometimes get into a rut at Christmas? These are just some of the practical spiritual questions my mother addressed in this collection of biblical meditations. This volume offers insight into life, particularly Christian and church life, in a previous century. It might perhaps be considered an historical source document, maybe even an historical curiosity or a relic of a bygone era. For sure, my mother had a view of life that would be unusual today. Among the foundational beliefs flowing through these meditations are these insights:

            • Life is hard.

            • Faith is hard.

            • We are here on this earth to serve.

            • We can find God in everyday things and activities and in ordinary people.

It is true that these ideas now seem quaint and old-fashioned. But that is their power and importance. The meditations offer a corrective to our own modern biases. They contain wisdom and insights from a previous generation that can help us today, and in that sense they are as relevant today as they were in the last century, perhaps even more relevant.

History often focuses on the thoughts and acts of the great and powerful, while the life of ordinary people is forgotten. My mother was just an ordinary Christian speaking to other ordinary Christians in her small town church. And yet an ordinary Christian, a believer in an extraordinary God, can have a significant impact, perhaps an even greater impact simply because she is ordinary. Jesus’ first disciples were all ordinary men who had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). Gandalf, in J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterful trilogy The Lord of the Rings, said: “Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I’ve found it is the small, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love.” That is what this volume is all about—the thoughts of an ordinary woman, believing in an extraordinary God, encouraging other ordinary people to believe in the light and to devote themselves to simple acts of kindness and love.

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Antiochus Epiphanes by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 3, 2025 by jrcoggins

The Jews were dragged into exile in Babylon by the armies of the Babylonian empire about 587 BC. When the Babylonian empire was overthrown by the Persian empire about 539 BC, the Persians encouraged the Jews to return to the Promised Land. The Persian empire, in turn, was overthrown by Alexander the Great and his Greek armies. After he died, his empire was eventually divided among four of his generals, including the “Kingdom of the North” (ruled by the Seleucids, based in Syria, to the north of Judah) and the “Kingdom of the South” (ruled by the Ptolemies, based in Egypt, to the southwest of Judah). These remnants of Alexander’s empire tried to impose Greek culture and religion on the lands they controlled. Several of the Seleucid kings were named Antiochus, including Antiochus IV, who ruled about 175-163 BC and gave himself the title Epiphanes, which means “God manifest.” Like many dictators, he claimed divine power and demanded to be worshiped. In the early years of the Persian empire, Daniel was given a prophecy about the political future of the Middle East. The prophecy described in accurate detail the incessant wars between the King of the North and the King of the South, with the Jewish people living between these two brutal kingdoms and suffering through many invasions. Daniel 11:21-32 outlines the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, describing him as a “contemptible person,” cruel and deceitful, who went about invading and pillaging other countries. Daniel prophesied: “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation” (Daniel 11:31). About 167 BC, Antiochus entered the temple in Jerusalem and erected an altar to the Greek god Jupiter (which Daniel called “the abomination that causes desolation”). This spurred the Jews to rebel and regain their independence for a time. Antiochus was a nasty dictator, one of many nasty dictators throughout the history of the world and a model of Antichristian rulers.

Sixteen cities were named “Antioch” after the kings named Antiochus, including Antioch in northern Syria, which, in the time of Jesus, was one of the largest cities in the Roman empire. (Another was Antioch in Pisidia in the central part of what is now Turkey: Acts 13:14). Antioch in Syria was a center of Greek culture. It was also the home of one of the first predominantly gentile churches and the place where believers in Jesus were first called Christians (Acts 11:19-26). And it was the church which sent out Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy (Acts 13:1-3), launching the missionary movement which evangelized the Roman empire and eventually many other parts of the world. In this way, God quietly goes about bringing good, even from the most evil of places.

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Books Must be Written in Solitude by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 26, 2025 by jrcoggins

Books—that is, creative books and fiction—cannot be written by a committee. They spring from one person’s unified vision. Adding a second or third writer only creates confusion.

This does not mean that a writer can produce a book without all kinds of help—technical experts, proofreaders, designers, marketers, ghost writers in some cases, and editors (after all, I are one of those). But the writing should be done by one person.

I am aware, of course, that some books have been written collaboratively, almost always by two people (not more) who are closely connected or even related. But those are the exceptions, and such collaborators usually produce genre books following a certain formula.

Because of the need for a unified vision, writers require solitude. They need to be able to get away from distractions and have time alone to think and write. They need to get somewhere where they can fully concentrate as they feverishly try to record their ideas and insights while they are fresh. That place can be an office or a secluded spot in nature or even the back corner of a coffee shop. It doesn’t matter as long as the writer is alone.

Because of this, writers are often thought to be anti-social introverts. This is true—to a point.

But writers need more than solitude.

I think it was Scott Young, a sports journalist, who decided it was time to write a book. He went away to a cabin in the wilderness where he could fully devote himself to writing. He soon discovered that it didn’t work. Sitting there alone staring at four walls, he couldn’t write.

Besides solitude, writers also need inspiration. And inspiration depends on experiences, observation, and stimulation. Writer Max Braithwaite pointed out that a writer is not primarily someone who writes but someone who observes. A writer will look at the surrounding life and ponder what people look like, how people act, why they act that way, what they think, what they might have done instead, etc. In other words, a writer also needs to be involved in life. As an editor once advised me when I was starting out as a writer, “If you want to be a great writer, live deeply.”

Writers need solitude, but they also need to be connected to life.

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A Heart of Gratitude: Reflections for Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving—whether in a bustling house filled with family, or in the quiet peace of home—it’s a beautiful opportunity to pause and remember the goodness of God.

Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday; it’s a posture of the heart. It’s that sacred moment when we look back over the past year and recognize the fingerprints of God in the ordinary and extraordinary places of our lives.

Gratitude in Every Season

Some years, gratitude flows easily—laughter echoing through the house, blessings abundant, prayers answered. Other years, Thanksgiving comes with a softer step… through loss, waiting, unanswered questions, or trials that have stretched us thin.

And yet, Scripture reminds us gently:

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

Giving thanks in all things doesn’t mean all things are easy. It means God is present in every moment—steady, faithful, unchanging.

The Table of Remembrance

Thanksgiving is our modern-day Ebenezer—our reminder that
“Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12)

So as we gather…

To pass the turkey
To share memories
To watch little hands sneak rolls from the basket
To laugh, to pray, to simply be together

…we are doing more than celebrating a holiday. We are remembering God’s provision.

Thankfulness as Worship

When we thank God, we’re not just listing blessings.
We are acknowledging the Giver.

We are declaring that even in the unknowns, He is worthy.
Even when we don’t see the whole story, He is good.
Even when our hearts ache, He is near.

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.”
—Psalm 100:4

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends.
May gratitude be the melody that carries you through every season ahead.

Mary

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Hidden Treasures by Tara Randel

Posted on November 24, 2025 by tararandel

Recently, my mother sold her house. She’d lived there for almost fifty years. It was bittersweet to say goodbye, especially after going through the house to decide what she should keep and what to give away.

My mom and I spent hours going through each room. There were lots of stories that went along with Christmas decorations, certain pieces of furniture, and pictures. Lots of pictures! I got to take a box home to go through when I get some free time. I’m sure I’ll laugh and maybe shed a tear or two when I do.

There were a lot of pieces I didn’t recognize from when I lived at home. One in particular caught my attention. Can you guess what it is?

It’s a portable lap writing desk. I’ve only read about them in the historical novels I love to read. Who knew we had one?

I don’t believe it’s an antique. My mom thinks my brother made it, but I haven’t gotten confirmation on that. I don’t care if it’s antique or not, I think it’s cool and asked if I could have it. My mom said yes, and that I should also take her writing desk. For an author, it doesn’t get any better than this!

It’s funny how things change in life. I never expected to receive these treasures. My mom was thrilled to give them to me, and I hope to pass them on when the time is right.

And speaking of family, I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the turkey and sides, pumpkin pie, the parade and football games! Whatever your family traditions are, make sure you’re together. I’m sure some treasures will be revealed in the time spent with your loved ones.

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her Harlequin Heartwarming romance THE SURPRISE NEXT DOOR, available now. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. 

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And Now for Something Different by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 23, 2025 by jrcoggins

NEW BOOK! NEW BOOK!

I have never been a conventional writer. My mind flies all over the place. I am sometimes known as a writer of murder mysteries. I have written four of them (Who’s Grace?, Desolation Highway, Mountaintop Drive, and Springtime in Winnipeg). I have also published a collection of three novellas (short novels) in the same genre (Too Many Deaths). But that is not all. I have written and had published a PhD thesis in History (John Smyth’s Congregation: English Separatism, Mennonite Influence, and the Elect Nation). And I have written a socio-political novel (1995: Je me souviens) and a popular-level reflection on the Bible book of Daniel (Living for God in a Pagan Society: What Daniel Can Teach Us).

And now something new and different. My new book, hot off the press in time for Christmas, is The Cabin and other stories.

My murder mysteries were deliberately written for a general audience, with only a subtle Christian message. Some of the main characters are Christians, and some are not. The idea is that for a non-Christian reader it would be like living next door to a Christian and trying to figure out what makes him tick.

My new book is quite different, being written primarily for Christians, although others might well benefit from it. It is a collection of stories, some long, some short, many recognizably ordinary, some fanciful or allegorical. They are set in a wide variety of times and places, most in the present but some in ancient times, most in North America but some in other places. They explore a wide variety of themes, human, biblical, and theological. At their heart are people, young Victor and old John, young couples and loners, simple folk and a few odd university professors. If there is a common theme, it is that all of these people, in various times and places, are surprised by grace. The title story, “The Cabin,” is centered on John, an old man who shows up in church one morning and who seemingly lives a simple life in a log cabin; however, there is much more going on under the surface. The final story, “Dead Man,” is a John Smyth murder mystery but with a much clearer Christian message.

I wrote the first of these stories in my 30s, but several of the stories, including the longest two, were written in my 70s. I am convinced that they are some of the best things I have ever written. It is my hope that some of them will endure, that they will be worth reading more than once, that they will not only stir the emotions but also stimulate the mind, that they will disrupt and disturb sinful complacency, that they will lead the reader to ponder, wonder, and understand.

The book is available in the usual places, through bookstores and through online retailers such as Amazon.

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Something to rest on …

Posted on November 20, 2025 by dtopliff

Mahalia Jackson, the “Queen of Gospel,”was orphaned in early childhood and raised by an aunt. They lived next door to a church in New Orleans where she first heard gospel music. She also heard blues singers but remained a devoted Baptist who only sang gospel,

Born in 1911, she brought gospel music to mainstream, secular audiences. She reached national prominence in 1947 with the release of “Move On Up a Little Higher,” selling two million records and reaching number one status on sales charts, a first for gospel music.  

In 1939, when segregation barred her from singing in Constitution Hall, first lady Eleonor Roosevelt arranged for Jackson to sing outdoors at the Lincoln Memorial to a far larger audience than would have fit inside any concert hall. She fulfills Proverbs 18:16, “a man’s (or woman’s) gift makes room for him (or her).” It’s also a demonstration of someone overcoming prejudice and hardships to win a vast audience and lasting victory.  

Jackson’s songs conveyed her faith. She said, “When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what’s wrong. But when you are through with the blues, you’ve got nothing to rest on.” She established a path that encourages and edifies us all. Take time to find any of her songs online and be blessed today.

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Praise at the Dedication of the Temple by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 19, 2025 by jrcoggins

Psalm 30 is described as “a song of David for the dedication of the temple .” It can be understood as both a personal testimonial by King David and as a corporate expression of faith for the people of God.

It should be remembered that David was not allowed to build the temple because of his violence and sinfulness. But he was allowed to prepare for it, both in procuring materials and apparently also in helping to prepare a liturgy, including composing this psalm.

The psalm assumes a somewhat complicated history and relationship between David and God, something most of us can identify with. Sometimes things go well for us, and sometimes they don’t. We might be tempted to question God about this. But then we should remember that sometimes we do well and are faithful to God, and sometimes we fail. We should be wary about getting into an argument with God about which of us is more faithful.

First, David praises God for answering his prayers and rescuing him from death: “I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit” (Psalm 30:1-3 NIV). Besides his wars against the Philistines and other enemies, David had been rescued from death when hunted by Saul and when threatened by Absolom’s rebellion.

There were also times when David felt “secure” and God “made my royal mountain stand firm” (verses 6-7). The mountain, of course, is Zion, the location of Jerusalem, which David conquered and made his capital and which was the future site for God’s temple. Jerusalem is called “the city of David.” David saw these good time blessings as also coming from God and praised Him.

But then God hid His face and David felt “dismayed” (verse 7). This might have been when David sinned (with Bathsheba and when taking a census of his fighting men, for example). God was not being fickle. It was David who had proved unfaithful, and God rightly withdrew His approval. The good news is that God’s mercy is greater than His judgement—”his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime” (verse 5), and so once again David pleaded for forgiveness, mercy, and help. Again, God restored David, and David responded again with praise, praise of God’s justice as well as His mercy.

What was true of David was true of Israel. Israel’s history is one of answered prayer, blessing, sin, repentance, and redemption. And so is ours. For this reason, we also should praise God.

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Late Roses by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 12, 2025 by jrcoggins

We have a rose bush that produced numerous beautiful roses this summer. I cut the dead flowers off as is recommended, and new roses bloomed on the end of the cut-off stems. As we moved into autumn, I cut off the dead remains of this next crop of roses as well. To my amazement, the bush produced more roses even though it was now mid-October and the days and nights were much colder.

This reminded me of the promise in Psalm 92:12-14:

            The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

            they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

            planted in the house of the Lord,

`           they will flourish in the courts of our God.

            They will still bear fruit in old age,

            they will stay fresh and green.

I was thinking about this lately. I am now in my fourth quarter-century.

In my late 50s, I suddenly found myself unemployed and wondering how I could support myself and my family until retirement. I eventually launched into freelance editing and writing (emphasis often on the first syllable). But God provided all I needed and more. In my 60s, that led me to establish a book publishing imprint called Mill Lake Books. This imprint has now published over two dozen books.

Two new books have come out this fall. The first is a collection of my own short stories: The Cabin and other stories. I wrote the first of these stories in my 30s, but several of the stories, including the longest two, were written in my 70s. I am convinced that they are some of the best things I have ever written.

The other book is What Is God Able to Do? The Devotional Meditations of E. May Coggins. This is a collection of biblical meditations that my mother gave in women’s meetings and adult Sunday school classes over her long career. The earliest meditation was delivered when she was a single woman in the 1940s. The most recent was delivered in her 80s. She continued to serve and teach until her sudden death from a stroke at age 84.

Both books are available through the usual channels, bookstores and online retailers such as Amazon.

I do not claim to be righteous, but I and my mother placed our faith in Jesus, and He has promised to confer His righteousness on those who trust Him. As Psalm 92 makes clear, we can prosper only by the grace and blessing and goodness of God. I have been blessed into my old age, and I am grateful.

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When God Meets Us in the Mud Pies

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

There are few things more joyfully messy than an afternoon spent with grandkids—and I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.

Although mine is older now, my granddaughters used to love to make mud pies. They’d create pies, cakes and cookies—all from mud. As child this was one of my favorite things to do as well.

When I knelt beside them, helping to mix their latest “recipe,” I realized that something beautiful was happening amid all that glorious mess. God was reminding me that sometimes the richest moments in life come when we’re willing to get our hands dirty.

Lessons from a Backyard Bakery

1. The best memories aren’t always neat.
There was mud everywhere on the little picnic table we used as our bakery, dirt streaks on our faces, and a load of laundry waiting inside—but there was also laughter. Pure, bubbling, contagious joy. It struck me that faith can be like that—messy, unpredictable, but full of life. God’s grace often shows up right in the middle of our chaos, not after we’ve cleaned it all up.

2. God delights in childlike joy.
Watching my granddaughters’ faces light up reminded me of Jesus’ words:

“Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” (Luke 18:17 KJV)
Children don’t overthink. They don’t worry about how they look or whether they’re “doing it right.” They simply dive in with their whole hearts. Maybe that’s what Jesus meant—don’t stand back trying to stay tidy when He’s inviting you into joy.

3. Mess can be ministry.
We may not all be called to preach from a pulpit, but every one of us can share love in the everyday places—on a muddy patio, over a kitchen table, or in a grocery store aisle. When I helped shape those little mud pies, I wasn’t just spending time with my granddaughters—I was building something eternal: trust, laughter, and the kind of love that points back to God.

A Thought for Today

Maybe your life feels a little muddy right now—plans that didn’t go as expected, days that look more like dirt than dessert. Remember: God can turn even that into something meaningful. He’s not waiting for the floor to dry or the clothes to be spotless. He meets us right where we are, muddy hands and all.

So go ahead—lean into the moment. Laugh louder. Love deeper. And don’t be afraid to make a few “mud pies” along the way. They just might become the sweetest memories of all.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, thank You for meeting us in the mess.
Thank You for the laughter of children, for simple joys, and for the lessons hidden in muddy hands.


Help us to embrace life’s imperfect moments with gratitude and grace,
knowing You can use even the dirt beneath our feet to grow something beautiful.
Amen.

Blessings,
Mary

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Snapshots of Blessings by James R. Coggins

Posted on November 5, 2025 by jrcoggins

Recently, my wife and I took time to sit down and systematically look through our many photo albums. They chronicled our lives together for almost half a century. They were an opportunity for us to reflect on our lives.

I am not sure what I expected to learn or to feel.

The photos did not so much record everyday life. They recorded highlights and transitions. They depicted trips, holidays. friends, pets, sightings of wildlife, new cars, new houses, renovations, memorable meals, cakes, children, grandchildren, births, weddings, graduations, and achievements. They also recorded, deaths, lost relationships, disappointments, and struggles.

Looking back, I realized how blessed we have been. We have experienced a wonderful parade of trips, holidays, friends, pets, new cars, new houses, renovations, memorable meals, cakes, children, grandchildren, births, weddings, graduations, and achievements.

I also wondered what I could have done better. I had an overwhelming sense that I missed or overlooked too much. I should have enjoyed and valued those blessings, those friends, those family members even more than I did. I should have rejoiced in them, marveled over them, and been thankful for them. Blessings are not fully blessings if we do not exult in them, if we do not receive them with joy.

I also wish that I had loved more and better, that I had told friends and family members more often that I loved them and appreciated them and valued them. I wish that I had encouraged them more and that I had encouraged them to revel more in their blessings. I wish that I had thanked them better and more often for all that they did for me. I wish that I had comforted them better in their pain, that I had found the right words of comfort and wisdom to say, that I had found better ways to ease their pain and suffering. I wish that I had lived with more grace.

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Fourteen Years Ago by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 29, 2025 by jrcoggins

It is interesting to piece together the apostle Paul’s early history.

About 34-35 AD, was Paul converted on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. Acts 9:23 says that he stayed there “many days” until threats on his life led him to flee. In Galatians 3:17-18, he says he went to Arabia, returned to Damascus, and then went to Jerusalem “after three years.”

This would mean that Paul went to Jerusalem about 37-38 AD. The Christians there were understandably afraid of their former persecutor, but Acts 9:27 says that Barnabas “brought him to the apostles.” However, in Galatians 1:18-19, Paul says he only met Peter and James, the brother of Jesus, and stayed with Peter fifteen days.

Again, Paul’s life was threatened, so Paul was sent to Tarsus, which was evidently Paul’s hometown (Acts 9:11). Tarsus was in the eastern part of what is now Turkey, in a region then called Cilicia (Galatians 1:21), just northwest of Syria.

Paul apparently spent several years there, but little is known about what he did. He does not appear to have done much preaching or evangelizing. As Jesus pointed out, prophets are often given little honor in their hometowns (Matthew 13:57). Perhaps, Paul spent some of that time studying what the Old Testament prophecies said about Jesus, preparing for his future ministry, even though he probably did not yet fully envision what that would be. There is no indication he ever returned to Tarsus later on after these quiet years, although Acts 15:41 says that on his second missionary journey Paul “went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”

When the church was founded in Antioch, in northern Syria, the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to help guide the new church. Barnabas went to Tarsus, which was only 100 miles or so farther north, and brought back Paul to help him with the teaching. This was probably about 45 AD because Paul taught there for “a whole year” (Acts 11:25), made another visit to Jerusalem, and shortly afterward was sent out on his first missionary journey, covering the years 46-47 AD.

Paul’s second missionary journey was longer, from 48 to 51 AD, during which he first visited Corinth (Acts 18:1-18). Paul then visited Jerusalem and spent considerable time in Antioch before going on his third missionary journey from 53 to 59 AD.  Paul only spent about three months in Greece on this journey (Acts 20:2-3), but during this journey he apparently wrote 1 Corinthians about 54 AD and 2 Corinthians about 55 AD.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Paul told the story of “a man” (almost all commentators believe this refers to Paul himself) who was “caught up to the third heaven.” Paul did not know if he went there physically or only in a vision. One explanation of this puzzling phrase is that, in Greek thought, the first “heaven” was earth’s atmosphere of air and clouds, the second “heaven” was the realm of the stars and planets, and the third “heaven” was the realm of the gods. What Paul was saying is that he had a similar experience to that of the apostle John when John was in exile on the island of Patmos and wrote Revelation—he was granted a rare vision of the throne room of God. In the presence of God, there is no room for personal pride, which was the point of Paul’s long defense of his ministry in 2 Corinthians 10-12. He was saying that even though he had had a much more illustrious ministry than the “false apostles” who were misleading the Corinthians, none of them had a right to boast before Almighty God. Knowing God and receiving revelations from God was a gracious gift, not an achievement.

When did this vision occur? Paul said it was “fourteen years ago,” or about the year 41 AD. This would have been during those quiet years when Paul was living in Tarsus and perhaps studying the Old Testament and learning more about Jesus in preparation for his later missionary work.

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The God Who Restores

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

In my latest Love Inspired Suspense book, Shattered Amish Identity, Hannah York’s story is ultimately one of restoration. And so is ours. God specializes in rebuilding what’s been broken and redeeming what’s been lost.

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten…”
— Joel 2:25, KJV

No matter what part of your story feels shattered — your past, your identity, your hope — God is able to piece it back together into something beautiful. And like Hannah, when you place your trust in Him, you’ll discover that your true identity was never lost… it was simply waiting to be revealed.

Shattered Amish Identity is more than a suspenseful story — it’s a reminder that even when everything you thought you knew is stripped away, God’s truth about you remains unshaken. You are chosen, loved, redeemed, and held firmly in His hands.

https://amzn.to/4n9j10J

All the best. . .

Mary

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