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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Being Bugged by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Michaela Merglová on Unsplash

I am part of the worship team at my church. This means some Sunday services I put up the words on the screen, and sometimes I play the keyboard with the worship team. This Sunday, I sang with the choir—not the traditional type of choir, but a group of six to eight singers who add volume behind the main singer. When serving as a keyboardist or as a singer, I participate in all three morning services.

No matter what slot I fill, I take being on the worship team seriously. It is a privilege to be part of drawing people into an attitude of worship, preparing them to hear God’s word. I do my best not to call attention to myself, but to lift up God and glorify Him.

This Sunday that proved a challenge. As we started the first song for the third service, I felt something inside my top. I quickly realized I had a bug crawling on me. As we sang, the bug made its way to my underarm and then down my side. Being up on the stage, I had no way to discreetly get that insect out. 

Many of you might be wondering why I didn’t leap off the stage and go somewhere to remove the bug, but like I said, I take my responsibility in serving seriously and don’t want to call attention to myself. I am there to glorify God. So, I waited as that little critter happily toured around me.

I’d prayed just that morning for something new and fresh to write for this blog post and it seemed God provided—just not in the way I expected. He showed me that serving can be uncomfortable at times, but to truly put Him first takes courage and fortitude.

At church, we are studying through the book of Acts. The disciples faced a lot of difficulties that are recorded there. They were imprisoned, beaten, reviled, and shipwrecked. Through it all their faith stayed steady. They didn’t bring attention to themselves, but they always used those trials to point the way to God. 

Isn’t that what we are to do too? When we face something that is uncomfortable or difficult, we must forget who we are and focus on Who God is. What does He want us to learn? What does He want us to share with those around us? How does He want to use us to further His kingdom?

The answer, of course, is to share Him. The trial we face is a good way to let others know how God came through for us and what He can do for them. Believe it or not, this often makes what we suffered less of a burden. 

So, whether we face imprisonment, reviling, or something as trivial as a bug on a journey that’s annoying, we must put God first. We must lift Him up and not make a show of what we suffered. 

At the break in the song service, I left the stage, went to the bathroom, and removed that tiny beetle who intruded where he wasn’t welcome. And, I thanked God for showing me that He comes first—always.

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Balcony People by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 22, 2025 by jrcoggins

Some years ago, my family and I attended a fairly large church. Sunday attendance ranged from 1,400 to 2,000 people, which necessitated two Sunday morning services. Our family’s practice was to attend the first service and then Sunday school. There was a very vibrant adult Sunday school, where a lot of the fellowship took place. It was impossible to have close fellowship with a thousand people, but much easier to have fellowship with sixty.

The complication was that my wife was in the choir, which sang and led worship during the first half of both Sunday morning services, and this forced an adjustment to our routine. We would go to the first service and Sunday school, and then I would drive the children home, which was just a few blocks away. Then, I would return to church so I could pick up my wife when she was finished singing. I would usually get back about the time the second service started. Rather than sit in the main congregation and be a distraction by leaving in the middle of the service, I would go and sit in the balcony, from which I could exit more unobtrusively.

This is where I came to know about the balcony people. They were quite different from the main congregation. Many of them would come in during the first song and leave during the closing song at the end of the service, leaving little opportunity to talk with anyone else. Many, especially those at the back of the balcony, would not sing at all and would often remain sitting during the entire service.

In time, I came to understand that many of these attenders were troubled people. Some had been hurt by the church or by a death, a failure, or a broken relationship and were deeply grieving. Some were unsure, carefully and anonymously checking out this “church thing.” Some seemed uncertain that they would be welcome in the main body of the church due to their guilt, shame, social status, attire, or lack of social graces.

I am reminded that there were peripheral people in the New Testament too—Zacchaeus, who hid in a tree to watch Jesus pass by; Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night; the woman who secretly touched Jesus’ clothing in search of healing (Mark 5:25-34); the pagan woman who begged for her daughter’s healing like a dog begging for crumbs under a table (Mark 7:24-30); the centurion who asked for healing for his servant but did not think he deserved to have Jesus come under his roof (Luke 7:1-10);  the nameless, sinful woman, not invited to the meal, who quietly washed Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-50); the tax collector who stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and cried, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

It is difficult to minister to balcony people. If they were approached directly, they would most likely flee in terror. And yet, I saw these same people came week after week. Despite all of their burdens, their insecurities, their doubts, and their fears, they felt irresistibly drawn to Jesus. Somehow, they knew that He had the answers.

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Keep the wind at your back and the sun on your face EXCEPT…

Posted on October 16, 2025 by dtopliff

Our Minnesota farm sits at the edge of the prairies where forested land begins, but most local land has been cleared to cultivate farms. That means the wind blows wild and free a ross the prairies.

I check daily wind levels to see if I will walk in what might be a blustery gale. Or get my exercise another way.

Today’s forecast predicted above 20 miles per hour, but I made myself walk anyway. After all, the wind would be at my back half of the way. It practically pushed me along, which I enjoyed, realizing that I heard the horse’s hooves and steel wheels of my approaching Amish neighbors more easily. And the luscious fragrance of freshly cut hay in round bales in the fields I passed.

At my halfway point when I turned around into a blustery wind, I found it wasn’t as hard as I expected. I was motivated to get home, and realized that even that is a spiritual truth.

When we’re homeward bound, with at least half of the journey behind us, the momentum of what we’ve travelled sharpens our focus and motivate us to reach home well. The distance doesn’t seem as long and I actually enjoyed feeling the sun on my face both ways.

I also like what author/pastor Cecil B. Murphy says in his current newsletter – “For every problem there is a solution. For every solution there is a problem. Both of them keep us growing.”

And making progress towards home…

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The Dung Gate by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 15, 2025 by jrcoggins

Isaiah 60 contains a detailed prophecy about the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. It envisions a prosperous city with wealth flowing into it from many nations: “The wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come” (Isaiah 60:5 NIV). It is a prophecy about the rebuilding of the actual city but also a metaphorical prophecy about the establishment and extension of the Kingdom of God on earth. It is a prophecy about the capital city of the Jews but also about the restored people of God, the worldwide Christian church composed of saved sinners.

Nehemiah 3 describes the actual rebuilding of the walls around the re-established city of Jerusalem. Included is this description: “The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place” Nehemiah 3:14). A Dung Gate is not something we would normally want to think about, but it was a necessary gate. All cities have a need to dispose of garbage and sewage and animal droppings (dung), and this was the gate in Jerusalem through which this was done. The Dung Gate was likely on the south side of Jerusalem leading to the refuse dump in the Valley of Hinnom, also called Gehenna, where fires burned continuously, and which Jesus used as a metaphor for hell (Mark 9:42-48).

We think of the wealth flowing into Jerusalem and into our lives. We all want to get more, to add more good things to our lives. But the Dung Gate reminds us there are things we need to get rid of, things that take up space in our lives, things that poison and corrupt and contaminate, things that cause disease and death, things that bring brokenness and separation, things that need to go in order to make room for the good to flow in. The New Testament lists some of them:

• “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31).

• “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place” (Ephesians 5:3-4).

• “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Colossians 3:8).

• “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (James 1:21).

• “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind” (1 Peter 2:1).

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A Heart at Peace

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

True peace isn’t found in the absence of problems but in the presence of God. As we draw near to Him — through prayer, His Word, and daily trust — He fills our hearts with a peace that defies circumstances.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:7, KJV

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
— Isaiah 26:3, KJV

No matter how chaotic life becomes, we can anchor our souls in His unchanging promises. His peace is not temporary — it is eternal and unshakable.

All the best…

Mary

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Retracing Our Steps by James R. Coggins

Posted on October 8, 2025 by jrcoggins

Recently, my wife and I visited some of the churches we had worshiped in previously, some many years ago. We were welcomed on our return, but the pastors seemed to lose interest once they realized we were not likely to remain and become members. Nevertheless, the visits gave us an opportunity to reflect on what we had experienced.

The buildings were generally the same, but most of the people we encountered were new. People move and grow old and die. And yet, it was the people that impacted us the most. We remain friends with some years later, even though some of them have moved on to other churches. We remain part of the worldwide church of God, and other Christians are our brothers and sisters, whether we are together or not and whether we have ever met or not.

We are grateful for the sound Bible teaching we received in many of these churches. We are grateful for the devout believers who challenged us with their examples of loving and godly living.

We are grateful for the many kindnesses we received while we were part of those churches. People invited us into their homes, encouraged us, prayed for us, offered wise advice, and even gently admonished us on occasion.

We also remember some difficulties. We were disappointed when some of those churches shifted direction and modified their teaching. It was difficult when we were at odds with our brothers and sisters, but our theological understandings were important too, and we knew we could not simply discard them. We were sometimes difficult church members—because of our broad experience, we sometimes had ideas different from those of the church leadership. We tried to be supportive when we could but at other times felt it was better to move on. We have tried to let any grievances and disappointments go.

We contributed significantly to some of the churches and in others received far more than we contributed. For what we received, we are profoundly grateful.

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