Mysteries by James R. Coggins

Posted on July 2, 2025 by jrcoggins

I write murder mysteries (and lots of other things). But, in a sense, my stories do not remain mysteries. A good murder mystery presents a murder, offers a variety of suspects (red herrings), and in the end reveals whodunit. Readers do not read mysteries so they can remain puzzled. They read mysteries so they can find out what actually happened—and sometimes to see if they can figure out the solution before the writer reveals it. People like solving puzzles, not being defeated by puzzles. We do not like living indefinitely with uncertainty.

Of course, it is not just murder mysteries that are puzzling in nature. All novels are read to find out what happens to the characters. Will John and Mary find true love? Will Alice find her true path in life? Will the lost hiker find his way out of the wilderness?

The great writer Stephen King once tried his hand at writing a murder mystery. The book described a dead body surrounded by a myriad of intriguing clues. But in the end the book remained too mysterious. It was not just readers who could not figure it out. King himself was unable to solve the puzzle he had created. The death remained unsolved. It was, in my view, a very unsatisfying book. I felt cheated. It seemed to me that King had done the easy part (portraying a mysterious murder) but failed to deliver the hard part (presenting the one solution that fulfilled all the clues and still fooled many readers).

I watch some true crime documentaries on television, and I feel the same way about documentaries that portray crimes that are never solved. And in this case, the stakes are much higher. The agony for the victim’s loved ones is far greater than that experienced by disappointed readers and viewers.

The apostle Paul also talked about the “mystery” of the gospel. The Greek word is musterion, which comes from a word meaning “to shut the mouth” and therefore has connotations of a secret, something that is not spoken. At a time when Christianity was spreading across the Roman Empire, there were a number of competing “mystery” religions coming into the Empire from the east. What these all had in common is a body of secret knowledge and secret rituals known only to those who had been initiated into the religion.

Christianity is different. It has a mystery—but not in the sense of it being secret but in the sense of it being revealed. Just as a murder mystery presents a problem (a murder) and then solves it, the Bible presents a problem (sin and the fall of humanity) and then presents the solution (salvation and redemption through Jesus Christ), a solution that the Author had in mind from the beginning of the book.

• In 1 Corinthians 4:1, Paul said that he and his fellow preachers were “servants of Christ…entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.”

• In Romans 16:25-26, Paul talked about “my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ” and “the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed.”

• In 1 Corinthians 2:7, Paul said: “We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”

• In Ephesians 1:9-10, Paul wrote that God “made known to us the mystery of his will…which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”

• In Ephesians 3:2-9, Paul described “the mystery made known to me by revelation…the mystery of Christ which was not made known to people in other generations” but which had “now been revealed.” Paul went on to explain that gentiles were now being invited to join Israel “in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Paul added that he had been given the privilege of preaching “this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.”

• In Ephesians 6:29, Paul asked for prayer that he would be given the right words to “fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”

• In Colossians 1:26-27, Paul wrote that he had been commissioned by God “to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.” He added that “God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

• In Colossians 2:2, Paul said that his goal was to preach to new people “in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

• In Colossians 4:3, Paul asked, “Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.”

• In 1Timothy 3:16, Paul reminded Timothy: “Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”

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Life’s Curve Balls

Posted on June 26, 2025 by Patricia Bradley

What do you do when life throws you a curveball and you’re expecting an easy one over the plate? Sounds like a simple question, but if you ask five different people, you’ll probably get five different answers. Like—
Hit a home run
Step away from the plate
Lean into it
Wait for the next pitch
Get mad and take your ball home

I’ve done all of the above…some I’m proud of and some I’m not. But sometimes life comes at us so fast and hard it steals our breath away, taking our joy with it. So what should we do when that happens? I don’t know. At least not what you should do. We’re all different and we handle life’s challenges differently. I know what I do, and maybe it’ll help some of you who are struggling.

First of all, recognize we’re not always in control of our circumstances. God is. And He knows what we’ll face long before it happens—nothing catches him by surprise. So lean in to Him and give yourself time to process the circumstance. For some that will be a week, others longer.

Sometimes staying super busy helps. That helped me when a dear friend passed away. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes when we’re going through a difficult time, we can’t focus. We’re satisfied if we get one thing done all day.

That’s when we have to step away from the plate and accept that we’re not going to be able to meet others’ expectations or even our own. Sometimes we need to back away from everything, do mundane tasks until our hearts and minds heal. And they will. But you have to give yourself time.

Pretty sure I’m preaching to myself today. I’m four weeks post-COVID and having trouble getting my strength back. It’s hard for a Type A personality to rest, but God has impressed upon me that I have to take time to heal from life’s curveballs, and believe me, COVID is the toughest health curveball I’ve had in a while.

But sometimes God just wants us to be still and listen to Him, and evidently, the only way He can get a Type A’s attention is from the sickbed.

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The Just Shall Live by Faith by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 25, 2025 by jrcoggins

Most North Americans believe there is a heaven, and most North Americans believe they will go there. Why? Because they believe they are good people. Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant Reformer thought otherwise. He knew he was a sinner.

Luther became a monk and a professor of theology. He first taught a course on the Psalms. The Psalms begin (and often continue) with a contrast between the righteous and the wicked: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked” (Psalm 1:1). The problem for Luther is that he felt more like one of the wicked than one of the righteous. Another theme Luther saw in the Psalms was being CORAM DEO. This Latin phrase means “in the presence of God.” (Luther, like everyone else in the Middle Ages, was reading the Vulgate, a Latin translation of the Bible.) For Luther, being in the presence of the holy, living God was terrifying. Conscious of his own sin, Luther was terrified that God would strike him dead.

Luther next turned to lecturing on the book of Romans. He was hopeful that this New Testament book would provide more encouragement. Instead, he found: “In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed” (Romans 1:17). Luther was reading his Latin Bible, and the Latin word for “righteousness” is JUSTITIA, from which we get our word “justice.” This filled Luther with despair. If even the gospel is all about God’s justice, then he was convinced that he was doomed since he knew he was a sinner.

It was only when Luther read on and found “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17) that he found hope. It was at that point that Luther realized that the righteousness spoken of here is not the righteousness that we can achieve on our own but the righteousness of Christ that God confers on those who have faith in Him.

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When Grief Visits Close to Home: Holding to the Hope of Heaven

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

In the past few weeks, our quiet little neighborhood has felt the weight of sorrow. We’ve had to say goodbye to two friends—faithful, kind souls whose absence leaves a hollow space in our hearts and our routines. Their smiles, their warmth, the way they showed up for others… it’s all missed deeply.

Death has a way of stopping us in our tracks. It reminds us of how fragile life is. How quickly the days slip by. How precious our time together really is.

But for those of us who follow Christ, grief is not the final word.

Yes, we mourn. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend. But we do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Because we know—deep down—that this broken world is not our forever home.

The promise of heaven isn’t just a theological concept. It’s the anchor we cling to when the waves of sorrow threaten to pull us under. It’s the reassurance that our loved ones who died in Christ are more alive now than ever before. They are in the presence of their Savior. Whole. Healed. Home.

Revelation 21:4 tells us, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…” What a beautiful picture of eternity with our Lord.

Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not walk alone. And we do not walk without hope.

So today, as I grieve the loss of two cherished neighbors, I also rest in the assurance that death does not win. Jesus conquered the grave. And because of Him, there will come a day when every goodbye becomes a glorious reunion.

From the song, “Scars in Heaven” by Casting Crowns:

“The only scars in Heaven, they won’t belong to me and you.”

This powerful line captures the song’s central theme of comfort and hope in the face of loss, reminding us that in Heaven, pain is no more. And the only scars in Heaven are on the hands that will hold us.

Until then, may we live with purpose, love each other well, and hold fast to the hope of heaven.

With grace and remembrance,
Mary

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What? Me Complain? By Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Xan Griffin on Unsplash

At my church, we have been studying through the book of Exodus. For Mother’s Day, our Pastor led us in a study of the section where the Israelites complained—loudly. You might be asking when they didn’t complain, because it happened a lot. lol This teaching was from Exodus chapter 16, right after they’d been delivered from the Egyptians by the parting of the Red Sea.

“And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2-3

I left church that Sunday determined to do  better and not grumble or complain. Sadly, I have been a failure. An absolute failure.

While my intent was good, the practice of murmuring and complaining is so ingrained it’s almost impossible to root it out. I grumble without realizing I’m doing it. And, I’m wondering if I am alone in this. Somehow, I don’t think I am.

What are some of the things I grumble about? Let me list them and see if you do the same or something similar.

The weather: Living in the desert gets hot in the summer. I go on early morning walks, but now no matter how early I go, it’s still hot. I find myself wanting to grumble about the heat. Do you complain about the weather? Too much rain? Not enough rain? Too cold? Too hot? Too humid? Hmmm. Aren’t we all guilty of that sometimes?

Not enough time: I tend to take on too many tasks. Then I don’t have enough time to complete everything or am rushed. Don’t we all have busy lives? We gripe about having too much to do or sometimes we have the opposite problem and complain about being bored because we have too little to do.

Other people: I was shopping with my husband, the store was crowded, and people moved soooo slowly. I didn’t have any reason to hurry, but wanted to get what I needed and get out of there. Or, we’re driving and there’s a car in front of us that’s moseying down the road under the speed limit. Ugh! Where did they learn to drive? Haven’t we all been short on patience toward other people and found ourselves grumbling about them?

I could go on and on with examples of how we all murmur and complain. I realize the Israelites in Exodus were concerned about being in the desert with no food or water, which is a much bigger problem than what I mentioned, but still they weren’t trusting God. That was the real issue.

So when we complain about the little things in life—or sometimes big things—isn’t that a sign that we aren’t trusting God? We need to put on thankfulness instead of murmuring. We need to recall Who is in charge of our lives and how He desires good for us and leads us on the right path. 

Since that sermon in May, I have become much more aware of the times I grumble and complain. Awareness is a good step forward. I encourage you to ask God to show you when you are complaining and to help you stop. Listen to the nudge of the Spirit. Replace murmuring with praise and thanksgiving. It won’t happen overnight, but you will change.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing…” Philippians 2:14

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Unpacking The Lord’s Prayer

Posted on June 19, 2025 by dtopliff

In graduate school, I took the required Old English course and was fascinated to read Fæder úre (the Lord’s Prayer) in its much more Germanic English words of around 1,000 A.D. Here’s how the words looked then: Fæder úre, þú þe eart on heofonum, si þin nama gehalgod; tobecume þin rice gewurþe þin willa, on eorðan swa swa on heofonum. Urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg, and forgyf us ure gyltas, swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum; and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge, ac alys us of yfele soþlice. To hear how it sounded then, select this YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSfLj3zEqKo

When His disciples asked Jesus how to pray, The prayer He taught began with. “Our” Father. Those words established the foundation that the Lord is father to all of us. We’re all included in one big family. If we understand that correctly, it should end division and hatred.

In Old English times, “which art in heaven” came closer to saying, “You are fully Spirit.” One professor told me that “hallowed be thy name” in the Old English really meant “all health” is in thy name.          

Sometimes we become so used to passages we know well that we should freshly consider how the Lord spoke them in the beginning. Examine the original Aramaic. Consider what’s emphasized in the Old English and other translations. Many modern translations are casual and colloquial these days. Let’s not let the strength of the original be lost. What new thing does the Holy Spirit wish to say to each of us through inspired prayer today?

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Handkerchief by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 18, 2025 by jrcoggins

I am old school. I carry white handkerchiefs in my pockets.

Handkerchiefs have a long and noble history. The word “kerchief” comes from the French word “couvre-chef” meaning “head covering.” Kerchiefs are square pieces of cloth used to cover the head to keep the hair in place and to protect the head from the sun. It is thought that King Richard II of England (1377-1399) invented the handkerchief when he began using a kerchief to wipe his nose. This was considered more refined than wiping the nose on a sleeve. Richard was descended from the line of aristocratic Normans from France who invaded England in 1066, bringing their refined French culture with them. “Hand” was added to “kerchief” to distinguish the “handkerchief” from the “kerchief” (it would not be a good idea to mistake one for the other) and to signify that the cloth was held in the hand to wipe the nose.

One of my daughters recently reminded me that when I sneeze, it is loud and powerful. Kleenex is far too flimsy to handle my sneezes. I use my handkerchief.

Early on, I began carrying a second handkerchief for my wife and daughters. I am old school and a gentleman, and a gentleman always needs to have a second, freshly laundered handkerchief to offer to damsels in distress. The second handkerchief has proved useful on many occasions. When something sad occurs, or when something sad occurs in a movie or on television, my wife and daughters cry. They are sensitive people. One daughter especially cries in sad movies, such as Terminator. When she got married, I handed her husband a wad of white handkerchiefs, indicating that it was now his responsibility to comfort her when she cried.

My daughters are convinced that, as a strong and stoic male, I am not emotional. I do not cry. They have never seen me cry.

Which just demonstrates that they are not very observant and have not been paying attention.

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Worship and Waste by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 11, 2025 by jrcoggins

Matthew 26:6-13 tell the story of a woman who anointed Jesus’ head with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume while he was eating in the home of a man called “Simon the Leper.” (Presumably, Simon had been healed by Jesus and was no longer leprous.) Jesus’ disciples were indignant when they saw what the woman had done. They asked, “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor” (NIV).

The issue here is one that comes up frequently today. Critics sometimes say that churches should stop wasting money on their buildings and give the money to the poor and needy instead. These critics are not necessarily poor and needy themselves but often seem to think that someone else should take care of the poor and needy, instead of the critics having to do it.

A couple of things need to be said first. It is indeed a travesty for massive cathedrals to be decorated with gold and jewels when there are massive needs all around them. It should also be said that many churches do care for the poor and needy—and use their buildings to do so.

There was a case a while ago when the congregation of a mainline church had dwindled to the point that it had decided to close down. The building was sold and the proceeds used to build social housing. It sounds like a good idea. But only in the short run. When future needs arise, there will be no church there to meet those needs. There will be no church volunteers to staff programs for the poor and needy. There will be no church to preach and teach people to love their neighbor as themselves.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and the second is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). The order is important. God is the source of love and justice. Throughout history, when humans have ignored God and focused on love of the neighbor without God, the result has often been oppression and suffering. Unless we are filled with the love of God, we cannot love our neighbor.

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Finding Light in the Pages: Why Christian Fiction Still Matters

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

In a world where the headlines are often heavy and hope seems hard to find, many readers are turning—or returning—to Christian fiction. And not just for entertainment. For encouragement. For truth. For light.

There’s something uniquely powerful about a story that doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings but also reminds you of the One who holds your heart.

Whether it’s a suspenseful thriller that shows God’s protection in the darkest valley or a tender romance where grace heals broken hearts, Christian fiction offers more than just a good plot—it offers perspective. It reminds us that evil doesn’t win, redemption is real, and love—God’s love—changes everything.

And perhaps that’s what makes reading such a spiritual act. Each page can be a quiet place to meet God in the middle of the chaos.

As Christian readers, we’re not just searching for escapism. We’re searching for something deeper. A story that echoes truth. A character who reflects our struggles. An ending that assures us God is still writing ours.

So, if you’ve been feeling weary lately, may I gently encourage you to pick up a Christian novel that speaks to your soul. Whether you’re drawn to small-town mysteries, heart-racing suspense, or sweet faith-filled romances, you’ll find more than a story—you’ll find reminders of God’s faithfulness, even in fiction.

Because sometimes, the most powerful sermons aren’t preached from a pulpit… they’re whispered between the lines of a well-told story.

All the best. . .

Mary

http://www.maryalford.net

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Tara Randel Book Release

Posted on June 9, 2025 by tararandel

I happy to announce that my new book, The Surprise Next Door, has been released. If you have read my books, you will recall that the stories are set in the fictitious mountain town of Golden, Georgia. I love returning there whenever I start a new project. To me, it feels like home.

This series features four sisters who have been estranged but are coming to realize how important sisterhood is. I love bringing together people who have suffered heartache but see that they can’t do life alone. There are different types of love portrayed in the series, familial, romantic and friendship. Everyone can relate to the ups and downs in life and how we deal with issues thrown our way.

This book is about Nicole Connelly and her journey back to family. It is also a love story, so we meet hero Ethan Price. They may start out as neighbors, but soon learn that despite their attraction, Nicole refuses to settle down and Ethan is planting roots for his family in Golden. Will this couple overcome the odds and fall in love?

Throw in a rambunctious dog, an adorable little girl and you have the making of a Heartwarming romance.

Should they take a chance… On unexpected love?

Chasing her escape-artist rescue dog, Gus, into the neighbor’s yard wasn’t on Nicole Connelly’s agenda for her first day back in her hometown. Especially when Gus’s antics bring her under the suspicious gaze of the gorgeous single dad next door. Staying on the move has kept her heart safe for twelve years. But veterinarian Ethan Price and his adorable daughter make Nicole wonder if staying in Golden might be worth the risk. Is she ready to overcome the past and find her forever home with a loving instant family?

Excerpt:

“Gus is a rescue. I promise to keep a better eye on him,” Nicole said.

Holly ran up to them, catching the end of the conversation. “Daddy knows all about animals. He’s a vetnerian.”

Confused, Nicole met Ethan’s gaze. Ethan’s lips quivered.

“I’m a veterinarian.”

“Oh. Gotch.”

“And I’m sorry if I came off too strong. You can always bring Gus by the clinic if you need some pointers.”

Her previous ire vanished. “Thanks. I’m still working on the commands I recently learned in obedience class.”

Ethan eyed Gus and chuckled. “I can see it’s working.”

“He can be a handful to deal with.”

As Holly and Gus played, Ethan glanced over her shoulder. “The cottage?”

“That’s right. I’m renting for the next month.”

“You’re not settling down?”

“No,” she blurted with more emphasis than necessary.

Nicole didn’t stay anywhere long-term.

I hope you join me for another romance story featuring a couple I had lots of fun creating. To learn more, please visit my website for more information.

You can also visit JustReads Publicity Tours to follow my book tour and enter a giveaway.

Happy Reading!

Tara

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A Moving and Important Story by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 4, 2025 by jrcoggins

My Mill Lake Books imprint has published over two dozen books. A recent short volume may be one of the most significant. In the Best Interest of the Child is both a moving human interest story and a socio-political treatise.

The book tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful’s attempts to adopt their grandchild when their son and daughter-in-law proved unable to parent adequately. It is thus a very personal family story tinged with tragedy, grief, perseverance, faith, love, and hope. “Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful” are not their real names, of course. They have chosen to remain anonymous in order to safeguard the privacy of the child.

Unfortunately, this personal story has implications that go far beyond their own family. Their personal story intersects with socio-political issues that have been little recognized or understood. The adoption process was complicated by government bureaucracy, legal issues, political issues, and social issues—a smorgasbord of complications that distracted attention from what was in “the best interest of the child.”

The other issues arose primarily because the child is part Indigenous and Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful are not and because governments have decided that “Indigenous” children (even partially Indigenous children) ideally should be adopted by Indigenous parents. This decision was made to correct past injustices against Indigenous people and to preserve Indigenous culture. This policy, while well intentioned, has had two negative and unintended results. The first is that it discriminates against non-Indigenous adults who want to adopt their own relatives. The second is that, because there is a shortage of Indigenous parents able and willing to adopt, many Indigenous children remain in foster care, never find a permanent home, and are dumped onto the street when they age out of the system. In fact, while only 7.7 percent of Canadian children are Indigenous, a majority of the children in foster care are now Indigenous.

An attempt to right historical wrongs has created a system that is injurious to both prospective parents and to children.

In the Best Interest of the Child: An Adoption Story (ISBN: 978-1-998787-10-4) is distributed by Ingram and is available for order through bookstores and through online retailers such as Amazon and Amazon.ca.

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Pruning Hurts!

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Ann Malley

The Wisdom of Seasons: Letting God Work, Even in the Mess

The seasons are changing again. You can feel it in the wind—or lack thereof. This week’s forecast is for hot weather, after a spate of balmy breezes that led me to walk the neighborhood more than usual. The blooms of spring have given way to the green fullness of summer, and before long, leaves will begin their slow, gold-drenched surrender to autumn. The seasons pass more quickly as we age. It seems so. Yet somehow the shift still catches us off guard: this quiet, faithful rhythm of growth, death, and renewal.

Nature has no shame in its process. A tree doesn’t apologize for dropping its leaves, and a field isn’t embarrassed when it lies fallow. There’s no judgment in winter’s stillness or summer’s blazing intensity. But when it comes to people—especially ourselves or those closest to us—we’re often quick to reject the process if it doesn’t look neat, timely, or safe. I have to watch the latter more often than not. The instinct to protect can easily transform into stifling, for good reason of course. But is protecting oneself or another always a good idea? 

We want blooming without breaking. Growth without pain. Resurrection without the grave.

But God doesn’t work that way.

In Scripture, so many of God’s most miraculous works come wrapped in mess. Joseph was sold into slavery. Ruth lost everything. Paul was blinded. Even Jesus, perfect in every sense as God and man, faced betrayal, silence, blood, and death before His glorious resurrection. Their lives, for a season, looked like disaster. But the hand of God was never absent—just hidden beneath the surface, working something deeper than what eyes could see. 

But true faith is believing without seeing, not grousing that our team lost or our child did this or that or that we ourselves aren’t the pinnacle of what was expected. Age grants one the insight to navigate personal slings and arrows, if we’re blessed. But we are called to treat our neighbors like ourselves. Christ came to heal and renew, not denigrate or cast aside as lost cause. 

What if we gave others—and ourselves for those who still struggle—that same grace? What if we stopped panicking when someone’s “process” doesn’t make sense to us? Process can mean delving into dangerous activities, too. We all learn on a different curve and Christ, in His wisdom, grants us that opportunity without cutting us off from His perpetual offer of love, help, and forgiveness. Instead of leaping to judgment, could we pause and say: “God may be doing something I don’t understand yet”? 

I imagine Christians of the day were hesitant to trust Paul. He was the same Saul of Tarsus who formerly crowed about rounding up Christians for extermination. 

Yet, too often we speak death over what God is still cultivating. We look at someone in crisis and whisper, “They’ve lost their way,” not knowing they’re right in the middle of their pruning season. We label someone’s wilderness as failure, when God may have led them there on purpose—just as He led His people through the desert.

Real love leaves room for becoming. And faith, true faith, trusts God not only with the harvest but with the dirt, the drought, and the storm.

Your own life may feel like chaos right now. You may not recognize yourself—or your story. But take heart: the season you’re in doesn’t define your future. It’s part of it. Just as winter prepares the ground for spring, this strange and painful chapter may be doing invisible work in your soul.

Let God have His way, even when it looks nothing like you planned.

And let others do the same.

Let us be people who stay soft, not cynical. Let us be gentle with those in the middle of their undoing, and humble enough to admit when we’re in ours. After all, we follow a Savior who rose from what looked like ruin. Surely He can do the same in us.

The seasons are changing. Trust the Gardener.

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The Little Blessings – by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Nancy J. Farrier

We are returning from a trip to attend our grandson’s second birthday. I’d been looking forward to spending time with our three youngest daughters and their families. However, there were some challenges to this trip.

First, our usual person who boarded our dog was unable to do so. I called a dog kennel that we’ve used before, but they were booked up. We tried to find someone local who would take our dog to no avail. The day before we left, I heard about a woman who runs a business finding homes for people to board their dogs in, so I called her. She was able to keep our dog, Oni, if we dropped her off at noon. That put us behind schedule, but we had a dog sitter.

Second, the neighbor boy who checks on our cats while we’re gone wasn’t home. He’d gone to the mountains with his parents and was unavailable. We had no one else to call on, so we put out plenty of food and water, and are praying they will be okay. I’m sure they will, but they miss the social interaction.

Third, we were running late because of the dog issue and on the freeway we ran into road construction. The ten mile stretch was bumper to bumper traffic creeping along at a snail’s pace. We arrived at our destination late, tired, but so thankful to be there and to be safe.

There were plenty of reasons to be upset and to be grouchy on this trip. Have you ever had that happen? Where one thing goes wrong and then another and another? Where it seems like everything is working against you and you begin to question God’s plan and wonder if you’re walking the right path?

“The footsteps of a man are established by Yahweh, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because Yahweh is the One who sustains his hand.” Psalm 37:23 (LSB)

When we trust in the Lord, He establishes our steps. He knows the pitfalls we face, the struggles, and the obstacles in our way. Even when those are trivial—such as a traffic slowdown—God understands. 

God wants us to take that frustration and turn it into a prayer and praise time. When we pray and worship God in those times of trial, the burdens we face are often lifted. The stumbles we have by grumbling or getting angry are lifted as we remember God is in charge. God takes our hand and sustains us.

Not only that but He often gives little gifts to us. We have to be open to looking for the treasures God gifts us, but they are there.

On this trip, I was given a lovely gift—actually several. My two older grandsons were able to spend the night with us and we had such a great time. My two-year-old grandson gave me a hug and a kiss, something he hasn’t done before. This grandma was thrilled.

Perhaps the greatest gift happened on Sunday morning. We attended church with two of our daughters. One of our daughters was singing with the worship team, the other was standing beside me. For years, I led worship with these two daughters—one of my most precious memories. As my daughter led a song in worship, my other daughter and I harmonized and it was almost like being back to doing worship together. I hadn’t expected that, but was so blessed to have it happen.

Remember the next time everything seems to be going wrong, that God has your footsteps in mind. And that He is bestowing little blessings. Watch for them. Anticipate them with joy.

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THIS SEASON TOO SHALL PASS by Vicki Hinze

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Vicki Hinze

 

Photo by Max LaRochelle on Unsplash

Photo by Max Larochelle via Unsplash

This season too shall pass.  It might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass.”

 

I spotted the quote above on an unattributed, social media meme.  It was the perfect meme for me at that moment. Seeing it wasn’t a coincidence.

It was evidence that when we most need guidance it comes to us.  Sometimes in unusual and unexpected ways, but it comes.  Which warns we must notice and focus long enough to recognize what we’re seeing is guidance.

Recognition isn’t always easy.  When we are troubled, we tend to see things through the prism of whatever it is that is troubling us.  

    • If we’re having a trust crisis, we notice trust issues.
    • If we’re having a kid challenge, we notice kid challenges.  
    • If we’re having an issue regarding a false accusation—against us or someone we care about—we notice everything related to false accusations.

That’s human.  But it can also a problem.  Because if we’re focused on the problem, we are not focused on resolving the problem–the solution.

That makes it imperative that we recognize the problem, then switch our focus to what we can do to resolve it.  Noticing the problem in others, so that we better understand the complexities of the problem, has value.  Don’t get me wrong.  You must come to understand what’s wrong before you can hope to make things right.  

The point to monitor:  We often notice what’s wrong and then let what we notice drag us into a pit of despair, focusing solely and intensely only on what’s wrong.  We never get to this very important part:  “Okay, this is the problem. I get it.  Now, how can I fix it?”

The purpose of understanding is complete. But we must make a conscious effort to switch our focus to solutions.  Some get stuck in the “notice” pit.  Why?

Many reasons. But some really common ones are: 

We have to do something.  Something more than gripe about the unfairness, the injustice, the challenge, and asking, “Why me?” 

We’re exhausted and weary to the bone of all the bad things going on and we just can’t find the energy to deal with one more thing.  Yet if we don’t, we’re going to keep dealing with this thing until we do resolve it.  

Have you ever gone to bed at night and something weighing on your mind just keeps replaying and replaying and you can’t shut it off?  You watch the time tick off on the clock knowing you must let go and yet your mind won’t shut down?  That’s the absence of a resolution and what it does to us.

We don’t want to change anything. We want some nebulous something to change this thing for us.  The fact is, there’s no use in scanning the classifieds for a white knight.  They’re all booked elsewhere.  If we want to resolve a challenge in our life, we must make the effort to resolve it.

On that, may I suggest hitting your knees first and not as a last resort?  I am a simple woman.  I don’t claim to have all the answers to all the questions in life, but I do know this: God does know the answers, and seeking his counsel is the smartest thing seekers can do.  And the sooner we do it, the sooner we get to resolutions.

It is an established fact that brainwave patterns change during prayer.  That means the way we are thinking changes.  We don’t feel it’s us alone against the world.  We don’t feel we’re the only person on the planet facing this specific challenge.  If God is guiding us—through thoughts, signs, messengers in the form of friends or family or strangers on the street, or notice—then an answer to our challenge exists. And we are not facing it alone. Nor are we the only one facing it.

There is power in knowing that.  Power in engaging with the most sympathetic of ears. With the most compassionate of hearts.  With the most understanding and greatest in wisdom.

Regardless of what we’re facing and how challenging it is, we know that circumstances last for a season.  It might be a long or short season, and it might be painful and test us into better knowing who we are and where we stand or sit.  It might be uncomfortable and cause us different challenges that we do not want to visit even though we know we must.  But it is just a season.  And while it might pass with the elegance and ease of a kidney stone, it will pass.

There’s strength and hope in that certainty. Discoveries to be made.  About ourselves and about others.  About human nature and about humanity.  

Knowledge is always beneficial and perhaps we deem it more valuable if gaining it isn’t easy but fought hard for, enduring that inelegance. Maybe that battle assures us that the knowledge and insights we gain are important.  Worth remembering.  Lest we forget. 

Undoubtedly, the knowledge and insights stay with us, and we bring those gains forward in other situations we encounter for the rest of our lives. Perhaps in ways that spare us from other hard seasons and their kidney stones.

Of this I am certain:  When you’ve been through a hard season and emerge wiser for the experience, you gain a new and deeper appreciation for other seasons. For ones of hope and joy and affirmations of the good in people and in life.  

You then understand the saying about beauty being in the eye of the beholder.  Little looks beautiful when you’re in a kidney-stone season.  But when you’re not, beauty manifests in many things.

Mmm, thinking. . .  Years ago I wrote a story about a man standing beside a pond and barn. He was mourning the death of his son. He saw dark things like the cracks between the slats in the wooden barn.  Dark and murky water.  

In the story, there was a little girl at that same pond.  She had learned to ride a two-wheel bike and was elated.  Joyful.  Thrilled at the sense of freedom.  

Same pond. Same time-frame. Same story.  Just seen through two different sets of eyes, from two different people experiencing two different seasons.

I wrote then:  “There is nothing so arrogant as sunshine to one who is grieving.”

Mindset.  How we see what we see.  And a fitting reminder of the big truth about seasons–all seasons, hard or joyful.

They pass.

 Blessings,

Vicki Hinze

 

 

 

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The Men Traveling with Saul by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 28, 2025 by jrcoggins

The dramatic story of the apostle Paul being confronted by Jesus on his way to Damacus (Acts 9:1-25) is well known to most Christians. I had read this story of Paul’s conversion many times, but I had never paid any attention to “the men traveling with Saul” (Acts 9:7). Who were they?

To answer that question, we must consider what Paul’s mission was in going to Damascus. He was going to look for any men or women there who were followers of Jesus and “take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:2). Therefore, the men he took with him were likely not scholars of Scripture. A few might have been. But he was not going to debate with the Christians. He was going to arrest them. He had with him letters from the high priest to “the synagogues in Damascus” (Acts 9:2) in order to get their cooperation in finding and arresting the local Christians. But the local synagogue leaders were not likely to volunteer to help Paul take the prisoners back to Jerusalem. For that, force would be required. Therefore, the men with Paul were quite possibly temple guards, soldiers, or at least powerful men armed with weapons. They were like policemen, security guards, or even a small army, an invasion force.  

When Paul heard a voice speaking from heaven and was struck blind, he became convinced that Jesus was God and the Messiah. (He had had three days of blindness to think about this, and then God provided further confirmation by sending Ananias to heal Paul and give him additional instructions from God.) But what of the men traveling with Paul? They heard the sound of Jesus’ voice, but they did not see anyone (Acts 9:7)—Paul, being blind, could not be expected to be able to see anyone, but they should have seen the speaker if the voice was human. Whether they heard the words is unclear, but what seems clear is that they did not understand what was happening. They led Paul into the city, but after that they disappeared from the story. They were now like an army without a general. They no longer had a leader or a purpose. They apparently did not carry through on their mission of arresting Christians. Did they just return in defeat to their bosses in Jerusalem? Did they hang around long enough to see Paul miraculously healed? Did any of them remain long enough to hear Paul’s story of what had happened on the road to Damascus? Or to hear him preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God? We do not know. What they experienced was truly dramatic, and it would have been something that they would remember and wonder about. But did that wondering lead any of them to become followers of Jesus? We simply do not know. Not everyone who sees evidence of the living God becomes a follower.

We might ask similar questions about Judas, who lived on Straight Street and who hosted Paul after the incident on the road. He was likely more aligned with the persecuting Jews than with the Christians since Paul’s companions led him to that house. Perhaps Paul being hosted there had been arranged ahead of time. What did Judas think of Paul being struck blind and then healed by Jesus? Did Paul tell his story to Judas? Again, we simply do not know. We do know that Paul likely did not stay with Judas because after that “Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus” (Acts 9:19).

One other thing is significant. Paul and his men were on the way to arrest the Christians in Damascus and stamp out the church there. But, with a single blast of light and a thunderous voice from heaven, God stopped the invasion force in its tracks, overcoming these soldiers with superior power. He did so, not by striking the invaders dead or by arming the fearful Christians so they could fight back. He did this by converting the main invader (Paul) to God’s side and rendering the others powerless. God then used Paul to greatly expand the church which Paul had gone there to destroy. God changes circumstances by changing people.

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