Yokemates

Have you ever said something stupid? You know. That moment in time when words just come blurting out of your mouth before you even had time to consider how it might sound to others. It may have been the result of nervous energy or simply trying to fill an awkward moment of silence in a social setting. Regardless, your foot landed right in your mouth - a position that is never comfortable or desired! To help compensate for my human failings, I often find encouragement in the warnings and advice found in the Proverbs. The no-nonsense honesty and vivid word pictures bring great insight, humor and conviction to my soul – and tongue. Here’s a few examples that prick my conscience and tug at my heart. “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (12:25) “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” (21:9) "A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm; restraining her is like restra...

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3-4 It’s the American way. We live with schedules – school, work, exercise and even in our entertainment. We build our lives around a huge array of timetables of our own choosing as well as trying to balance the demands that others place on us. There just isn’t enough time to fit everything we want, or need, to fit into our daily 24 hour allotment in life. Unexpected circumstances press our schedules even further and increase our stress levels.   Weather warnings and Amber alerts catch us off guard and get our hearts racing. Oh, and what about t hat jarring "THIS IS A TEST" message that interrupts the one show we just sat down to watch. Or, the moment we turn a corner only to see newly placed construction signs warning of delays. “ I don’t have time for a delay today. I’m already running a bit late.” Been there, done that? Unexpected surprises in life can ruin ...

She entered the church and whispered to the pastor, “I had to get some Jesus today.” You see, she was caught between two churches. The established family church of her childhood and one that shared the Gospel of Jesus. She was thirsty, and she knew where to find her Living Water. I’ve tried to imagine what it would be like to go to a protestant, evangelical church and still never hear about Jesus. It saddens me to come face-to-face with the reality that some of our community churches are not sharing Jesus – churches founded on God’s gift of redemption. Their fountain has run dry. In fact, I knew a dear lady who used to go to one of those churches. Her husband’s family church. One day a mutual friend asked her, “Isn’t it hard to attend a church that never speaks of Jesus?” Her response was eye-opening and humbling. She grinned sweetly and said, “That’s why I do go there. Someone needs to tell the children about Jesus. I am a missionary within the walls of that church.” Oh...

Summer is full of all kinds of yummy flavors and fun activities. The weeks fly by and before we know it another school year will begin, gardens will stop producing and our long-awaited vacation will be but a sweet memory. To stretch out those fun summer moments, I’ve put together a little mini-quiz that might be fun to share with your family or friends the next time you gather for a picnic, barbeque or road trip. It goes like this… Which Do You Love More? Corn on the cob or corn dogs Watermelon or water balloon fights Fishing poles or swimming holes A fresh peach or salt water taffy Campfires or BBQ’s Lightning bugs or summers showers Ice cream bars or popsicles Ball games or bike rides It’s a simple game, but it’s often the simple things that can spark fun conversations. A twist on this game could be to guess what the other person’s answers will be and then see who gets the most right. The ideas that could be added to the list are endless. With a l...