On August 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura hit Cameron, Louisiana, with winds of 150 mph. The storm left $19.1 billion in damages and took 81 lives. Yet, despite the catastrophic damage, a few things were left unscathed. A plastic trash can remained unmoved outside a local business. A single crepe myrtle tree stood proudly among the…
There’s just something about this day that calls for new beginnings. The psalmist proclaimed, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (Psalm 98:1). Did you catch the musical selection? A new song. I like old songs. I…
If you wake up to a new year tomorrow, it will only be for one reason. God isn’t through with you yet. Perhaps your recovery did not progress in 2021 as much as you had hoped. Perhaps you find yourself mired in chronic relapse. Perhaps you are feeling frustrated, manipulated, repudiated, stagnated, and agitated. All…
Let me offer you a challenging thought from Oswald Chambers: “God wants to do with you what he has never done with anyone else.” Paul told young Timothy, “Put these abilities to work; throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone may notice your improvement and progress” (1 Timothy 4:15). This is the glorious truth.…
There are a lot of important holidays this time of year. Perhaps you’ve heard of some of them: Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7), Winter Solstice (Dec. 21), Christmas (Dec. 25), New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1). Not to be outdone, December 29 is “Still Need to Do Day.” This is…
When I completed the manuscript for one of my books a couple of years ago, I sent it to a new editor. A few weeks later, she returned my manuscript, citing at least 100 mistakes. My response? I found a new editor. We all want to be edited – up to a point. I can…
Here’s a great trivia question for our older readers. What was the first nationally broadcast television program for children? Answer: “Howdy Doody,” which premiered on this date, December 27, 1947. This iconic NBC show always began with these words: “Say kids, what time is it?” The kids would answer, “It’s Howdy Doody time.” For its…
Today is considered by many to be the most depressing day of the year – the day after Christmas. It’s time to put up the tree, box up the decorations, and set up the living room, to look like it did before Thanksgiving. In other words, the thrill of sparkling lights, time with cousins and…
There are no lights upon your tree, The gift you want is to be free. You’ve sat alone throughout the night, When from the darkness shines a light. There’s Still Hope this Christmas Season, And from that hope there comes the reason You can make it day to day, No matter what your past may…
In 1943, Bing Crosby became the first to record I’ll Be Home for Christmas. What you probably didn’t know is that the song was written about a soldier in World War II, who was hoping to come home to be with his family for Christmas. With that in mind, James Kimball Cannon wrote this verse.…