Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

It has been an interesting experience living on a backcountry road. I love it here, and I especially love our neighbors. With only ten houses scattered along the scenic road, we have formed a tight knit group that watches out for each other. We have had some interesting happenings here over the years – from car accidents, to house fires, to young lovers parking and watching our gorgeous sunset sink beyond the trees. And who could forget the summer Chuck the Duck made his home in the creek by the bridge.

The gnawing raked my insides as the pressure of being late for work clashed with my concern over the lost puppy. I had gotten up early and let Cherokee and Emily’s puppy, Leila, outside to stretch their legs and have a morning run. That was only 30 minutes before and now Cherokee was resting quietly by the barn, but Leila was nowhere to be seen.

Many people resist change. I am one of those people! Twelve years ago a friend helped me decorate the dining room, and to this day I have not updated a thing. I mean, if you are comfortable with the status quo, then why rearrange things? But not all change is bad - some change is for the better. For our family, like it or not, this has been a year of "new." You children are growing older and leaving for college. The house is quieter at times (and it stays a little neater). 🙂 We moved our company from one location to another and had to organize a new office. Soon each of you will be getting married and starting your own home. Though at first all this "newness" felt a little scary and uncertain, I have come to realize that when you say goodbye to old things there is always a hello to other new and exciting things.

The importance of impressive recommendations can't be overemphasized. These endorsements often pave the way for good opportunities. But a written word alone is not always an accurate indicator. There must be something tangible to prove that the words are true. This is the time of year when high school seniors start finalizing college plans. In our house there has been a flurry of filling out scholarship applications, writing personal essays, & collecting recommendations from teachers, employers, coaches, & friends. All of this paperwork is neatly packaged and sent away to impress scholarship committees into awarding funds that can be put toward college tuition.

Have you ever noticed how superheroes are all the rage? All through time we have created great and powerful men and women who have stepped into desperate situations to save the day. We love to read about them, write about them, watch movies about them, and dress up like them. From Superman, to Batman, to Spiderman, to Wonder Woman, we yearn to see them outwit or overpower the enemy.

There is no end to the things you can learn when you listen carefully. How often do we hear words spoken but will not allow them to register in our brain. This is usually because we are preoccupied with our own thoughts and feelings instead of focusing on the one who is speaking. When we make the effort to truly listen good things can result.