Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

For the past 60 years or so, many students have been required to read 1984, a book written by George Orwell in 1948. Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, I was required to read this book twice in different literature classes. While I don’t remember much about the plot or fate of the main character, Winston Smith, I very clearly remember his scary plight. No matter what he did or said, he was always reminded that “Big Brother,” the apparently omniscient ruler of the prevailing government was watching his every move, word, and thought. There was no escaping it – Big Brother was always watching.

All the skunks in our town recently reminded me of a post I wrote in 2014. A skunk interrupted me while sitting on our porch and I couldn't help but think of the similarities between handling that situation and handling temptation. In neither case is it a good idea to stick around. Running is the best choice! Read on...

There was murder in the hen house this week. Monday evening started out like any other evening. The hens had made their way into the coop and found their roosts as usual. After putting our German Shepherd in the big barn and checking on the goats, Dad perused the chicken run. All seemed peaceful and quiet. We prepared for bed and promptly fell asleep. Sometime in the night I awakened to a strange noise outside the window. I thought I heard the girls clucking, but in my stupor I rolled over and went back to sleep.

Our town has a skunk problem!! Numerous people throughout the village have complained about these black and white critters with the fluffy tail and big stink. Recently one of our renters called to inform us that seven offenders had taken up residence under her shed. That same night we found one scuttling his way across our office parking lot. While I have a great love for God’s created creatures, there are certain species that a person does not want taking over her home or place of business.

Gardening season is upon us. How I love the days when the sun grows warm drying out our patch. The revving from the barn means the hibernating tractor is waking up ready to prepare the soil. Dad hooks up the rotavator to loosen the hardened ground. He goes over it again with the tiller until it is fine and ready to receive the seeds and plants we have picked out for the intended crop.

The older I get the harder it is to remember things. As the years pass the information filling my brain seems to slip away like sand in a sieve. I grasp a person’s name one minute and the next I am searching every corner of my mind to recall the elusive data. It is truly exasperating! But these are the kinds of things that happen to people with the passing of time.