I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well. – Psalm 139:14 The other day I read a Christmas card from one of our African Tour vendors. Each year they feature a different animal and this year it was the Zebra. The message was: “Zebras. They stand out. No two are alike. Just like human fingerprints, a zebra’s stripe pattern makes each one unique.” “Yet on the savannahs of Africa , zebras don’t stand apart. They huddle together. They form clusters and their stripes make it hard to tell where one zebra ends and another begins. Which makes each of them safer from…

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. – Genesis 50:20 In the movie, Count of Monte Cristo, there is prison scene where Edmund Dantes is talking to the old Priest about their prison escape plans when the Priest says, “Neglect is your Ally”. His reference was to the fact only twice each day did the guards come around: breakfast and dinner. The rest of the time the prisoners were left to themselves to do whatever they wanted. In this case what the Priest and, eventually Dantes, wanted was to dig a tunnel to freedom. As I thought about this scenario it…

The Lord All-Powerful made this promise: “This will happen exactly as I meant for it to happen. It will happen just the way I planned.” – Isaiah 14:24 I want to share a story of God’s incredible orchestration that started with a friend request on Facebook. A few months ago I received a friend request from a woman that I didn’t know. I looked through her profile, saw the mutual friends that we had and accepted the request. When I started making a list of people to send the new Royal Records book to, I felt that I was to send her a copy, so I did. We talked through text one…

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10 Yesterday I was running errands all around town. The snow was falling quite heavily, with large beautiful flakes. Stores were filled with shoppers and decorations were glowing from the many homes that were displaying messages of the Christmas season. As I was driving down a fog covered hill, for just a quick moment the scene in front of me changed and the sun shone through the clouds. Bright yellow outlined the peaks on the hill and it was breathtaking. A moment of sunshine just for me. It was a little reminder…

It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. – Psalm 118:8 Today I came across some exciting notes that I had written in my bible years ago. Some fun facts, but also some basic and impacting truth. Psalm 118:8 is the “Center of God’s Word.” There are 594 chapters before and after this incredible passage. So if you do the math, 594 + 594 = 1188. That gives you Psalm 118:8. The chapter before, Psalm 117, is the shortest chapter in the bible, and Psalm 119, the chapter after, is the longest in the Bible. So what is the message at the center…

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 Last night I had one of those moments of understanding where you see something in someone else’s life, then realize it applies to you too. My husband and I have been praying for God’s leading for a future home and we completely trust His timing and His leading in this area of our lives. As we were talking we discussed…

Today’s message is from Psalm 91 and when personalized will no doubt, encourage you with all that God will do for she who believes. If____________ dwells in the secret place of the Most High she will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. _________________ will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. For HE WILL deliver ____________ from the snare of the fowler, and from deadly pestilence. HE WILL cover her with His feathers. Under His wings ________________ will take refuge. His faithfulness is ____________’s shield and rampart. _____________ shall not be afraid of the terror of night, nor of…

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 5:16 Recently the Lord has been laying on my heart the need to involve our daughters and granddaughters in our pursuit of Him with greater passion. Praying first that they will know God personally and develop a lifelong relationship with Christ. Then praying intently for them to be surrounded by godly friends and to be a godly friend to others. And also praying that while God is preparing a future husband for them, they will be preparing themselves to be a godly wife to him. When I look at the direction the world is going, it could easily…