I’ve always loved horses. As kids growing up on 18 acres in rural PA, my sister and I had ponies. My dad who was raised on a farm taught us how to put on a bridle and saddle and manage and care for a horse. Years later, we boarded a beautiful chestnut mare for a friend. And as a teen, I would ride “Princess” bareback for hours roaming the countryside. As an adult, I’ve kind of lost touch with the…
(a devotional from Miki Clouser) This past Sunday morning I found myself tearing up a little bit unexpectedly. I was already excited about the last song in our worship set, “Blessed Be Your Name”, because it’s one of my favorites. But the sermon on Elijah at Mount Sinai desperately needing an encounter with God brought back some memories that really brought it home for me. When I was in my early teens my life was at a place where I…
The election season has finally ended, but has left many Christians feeling worn, weary, and battle-scarred. It was an ugly, contentious, and disheartening campaign. And whether you woke up this morning feeling immense relief, profound disappointment, or something in between, I think, we’re all keenly aware that something is still profoundly wrong. The very fabric of our nation, communities, churches and relationships has been torn and we’re left wondering if mending is even possible. For most believers, this election came…
“We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” Psalm 78:4 It was a Tuesday morning, ten years ago, and I was sitting in my study down in Virginia, when in through the door came Pat Beamer fresh from the women’s weekly Bible study. Pat was a force of nature, known around the church for her down-home style, helping hands, wicked…
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” – Psalm 40:2 Monday, Pam and I took a walk at Memorial Lake State Park. It was my day off, and we wanted to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and take in some scenery. The park is nestled in Indiantown Gap and boasts a 54-acre lake with the Appalachian Mountains in…
Every once in a while, something comes along that shakes my world. You ever have that happen to you? Now, I’m not talking about superficial things, like the day I discovered chocolate-covered Nutella Oreos at Sunnyside Bakery—although, let’s be honest, that was pretty epic. No, I’m talking about those moments when something hits you so deep it changes the way you think or view the world. That happened to me about a month ago while I was listening to a podcast….
Have you ever been in a situation where you simply didn’t know what to pray? Sometimes life feels so overwhelming, and our problems so complex, that we’re at a loss—not just about what to do but even how to talk to God. We try to pray, only to find that instead of words, there’s silence. We simply don’t know where to start. What do we say when we don’t know what to say? How do we pray when we don’t…
There’s a story tucked in the book of Psalms, like a hidden gem, that speaks not only of rebellion but of God’s breathtaking grace. It’s the story of a family marked by failure, yet redeemed by God’s mercy—a story that reminds us of just how gracious God truly is. I was reminded of this story last week in my morning devotions as I read Psalm 44… the heading reads “of the sons of Korah.” … and so did the next,…
Several weeks ago in this blog, Crysti Landis shared a moving devotional, Unseen Ripples. In it, she recounted how a brief encounter with a couple she barely had contact with changed the course of her entire life. She concluded her story with these words: “… it makes me wonder: Did Marshall’s foster parents have any idea that their act of loving service would ultimately lead to two more children being rescued from the foster system? I imagine not. And I…
Last week, I was driving up Route 625 toward the church when I noticed a small object up ahead in the middle of my lane. It was a squirrel. “Where on earth did he come from?” I wondered out loud. Cornfields flanked both sides of the road, and there wasn’t a tree in sight for at least 100 yards. But sure enough, there he was—frozen like a deer in the headlights—a little gray squirrel. I slowed down as I approached…