• Faith - Family - Finland

    Across the Ocean

    When my grandmother was nineteen years old, she came across the ocean by boat. She made her way to Upper Michigan by train. Two of her brothers had settled there. She left behind her mother, father, sisters and brothers whom she never saw again. She didn’t forget them. She wrote…

  • Faith - Family - Parenting - Prayer

    Branches of the Olive Tree

    For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10 The war in Israel is heartbreaking. The situation is complex. As Christians we need to pay attention and…

  • Faith - Women

    Six Women in the Book of John

    Men and women are created by God, equal with different roles. How did Jesus treat women? He included women in his teaching, he healed them, he encouraged them. In the fourth chapter of John, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the well. The encounter is unusual for several reasons. Jews…

  • Faith

    Beginning the Year in the Word

    We have a framed verse from Isaiah on our wall. It is a reminder of the steadfast love of God. Our relationship with God guides us day by day, despite disruptions and chaos in our world. One of the ways that we nurture a relationship with God is through his…

  • Faith

    Seven Letters

    The Bible has instruction for individuals, families and churches. God’s desire is for us to flourish and He instructs us in his Word. I have studied the books of the Bible, but I have tended to shy away from an in-depth study of Revelation. There are various and differing theories…

  • Faith - Flowers

    Bearing Fruit (or Flowers)

    Occasionally weeds will grow in the crack in the patio cement. I was surprised one day to see the stem and leaves that I recognized as a zinnia growing in the crack. Would it flourish? A couple weeks later my husband came in from mowing the lawn and said, “There’s…

  • Faith - Women

    Words that Shine a Light

    This fall our women’s Bible study will be reading the book of Revelation. The study book we are using is titled Behold, Jesus Is Coming. Revelation is an intense prophetic book. This prophetic book can be intimidating, but the time is right to dig in. The Bible is the story of…

  • Faith - Flowers - Nature - Parenting

    The Joy of New Life

    Spring is unfolding wonders all around. The cherry tree has blossomed and promises abundant cherries. The lilacs and lily of the valley are in bloom. A robin has built a nest in our garden shed. While my husband and I recovered from covid, the garden shed was an undisturbed place…

  • Faith - Health

    The Race of a Faithful Life

    This week in our women’s Bible study we were discussing Romans 5. We had a discussion about verses 3 and 4. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ESV How can we rejoice in suffering? Several…