Sep 8

Jul 26

Jul 18

Jun 12

  • karent
    karent added a text contribution Something to Live For
    I vividly recall my astonishment during my first visit to see to the British crown jewels. My sister and I had made the lengthy trip from the opposite end of the city to visit the Tower of London. We dutifully followed the helpful advice we had read in our travel guide and made a bee-line to the crown jewels. So while the rest of the travelers were rounded up for the Beefeater tour, we sidestepped... Read more »
  • karent

Jun 9

  • karent
    karent added a text contribution Something of Value
    A flawless 7.03 carat blue diamond recently sold to an anonymous bidder at Sotheby's for $9.5 million. A blue diamond is an incredibly rare find with only a handful in known existence. This stone was discovered last year in South Africa and is precious for both its size and clarity. The same could be said of faith. Jesus never let little faith go unchallenged. He also never overlooked the preciousness... Read more »

May 28

May 27

  • karent
    karent added a text contribution Just Good
    God's description of creation could not have been less fussy. With finishing flourishes in place, He called it all simply "good." Such a portrayal is insufficient to ears tuned to superlatives like awesome, cool and spot on. For people who shop at super stores, watch superstars, and classify everything from makeovers to sports as extreme, the word good seems inadequate to convey the splendor of “the... Read more »

May 20

  • karent
    karent added a text contribution Faith Pill
    Living by faith would be easier if it were more like a pill and less like birth. Each morning, I pop a little blue pill that works its magic by making up for the absence of my thyroid. It's quick, easy and painless. Little effort is required, and once it's done, I can check it off my list and get on with life. That's my kind of treatment. No interruption of my plans. No pain. Childbirth is much... Read more »

May 18

  • karent
    karent added a text contribution When Heaven is Happy
    "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Heb. 11:6) So the flip side is that faith pleases God. Faith saves. Faith heals. No wonder it makes God smile. Jesus told the sinful woman who anointed Him at Simon's house, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." (Lk. 7:50) When a bleeding woman touched Jesus in hopes of healing, Jesus said to her, ""Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."... Read more »

May 15

  • karent
    karent added a text contribution As Free as You want to Be
    I've never been in prison. But hearing the story of someone who has, especially when they are unjustly accused, is captivating. Sadly, our world provides plenty fodder for such tales like Corie ten Boom's "The Hiding Place." During the Nazi occupation of Holland, Corrie was held in solitary confinement in a Dutch prison for her participation in an underground operation that sheltered Jews. Her... Read more »

May 13

May 12

  • karent
    karent added a text contribution Lights and Lambs
    One of the climactic announcements of Scripture is that the “Lamb is [new Jerusalem’s] lamp.” (Rev. 21:23) The preamble to this declaration affirms the irrelevance of the sun, moon and stars, but what does this really mean? I can’t help but wonder about living in a universe absent of these familiar cosmic illuminators. The lights of this world create shadows wherever their beams are hindered. But... Read more »