SOUTHERN HILLS

Read: Exodus 5:1-22; Exodus 6:1-13   They come in all shapes and sizes. Big and small, and they're experienced both by people who belong to Jesus, John 1:11-12 and those who as of yet, haven't been born anew, John 3:3. Most of us frequently experience these. What are they? “Disappointments.”   I looked up that simple word this week, and I like this definition: ‘Receiving less than what was expected.’ Yes, when that occurs, disappointment often walks in the door. I thought of

Read: Romans 3:10-20; 1 Samuel 25:2-35   The first news story I heard this morning concerned yet another shooting. More sorrowing families along with the grief borne by the loved ones of Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, the two National Guard members who were shot earlier this week. If we may, let's pause to pray for these families who are a picture of so many others who are carrying this heavy load of grief.   Lord, You know the name of each loved one who is related to both

Read: Malachi 3:16-18  It's time for a quiz. Don't worry. It won't involve either quarks or trigonometry. Okay, do you have your NO. 2 pencil ready? Here we go. ‘If you are in a crowded room and hear your first name spoken, what is your first reaction?’ 1. Someone has probably noticed the bang-up job I did this week. 2. Oh no. I wonder what I forgot to do. 3. They are probably talking about someone else with my first name. No one really notices me. 4. Oh no. They probably hav

Read: James 1:22-25; Ezekiel 33:30-33   Before I was married, I found what I perceived to have been the perfect gift for my soon-to-be husband. In my defense, my intentions and desires to please were good but not based on reality. May I explain? We were at a Christmas craft sale, and there it was. A small paperweight that I was sure he would like because its little square top was a ship. I would give it with the words that someday, his ship would come in. Encouraging right? W

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Acts 91-8; 1 Timothy 1:12-17   My friend Barb and I used to call them "haunted baking days." This designation had nothing to do with goblins or anything strange like that. No, a baking day was considered "haunted" if there were two or three disasters in the kitchen. Like dropping the baked thing on the floor or forgetting a vital ingredient. Just saying. Not that I ever have experienced either of these things. 😊 What to do if one

Read: Genesis 39:2; Genesis 39:21; Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:38-39   I smiled this morning when I thought about it. That football game in the early 90s where the Buffalo Bills trailed the Houston Oilers by 32 points at half time. My husband was watching that game, and one of our friends laughed at him because she knew he was going to watch the second half. She told him that he was wasting his time. Thousands of fans held that same opinion and in disgust, left the game early. In

Read: John 9:1-7; John 9:30-38; Ephesians 5:1-11; Colossians 1:13-14   I can only imagine. Many remember that song where the singer tried to picture what heaven might be like. Imagination. What a good way to use this gift. Thinking about the joys that will be ours throughout eternity when we are with Jesus, John 14:1-3; Psalm 16:11.   As wonderful as heaven surely is, today I was walking in my imagination down a different path. Imagining what it might have been like for an un

Read: Isaiah 36-Isaiah 37:13   There are some things that we hear that ought to go in one ear and out the other. I had an experience that reminded me of that the other day. Here is what happened. I wanted to listen to an NFL game on the Echo Dot; so, I asked that Westwood One be opened. The proper protocol for listening. The response was funny but false. I was told that all of the games that were a part of March Madness would be carried on that channel, but there was no broad

Read: Galatians 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; Hebrews 6:10   Many of us have been praying for holy boldness during these last weeks. A boldness that isn't brash or flashy but is instead beautiful and sincere. This kind of boldness has as many hues as the colors of the changing leaves of fall. There isn't a one size fits all picture of how it looks in any given situation, but when a life displays it , it is beautiful to behold. With that in mind, may we look at three of the

Read: Acts 13:15-52; 2 Corinthians 5:20   Decades ago, my husband met Horatio. Not his name, but I'll call him that since I can't...

Read: Matthew 6:25-34   More about the title later.   I love it that Jesus used simple pictures to teach us about the Father. Even His...

Read: 2 Chronicles 24   Nowadays, stories frequently have alternate endings. Readers are permitted to choose how they want a story to...

Read: Genesis 1:26-27; Proverbs 17:27-28; Proverbs 18:13; Colossians 4:5-6; 2 Timothy 2:22-26   I was doing a bit of weeding this week...

Read: John 1:14; Acts 17:32-34   I was listening to the words of a false teacher. I describe her like that because this unnamed woman was...

Read: Psalm 13:1-6; Exodus 2:23-25; Romans 8:18-25   This week, on August 28, the Sphere in Las Vegas premiered The Wizard of Oz, using...

Read; Matthew 13:24-31; Matthew 13:36-43; John 6:70-71; John 13:10-11; Luke 22:22   When winter gave way to spring this year, I noticed...

Read: Jeremiah 1:1-10; Jeremiah 9:1-2; Luke 23:39-43; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:58   This is the third devotion based on a...

Read: John 4:4-29   I love the stories of changed lives. Stories of how individuals were introduced to Jesus and subsequently began their...

Today, July 26, 2025 would have been mine and Fernando's 45th wedding anniversary. How fitting it is that today, as it was 45 years ago,...

Read: Psalm 139:1-6   Time sensitive material. Open immediately. That was what the piece of mail said, and it was addressed to my...