2011

As I’ve been studying Jesus’ works in the Gospels, I’ve been discovering new, deeper applications to daily living. I love the story of the feeding of the five thousand (see Matthew 14:15–21 and Mark 6:34–44 ), and have read it many times, as you probably have, too.

It was early December. With about 80 Christmas wreaths and 30 plus table arrangements to decorate within the next week, time pressures weighed heavily on me as I hurried off to pick up floral supplies.

Each year as the holidays approach I think about the season as one symbolizing hope and peace, and I prayerfully listen for a deeper sense of the meaning of Christmas. Recently, as I pondered the Christmas story in the Bible (see Matthew 1 and 2 , and Luke 1 and 2 ), I was particularly struck by Mary, the young Hebrew virgin, and by the depth of humility and obedience in her receptive prayer.

A recent film,  Contagion , directed by Steven Soderbergh, explores the spread of a lethal virus that becomes a worldwide pandemic, killing thousands of people as it gains momentum—and defeating the best efforts of disease control experts to identify it. According to the reviews, the story is alarmingly believable, dwelling on the science involved in combating such a virus.

There are lots of ways of approaching the subject of caring for the human body, some more helpful than others. It’s not an enemy, you know.

There’s no need to wait: we can be grateful for God’s healing love, right now.

When unexpected hardships hit a family, prayer brings hope—and valuable insights on supply and home.

A lesson from a character in the Bible brings a healing of identity theft.

As a teenager wrestling with skepticism about what he’s learned in Sunday School, the author chooses to settle in with Science and Health—and finds a whole new outlook.

For a mom, Jesus' parable of the tares and the wheat provides a valuable lesson in parenting.