Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Of Plates and Blue Jeans: Europe, Here We Come! Part 2 April 17, 2026 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins… ~ Luke 5:37 NIV ~ This trip to the Alpen countries that my family and I embarked on in 2010 would be memorable in every way... Even though I had visited my parents in Belgium a few times, those were brief visits, usually at Christmas time, when ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR A Kindness Witnessed April 15, 2026 ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ~ Colossians 3:12 NIV ~ "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." (Colossians 3:12 NLT) “I hate to ask, but we need to ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR When Helping Doesn't Help... April 13, 2026 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. ~ Proverbs 21:5 NIV ~ "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5 NIV) A man entered a drug store and asked to see the pharmaci ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Streak April 12, 2026 Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. ~ 1 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV ~ "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,…" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV) To keep my brain ticking over, I use a free language learning program. The app reports that I’ve been succe ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Eating Flowers? Europe, Here We Come! Part 1  April 10, 2026 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. ~ Romans 15:4 NIV ~ It was 2010, and for the first time since our kids were old enough to appreciate such a thing, I was taking my family to Europ ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Spell-Breaker April 8, 2026 ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ~ Hebrews 12:2a NIV ~ "...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:2a NIV) My daughter’s dog is a barker. Once he gets focused on something to yap about, it is difficult to get him to stop.  ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR John Wesley's Covenant Prayer April 6, 2026 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ~ Romans 12:1 KJV ~ "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable s ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Resurrection Sunday? Or Family Dinner? April 5, 2026 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~ Colossians 3:17 NLT ~ It all started on Thursday before Easter 2025 ... "I hope that my brother washed your feet!" The reference was ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR It Was Empty April 3, 2026 He is not here; he has risen! ~ Luke 24:6 NIV ~ Classic Illustrator It is with tears in my eyes that I am writing this devotional, this Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011. For over two months I have been praying daily for a miracle to happen in the life of a young girl named Haydelle, who I never had the opportunity to meet. ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Jesus the Resolute April 1, 2026 Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. ~ Luke 22:42 NLT ~ During my last teaching stint, the school was raising money for new playground equipment. The principal asked if any of the teachers were interested in joining one of the parents who had volunteered to be sponsored for a Polar Dip into the local lake. The principal was shocked when, as the oldes ...Continue Reading