Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR New Years' Resolutions January 1 2024 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ~ Jeremiah 21:11 ESV ~ "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:10-11 ESV) ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR My Next Door Neighbors December 29, 2024 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. . ~ Ecclesiasties 3:12 NIV ~ "I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is th ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Little Black Box December 27, 2024 ...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. ~ Matthew 25:40b NIV ~ I received a gift a few year back. At the time I knew it was a special telephone, one that I, with my declining cognition, would be able to use. And I did use it. At first anyway. But the new wore off quickly. Especially when it hard ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR A Hard Candy Christmas December 25, 2024 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. ~ Luke 2:5 NLT ~ "He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child." (Luke 2:5 NLT) They knew nothing about a hard-candy Christmas, but they had one anyway. And me? Well, I’ve had a few slim on ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Shalom December 23, 2024 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16 NIV ~ "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV) One of the things that I have pu ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Let Us Go to See December 22, 2024 Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. ~ Luke 2:15 ESV ~ "And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Grounding Ourselves in our Faith: The Twelve Days of Christmas, Part 3 December 20, 2024 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ~ 1 Peter 1:13 NIV ~ Last Friday, in "The Twelve Days of Christmas, Part 2", we saw that the tradition 12 day celebration of Christmas, stre ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Feeling Grinchy December 18, 2024 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. ~ Ezekiel 36:26a NLT ~ Thanksgiving hadn’t arrived yet, but I was feeling grinchy. I love the Grinch. Since I’m known as a strict teacher who requires a lot of my students, my students think I like him because of his mean nature. They also think I hate Chri ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Right Under My Nose December 16, 2024 Fear not: for, behold, i bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ~ Luke 2:10 NIV ~ Have you ever looked for something for hours and have it right under your nose? That just happened to me. It was a gift I had wrapped for myself to open this month. I carefully wrapped it in pretty Christmas wrapping ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Hospitality December 15, 2024 Always be eager to practise hospitality. ~ Romans 12:13b NLT ~ It was the week before Christmas, and our young family was asked to take in a foster child, a two-week-old infant. He came with a bare minimum — a grubby bunting bag with a small bottle of milk dampening the corner into which it had been carelessly shoved. The baby's face look ...Continue Reading