Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Gentleness of a Child September 15, 2024 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. ~ Galatians 5:22-23a NLT ~ "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and sel ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Be a Cheerful Giver September 15, 2024 And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:17 NLT ~ A dear friend left this earth a year ago for her heavenly home. We had been friends for 47 years. I'm so grateful that my husband and I visited with her a month previously, for what proved to be the last time, until we meet again. ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Growing Corn September 13, 2024 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ~ Matthew 7:24 NIV ~ When it came time to plant the garden last year, my wife bought a packet of corn seed. In due time, they came up and we eventually had about 25 stalks of corn!&nbs ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Call September 11, 2024 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ~ Luke 14:3-4 NIV ~ “Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go afte ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Give God the Pieces September 9, 2024 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. ~ Psalms 34:18 ESV ~ I wrapped it carefully in the clothes I had in my carry-on bag. My thought was that it would be safer if I kept it with me as we traveled to San Diego to visit with my daughter and her family. I had even rehearsed what I would say to my da ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Finding God in the Yard September 6, 2024 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ~ Psalms 91:1 NIV ~ “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalms 19:1 NIV) I have been very, very blessed in my lifetime. As an adult, I’ ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Quandary September 4, 2024 I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods. ~ Deuteronomy 31:18b NIV ~ “On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed.  Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, ‘Have n ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Pondering September 2, 2024 See, I have put my words in your mouth! Today your work begins. ~ Jeremiah 4:10a TLB ~ I have always been a ponderer, as was my dad before me. Dad would spend much time thinking of things and planning things he might do. Since he was an avid fisherman, he often conjured ways to make his fishing more successful even though he was the best fisherman I ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Mom's Cardinals September 1, 2024 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort… ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV ~ “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…” (2 Cor. 1:3 NIV) I remember it was the first winter in our n ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Big Cat Upstairs August 30, 2024 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. ~ Psalms 145:18-19 NIV ~ It is said that we have a God-shaped hole in our hearts. We know the hole is there because we feel incomplete; what we don ...Continue Reading