Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Just Peachy January 1, 2024 Behold, I am doing a new thing; Now it springs forth do you not see it? ~ Isaiah 43:19 NLT ~ "Behold, I am doing a new thing; Now it springs forth do you not see it?" ( Isaiah 43:19 NLT) As he clung to the side of his cage, I could see that he needed more room to fly around.  My little love bird had ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR End of Year Reflections December 31, 2023 ...Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead... ~ Philippians 3:13b ESV ~ "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." (Philippians 3:13 ESV) "But Lot's wife, beh ...Continue Reading

Welcome ToTHE ILLUSTRATORGod Gave Me a GiftDecember 29, 2023My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.~ John 5:17b NIV ~   Christmas is past for yet another year, and the new year, 2024, is approaching. What will the new year bring? Only God can answer that question. The real question is, can we trust Him with the new year? Can we trust that He loves us? That He always does what is best for us? That His timing is always perfect? I don’t ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Broken Storage Box December 27, 2023 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock... ~ Revelation 3:20a KJV ~ Four days after Christmas it was time to tidy up around the house. Large plastic boxes seemed to be the answer to store some of the items that had found their way into the house over the Christmas period. Lots of presents, but also ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Unexpected Changes December 25, 2023 But God kept them from recognizing him. ~ Luke 24:16 NLT ~ “But God kept them from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:16 NLT) The news stung like a hornet against bare skin. For thirteen years, my wife and I celebrated Christmas with our two children on Christmas ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Oh Please Remember Me! December 24, 2023 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever. ~ Psalms 136:23 ESV ~ “It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:23 ESV) It was the saddest Christmas school assembly that I'd ever experienced. I left as a ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Angels December 20, 2023 God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. ~ Luke 1:26b-27a NLT ~ “God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary.” (Luke 1:26b-27a NLT) "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘ ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Wish Upon a Star December 18, 2023 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ~ Matthew 2:18 ESV ~ “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” (Matthew 2:10 ESV) A childhood memory that has left a permanent imprint on my heart is my father and mother pulling me in my wooden sled through the town ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Licking the Bowl: Christmas Baking, Part 2 December 15, 2023 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit ~ Galatians 5:25 NIV ~ Last Friday, in “Christmas Baking, Part 1”, we saw that when God asks us to step out of our comfort zones, He is there to equip and empower us to do the task at hand. And in the end, we, ourselves, will be blessed. ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Licking the Bowl: Christmas Baking, Part 2 December 15, 2023 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit ~ Galatians 5:25 NIV ~ Last Friday, in “Christmas Baking, Part 1”, we saw that when God asks us to step out of our comfort zones, He is there to equip and empower us to do the task at hand. And in the end, we, ourselves, will be blessed. ...Continue Reading