Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR My Four-Legged Shadow March 2, 2025 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. ~ Ephesians 3:17 NIV ~ "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Our Spice Level February 28, 2025 … do not worry about … what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. ~ Luke 12:11-12 NIV ~ I love spicy food. Other than the raw Scottish bonnet pepper my wife gave me a year ago (See The Scottish Bonnet!), the spicier the better. In fact, when I ask for maximum spice at a restaurant, the servers usually ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Voice February 26, 2025 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' ~ Isaiah 30:21 NIV ~ "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" (Isaiah 30:21 NIV) Four of us piled into a pickup ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Falling February 24, 2025 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. ~ Romans 13:14 ESV ~ We’ve had two bad falls in our family within the last month. First, I tripped on something while I was on a walk and landed hard on my left knee, breaking my patella in two. About three weeks later, my daughter (who is my caretaker during recov ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Counting My Blessings February 23, 2025 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. ~ Psalms 103:2 ESV ~ "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12 ESV) "Bless the Lord, ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Tantalizing the Dog February 21, 2025 ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ~ Hebrews 12:2a NIV ~ A little under two years ago, our family was blessed by the entrance of a beautiful 35Kg/70lb dog named Kia. Kia is an Akita, a protector by breed, and she takes her job seriously. She especially sees her role as a protector against small animals ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR A Boxing Lesson February 19, 2025 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 NIV ~ "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:6-7 NIV) ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Wisdom in the Bottom Drawer Febriary 17, 2025 Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ~ 2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV ~ "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV) As a child, at the bottom of an old dresser in my parent’s room was a treasure waiting to be used. It was fi ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Our Best Valentine February 14, 2025 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 ~ Our youngest son was born on Valentine's Day. My wife has always called him her best Valentine ever. I have to admit, however, that it forever changed the way we celebrated Valenti ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Dog-Door Dilemma February 12, 2025 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. ~ Ephesians 5:21 NIV ~ "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21 NIV) My outside door has a dog door in it. This is a small door with swinging flaps, that allows my dogs to go in and out at will, without me having to open the main do ...Continue Reading