And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. –1 Corinthians 13:13 Among Grandpa Layer’s six children, my father was the only one that bore sons who could carry on the family name. Both of my brothers also had sons, and so far, one has sons of his own. If things continue along the same trajectory, there will be plenty of Layers in the future. Our family line will be secure. However, while cleaning out my parent’s property, we came acro

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” —Isaiah 43:18–19 I threw a second pair of shoes into the back seat of my car just in case the pair I was wearing fell apart. You see, a few years earlier, the strap on my wedge sandals suddenly popped out as I solemnly made my way out of the sanctuary following a funeral. With nothing

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9 I have been praying for a miracle, a healing. It hasn’t happened yet, and I don’t know if it will in my lifetime, but I keep praying. There are several people in my life who do not know Christ. I have prayed for their spiritual awakening for years. I don’t know when—or if—they will turn a

The Lord said to Moses, “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. —Numbers 8:23–26 The word “retirement” has cropped up in multiple conversations over the last few months. Every tim

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. —Isaiah 25:6 Who remembers the game show, The Price is Right ? I used to love the opening when Bob Barker entered the studio. As he walked through the audience, he would point at someone dressed in an outrageous costume and make an offer like, “If you have a hard-boiled egg in your purse, I’ll give you one-hundred dollars.

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith —Romans 1:11–12 I enjoy being alone. Alone in the quiet. Alone with a book or a puzzle. Alone watching a movie with a bowl of buttered popcorn. But I recognize that there are some things I cannot do by myself, such as play backgammon or pickleball. And when the dishwasher acts up or a tree falls in the yard, it’s nice