Donna Jackson
Where’s Your Focus?
I get Peter. He was genuine but often impulsive. Courageous yet fearful. Loyal but inconsistent. His heart believed, but he struggled with his unbelief. In two well-known Peter-stories in Scripture, the focus is often on his failures while overlooking his victories. The story begins with Jesus learning of His cousin John the Baptist’s death. He…
The Pearl of Rest
Less than 1 in 10,000 oysters produce a pearl of great value. Many believe that a grain of sand settling inside an oyster triggers the pearl-making process, but this is a myth. A pearl forms when an oyster ingests a parasite. To protect itself, the shiny, iridescent material that lines the inside of the oyster…
The Trouble With Adam and Eve
In Eden, God’s perfect Paradise creations frolicked. The cobalt blue river provided a stunning backdrop for the king of the jungle and the playful gazelle, prancing harmoniously along the water’s edge. Catfish flipped and flopped, enjoying their swim with Ganges sharks. Majestic hawks and eagles perched contentedly in their box seats of lush green foliage,…
What Will You Remember?
What can quickly access your brain’s photo album, seize snapshots of the past, and then paste them on the front of your mind? Smells? Sights? An old familiar face or place? Memories have the power to paint broad smiles or turn them upside down. Last week, Ron and I vacationed at the beach. As I…
Scattered
Next door to my grandparents’ house in Auburn lived an older man I remember only as Mr. Bailey. In his younger years, he was a county agent who later worked with the agricultural department at Auburn. My grandfather would snicker every time he mentioned Mr. Bailey’s claim to fame. It seems he played a significant…
Chaos Control
Last week, like Jewish rabbis, we began stringing pearls together. Some of us are adding new pearls of truth to our strand of faith, while others are merely adding some shine to the pearls they’ve already gathered. Pearl #1 was: Context Matters. Our second pearl this week is: Chaos Control. Does your life feel chaotic…
Stringing Pearls
What makes a day good for you? Is it checking off everything on your to-do list? Maybe it’s spending time with someone you love. Or, maybe, it’s simply enjoying a few hours outside. I love all those things, but it’s an especially good day when I learn something new! Through the thin, ink-filled pages of…
Are You Dusty?
A new school year always brings back memories for me, both as a student and as a teacher. This year, I was reminded of being a student-teacher. It’s that in-between time when your coursework is finished, but you’re not yet certified to teach a class of your own. However, before declaring a major and choosing…
My Pleasure, Chick-fil-A
Last week, Ron and I, along with five other couples, had the privilege of touring the Chick-fil-A Support Center in Atlanta. From the moment you drive onto the property, you notice the attention to excellence paid to every small detail: manicured lawns, lush plants, crystal-clear windows, shining floors, and even sweet-smelling restrooms. Smiles brighten the…
When Did Your Journey Begin?
It fills my heart with happy to introduce you to my Jamaican friend, Kaidean Rice. I’ve watched her love for God grow into a beautiful display of joy and peace that only comes from walking hand-in-hand with Jesus. Read her description of how her journey began and be inspired to move a little closer to…