Musings from My Sun Porch

                 Yesterday was declared a national day of mourning in remembrance of the 39 th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.   No matter your political affiliation, most of us would have to admit that Mr. Carter’s presidency was a disaster—with one major exception, the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.   However, his presidential abilities, or lack thereof, do not define him as a man.               The world we live in can be extremely cruel in defining success or failure.   Often it is only those who are successful in their careers who receive the accolades as well as the monetary success.   Fortunately for us, God doesn’t define us by our careers.   He is only interested in our character.               Carter was a patriot, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy wi...

                 At the rear of my backyard, there are woods, with tall trees and various vines and shrubs.   At times, you will see deer, rabbits, or squirrels come out of those woods.   However, at this time of the year, those woods are a picture of gloom.   The branches are bare, and the trees stand against a dark, cloudy sky.   It’s not a very inviting picture.             This morning was different.   Today, I looked out over those trees and saw their branches covered with snow.   The ice that clings to them sparkles even on a cloudy day.   The snow on the ground in front of them is pure and white, untouched by human feet. As the snow continues to fall, I have a “postcard” picture of a winter wonderland, all created by the Master Designer.             God makes it clear in Genesis 8, th...

                 2025 is now three days old.   So, how many New Year’s Resolutions have you broken?   If you say none, give it time.   I’m sure you will catch up with the rest of us pretty quickly.   Most of us start the new year with high expectations, thinking that the strike of midnight on December 31 st will miraculously change our lives.   Unfortunately, reality soon sets in, and we fall back into our old ways.             Despite the ineffectiveness of most New Year’s Resolutions, I’m going to challenge us to one that I hope we will make every effort to keep.   On New Year's Eve, I wrote about remembering the events of the past year.   As we begin this New Year, I challenge us to prepare for “remembering” next New Year’s Eve by writing down the ways that God moves in our lives daily.           ...