<p>Opening my inbox, a few email subject titles made me laugh out loud. One subject line was &#8220;Travel Awaits,&#8221; another read &#8220;Greece is calling,&#8221; and another stated, &#8220;We have travel destinations for July.&#8221; Before retirement, I traveled extensively as part of my professional responsibilities and continue to receive advertisements from airlines, hotels, and booking sites.<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2025/06/16/advent

<p>Graduation provides an opportunity to bless our children. Scripture gives us examples of blessings that communicate love.</p>

<p>As for me, I said, “O&nbsp;Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!” Psalm 41:4 I am the runaway, the one who knew better than my parents, the one who went to church and forsake all I heard, the one who looked for something to believe in through earthly pleasures,<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2023/06/27/come-home/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">&#8220;Come Home&#8221;</span></a></p>

<p>Hard Seasons</p>

<p>Build the Holy Temple &#8220;Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God&#8217;s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2022/07/21/no-warning-construction/">Continue reading <span class="screen-re

<p>&#8220;If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land,&#8221; 2 Chronicles 7:14. The news, whether local, national, or world news, is disheartening. Violent crime, tragedies, economic<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2022/06/17/celebrating-our-country/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">&#82

<p>Had enough winter? For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:11-12 The verse and the picture depict spring. Ahh&#8230; Just the thought of it!<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2022/01/31/faith-moments/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">&#8220;Faith Moments&#8221;</span></a></p>

<p>My husband and I attend church on the island near our home. At last, we are attending church in person once again! It is such a gift to gather with other Christians for praise and worship. During the service, it is customary to offer prayers together for those who are sick or suffering as well<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2021/06/07/finishing-strong/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">&#8220;Finishing Strong&#8221;</span></a></p>

<p>&#8220;For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart,” 1 Samuel 16:7. These flowers are considered by some to be wild and by others to be weeds. Perhaps they interfere with the growth of our own plants. They may intrude on our carefully landscaped flower beds or<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2021/04/14/start-the-dialogue/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">&#8220;Start the D

<p>It is rare to have a conversation with a friend or loved one and not hear the word “hope.” It is a frequent word in our vocabulary because it indicates anticipation, optimism, expectation, and even courage to face what might happen in the future. Even in our lowest times, we remain hopeful. In order to<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2020/08/17/hope-and-worry/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">&#8220;Hope and Worry&#8221;</span></a>