Devotionals
2021
Choosing Your Boss
A word of encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Ruthie was only 14 when she ran away from home. Her mother was a single mom, and the family attended our church. I had thought I had a sweet relationship with her daughter Ruth, but she didn’t confide in me, and I...
Nice people don’t dooz that
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford My big sister Grace was three when Mary Lloys was born. Mary Lloys was crying as only a newborn can cry. Grace listened to the squalling, walked over to her bassinet, held up a reproving finger to the weeping baby...
His Career Was Ruined by a Pat of Butter
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford The young man’s interview with Mr. J. C. Penney had gone very well. He was being interviewed for a high-level management position, and he felt that Mr. Penney was impressed with his performance. He hadn’t yet been...
Was It the End of the World?
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford In the fall of 1958, Walt was asked to come to Podunk Center, Iowa, to preach in a evangelistic campagin for two weeks. (Yes, there really was a Podunk Center in those ancient days!) The four of us, Walt and I, with...
People See the Outside; God Knows My Heart
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Frankly, I didn’t think the woman looked like a good role-model for the women in our church, even if she was the evangelist’s wife. This was years ago. Walt had invited her husband to preach a series of messages in...
What to Do When You’re Afraid You’ve Ruined Everything
A Sort of Parable by Elizabeth Rice Handford Once upon a time, long ago and far away, lived a handsome prince with his beautiful wife and his three tall sons. They were all children of the High King of Heaven and Earth, and they all loved Him very much. But one...
Not Alone, Yet Still Lonely
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Shortly after my husband Walt retired as pastor of Southside Baptist, he fell from the roof of our home. Distraught, I followed the ambulance to the hospital, not knowing how seriously he was injured. It turned out...
Do You Sometimes Get Tired of Standing Up for Truth?
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford. Why is it that so often these days I find myself holding a different opinion than what a TV drama is portraying? Or what a panel of experts is advocating? Or what a popular actor is promoting? I gladly affirm their...
How I Learned Anger Doesn’t Fix Anything
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford So here I am, dressed in my “Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes,” teaching my Sunday school class of young wives. I’m the pastor’s wife, mind you, mother of seven small children, expected to be a paragon of virtue...
One Grey Lady Too Many
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Grey Lady was a beautiful, purebred yellow-eyed weimaraner given to us by a friend. She was so affectionate, she’d stand on her hind legs, put her big paws on my shoulders and slobber her kisses all over my face....
