Devotionals
2021
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....
Have You Prayed for Your President Today?
An earnest request from Elizabeth Rice Handford Have you prayed for your president today? I ask this, not as a Democrat or Republican or an Independent, but as someone who suddenly has realized that as a child of God I’ve been neglecting an important part of my...
Thoughtless Words Can Cause Pain
A Gentle Reminder from Elizabeth Rice Handford When I was a teenager I came across a Scripture that terrified me. Jesus said, “And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak” (Matthew 12:36 nlt). What was an “idle”...
I Pledge Allegiance to My Dear Country
A Word of Commitment from Elizabeth Rice Handford In the last ten years, more than 7.3 million people have been welcomed as naturalized citizens of the United States. Every single one of those new citizens stood before a U.S. official, put their right hands over their...
A Happy Reunion: How to Respond?
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Last week my daughter and son-in-law Tim Holmes hosted at their home a reunion for people who attended Southside Baptist Church when it was on August Road in the ’60's and ’70's. Walt served as pastor there for 31...
Why Would I Lie to Myself?
A Thoughtful Word from Elizabeth Rice Handford You’ll grant that Psalm 119:29 is an odd prayer, won’t you? Lord, keep me from lying to myself. How could you possibly lie to yourself? Wouldn’t you realize right away that what you were telling yourself simply wasn’t...
The Little Engine That Couldn’t
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Remember the refrain from the children’s book, “The Little Engine That Could”? As the small engine worked to pull an impossible load, it sang, “I think I can! I think I can!” That engine, built only to shuttle...
I Am Nearer Home Today Than I’ve Ever Been Before
Elizabeth Rice Handford Thinking about my 95th birthday My family and friends celebrated my 95th birthday the other day, with balloons and food and gifts and signs in my front yard. I guess it’s true; my body’s been saying so for some time. I remember talking to...
The Crazy Man Wasn’t So Crazy After All
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Handford “A crazy man lives there,” my girl friends would giggle as we passed a small house on our way to school every day. The “crazy” man’s house was on West Seminary Street, just four blocks from our home in Wheaton, Illinois....
