Devotionals

I Shoulda, Coulda. Woulda A Word of Comfort from Elizabeth Rice Handford My baby girl announced, after being in first grade for one week, "I'm not going to bother to learn to read. It's too hard." My first thought was. "Oh, dear! She's only six, and I've already...

Can I Help How I Feel? A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford "I feel like I've been through a terrible storm," a woman said to me. A year ago she found out her husband had had an affair. He was truly repentant, and his actions through the year had...

Have You Heard God Loves You? A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford He was old, and tired, and bent with an affliction he'd suffered all his life, and he was a friend of mine. (I'll call him Joe to protect his identity.) He'd had a very successful...

If I Would Lead, I Must Serve A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Years ago, the company I worked for hired a new office manager. Our CEO was aging; he hoped this new man would eventually take his place. Our CEO planned a beautiful day's retreat for...

Why Is the World So Blurred? A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Sitting in the dentist's chair, years ago, I heard my dentist say, "Libby, you have three new cavities." I wailed, "Why? I haven't had a cavity in years! I've had to get trifocals and I...

Do What You Trained to Do A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford The words I heard the Birmingham approach controller use were ominous. "Sigmet," I heard him say. ("Sigmet" means there's really bad news about the weather.) "A severe thunderstorm is...

When Your Body Is All Worn Out A Gentle Reminder from Elizabeth Rice Handford I have a dear friend who earns her living by cleaning houses and businesses. We don't see each other very often because of her work schedule. She's alone in the world and depends on what she...

Wasting Time on People? By Whose Standard? A Reminiscence with Elizabeth Handford I found great joy in being a pastor's wife. How good it was to help people however they needed me, for spiritual counsel or material help. Walt once heard me counseling a new mother over...

I Meant to Say, "That Was Just Perfect!" A Plea for Understanding Others from Elizabeth Rice Handford Years ago Walt and I went on a breath-taking tour of Israel. Our bus stopped at a restaurant in Jerusalem for lunch. We were seated at a large table with perhaps 20...