Devotionals
2021
The Surprising Cure for My Bad Hair Day
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford My bad-hair day began the day my long-time hair dresser told me she was retiring. And that bad-hair day lasted for several weeks while I desperately shopped to replace her. My kids would tell you my hair-do is not...
This Is My Father’s World
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford “What do you miss most about your home?” I asked a beautiful young college girl, an exchange student from India. “The food,” she answered promptly. “I miss our wonderful food. Especially curry.” I asked a young...
At a job interview the applicant promised, “I Will Bring Joy to This Office”
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford I have a friend who is in high level management in a large organization. She was interviewing a woman for an important position.. The woman smiled and said emphatically, “I will bring joy to this office.” Many of us...
Compromise Isn’t Always Bad
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford As a child in Texas I remember being taught never, ever compromise. (“Remember the Alamo!”) Texans always, always stood for what’s right. And soberly, as an adult, I really do want to stand for what’s right. But the...
Anakin the Dog Is Home Again, So—?
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford For 28 days our “Next door” neighborhood email box was filled with the heart-broken pleas of a woman whose dog Anakin was lost. The owner put up posters everywhere, begged people to pray they’d catch him, and asked...
Because Jesus Did Rise from the Dead
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Was all that suffering of Jesus on the cross in vain? Did He make that sacrifice all for nothing? His followers had believed Him. They had trusted Him to give them eternal life like He’d promised. Was it all a...
Easter: When God Died
Thinking about Jesus’ death with Elizabeth Rice Handford WARNING: Content disturbing, but in the end, exhilarating. Among their many other dubious achievements, the Romans of the first century perfected the art of the execution of criminals. The Romans had no...
They Gave Me Grace
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Ask my kids, and they’ll tell you I’m a competitor. I play to win. (Not that I always win, you understand; it’s just that I aim to win.) My competitive spirit is so strong, I find it hard, when I’m playing checkers...
Tomorow Will Come— Will You Be Glad or Sad?
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford Do you remember, when you were a child, how very long it took for your birthday to come again? Later on in life, I’ve discovered, birthdays seem to come too soon. But it is true: tomorrow will come.And the question...
St. Patrick: Interesting Myth or Heroic Reality?
A Word of Encouragement from Elizabeth Rice Handford St. Patrick’s grave at Downpatrick How exciting it is to find out that what you thought was just a pleasant fairy tale about a brave hero turns out to be genuine, satisfying historic truth. That’s what happens when...
