I started this blog over a year ago for a couple of reasons.

During the twenty-eight years I taught at Ozark Christian College, I often started class with a devotion I had written. I did this especially in my analytical grammar classes, which afforded me little opportunity, except in sentences I selected to diagram, to connect personally with my classes about the things of God.

I’m sorry or happy to say that the typical grammar student remembers my devotions far more than he or she remembers how to join subordinate clauses to main ones.

A former student and I attended a conference recently which featured a verse from Colossians that sent me into a grammar fit such as I have not had in years. I couldn’t rest until I had diagrammed the glorious monstrosity and began to discover at least some of its implications.

I was never quite gifted enough to help most of my students understand the value of such analysis. But many of them did grasp my passion for the things of God, and for this I am grateful.

Often they asked for copies of my material. I thought a blog on my website would be an excellent way to share some of my things with former students and with new readers alike.

Last week I introduced a series on grand parenting that I’ve been wanting to post. I will get back to that next week, but this week I want to pause and tell you about a passage of scripture I read earlier this week.

It seems like the right thing from God’s word comes along at the right time when you want God to lead and challenge and comfort.

Tony and I have close family members who are struggling with serious health issues. Sometimes I’m quite sad and frightened.

So it helped enormously to come across Psalm 63 in my reading. I haven’t diagrammed it, but I’ve memorized a group of verses from it, and they have become a prayer I whisper many times a day. I recast it a bit and pray it for those I love as well.

On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
    Your right hand upholds me.

Whatever you’re facing this week, I hope you cling to him and know that he is upholding you in his right hand.