Preaching: What Does It Mean To Us?

By: Nathaniel Iddings

May 16th, 2013

What does preaching mean to us as Christians? While we should be interested that the Bible is preached to us soundly, we also need to mind just what our attitude is towards what we hear. By "our attitude" I am not so much talking about whether we believe the truth or not, but what do we do with it? We as Christians are all able to apply the Word in our lives, but just because we apply it does not mean we are necessarily applying it correctly. Looking at my life in retrospect, I notice that countless times I have heavily applied what I learn, but by my misapplications I demonstrated I was not truly taking the Bible seriously. A good portion of this essay I'll be sharing with you some of the ways in which I have mishandled biblical preaching, and I hope we may all be encouraged and challenged to keep a proper mindset.

I was once privileged to hear an excerpt from a sermon by Pastor Albert N. Martin on God's wrath. My fellow brother who I was also going to watch it was so kind as to give me the heads up that I should find a good pillow to hug while we listened to the message, but being the tough guy that I am, I endured the whole video without a tear! It was a very concise but intense sermon bit about hell. What was my attitude towards this kind of preaching? I went "Wow! That's a good sermon! That is some hard core preaching!" Sure, it was a dramatic presentation; it was indeed a sound presentation -- But where was a greater sense humility to be found in me? Where was the personal application? I applied it, but my application was essentially "That was a great message, I agree with it" and "I endured listening to a hellfire sermon! I'm tough! I bet not many Christians nowadays could handle that!" I should have had sensitivity to the truths being preached to me. It is not a sign of hard-heartedness if you are not emotional while listening to preaching, but if this stems from a lack of personal application of the message, there is a problem. What is the message of hell to us? When we hear about hell, are we puffed up because we can handle listening to it, or are we genuinely moved to compassion for the unsaved? Do we come away with a greater sense of how great God is, and how desperately we need Christ, or do we leave thinking "I'm so hardcore"? What does it all mean to us?  

Maybe we like listening to preaching because as we hear about sin, we can shine the spotlight on everybody else. Do we go to church and listen to the message preached with the attitude of "Yea, these doctrines/ teachers/churches/philosophers/atheists/false religions are so foolish! Preach it! Amen!" when we ought to shine the spotlight on ourselves? One of the biggest points in listening to the Bible preached to us is so that we would be personally convicted of our own personal sin, in order that we would be humbled and brought to repentance. I had a season of my life when I greatly appreciated hearing the Word preached, because I got this perverse sense of enjoyment in casting down others. Under ordinary circumstances, that's wrong, right? That's the great part about listening to preaching; is that when the preacher demonstrates from the Bible that somebody else's beliefs and attitudes are wrong, I can have an excuse to say "Look, you are wrong, I am right! Hah!" I have biblical authority to tell people they are wrong, and I have biblical authority to tell others about how other people are wrong, because they are wrong. The truth is that I really just enjoyed exalting myself and putting others down. When I was a kid, that's why I got in heated arguments; because I was insistent that I was the one who had things all figured out, and you had to live by my rules if we could have peace. That's the same thing this "religious" mindset of mine really was. I believe the Bible, and so (since the Bible is my set of rules this time) I can boss and criticize anyone who disagrees with me, because I have authority from God to criticize and boss you!

Yes, people need to be held accountable to what the Bible says. Yet, even when we have Biblical authority to say to somebody "You are wrong, and God says so" we can still abuse this authority. We do have authority from God to tell somebody if they are right or wrong, but do we exercise that authority lovingly and appropriately according to need and opportunity; or, are we abusing that authority just because we like having a sense of power and control?

Mabye I'm listening, but instead of listening to grow in Christlikeness, I listen so that I can give my critique of the sermon afterwards. I remember the first time I went to Bible camp, this was the mindset I had. I was a new believer, but I was extremely prideful. I was listening to the messages as they were preached, but I was listening not with an attitude of eagerness for the Word, but instead I was listening so that I could see if the sermons measured up to my standards. I was not seeking humility. I was not rejoicing in the very fact that God was so merciful as to reveal the truth to me in His word; I was simply wanting to hear a message that meets my approval. If a message does not meet my approval, then the sermon was weak/unbiblical and if it met my approval, then good for you; keep up the good work. It is one thing to be zealous to hear a system of your favorite doctrines proclaimed; but it is another thing to be listening with eagerness to know God. Yes, we should always check things to make sure they line up with the Bible; but we should not come to church with a skeptical attitude. When we are only listening to make sure things are according to our personal liking (even if our personal liking is doctrinally sound), we really will miss out on a lot of encouragement we would otherwise recieve because we will be too busy focusing on what we didn't like/agree with. Let's listen with thankfulness for the Word instead! Should we still check the Bible to verify what is preached? Of course! Let's take everything sound we hear and grow in grace with it!

I'm sure every one of us have some pet-peeve that we hate with profound intensity. There are various lies of the world -- from church heresies to unbiblical philosophy -- that we each used to believe before God saved us. As for me, my personal pet-peeve would be secular humanism. Before I was converted, I was thoroughly brainwashed with those "trust your heart" and "follow your dreams" messages.  Finally and providentially, God was good to me and crushed my dreams. Several years down the road in my unbelief, I was in church and had decided to actually listen to the sermon to see if there was anything in it that could fix my problems in life. I don't remember the first sermon I truly listened to; all I remember was this: I heard humanism being relentlessly assaulted from the pulpit, and I loved that. Sweet revenge! This was my unbeliever response to preaching. Does this characterize the way we as Christians listen to preaching? Are we listening to hear the gospel, or do we find our joy in hearing the lies we used to believe be attacked? Granted, I think it is okay to personally get fired up inside about old lies that we were once blinded by. We are made in the image of God, and as such we are to be treated with respect; it is no sin for us to be offended when we are wronged. Yet, in being offended by the old lies that used to define us, we need to keep biblical glasses on -- That is, we need to 1) make sure our anger over the deception does not take our focus off of God, and 2) we excerise meekness, controlling our anger appropriately. So what then are we really interested in? Are we paying close attention because we want to hear our pastor bash some false idea we used to believe, or do we want to grow in Christlikeness?

Last but not least: Are we thankful for sound preaching? In times past, I have visited some churches that did not always line up 100% with what the Bible teaches, and where the sermons did not have as much depth nor length as what I am used to. I considered myself to have only gotten but an appetizer of spiritual food to live on for the week. The problem with my thinking is that it was actually unthankfulness in disguise. Under the cloak of religious zeal, I can find myself going "The sermon was so watered down. It had so little depth, and this statement was unbiblical. What a waste of my Sunday morning." It sounds really good at first, especially since there sometimes is some truth to this complaint. There is such a thing as a watered down message -- but even sermons that were comparatively shallow and may even have some unbiblical theology in parts, can still be profitable. The key here is this; don't focus on what was bad, but focus on what is good. In other words; even if a sermon is shallow, you can still appreciate what biblical doctrine the preacher did preach. Consider: Which one of us deserves to have God and His will revealed to us? The answer should be clear; none of us do. Yet, God is merciful and gracious in that He does reveal Himself to us in the Bible. When we come home from some church and complain all about how much was wrong with the sermon without taking into account what was right in it, what is that but unthankfulness? What is that but to take Scripture for granted? We can be thankful even for preaching when it is not perfect. We should test everything with Scripture to make sure it is true; yes. Yet, we ought always to look first for whatever is good and sound as diligently as possible, and be thankful to God for what He does provide.  

By now we probably have enough of an idea of some of our wrong attitudes we can hold about preaching, but what good does it do us to stop there? We don't learn biblical truth by process of lie-elimination! What is the right attitude? As is fairly apparent by this point, I believe one of our first attitudes should be that of thankfulness and humility. We ought to listen with eagerness and appreciation, because what we are listening to is far greater than a lecture in theology; it is what God uses to save and sanctify His beloved children! Where there is no gospel preached, there is no salvation. In a very real sense, hearing the gospel preached to us is a matter of life and death. Far more than just some sermon, it is the means God has appointed to bring eternal life to those who believe, and damnation to those who do not believe. What else is the gospel for? The gospel was also given to us so that we may do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). For those of us who have been saved, God has freed us from the domination of sin. We are not doomed to have all the wrong attitudes anymore; we now are free to turn from those ways and serve Christ! We can take action and work towards cultivating a proper mindset of love, gratitude, and compassion for others. Let's take advantage of the freedom God has purchased for those of us who believe; next time we listen to the gospel preached, let's listen with an expectation of personal edification. Let's listen with the willingness to put aside our pet-peeves, frustrations with others and the world, and complaints about the message or preacher, and put on a willingness to focus our attention first and foremost on the good. When we learn how to bring out the greatest virtues in others and let go of our various "sanctified" complaints, we may very well discover Christian joy and contentment in ways like never before!

Hidden Treasures

By: Stephanie DeFoyd
March 4, 2013


I was probably no more than 6 or 8 years old the last time my family and I took a vacation along the coast.  I can still remember Alyssa, Trevor, and I kicking off our sandals and running barefoot across the beach to the small waves lapping on the ocean shore, the gritty sand beneath my feet, and the salty breeze hitting my face. I remember digging in the sand, quickly building castles with our plastic buckets before the tide rose and washed away our masterpieces. Chasing those unbelievably speedy sand dollars with Dad, and finding washed up starfish along the sea shore's edge.  Being fascinated by the colorful sea anemones we found living in the shallow coves while climbing and hopping across the slimy, barnacle-ridden rocks surrounding the salty pools.  Laughing as Dad lost his grip on the end of our kite and watching him race across the beach in attempt to retrieve it.  Collecting all kinds of sea shells and cool looking rocks with Alyssa, and wanting to take everything we discovered back home with us.  The memories of our discoveries and family fun are endless.

My personal Bible study for the past several weeks has been over the life of David and how he was a man after God's own heart.  Now, King David is one of those who is very prominent and well known to many, as are the apostles, Moses, Noah, Adam and Eve, and many others.  But the study I'm doing didn't start out with explaining David's beginning.  No, instead we take a look at a young man who entered the stage before David.  A man of royalty who played a great role in the life of God's chosen one, and who was to become his most loyal and beloved friend: Jonathan.

Jonathan was the son of King Saul, and the rightful heir to the throne according to the law.  I admit I had never really paid much mind to Jonathan before this study, let alone thought about what type of role he played in the life of young David.  There were two passages that caught my attention, but the first verse was 1 Samuel 14:6.

"And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."

Jonathan and his armor bearer were spying on the Philistines alone and planning on overthrowing the enemy's camp on their own.  No army to assist them, only God at their side.  From a worldly view, this could look like a recipe for disaster on Jonathan's part: a mighty Philistine army against two young warriors?  The odds are not exactly in their favor.  There was only One who could cause these two men to claim victory over the enemy, and Jonathan recognized Him.  God.  "... it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few." 

Jonathan knew that they could not claim victory or Israel over the Philistine's defeat without the Lord's help.  But notice something else that Jonathan says in this verse.  He doesn't say, "The Lord will work in our favor," but "it may be that the Lord will work for us. ..." (emphasis mine).  By saying this, Jonathan is pointing out the fact that God most certainly COULD deliver the Philistines into his and his armor bearer's hand for the victory of Israel, but that doesn't mean that God WOULD.  He recognized God's might and power, yet at the same time he recognized his Savior's sovereignty.  Whatever the Father chose to do -- whether it be to allow the Philistines to claim victory, or to deliver them into the hand of Israel -- it would be a choice made out of sovereignty.  It could and would never be made out of weakness.

The second passage that stood out to me concerning this young man was 1 Samuel 18:1-4.

"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.  And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.  Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle."

These four verses describe a covenant between Jonathan and David before David's reign as king.  The Bible says that Jonathan loved his friend as himself and wanted to show David this love by creating a covenant with him.  It doesn't mention David having the same brotherly love back, and thus why the covenant.  It says that it was done because of Jonathan's love for David.  This covenant was demonstrated by Jonathan giving David his robe, garments, and weapons.

Jonathan, by law, was the rightful and next heir to the throne of Israel, and his father, Saul, seemed determined that his son take his place as king (1 Samuel 20:30-31).  What his father wanted for him as heir of the throne had probably been known to Jonathan since the beginning.  He was royalty after all.  But Jonathan also knew that David was the chosen future king of Israel and anointed by God, despite Jonathan's lawful right to the throne.  Jonathan could have followed his father and been angry and jealous towards David for pretty much taking his position to the throne of Israel away from him.  Yet we see that Jonathan had a heart and mind for God's will.  In verse four, Jonathan's giving David his robe, garments, and weapons not only symoblized his love for his friend, but also his loyalty and willingness to the will of the Lord and his plan for David to become king.  He was signifying that he was giving up his right to the throne for the chosen one of God.

Just as Jonathan demonstrated his love for David by making a covenant with him, Jesus did the same with us.  God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to bear the weight of our sins on the cross, and rise again to declare victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave, giving us the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Him.  The Lord didn't do this because of our love for Him, but rather because of His love for us (1 John 4:19).

These seemingly simple verses, ones that I've read repeatedly over the years and never really gave a second thought about, are verses full of power, lessons to be both learned and taught, and full of purpose.  They are just like those sea shells and sand dollars on the beach, or the salty pools full of beautiful sea creatures hidden behind the craggy, barnacle-ridden rocks: priceless treasures just waiting to be discovered.  When you read God's holy Word, don't just skim over what might at first seem like extra information that isn't relevant to you.  Everything in His book He had recorded for us for a reason and a specific purpose.  The Bible is chock-full of His valueable and beautiful treasures, just waiting to be discovered and rediscovered by His children.  Oh, that God might open up our hearts and minds so that we may be able to recognize these precious and blessed treasures!

Words Aren't Enough

By: Stephanie Defoyd
August 20th, 2009


What can I say to describe
Even a thread of Your glory?
What words can portray Your majesty?
Unending doesn’t even start to define the extent of Your love for me!
Sometimes words just aren’t enough.

Magnificent cannot hold a light to the work of Your hand!
What words are there to illustrate Your magnitude?
There is no other as indefinable as You!
Sometimes words just aren’t enough.

Your mercy is beyond all comprehension!
Your grace is beyond all words of description!
I’d be butchering just how deep Your compassion is for me
If I were to try finding words to depict it!
Sometimes words just aren’t enough.

I have found that words just aren’t enough
To adequately delineate You!
Awesome can hardly explain You,
Nor mighty, or all-powerful.
You are beyond all of this,
So much more!
Words just aren’t enough.

All I Wanna Do

By: Stephanie Defoyd
4/8/2012

All I wanna do is praise You! All I wanna do is glorify Your holy name! All I wanna do is bask in Your presence, hear Your voice, feel Your touch! I just wanna let Your goodness be known to all! Share Your love with those around me! I just wanna know You more and more and more! I just wanna tell someone -- anyone, everyone -- about Your matchless grace! Oh, God, my excitement for You I can't begin to contain! Use me, guide me, hold me, teach me, love me like only You can! Let my life for You a witness be!

Lay It All Down

By: Stephanie Defoyd
June 19th, 2010


Stone Skippin' On The Water
Covenant, 'Reflections'
Steve Meadows, 2000
(CD)


I have praised the Father,
I have called Him King,
But I come to the alter
And don't bring everything.
I'm like a stone skipping on the water,
Staying just above.
Like a stone skipping on the water,
I have touched Your love.
And I have seen the comfort and the mercy there below,
But this world keeps pulling me,
And I just can't let go!
I'm like a stone skipping on the water,
Staying just above.
I'm like a stone skipping on the water,
I am hungry for Your love!
Open up my heart, Lord!
Let life in You begin!
Help me put my guard down,
And let You live within!
I'm like a stone skipping on the water,
Staying just above.
Like a stone skipping on the water,
I have touched Your love.
And I have seen the comfort and the mercy there below,
But this world keeps pulling me,
And I just can't let go!
I'm like a stone skipping on the water,
Staying just above.
Like a stone skipping on the water,
I have touched Your love.
And I have seen the comfort and the mercy there below,
But this world keeps pulling me,
And I just can't let go!
I'm like a stone skipping on the water,
Stone skipping on the water,
Stone skipping on the water
Of Your love!
Stone skipping on the water
Of Your love!
Stone skipping on the water
Of Your love!
Stone skipping on the water
Of Your love!



Man, I've been like a stone skipping along the water's surface more often than I'd like to confess! Like the song says, I've praised the Father for all that He's done, called Him King, then not laid everything before God. Why? I think it's kind of a trust issue. We're all for praising Him, thanking Him for all He's done, asking for help for others, and some things for ourselves, but when it comes to certain things, we won't tell Him or ask Him for help. Why not? Hey, God knows any deep and dark secrets we may have anyway, so what's the big deal? He's not going to love us any less, that's for sure! And the excuse of God possibly not being able to handle whatever it is doesn't work either. Mark 10:27 - "And Jesus looking upon them saith, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible'" (emphasis mine). He can handle anything and everything! I Peter 5:7 says, "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." God wants you to give everything to Him! Sure, He already knows everything about you, your thoughts and such, but He wants you to share it with Him! I encourage you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to lay it all down at the alter, no matter what it may seem! You know our Father isn't going to laugh at you, or make fun. You know, deep down, that you can trust Him fully. He loves you. He gave His life for you. So, why not? Go ahead! Do it!

What Does It Mean To You?

By: Stephanie Defoyd
January 18th, 2010


A TRUE Christian is someone who knows Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. No, I don't mean just BELIEVING in God. Hey, Satan, a.k.a. the devil, believes in God! What I mean is someone who has accepted Him as Savior and Lord of their life. Someone who loves the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, and also loves their neighbor as themselves (Luke 10:27). Someone who has an active and personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sure, you can follow the Ten Commandments to the ‘T’, read the Bible every day, pray, go to church each Sunday, do every good deed, but that won’t get you to heaven. If it could, I highly doubt that God would have sent His only begotten Son to earth to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life with Him (John 3:16)! Like one once said, “...going to church a lot doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger. Saying a prayer doesn’t make you a Christian; people in every religion pray. Even praying to Jesus doesn’t make you a Christian. ...” In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says, “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

There’s more to being a Christian than just SAYING that you are. Hey, I could tell you that I’m an RN, a high school teacher, or even a veterinarian, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I am. Just like if someone does good deeds, says all the right things, goes to church whenever the doors are open, and so forth, it doesn’t mean that they are a Christian. That’s something that I know from experience. I know someone who, a few years ago, I thought was a Christian. I didn’t realize until during a Vacation Bible School when she accepted Jesus as her Savior and Lord that she wasn’t a Christian yet. She was such a sweet girl, always helping out, etc. that I just assumed she was. But, she wasn’t. It’s true: looks CAN be deceiving.

The only way to eternal life in heaven is through Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved...” (John chapter ten, the first part of verse nine). To be a Christian, we must first have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ the Lord. One where we are continually seeking and following Him by faith. Otherwise, there is no salvation, and we are only Christians on a "name only" basis.

So, what does being a Christian mean to you? Does it just mean attending church every Sunday, praying on a regular basis, reading your Bible each day, listening to and singing worship and praise songs? What does it REALLY mean to you?

A Pilgrim

By: Stephanie Defoyd
June 21st, 2011


I am a pilgrim here, on a journey to the Promised Land. My route is full of unexpected twists and turns, deep canyons, and steep, craggy mountains that I have to carefully – even cautiously – navigate my way through. My Lord is by my side, and His Holy Word is both my compass and map. Nothing do I carry with me but my cross which I have chosen to take up. The path I take isn’t one that most might choose. It’s narrow and not as well traveled as the other. The second path is wide, open, and becoming to the eye, but it ends in a place where there is nothing but eternal sorrow, pain, and death. It’s not visible by just looking at it, but Suffering marks every step of the way, and Loneliness lurks in every shadow. My path, though much narrower and maybe not quite as beauteous at first glance, leads the way to a place where nothing but joy and happiness abound, where praises to my King reverberate throughout the heavens, and Life is eternal and full of bliss. Night never envelopes this Promised Land with its dark cape, nor does the dawn ever cease. All declare the majesty of Christ, crying, “Holy, holy, holy is our Lord, God Almighty!” Yes, the journey at times is hard, and many times I have lost my footing, but my God, who is with me at every moment, catches me in His loving arms. My steps He steadies, and when I feel as though I cannot go any further, feeling so weighted down, He makes my burden light. He has given my heart a new song, my life a new meaning, and my soul the promise of eternal rest in Him. Death shall never claim victory over me, nor shall I ever be taken from my Father’s hand. I am His child, His beloved, His daughter, His own. There is nothing in this foreign land in which I travel that can change that fact. Many times I have hesitated, even balked, at the sight of the path suddenly ending before me at the edge of a huge, seemingly bottomless gorge, and that proceeds on at its opposite side. But, after much coaxing and many reminders of His promise never to leave me, I finally take His nail scarred hand together we take that step of faith that brings a bridge beneath my feet. The impossibilities that I face are suddenly made possible with my God. Nothing need I fear when I allow my Lord to be my guide. I am safe and secure in His arms, even when it feels as though the world around me is falling apart. This is the path that I have chosen and have given my life to follow. Which do you choose?

Summer Night

By: Stephanie Defoyd
August 2nd, 2011


As the day starts to end, a cool breeze gently stirs the leaves of the silk tree by the screened-in porch. It’s very slight, but feels refreshing on my skin after a long day spent in the muggy and sweltering heat. Beneath me the porch swing creaks softly as I slowly swing myself back and forth.

Hummingbird moths’ wings beat a comforting rhythm as they flit from one blooming Four O’clock plant to the other, daintily sampling the nectar from each flower as it opens. The blossoms create a rainbow of color in front of the porch, and give off a light, perfume-like aroma.

Off to the west, the sun is setting low beyond the stand of pine; its red-golden rays making it look as though the whole forest is on fire. A few wispy clouds and a section of the broad expanse of sky that is within the flaming sun’s reach are clothed in gorgeous hues of purple and fuchsia, looking like royalty itself. Just as suddenly as this magnificent artwork appeared, it quickly fades into the calm, dewy night.

By now the frogs can be heard croaking, and the cicadas singing along with them in their own delightful way. A Barred Owl hoots off in the distance and is answered by another, and then another. Suddenly a heart-jumping screech reverberates off the old shed, and then quickly fades into a soft, somewhat comical hooting sound. Almost immediately this owl is joined by the rest, and now the air is filled with their wonderful hooting chorus.

After a while, their hooting fades as they move deeper into the forest. It’s not quiet for long though. Before their song is completely finished, the Chuck-Wills-Widow’s call is heard. His melodious voice is soft, yet strong. “CHUCK…wills-WIDow! CHUCK…wills-WIDow!”

But wait! There is another night bird also sharing his song with the rest of the slumbering world. It’s faint, but if you listen carefully, you can hear it. His fast-paced, upbeat tune is a treat to hear, as he is not around much. It is the beautiful call of the Whippoorwill. “Whip-poor-WILL! Whip-poor-WILL! Whip-poor-WILL! Whip-poor-WILL!” He seems to be moving closer, for his voice is clearer and more distinct. Peering into the deepening night, I catch a glimpse of his shadowy figure as he lands gracefully on the protruding branch of the old pine snag to the right of the shed. He is quiet for a moment before continuing on with his song. Before he is very far into it, he stops abruptly, and then flies off toward the pond. Something startled him.

Listening closely, I notice a slight rustling noise coming from the overgrown fence line, not far from where the night bird had been perched in the snag. A few minutes later, an armadillo emerges from the tangle of blackberry vines and shrubbery, nosing around for a snack. He pauses and rears up on his hind legs, sniffing the air, his tiny ears twitching. Apparently figuring there are no obvious threats close by, he drops back to all fours and continues on his way.

Now the sky is dressed in a dazzling robe of midnight blue, covered with diamonds. The moon has risen and resembles a silver coin, set perfectly among the glitter, and its pale light envelops the world in a ghostly glow as the crickets chirp their summer song.

The air is now a bit chilly, and I take this as my cue to head inside. As I rise from the porch swing, a tiny glowing light catches my eye. This is followed by yet another little flash, and then another. A smile creeps across my face as I realize that those little lantern lights are fireflies dancing through the yard -- those wonderful critters that are so fun to catch and release. I watch them for a few minutes more, and then reluctantly go inside the house. As I do, I thank God for creating such a beautiful and amazing world.