Author Archives: Verla Wallace

What God and “NCIS: Los Angeles” Share in Common

Watching “NCIS: Los Angeles” the other night helped me finally understand why I get impatient with God’s plans for my life. I keep losing sight of basic principles that the TV actors follow well. The whole thing began earlier that … Continue reading

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Ballad for an Ordinary Life

Today is playing out as pretty ordinary–full of the duties that keep life ticking, none of which are particularly memorable. I hate the word ordinary. It sounds so dead and meaningless. Then, in the car, I heard a classic county song written in the … Continue reading

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The Fast Track Back to God

Last weekend while driving home from a movie, my husband and I passed a beautiful little country church. It looked more like something from a New England movie set than the modern church architecture you see today. A sign in … Continue reading

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Disappearance of an Old Friend

Friends say she hasn’t disappeared, but she’s seen less often at groups and activities they, too, wish they could ditch but don’t have the guts. They are activities that don’t really feed their spirit or match their interests anymore but they … Continue reading

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Postcard From Paradise

The Gulf Coast of Florida is a wonderful place to be in January. It’s widely known for its tropical beauty, even though the part most visitors see is a beauty that’s been carefully trimmed and manicured and arranged into botanical … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Living, Spiritual Growth, Surviving in an Unkind World | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Breaking the Rules About Christmas

Few people would call this a quiet time of year–not if the merchants, party planners, and other purveyors of merriment have anything to say about it. And, I’ll admit, I love the music, decorations, and the feasting as much as … Continue reading

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What If You’re Not Feeling Thankful?

Recently, my husband returned from a 30 min. pre-dawn power walk through the charming older suburb where we currently live. As he passed a little pocket park near a small shopping area, he noticed a woman sitting on a park … Continue reading

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The Answer to All Your Questions

As an admitted news junkie, I confess I spent a lot of time the last ten days in front of the TV, toggling between election mania and the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Sandy. Americans react to these kind of events … Continue reading

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Are You Poor Enough?

Some of my more jaded journalist pals have been taking bets about which words are considered golden in “moving the needle,” (gaining voter support) in this rancorous election season. The word jobs, of course, is a biggie. But so is … Continue reading

Posted in Compassion, Self-righteousness, The Poor | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What Facebook and the Bible Share in Common

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with Facebook. It’s no substitute for real life (although some people live on Facebook like it IS their real life) and any relating on Facebook is shallow and fleeting. Deep relationships take face time and … Continue reading

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