From the Home Place

May 13, 2026

Greetings, I woke up to 40 degrees with a forecast of reaching 86 before this day is complete. With a 2% chance of rain, I predict another day of hot and dry.

Yesterday, Miss Deb, Coffee and I all jumped into the pickup and headed south for me to see the dentist and to gather some materials for landscaping our front yard. It didn’t take us too long to find the things we were looking for, filling the ‘ol Ford to the brim. Next was the task of seeking out the most affordable diesel fuel we could find. We both felt that the Lord led us to a spot that was offering a twenty-five cent per gallon discount on diesel fuel. Some would call it luck, but we called it a blessing.

You see, if you are going to call yourself a Christ-follower, then it stands to reason that the Lord truly desires to be involved in the decisions of your life, all of them. After all, isn’t that part of why we pray? We pray to maintain a healthy, loving relationship with Jesus because we trust His wisdom and His direction. No, Jesus doesn’t treat His disciples like robots, controlling every moment of their lives, but He is always there to assist when we ask.

We saw His hand at work in our lives for our two weeks of travel to Florida and back. We went down to meet our new great grandson, and being cost conscious, we stayed in the cheapest motels we could find. Believe me, there were a few of those places that I sure wouldn’t want one of my granddaughters staying at! Yet, Jesus protected us at every stop. Each morning, we would leave at daylight, thanking Jesus for His provision and protection.

Each day of travel, both ways, there were several moments of praising the Lord for helping us sneak through a very large city with no difficulties. Each day we praised the Lord for helping us find affordable food and lodging. Each day we praised the Lord for helping us find shorter routes, and for keeping us safe among hundreds, and even thousands of other motorists.

We enjoyed several days with our great grandsons and the rest of our family there in Florida, and when we arrived home to find our little place looking just like it did when we left two weeks earlier. We praised Him!

With His consistent protection and provision on our nearly 5,000-mile trip, why wouldn’t we praise Him for helping us have a great trip to Scottsbluff yesterday? But not only last month, last week or yesterday, but why wouldn’t we praise Jesus for anything that comes into our lives in the future? Oh, the future events may not all be to our liking, but we feel quite confident that they will be watched over by the Lord Jesus Himself.

So, is that faith, or just being dumb? I guess that depends upon your personal opinion about the sovereignty of Christ. Psalm 103:19 states, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.” 1 Timothy 6:15 reminds us, “which He will bring about at the proper time-He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” Those verses and our personal experience lead me to trust fully in the sovereignty of Christ!

So, this day, may I encourage you watch for the sovereign hand of our Lord to work in and through your life. If you should be blessed to see how He is at work in your life, please, be sure to stop and praise Him for it! You see my friend, Satan and his crew would love for you think that you “sure were lucky” when such-and-such took place in your life. Oh my, how many times you will miss getting to praise Jesus for His keeping you safe and healthy.

Perhaps a simple prayer like this, “Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see Jesus at work in the day around me” will be fruitful for you. And when you see Him, stop and praise Him.

Watching for Jesus to work around us today with you, Neal