Daily Devotionals — Ruby's Kitchen Table

Watercolor of a wide cut hayfield in autumn with round bales, an old wire fence in front and orange trees along the horizon

devotional

Because it's the fence

"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death."* — Song of Solomon 8:6 Earl would have been eighty today. I am not going to tell you about missing him because I have told you about that

Watercolor of an old cream wall telephone with a coiled cord hanging on a yellow farmhouse kitchen wall

devotional

The night before

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."* — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) Dan called at eight. I picked up on the second ring and said hello and he said hey Mama and I said hey, and that was the first

Watercolor of a dark kitchen window before dawn with a potted herb on the sill and a lamp glowing faintly in the room

devotional

The week is here

"To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul."* — Psalm 25:1 Monday morning and the week is here and I know what day is coming and I am not going to talk about it yet. The list was the usual. Edna. Dan. Hannah. The boy. The woman

Watercolor of a Sunday school felt board on an easel with a felt figure of a woman on a road, folding chairs and colored pencils

devotional

Why Ruth stays

"Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."* — Matthew 18:3 The lesson this morning was Ruth and Naomi and I told the story the way I have told it for thirty years, which is to say I told it simply

Watercolor of a dew-covered white porch railing on a cold October morning, mist over a country road and trees beyond

devotional

The list I can carry

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."* — Philippians 4:6-7 Saturday morning and

Watercolor of a kitchen window with small clay pots on the sill looking out on autumn fields and trees

devotional

Like grass

"As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone."* — Psalm 103:15-16 The psalmist says our days are like grass and I have been trying all week to make that

Watercolor of a white farmhouse in early spring at the end of a dirt drive, daffodils along the fence and a dogwood in bloom

devotional

The first April

"In my Father's house there are many dwelling places."* — John 14:2 I was looking out the kitchen window this morning at the yard and the fence and the barn and the field beyond, and I was remembering the first April. We moved here in March

Watercolor of a closed-up vegetable garden in October, bare beds inside a tall wire fence, a wheelbarrow of spent vines by the gate

devotional

The garden is done

"He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry."* — Psalm 147:8-9 Henry came by this morning and I was already in the garden

Watercolor of a round wall clock reading eight o'clock on a pale yellow farmhouse kitchen wall

devotional

The son who calls

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."* — Isaiah 30:15 Dan called tonight at eight o'clock, which is when Dan calls, because Dan is a man who does things at the time he has always done

Watercolor of October morning light falling gold across a kitchen wall above a farmhouse sink, a towel and old tins on the counter

devotional

The light is different now

"Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."* — Psalm 143:8 The light is different now. I do not mean the obvious things, which

Watercolor of a white clapboard country church with a steeple beside a two-lane road, a few cars in the gravel lot, a shade tree, and blue mountains in the distance.

devotional

The last Sunday of August

"O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you." — Psalm 63:1 The last Sunday of August and I drove to church this morning with the windows down. The air was warm but it was a different warm

Watercolor of a screened porch at twilight with a ladder-back chair and draped blanket, a potted lemon tree, the garden through the screens, and a purple evening sky.

devotional

Saturday evening in August

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." — Lamentations 3:22-23 Saturday evening and the light is going and I am sitting on the back porch and the evening is the