Susan Perelka

Her father had returned! Grabbing her tambourine, she ran out the door with a dance of joy. Rather than the return of joy and laughter, a mournful cry filled the air. Anguish tore through Jephthah’s soul as his strong grip tore at his clothing. “Oh, my daughter!” he cried out. “You have completely destroyed me!…

Heading up the hill, Barak could see Deborah waiting for him under the palm tree. He assumed she had a message from God. After years of hard oppression under Jabin, king of Canaan and his army commander, Sisera, the people of Israel finally repented of their sin. Maybe God was ready to act. All he…

Rahab the Prostitute – almost all references in the Bible refer to her in this way – almost all except one. “And Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,” Matthew 1:5 Here, simply called Rahab. Demonstrating her faith in God, Rahab the…

As the pillar of cloud ascended from the tent, Aaron glanced over at Miriam. He gasped in horror as he recognized the disease taking over her skin, making it snowy white. God’s discipline for her came in the form of leprosy. With a heartbroken cry, he begged for Moses to seek God’s help on her…

She had had enough. Finishing a long day’s work at a department store, Rosa Parks had paid her fare in front of the bus, got off, and reboarded the bus at the back to sit in the black section. Settled in her seat, she gazed out the window as the bus made its way down…

Unloved. When you feel like the most important people around you do not really love you, you feel unwanted, unseen, like you have no value. You seek to be loved and valued in any way possible. And maybe it is not the people but your circumstances causing you to feel unseen and of little value.…

A spring of water drew Rebecca to Isaac, while a well of water drew Jacob to Rachel. The difference? Prayer. Coming to the spring, Abraham’s servant prayed for the woman meant for Isaac and their meeting at the spring gave the servant God’s confirmation. Arriving in his mother’s land, Jacob met shepherds at a well.…

Hoisting the water jar onto her shoulder, Rebekah headed down to the spring to complete her daily chore. Lowering the water jar down, Rebekah heard a voice asking her for a drink. Quickly drawing the water out of the spring and turning to offer the cup, she noticed this man’s ten camels. Surely they needed…

Settling in to watch a movie, I stumbled onto “Runaway Bride.” In the opening scene, Maggie Carpenter, played by Julia Roberts, rides a beautiful horse across the open countryside dressed in a wedding gown. Maggie is famous for leaving three grooms at the altar. Travelling to her small town to report on this unbelievable story,…

Unknown Timing1 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.  Hebrews 11:11 Control – how do I look at control? Not so all goes my way or for a need to be in charge. Instead, to change how things are…