Valerie K. Starnes

“And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it” Jer. 18:4. The Heavenly Potter molds each of us for His purpose. When I became a new creature in Christ

“Without courage, truth is an orphan.” This quote reminds me of a passage in Psalm 39:1-2, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14a) The word (from the Greek logos) is referenced throughout the first three Gospels. “…speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” “…He cast out the spirits with His word…” “Heaven and

History tells us nearly half the Pilgrims perished during their first winter at Plymouth. They suffered from hunger, disease, and bitter cold. By God’s great mercy, a year later, the Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest, giving thanks to God for

Do you remember singing “I’m in the Lord’s Army” as a child in Sunday school class? The Bible is filled with illustrations to help us understand the Christian life and walk. For example, I like to think about the blessed man in Psalm 1 and the metaphor of

Have you ever bitten into what you thought was a soft, gooey, chocolate chip cookie, but instead you sunk your teeth into a disappointing raisin?! That troubling turn of events may have caused you to leave the rest of the cookie on your plate! Unexpected

Prepare for the future, but don’t borrow trouble! I’m remembering a consultation I once had with my doctor before an upcoming surgery. I had been doing a little self-education with the informative Dr. Google (a good friend ). I was concerned about a rare

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psa. 90:1-2) Today we share some final thoughts

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psa. 90:1-2) We consider a generation to be a

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psa. 90:1-2) The Bible speaks to generational

“Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the

“Commit thy works unto the Lord…” (Prov. 16:3) The value of preparation is packed into the book of wisdom, Proverbs. How can I apply this wisdom to my life? There are some great illustrations from nature found in Prov. 30:24-28. “There be four things

In the days of Samuel the prophet, the ark of God had been absent from the tabernacle in Shiloh for over twenty years. God’s people were burdened by national anxiety and unrest at the hands of the Philistines. There is a phrase used in 1 Samuel 7:2 to

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.” Isaiah 64:4 To prepare is to make ready beforehand for some purpose,

Harvest and Thanksgiving! These words bring us feelings of peace and plenty. They remind us of bountiful gatherings of food, family, and friends. A verse that I pray often is Psalm 119:17, “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy

Do you enjoy the cooler temperatures and beautiful colors that come with the fall season? Not surprisingly, Proverbs, the book of wisdom, shares much insight regarding the changing seasons of earth. One very well-known passage is Proverbs 6:6: “Go to the

“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the

What can I do when I am so discouraged by the arm of flesh? When a friend has failed me? When a hoped-for desire remains unfulfilled? When my body breaks down? What blessed peace and relief I find in this picture of hope the Bible offers… the stretched