Morning Glories, by Brenda Cannon Henley

Three trees on a hillside

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
People all over the world celebrate Christmas in different ways. Legends, family stories, and sheer traditions make us aware of just how different, and yet alike, we are. One of the things I like to do is to find a new or different story each year to share with my grands, great grands, and our church family about this holiday I love. This is one

Crunch time – buy a book

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
We are getting down to the wire for Christmas gift giving. We have given hours and hours of hard work, shopped hundreds of pages of advertisements, scrolled through page after page of gift ideas on our phones, tablets, and computers, and still came up dry. What do you buy for someone you love or care about deeply? How about that

Permanent reminder of a temporary feeling

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
I saw someone do something really dumb the other day, but it wasn’t my circus and they weren’t my monkeys, so I could not do anything to help other than pray for a decent outcome. The incident reminded me of a line or two in an old Jimmy Buffet song. He sang about “a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling.” How many

Gratitude

Brenda Cannon Henley
By Brenda Cannon Henley
This little wooden sign that is displayed prominently on my condo bathroom wall likely means nothing to you, and that is understandable. But, it helps to change my life and keep my focus. I spend time looking at it every morning as I dress and make myself presentable to face the day.

Decisions, decisions, decisions

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
I find the older I get, the more time and consideration I put into even the smallest decisions. I tend to evaluate the choices I have to make, the amount of time and energy involved in each, the cost, and perhaps most important of all, the overall outcome of my choice. Is it God’s perfect will in my life? Does it stand with Scripture or

I will not give a gift…

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Some of my readers know that I founded a ladies Bible study and service group when I moved to Florida after my husband lost his battle with cancer. Almost every single member of The Broken Pots has had some tragedy, hurdle, or burden to learn to live with or overcome. We chose our name because we realized that everyone has some

Words fitly spoken

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Proverbs 25:11 teaches simply and very plainly that our words are important. They can bring joy, peace, calm to a turbulent situation, or they can dish out pain, long-lasting hurt, and rabid violence to a single individual or a mob. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver,” is the exact quote I referenced in the opening

Age or aged

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
My son is normally a kind and thoughtful man. He is my pastor and he cares deeply for all his congregation. He counsels many hours each week and is good with all of the members of our church. He is a huge sports enthusiast, he travels often and speaks in other churches and meetings. Finds time somehow to be involved

Get ready, get set, because you may be going

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
The thoughts preceding this writing are the root cause of why I am writing what I have chosen to write today. In May, August, and September, I have personally lost three close friends. Neither of the three expected to be dead by September 13, but they are. I thank God that by all accounts, all three were saved people. They had put

Where do you want your reward?

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have

Stay in your lane

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Driving down busy I-10 in Mobile, Alabama, nearing the tunnel that goes under the bay this week, I had occasion to remember a very old sermon I heard years ago. The cause of my memory focusing on that old group of truths that has rescued me many a time from getting in trouble, our vehicle came along side of

Where is your heart?

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
The subject of the human heart has had volumes written about it by authors of every area – Medically, scientifically, sociological, behavioral, and spiritually. And even as I think about this vast subject, more is being debated, investigated, discussed, and written about it for us to read, study, and digest.

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
The question was asked, “Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?”
The Gospel of John 20:7 tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly

Practical Advice for Christian Living

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Many of us are blessed to attend good churches where we are taught the Word of God by people who put in the effort to study, prepare, and present lessons that encourage, enlighten, and educate. We know that ultimately our citizenship is in Heaven, and that one day we will abide there, but in the meantime, we must live in

The Untouchables

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
In introducing a three part series of lessons to my Broken Pots Study and Service Group, a few weeks ago, I asked a leading question about the subject. Some were wary of admitting they knew the answer because by giving the correct reply, they would certainly be admitting to their well hidden age. A few brave souls gave the

The Touchables

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
On Saturday I taught my ladies study group, The Broken Pots, and it seemed to me the Lord met with us in a real way. My lesson centered on the “Touchables” and the “Untouchables.” Most of our lives had been impacted and greatly influenced by the sudden and surprising death of a very dear friend and talented

Running the race that is set before us…

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
I was asked to run this particular column again this week. Some dear and kind people that I know well and love deeply have been thrust into the race of their lives recently and are running, resting, and relying on the Lord with all they have within them. If you or I know someone who has been called into battle for health, financial,

Use what you have

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Many of my faithful readers know that my only son is my pastor. Dr. Brent Stancil is senior pastor of Community Bible Baptist Church in Pinellas Park, Florida. We have a large and varied ministry, as well as a vibrant missions program reaching out to thousands around the world. My son and daughter in law have founded

As for me…I will sing my song

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
In 1988, Orel Hirshiser pitched a shutout in game 7 of the Baseball World Series to win it all. He was MVP that year. He went on the Johnny Carson show like you do when you win that kind of game. Johnny showed a clip during the very tense game of a very calm Orel as he appeared to be talking to himself as he waited in the

Running the race that is set before us…

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
(God said) “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Because this one verse of Scripture had been on mind since early yesterday evening, I awoke with the full intention of looking at it in several translations of

What does Easter mean to you?

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Asking five different people what Easter means to them, I received five different answers. All participants were helpful, willing, and sincere, and boasted perhaps above average intelligence. All were not active church goers or members of one specific church or faith. Realizing that the circulation of our newspaper reaches people from all

Automobile gas tanks and our hearts

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
The one thing I loathe doing is taking the car to get serviced even if it is a minor oil change. Ted took care of all that when he was alive and all I had to do was get in and drive wherever I wanted to go. I noticed the other day when I was getting the necessary oil change is that the young man, though kind enough to me, came back to me three

Careful little fishy

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
The story is told by Archie Bost that two little fishes were swimming lazily in the peaceful lake when they saw a piece of meat dangling in the clear water before them. The younger fish darted toward it with an open mouth. Sensing sure danger, the older fish cried out, “Stop!” “You can’t see it, but there is a hook inside that meat. It is

Great day for the local church

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Pastors, associates, staff members, and ministry leaders, our local church just experienced a wonderful day that I believe will change our entire yearly outlook for all of us. Most church leaders, committee chairs, and individual ministry directors, whether paid or volunteer, are usually super busy people. It is not uncommon for these talented folks to

God’s promise to Hagar

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
In recent weeks preceding the holidays, I penned three stories or articles about Hagar. We learned she was the handmaid of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, in Old Testament scripture, and we noted several times that the Abrahamic Covenant is still very important to us in this day and age. Much historical information has been

Choose positive for the New Year

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Here we are on the cusp of the new year of 2023. Some of our readers closed out a good year of 2022, and others a very good year. We must not forget the very difficult road others of our friends and family members were called on to walk, and the challenging year they survived. For my own family, my precious, funny, intelligent

I love words

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
I love words! As long as I can remember, I’ve loved words. One of my precious aunts who lived in my Mama Cole’s home where I was born thoroughly enjoyed telling the story of my love of books and words even at only a few months old. She says she came into what would now be classified as a “family room” and found me sitting on the

God sees me (Part Three)

Brenda Cannon HenleyBy Brenda Cannon Henley
I once heard a well known minister of the day that was seemingly very popular, sought after for speaking engagements, and a caring individual. But, he said something that evening to a large crowd of over 3,000 people gathered to hear him speak that I did not agree with then and I disagree more with his

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