Happy Retro Day! This story deals with relationships, especially friendships that may not be the best for us. I hope it gets you thinking. Enjoy! ~ Halee

by RTF Staff Writer Lydia Rule

Your closest circle of friends will reveal much about your personality, interests, goals, and even spiritual walk with God. Choosing friends wisely is no laughing matter—it’s a serious issue that reflects your heart.

That is why people often look at my family with a suspicious eye. You see, we have a very close friend that is not at all what you would expect from a Preacher’s family with three impressionable daughters. (more…)

Happy Retro Day! I hope this piece inspires you and encourages you to get a life- a real, true, abundant, extreme life. Enjoy! ~ Halee

by RTF Staff Writer Lydia Rule

I sat outside of the church auditorium with a friend. You could read the uncertainty in her eyes. She was weighing the cost of following Christ, afraid to trade her life for what God had to offer.

“Not right now, maybe later. I still have things I want to do,” was all she could reply.

A few weeks later, I lost contact with her. My family moved, her e-mail address didn’t work anymore, and no one knew how to get a hold of her. (more…)

Happy Retro Day! This week I found some great advice for when you start to get into a rut. I hope you enjoy it! ~Halee

by RTF Staff Writer Lydia Rule

It seems everywhere I go, the same Christmas tunes are ringing in my ear. I can’t count how many times I’ve been told by these songs that Santa Claus is coming to town, it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride, and that chestnuts should be roasting on an open fire. I feel like a humbug when these songs begin to play. There never seems to be any variety; just the same old jingles that I heard last year, and the year before that….

Don’t get me wrong—I don’t dislike these songs, but after awhile, they become rote, meaningless. I robotically sing the words without thinking about them. Repetition makes these songs seem weary and stripped of meaning. (more…)

by Lydia Rule

My cell phone cheerfully rings early in the morning. I grumble, complain, and whine at the very alarm that I had set the night before. I stumble around trying to find my shoes, grab a quick breakfast, head out the door, fight traffic, and arrive just in time for my work shift to begin. I’ve got it down to a routine… it takes exactly five minutes to pack a lunch, seven minutes to eat breakfast, ten minutes to get my hair looking the way it should, and nine minutes of rest should I decide to hit the all-tempting snooze button. (more…)

by Lydia Rule

Happily summer begins
Quickly summer ends
Choices are made
Foundations laid

We sing, dance, and play
But at the end of the day
What did we do or say
To honor our Lord, in every way?

Waves come ashore
Then flee with a roar
Our life oft the same
Leaving as quickly as it came.

What time we possess
Give not to selfish caress
Lift your eyes to see more,
Find a Purpose to live for!

When you sit in the sun
And bask in the fun
Take time to praise
The Giver of Life’s short days.

By Lydia Rule, RTF Staff Writer

Two big brown eyes stared at me. One pink tongue hungrily licked its furry chops. I looked down at my dog, who was salivating in wonder at my cereal bowl.

“It’s empty,” I told him, “There’s nothing left for you. See? There’s isn’t any leftovers.”

He continued to stare, beg, and jump into the air trying to catch a glimpse of my cereal bowl. I walked away and headed into the kitchen to put away my dishes. I could hear his paws devotedly trailing behind me.

Why is he chasing after nothing? And then it hit me. I wasn’t much better than my wishful dog who thought that my empty cereal bowl contained something marvelous. I have often chased after empty things in life, only to find out that I had been chasing after trivial vanities.

As humans, we crave the empty, vain things of this world. And yet, God wants to give us his full and overflowing blessings in exchange for the empty vessels that the world gives us. He offers his gifts to us freely; all we have to do is realize that what we are chasing after is worthless in comparison to serving Jesus Christ. After all, God is the treasure that we need to be seeking after! Nothing else can compare to what He has to offer us!

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. ~ Psalm 119:37

Bio: Lydia Rule is a published author who is frequently found on her computer busily typing away. And on occasion, her poor unsuspecting dog provides the inspiration for her next devotional.

By Lydia Rule, RTF staff writer

I sat outside of the church auditorium with a friend.

You could read the uncertainty in her eyes. She was weighing the cost of following Christ, afraid to trade her life for what God had to offer. “Not right now, maybe later. I still have things I want to do,” was all she could reply.

Few weeks later, I lost contact with her. My family moved, her e-mail address didn’t work anymore, and no one knew how to get a hold of her. (more…)