During the course of a lifetime, there are some people who make a mark on your life that time can’t erase. One such person who touched my life in a special way was the late Dr. Nelda Hughes Spinks who passed away in 2023.
Dr. Spinks was a storied educator, teaching not only in high schools but at LA Tech and Louisiana Lafayette. Her crowning glory was accepting the invitation to teaching at Guangxi University in Nannin, China.
Toward the end of her career, she created, edited and published e-THOUGHTS, a devotional-based system focused on applying Bible scriptures in everyday life, inspiring countless subscribers, including yours truly.
Dr. Spinks was a member of my church, First Baptist in Ruston. I got to know her and she asked me that since I wrote columns for newspapers if I would be interested in contributing to e-THOUGHTS.
After giving her request some prayerful thought, I decided that to do so would not only give me a chance to write for an expanded audience, it would give me the opportunity to tie my love for the outdoors to what the Bible has to say about one of God’s greatest gifts, His great outdoors. I contributed devotionals for several years to the program
After Dr. Spinks death, e-THOUGHTS faded away but I had kept the 90 or so devotionals I wrote on file. I was inspired to have the ones I had written published in a book, and the result was “Seasons; Connecting with God through the year in His Great Outdoors”.
The book is divided by seasons of the year – Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Here is a sample of one that is timely, considering the winter storm we just endured.
PEOPLE AND SNOWFLAKES; ONE AND THE SAME
North Louisiana has been given a treat seldom seen in this area. One day recently, even the most callous individual had to stop and gaze in spellbound wonder out the window at a beautiful snowfall. Fat marshmallow flakes floated down quickly turning drab dead grass into a fluffy white blanket.
People who study such things say that no matter how many snowflakes it takes to cover the ground, there are not two of them exactly alike. What an amazing thought to realize that each snowflake is unique.
When considering this phenomenal occurrence, one has toconsider that each person on the globe is a creation of God, and like snowflakes, each one is a unique individual.
A favorite scripture that illustrates this truth is the beautifully stated Psalms 139. The entire chapter speaks of the wonder of the creation of human life all designed and orchestrated by Almighty God.
Psalms 139:13-14 (NIV) highlights the truth of this passage that from conception, we are all uniquely created by our Heavenly Father.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Snowflakes and people – each one unique….what an awesome thought!
Thank you Dr. Spinks for including me in e-THOUGHTS. Without your encouragement, Seasons would never have happened. The book is now available at Amazon.com.