Bible Archives - Diana Derringer

Satisfy Like Honey on a Warm Biscuit

January 19, 2026 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

Cold winter days call for comfort food. Nothing satisfies like honey on a warm biscuit. It fills our stomachs and sticks to our ribs.

To satisfy like honey on a warm biscuit means to comfort or indulge.

As sweet as honey on a warm biscuit is a related simile. SimiliesGuru.com says the expression is used “for cozy, satisfying happiness.”

Our sources of satisfaction differ.

Some of us enjoy a good book. Others prefer a long walk. Many find satisfaction in both.

We may also enjoy:

Time with friends and family
Travel
Naps

Choices vary according to our personalities and interests.

Reading the Bible satisfies better than honey on a warm biscuit.

God’s Word offers:

Lessons for daily life
The way to eternal life
Direction for life decisions

It also reminds us that our words and actions matter. Luke 6:31 tells us to treat others like we want them to treat us. Be as sweet to them as we want them to be sweet to us. Remember, we catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Seek satisfaction that lasts.

Follow God’s guidance for joy that never fails.

“But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (Psalm 81:16 NIV).

Thanks to Sharon Berry for the suggestion.

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Scapegoat

November 10, 2025 Diana Derringer Comments 8 comments

Have you ever been a scapegoat? Something bad happened. It was not your fault, but you received the blame. Or have you ever scapegoated someone else?

A scapegoat receives all the blame or punishment for the wrongs of others.

The person may be innocent or only partially at fault. However, they receive total blame.

Family members accuse a relative for all their problems.
Company leaders condemn an employee for the company’s losses.
Team members blame one player for their team’s defeat.

We don’t like to be accused when innocent.

Neither do other people.

We find the background for a scapegoat in the Bible.

God gave Moses directions for the Day of Atonement. Aaron, Israel’s first high priest, took two male goats for a sin offering. One goat was sacrificed. The other (the scapegoat) had the sins of the people symbolically placed on it. It was then driven into the wilderness.

Rather than condemn others unfairly, let’s:

Take responsibility for our own actions.
Encourage one another to make wise choices.
Forgive the mistakes of others and ask forgiveness for ours.

Let’s not hang one another out to dry. Instead, let’s treat others like we want to be treated.

“He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. (Leviticus 16:21 NIV).

Thanks to Karen Atwood for the suggestion and to Lori Carmicle for the photo.

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Written in Stone

April 28, 2025 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

When we receive instructions, we may wonder if they will change or if they are written in stone. That is true for orders from:

Parents to children
Employers to workers
Governments to citizens

Anything written in stone (or set in stone) cannot be changed.

It is:

Permanent
In final form

Similar expressions include cast in stone or etched in stone.

Written in stone probably originated with the Ten Commandments in the Bible.

Those rules, given by God to Moses, were engraved on stone. They provide direction for every part of our lives.

The first four commandments address our relationship with God.

They tell us to:

Have no other gods before God.
Make no idols.
Never take God’s name in vain.
Remember and keep the Sabbath day holy.

The last six commandments address our relationships with other people.

They tell us to:

Honor our fathers and mothers.

And not to:

Murder
Commit adultery
Steal
Bear false witness
Covet

Years later, a law expert asked Jesus which commandment is greatest.

Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

Love God. Love others. That covers all the commandments in a nutshell.

Thanks to Tracy Crump for the suggestion. Image by Enlightening Images from Pixabay.

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Feet of Clay

February 10, 2025 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

How often do we admire people and think they can do no wrong? Yet, we eventually learn they have feet of clay.

Feet of clay means a failure or weakness.

We have faults. Our heroes have faults. No matter how hard we try to be perfect, everyone falls short of perfection.

This idiom originated in the Bible.

Daniel 2 tells the story of King Nebuchadnezzar and a dream he could not understand. God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel, one of the king’s captives. In the dream, a statue had:

A head of gold
A body of silver, bronze, and iron
Feet of iron and clay

A large rock hit the feet, and the statue crumbled.

Daniel told the king his dream meant the Babylonian kingdom would fall. However, God’s kingdom would last forever.

Because we have feet of clay, we find hope only in our Creator.

If we rely on ourselves, we fall flat. However, God’s strength and guidance enable us to stand firm. Like Daniel, may we faithfully follow the one and only true God.

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his” (Daniel 2:20 NIV).

Thanks to Meghan Bowker, editor of Missions Mosaic magazine, for the idea. Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash.

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Fruit of Your Labor

December 30, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 9 comments

My dad’s garden and orchard fed our family plus dozens of others. He spent years growing food and flowers as a labor of love. Dad also understood what it means to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

The fruit of your labor means the reward for your work.

Your efforts pay off. Because you refuse to give up, you bear fruit.

Long hours and hard work make you appreciate the fruit of your labor.

Farmers harvest their crops.
Gardeners enjoy vegetables, fruit, and flowers.
Students celebrate graduation.
Business owners enjoy profits.

You benefit from your investment of:

Time
Money
Muscle (mental or physical)

The harder the work the more enjoyable the fruit of your labor.

Life may give you long rows to hoe. However, you usually reap what you sow. Greater efforts result in greater rewards.

Make relationships your most important investment.

According to the Bible, the greatest commandments are to love God and love one another. The best fruit does not result from a focus on self. Rather, it grows from love and service.

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours” (Psalm 128:1-2 NIV).

Thanks to Beckham Wilson for the suggestion.

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Kiss of Death

March 25, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

A kiss of death means something that causes failure or ruin.

It may be:

Actions. Poor attitudes or behaviors often result in the loss of jobs, friendships, or other positions.
Relationships. Associating with troublemakers frequently leaves people in trouble.
Events. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can destroy plans.
Poor timing. Failures frequently occur because people begin too early or too late to accomplish their purposes.

A kiss of death may look good but result in great harm.

Damage often occurs even if intentions appear helpful. A handshake or endorsement from the wrong people kills countless business deals and reputations.

This expression relates to Judas Iscariot’s kiss that betrayed Jesus.

When religious leaders wanted to rid themselves of Jesus, they enlisted Judas, one of Jesus’ followers, for help. Matthew 26:48-49 records it. “The betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him” (NIV). A kiss of death has also been called a Judas kiss.

Not every kiss of death ends in permanent harm.

Although Jesus died on the cross, He arose from the dead on the third day. His death and resurrection conquered sin and death. All who place their faith in Jesus also receive victory over sin and death. That’s the message of Easter. Jesus offers everyone a fresh start, a new beginning.

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:6 NIV).

Thanks to Terrie Wilson for the suggestion. Photo by Francesco Alberti on Unsplash

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Beside Myself

October 23, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

The first time I went on an international mission trip, I was beside myself with joy. The opportunity before me almost took my breath away.

Beside myself refers to extreme emotion.

In addition to awe or joy, I may feel intense:

Shock
Anger
Excitement
Sadness
Worry
Panic

Recent news about some of the areas I served leaves me beside myself with grief. I ache for the difficulties my friends now face.

When I am beside myself, I feel out of control.

Strong emotions overwhelm me. I must work to regain a sense of balance—to get a grip.

This phrase appears in the Bible.

The Apostle Paul had shared the story of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He had also discussed his life since that time. Festus, the Roman governor, responded in a loud voice, “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad” (Acts 26:24 KJV). Paul explained that he was not crazy but was sharing God’s truth.

If anyone says I am beside myself, I can think of no better reason than God’s call to share eternal truth and love.

“They were all amazed at the greatness of God” (Luke 9:43 NIV).

What about you? What makes you beside yourself?

Thanks to Stan Crump for the suggestion.

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Out of Sorts

August 28, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 22 comments

Please welcome my friend Kristy Robinson Horine as today’s guest writer. Kristy and I met at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, where she serves on staff. Kristy makes her life in Paris, Kentucky with her husband, Eric, and is mother to four children – Hanson, Anna, Emily, and Sadie. Her professional and creative work has been published in newspapers, magazines and anthologies in Kentucky and beyond. She offers encouragement for each day through her book, In a Season of Mondays: A 30-Day Devotional Journal.

I knew before I came into the kitchen, I was in trouble. My daily responsibilities took longer than anticipated. I still had to put away groceries and unload the dishwasher before I could start supper. My day had not gone as planned, and I was out of sorts.

To be out of sorts means to be jumbled together or mixed up.

Sometimes, being out of sorts happens the moment our feet hit the floor in the mornings. There is no rhyme or reason for the feeling. It just happens.

Sometimes, being out of sorts happens because of other people’s decisions:

A child volunteers to bring cookies to an event but doesn’t tell us until the night before.
A co-worker drops the ball, and we are left to pick up the pieces.
Another driver gets distracted and crashes into our car.

Other times, being out of sorts happens because of the decisions we make:

We forget to unload the dishwasher at the right time.
We say yes to too many things.
We don’t communicate well, causing chaos and conflict.

Whether being out of sorts comes from within us or from others, we can still choose to act in a way that pleases God.

We find clues in one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

“Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:1-4 World English Bible).

Learning from this passage, we can easily get back on track, even though we find ourselves out of sorts. We can:

Listen to those who have been there.
Look at our situation with accuracy.
Lead others to know the truth.

What are ways you find yourself out of sorts? Can you listen, look, and lead to put things right?

Subscribe to receive Diana’s weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.” On September 9, 2023, one name will be randomly selected from Diana’s mailing list to also receive a free copy of Kristy’s In a Season of Mondays. If your name is already on the mailing list, you are automatically entered. Please encourage your friends to subscribe.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment.

Part and Parcel

March 27, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 8 comments

When our family sold the house where I grew up, we included all the property on that side of the road. Those few acres, in the middle of nowhere, held part and parcel of my childhood memories.

In addition to the house, we sold:

The lot where my grandmother used to live
The woods where we played
Dad’s garden and orchard
A small hay field that helped feed our cows
The shop and garage

We kept all the farm property across the road. When we go fishing or check the farm, we still get to see our homeplace. However, the essential part of our childhood home no longer belongs to us.

Part and parcel means an essential part of anything.

It is a basic feature such as:

Edits for writers.
On-call duty for doctors, firefighters, social workers
Middle of the night baby feedings for new parents

Success requires meeting those vital responsibilities.

This expression includes a legal background.

According to The Free Dictionary, part and parcel has been used as a legal term since the fifteenth or sixteenth century. Its main use was for “clauses of a law and for parts of a landholding.” Part means “a portion.” Parcel means “something integral with a whole.” The idiom “began to be used more loosely from about 1800. Although both nouns have the same basic meaning, the redundancy lends emphasis.”

The Bible holds part and parcel of God’s will for our lives.

Love God.
Love others.
Repent and trust Jesus.
Follow Jesus’ example.

For details, I urge you to read all the Bible.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV).

Thanks to Ann Maniscalco for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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At the Drop of a Hat

February 20, 2023 Diana Derringer Comments 6 comments

My grandmother worked in her flowers at the drop of a hat. I wish I had inherited her green thumb.

My talent? I cry at the drop of a hat.

Happy times? I cry.
Sad times? I cry.
Babies and puppies? I cry.
Sad books or movies. I cry.

Tears come quickly, and almost anything causes them.

At the drop of a hat means suddenly and with little warning.

Many of us laugh at the drop of a hat. We find humor everywhere. People around us laugh at our laughter. What a hoot!

At the drop of the hat also means without delay.

Mention travel, and we pack our bags to hit the trail. We want to leave immediately, if not sooner.

This expression probably originated with dropping a hat as a signal.

According to The Free Dictionary, a dropped hat signaled “the start of a race or other contest” in the late 1800s.

A few people help others at the drop of a hat.

If they have it, they share it.

Time
Abilities
Money
Possessions

Without hesitation, they practice “What’s mine is yours.”

We read such a story in the Bible (Luke 10:25-37). Often called the parable of the good Samaritan, one man helped another who had been robbed and beaten. The Samaritan ignored differences in background and culture. He simply saw a need and met it.

Referring to the good Samaritan, Jesus said, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37 NIV).

Thanks to Ginny Merritt for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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