My mom had incredible confidence. Her entire life was a series of one mishap or another mixed with amazing and unprecedented blessings. I think her confidence arose from never focusing on the mishaps but rather showcasing the good things that came her way. She was industrious and worked into her 70’s. When she had cancer at the end of her life I asked God why. She didn’t. I wanted to know why the woman of faith I knew had to endure that mess after all her life endurance. She never questioned. She just kept going. Are you like me? You …
Ageless In The Kingdom
I hope I’m not the only one who ever feels like you’d like to go back and do things over, do things better or get to do some things more. I like to think I’ve done good but the memories are so precious I want to return to them especially for longer. There was a picture of our Stella that showed up on my memories list. It was of her still in NICU and her Popaw was there visiting. It reminded me how much I wanted to just quit work and help take care of babies because it was a …
Don’t Let Your Peace Be Disturbed
We roomed during the conference with some very good friends at a local motel. The accommodations were great and very quiet, all except for the last night. Homecoming meant teenagers had a room next to us. Since they were so very loud we made two calls to the front desk. At the second call the night manager said to us “Yes ma’am we are aware of the situation and officers are here. Please be patient we are taking care of it.” The officer is taking care of it. We could have knocked on the neighbors door and complained in person. …
He Is With You Always
My oldest nephew and his sweetie went on a ski trip. Her words at the end of the trip went like this, “What was I thinking? That I could take up two slim sticks, and slide real fast down a mountain and not have problems?” That’s after her injury was looked at again by a physician at home. Don’t we often have the same attitude of our walk with God? “What was I thinking? I accepted Christ and thought I could just slide through life and right into heaven’s doors. No problems?” Oh beloved, this walk of faith is not …
Childlike Wonder
I think what I like most about Christmas is that it opens our hearts to childlike wonder. Christmas is definitely for children especially. After all it centers around Christ who was born a babe in a manger. I am glad to be like a kid again with fun and enjoyment of decorating, wrapping and preparing. But I am also glad that Jesus is no longer a babe in a manger. Oh beloved! Emmanuel has come and God is with us! Our risen King! He was resurrected into power and gives us all of Himself to celebrate every single day! Most kings …
You Are A Gift
I saw a funny Christmas graphic recently that I saved and sent to a couple of friends who are having issues. It read “Gonna go lay under the tree to remind my family that I am a gift”. If my hubby caught me laying under the tree he’d wonder what had happened to me! But the truth is – we all need an attitude adjustment. We are a gift. Every single one of us. Oh beloved, Christmas is the perfect time to adjust our attitudes. For some reason, even though the season is wild and wonderful, we often focus on …
The Word is – Loved
When I began writing devotionals God spoke to my heart. Choose your platform well He said. That will be what you are known for. I said “I choose LOVE”. Hence all my devotionals call the readers Oh Beloved! When you’re at your wits’ end – You are loved When you don’t know what you will do – You are loved When you have been rejected – You are loved When marriage falters, health fails, friends fail, church falls flat, people become distant, money gets short, when others misunderstand, when prayers aren’t answered, when life happens Oh beloved, You are loved. …
The Word is – Potential
I love word studies! I don’t even know if I ever had potential. Perhaps. Latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness. If I read the Word right, I have potential – the latent ability to fall on my face. The Word goes on to describe us all – sinners that fall short of the glory of God, deceitfully wicked hearts, like sheep that have gone astray, not one of us is righteous. Let’s stop there. But for the Grace of God!!!! Oh beloved, whether you have been deemed to have great potential …
God’s Strength
We have been attending a particular motorcycle swap meet for many years. This year we went with one of our daughters and son in love. We had a great time and since it was misty raining it was especially nice to let someone else worry about the driving. There was only one problem – their pickup is so tall that it was like climbing Mt. Everest every time we got in. Not a problem for Danny but wow, it wasn’t so easy for me. Each time it got a little harder. Finally, I was just about done in with the …
Hiding Something?
A friend of mine has developed shingles. This is a very harsh illness that generally springs up during high stress times for those who have had chicken pox. Her physician told her as long as it’s covered up no one should catch it from her. Aren’t we like that? We have hard times, disturbing diagnoses or family troubles. We may share with close friends or family and we hope they will join us in prayer for healing. And it’s as though you hear the enemy say “as long as you keep it covered up”. Oh beloved nobody is totally immune …
Radical Encounters
One of the first faith books I read as a new Christian was What Happens When Women Pray by Evelyn Christianson. The mission of Evelyn’s ministry didn’t start out to be worldwide, but that’s where it is. Evelyn just had a radical encounter with Christ and then went on to share that radical encounter with others. That’s what we do. We share the encounter we have had. Good or bad, we all share from what we know. Evelyn could not have written a book on prayer if she hadn’t experienced it. None of us can share …
The View From God’s Perspective
Kids understand things often much better than we grown-ups do. Caleb handed me a pair of glasses and told me to look at the Christmas tree. I put them on and everything changed. The view showed prisms of Christmas snowflakes everywhere there was a light. How awesome! There was a pair of these lovely little view changers for his brother and sister too. We’ve had a year. If I just looked at things the way they are I’d be in a hard place. It is what it is sure fits. I could name everything “bad” that happened this year. But …
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