My husband and I sat across the table at a steakhouse from one of my best friends and her husband. She was barely able to make it through the meal due to morning sickness. I was barely able to make it through the meal due to despair. My heart ached for what she had growing inside of her. Although my husband and I hadn’t been trying for a baby for all that long, it seemed like forever. My greatest fear was that my mom’s seven-year struggle to conceive would be my heartache as well. I tried …
Who is Your Neighbor?
Christ rarely answered a question simply. When he was asked he would answer with a question or a story. Often questions were asked to discover the minimum requirement or to look good in the eyes of those who heard. Jesus never let the asker slide. He’s answers pushed the boundaries, left hearers speechless, and infuriated leaders by putting the burden on them. One day he was asked a simple question by a religious leader, “who is my neighbor.” A simple question, a simple response. Right? Looking at Luke 10: 25, we see the question that preceded “who is my …
Who Am I
Have you ever thought about who you really are? Well, I am one those people who comes up with these strange questions. When my dad was about to walk me down the aisle to give me away to a man he hardly knew, he leaned over and said very quietly, “Don’t forget to be you.” It took me several years to determine exactly what he meant by the statement. But somewhere along the years I knew the answer. When I was a child I was Jess and Juanita’s daughter, Butch’s sister, Robert and Beulah’s granddaughter and down the line. …
When He Feels Far Away
As I was getting ready for work one morning, I was thinking about how I felt congested, blocked and separated. God had been feeling so far away. I knew He was with me but I couldn’t feel His presence. A friend had recommended a Julie True worship CD to me. So, I went online and purchased it. As I began listening to the melody and words and the song “Enter In” came on. Those words began to penetrate my heart and soon this dropped in my heart ‘enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise. You must enter in My daughter. …
What Would I Do Without Jesus!?
The best way I could share my background is to take a couple excerpts from my current memoir (see below). I always go back to the first few months of my life, because this is where God kept me in the palm of His hand. I have no vision in my right eye, and what little I had seemed to be not working right when I was born. Born a premie, the oxygen administered after my birth ruined my retinas; I’m blessed to have a little residual vision. The condition was “retrolental fibroplasia” (RLF), but today is known …
Sweet Surrender
There is a Hymn called “I Surrender All” by Judson W. Van DeVenter (1855–1939) All to Jesus I surrender All to Him I freely give I will ever love and trust Him In His presence daily live I surrender all I surrender all All to Thee My blessed Savior I surrender all All to Jesus I surrender Make me, Savior, wholly Thine Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit Truly knowing that Thou art mine I surrender all I surrender all All to Thee My blessed Savior I surrender all But do you surrender everything in your life over to …
Our Attitude is the Prophet of the Future
How’s your attitude today? There’s a saying, ‘you are what you think.’ What’s on your mind lately, and how is that reflected in your demeanor? Do people smile when they see you, or is your conduct telling them something else? Some people who aren’t Christians, seem to think that we should just go around smiling and singing all day long and not have a bad day. This is not one of God’s promises. Although He did promise a fulfilling life with a Godly purpose, God does allow pain and suffering among His children. We should …
Joyous Friendships
Reflections from Corinne’s Garden Magnifying the Light of Jesus in Our Daily Lives Day 6 ~ Joyous Friendships “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.“ John 8:12, NET As we bring to a close the last six-days together, we want to experience the Light of Jesus shining on our friendships; Today, as I am many days of the week in Corinne’s Garden, I’m focusing on God and the refrain to this song flowed into my soul ~ Friendship with Jesus • Fellowship …
Mary and Martha
Women of Strength Mary and Martha Luke 10: 38-42 It is a familiar story. Jesus is at the home of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary, and Martha. Other guests were present and Jesus was teaching. Martha was in the kitchen preparing several dishes for the special guest, but Mary was sitting near Jesus taking in every word he was saying. Frustrated that her sister wasn’t helping her, Martha complained to Jesus and asked him to make her sister help with the food preparation. Jesus answered Martha, but not in the way she expected. “Martha, Martha, you …
Gifts and Desires and Destiny!
A friend’s post mentioned that her children are reading The Boxcar Children series of books. That really touched my heart because those were some of my favorite books when I was a child. And I was thrilled that there are still children who still love to read books. I looked up the author, Gertrude Chandler Warner, and find out that from the age of five, she dreamed of becoming an author. She wrote stories for her grandfather, and each Christmas she gave him one of these stories as a gift. Oh beloved, what gift are you dreaming of? What heart …
Enjoy Life – It’s The Best Side Effect!
Everything we do has a side effect. Even the most fun things have a few issues. One of my earliest fishing trips was with a cousin and her then boyfriend. I was about 8 and she was probably 16. I was so very shy but I managed to ask to ride with them to the pond. She said okay, but watch out for the hook in the fishing pole. Of course you know, I got that hook hooked in my shorts. And she had to get it loose from the cloth. I was both exhilarated and embarrassed. Still it is …
Keep Dreaming
A lot can change in just a short while. This time last year I had no idea we would have a cute little furry friend living with us. It was one of my dreams, but all I did was dream. I don’t think I could have kept up with Rocky this time last year. But I kept dreaming. This time last year I was pretty sick. I’d had surgery and I was in terrible shape. I’d always dreamed of getting healthier and returning to my youthful weight. It looked hopeless. I kept dreaming. Oh beloved, keep dreaming. But watch …