The swirling snow obscured the frozen lake and mountain view before us. The last few days, temperatures dipped to single digits, then soared to mid-forties. Yesterday, puddles appeared on the snow packed gravel driveway. Would they freeze and turn into a patchwork of tiny skating rinks? Or seep into depths below? Streaks of sun piercedContinue reading “A Changing Firmament”
Tag Archives: faith
The Little Man
Delicious aromas wafted through nostalgic oldie songs, the growl of grinding coffee beans, and buzzing octaves of conversations. Within this happy cacophony, a tiny, blonde boy swayed to his own tune, his sneaker-clad feet carrying him towards a glass door. What did he see? A bright grin lit his face, and his eyes sparkled. AbsorbedContinue reading “The Little Man”
Receding Snow
Day after day sparkling white blankets covered the world, and gave the earth permission to pause. Now the pristine mounds of white are nearly gone, soaking silently into the earth, and chasing soiled slush down grated drains. Is winter melting away, the long-awaited snow too soon relinquishing its place, receding and signaling the earth toContinue reading “Receding Snow”
A Snowflake Lesson
January’s weeks of storm watch, snow on the ground, and arctic freeze has kept much of the Northern Hemisphere poised for winter’s worst. Recently I stayed up late, anticipating the huge blizzard predicted for our area. Remembering picturesque winters from the past, I couldn’t wait to see beautiful, large snowflakes fluttering down. While putting awayContinue reading “A Snowflake Lesson”
Leaving Lo-debar
New Year’s Day 2024 dawned with the promises of new starts and resolutions. Yet, as I reflected on the state of the year left behind, I wondered at that growing, kicking child of strife and unrest silently waiting to emerge from the world’s contracting womb. A glance out the window revealed a fog of environmentalContinue reading “Leaving Lo-debar”
The Melting Snowman
When it feels like life is meltingDespite sunny days When storms and rains lash fiercely Drain strength fast away ‘Tis then our God our Father Creator of our days Is catching all the drippings Tears coursing in a race And like the melting snowman Whose face beams joy and play In blessing or in meltingContinue reading “The Melting Snowman”
A Tiny Ember
A sweeping illness blew through me Snuffed near out my candlelight Yet in my fainting heartsick lowA tiny ember glowed in sight Breathe oh Breath of God on me Gently fan anew my lifeBring once more Your steady flameLet my soul again burn bright Tamp not out this lantern’s use Hover healing Breath o’er meContinue reading “A Tiny Ember”
Tap Tap Tap
Tap tap tapDo you hear my callTap tap tapWhen will it fall Tap tap tapAm I breaking through That wall surrounding you Tap tap tapThe world’s voice is strong Tap tap tapWill you hear my songTap tap tapWill love be received Or are you rejecting me Tap tap tapMy love will never cease Tap tapContinue reading “Tap Tap Tap”
A Frantic Chicken
After an intense two weeks of good things, hard things, challenging things, a weird sense of overwhelm descended and I tumbled unexpectedly into exhaustion. As my enthusiasm and energy drained away, the old adage of “running around like a chicken with its head cut off” came to mind. How often do we humans race intoContinue reading “A Frantic Chicken”
A Grain of Sand
Who are you small grain of sand Lost ‘mongst trillions in the sea Washed and tossed and swirled around Gulped, spit out repeatedly And yet you’ve stuck somewhere fast Encapsulated in your world‘Til light shined on opened shell Look! What wonder! You’re a pearl! Had you ever barely dreamed Beyond confines of tiny frameTo becomeContinue reading “A Grain of Sand”
Opening A Door
Tears streamed down her face. How could a few chapters of a book pierce her to the core, open a door to a locked room she knew not existed? How could this be? And what would she, could she do about it? At this moment in time…nothing. Her life path was chosen, ruts worn deep.Continue reading “Opening A Door”
Far Too Long
It’s been far too long since we’ve talked Since grandkids came and books were readSince dogs and cats and our goose Chased our children in the yard And frogs sang ‘neath the house Since children played long night games Laughing, running bush to bush Who would reach the front porch firstAvoid the tag and notContinue reading “Far Too Long”
The Refiner’s Fire
Gold born in crude earthen condition Impurities girdling, invading within Confining hardness needs to be broken Release contaminants’ hold Mere specks of glory hidden beneath Wait for refinement to be revealed Heated to melt, burn not awayThe gold, but all that is not Cast in the fire of sanctification Dross bubbling up into confession BarsContinue reading “The Refiner’s Fire”
Salmon Run
Small fry wriggling in delight Through rocks and pebbles of stream bedForm a school born up high In mountain waters fed Growing slow yet rapid stillCruising shoals and waterfallsAvoiding spears and fishing hooks Eagle talons and bear jawsOn t’wards the sea to be Full of life robust and strong ‘Til the day the mountains sing‘ComeContinue reading “Salmon Run”
Meeting Forgiveness
The wound had been healing for years. It was hard to keep track of time, the calendar flipping like frenzied numbers on an old clock radio. All the woman knew was the ongoing cry of her heart…her whole, easily bruised being physically hurt. “You really need a counselor,” she was told. That broadsided her. SheContinue reading “Meeting Forgiveness”
The Sea of Hope
Piercing…how else could the jolts be described? The lights suddenly flipped, speech was silenced, understanding fled, and he was left adrift, a spirit afloat in a broken vessel at the mercy of forces beyond human control. Was this the crowning assault on his life? Was he near the end of his run only to beContinue reading “The Sea of Hope”
Overcoming Again
She lay flattened on the floor, the wind knocked out of her from the never ending battle. She awakened each day this way, a lingering shred of hopelessness refusing to let go. Was she a mother sorrowing for her adult children, their choices hurting them? A wife caring for her ailing husband? One enduring herContinue reading “Overcoming Again”
Hope Deferred
Waiting with prayerful petition Goes on forever at times Months slow turn into decades Years roll languidly byHeart sick heavy with sorrowRefusing to heal, to mend A shroud of heaviness hangingMulling its way in the dim Why yet no answers so wanted Those heartfelt cries to aboveOh to see the great picture See with God’sContinue reading “Hope Deferred”
Our Tombs
The door slammed shut blocking any trace of light entering the pitch black room. He might as well have been dead and buried; the crushing experience was the same. Isolated, abandoned, rejected, ridiculed, he could only cower in a tight ball thankful he could still breathe. He had been beaten and bloodied…again. The boy wasContinue reading “Our Tombs”
The Helmsman
What to do when asked to goInto waters yet unknownMatters not if calm or stormUnfamiliar though they are The Helmsman knows the way How to navigate from deep Through shallow shoals that want to catch Would He who guides forsake us then Leave our ship to list and wreck Forgotten on the way Fear notContinue reading “The Helmsman”
The Strength of His Hand
She wasn’t completely sure who they were, this darling couple and others who came to visit time and again. They called her Momma or Auntie or Nona… who were these people? Her once short coifed hair had grown long and limp, the slow loss of curl and shine reflective of the persistent fading of herContinue reading “The Strength of His Hand”
Heart Song
As if from the LORD: Shhhh…can you hear the vibration? Beyond the noise of screeching, thumping, whirling? Beyond the voice of opinion, fear, confusion? Can you hear the music My sacrifice brings, conquering earth’s cacophony to touch your heart? Be still…listen. Quiet yourself that your soul might hear My still small voice whispering Love toContinue reading “Heart Song”
Singing to a Flat Soul
Barren as the windswept plains So my soul feels on this day Homeward bound to unknown things Earthly cares a’jumblingTugging on my heart LORD, help me set aside the thoughts Of things I cannot understand And look to You to guide my day Taking burdens from my hands As I trust in You Keep meContinue reading “Singing to a Flat Soul”
Come Alive!
Ever bid a wounded animal come to you? When rescued with gentleness an invitation is given to receive loving care. Imagine the response if harshly approached: retreat, avoidance, a defensive snarl or bite, or perhaps in weakness no response at all. What then of people who snarl and snap out of their conditioning or woundedness,Continue reading “Come Alive!”
Cloud of Witnesses
How interesting to be living in modern times. So much effort to replicate God’s great design. If only man’s efforts were all for godly purposes, and not so often for selfish gain. Infused with creativity in the image of the Creator, replicating and fashioning is a part of what we do. It is built intoContinue reading “Cloud of Witnesses”
Dew Upon The Arbor 