No Longer A Dead Dog

The astounding gift of grace God offers us, and a testament of His love and character, is beautifully exemplified in the Old Testament story of Mephibosheth. After his father and grandfather were killed in war, Mephibosheth lived in Lo-debar. Crippled in both feet from age five, he had no home of his own and no inheritance. Was he lookedContinue reading “No Longer A Dead Dog”

When Family Wounds Run Deep

Why the ongoing dissent in so many families? Irreconcilable differences, anger, unforgiveness, walls of not-talking. Where are You, LORD, as family members estrange each other? We are all broken people trying to survive. It hurts when some choose others as their “family,” distance themselves, and leave us bewildered. Our hearts are shredded when differences crucifyContinue reading “When Family Wounds Run Deep”

Book Launch Week!

Hi, friends! Launch week for my 21-day devotional, “Walking Through Shadows: Finding Hope When Life Seems Dark,” is here! 🎉 Please pray this offering will reach where the LORD wills…I feel like a child with a few loaves and fishes, excited to see what the LORD will do!  Ebook and print book prices are discountedContinue reading “Book Launch Week!”

Walking Through Shadows: Finding Hope When Life Seems Dark

Hi, friends, I’m excited to announce my new 21-day devotional, now available on Amazon! Inspired by my journey through different life shadows (challenges), I hope these devotions will help you walk through yours. Where is the light when darkness of the world overshadows you and steals your joy? Do you feel confused, lost, overwhelmed? HaveContinue reading “Walking Through Shadows: Finding Hope When Life Seems Dark”

Singing a Miracle of Praise

Time rewound and there I stood, in a New York City apartment, fellowshipping with others and singing praises to God in Holy Spirit song. The JOY of the LORD washed through the room and cascaded through us.  It was 1972. I was in New York for a work-study program at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital, theContinue reading “Singing a Miracle of Praise”

A Mama’s Prayer

Help her to rise, again, from the floor In Your strength, LORD Not just her own Help her to realize every breathIs a gift from You Guide and direct her every choiceThough she might deny Your name Land her where she’ll safely grow Into the warmth of Your embrace Find her rest in You KeepContinue reading “A Mama’s Prayer”

Softly Changing Clouds

The clouds were soft today A gift, to gentle sun’s blinding rays Take the spotlight off reality Loved ones soon moving far away Excitement and despair Waves lapping and cresting Leak tears held at bay Lest emotion bring a drowning flood The clouds know this gathering weight Wisps turned cottony then pregnant with rain NotContinue reading “Softly Changing Clouds”

Mountain Reflections: Poems From My Heart

Writing prose and poetry has long been a rich place for me to mine for the truth of things and explore hidden depths of emotions. Inevitably, God teaches me as I hold up my thoughts in the light of His Word, the plumb line of truth…all things are measured by it. Throughout my lifetime, comingContinue reading “Mountain Reflections: Poems From My Heart”

Escaping Depression’s Tomb

The tomb of depression, my little room of despair, has threatened to squeeze life’s light out of me. Chinks of sadness, slowly mortared into repressive stones, attempt to close off the door of joy, oppress my spirit, and obstruct my desire to scoot out into the vibrancy of life. Looking beyond the shadowed portal, IContinue reading “Escaping Depression’s Tomb”

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”

Buckie the Bull and Other Short Stories

If you enjoy animals, have a youthful heart, and struggle at times to make sense of life, check out my new book, Buckie the Bull and Other Short Stories. Written for ages 10 and older ((fifth grade reading level), these sixteen faith-based short stories of a farm family, their friends, and their animals will warmContinue reading “Buckie the Bull and Other Short Stories”

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”

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”

Fields of Roofs

In 1954 my hometown boasted a population of 12,500…or was it 25,000? My memory has blurred, yet the contrast with today’s 470,000 census is stark. Our wide agricultural valley is slowly turning into urbanville. Endless neighborhoods, sprawling subdivisions, and acres of multistoried apartments cover vast fields once known for prime pheasant hunting. The longest partContinue reading “Fields of Roofs”

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”

For That Veteran

An unusual sense of foreboding hovered over the gloomy low-ceilinged parking garage. I drove cautiously to the second level before finding an empty spot, and was relieved it faced the outside light. An older grey sedan pulled in on my left moments later, and out popped an equally older, short, wiry man whose wrinkled, weatheredContinue reading “For That Veteran”

A Beautiful Meeting

There he was…dark haired, mustached, tall and lean…just as in their youth. She’d heard, then saw him looking for tools in the workroom, his mannerisms reminding her of Dad, purposeful and precise. Decades pulled them from each other, stretched like taffy. Previous grand gatherings dwindled with growing families, varying interests, different friends, the pandemic; allContinue reading “A Beautiful Meeting”

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”

The Broken Lantern

A newly crafted lantern, shined and bejeweled through hours of careful attention, sat proudly on the shelf in all its glory, waiting to fulfill its purpose. The shop hummed busily with browsers, many hands touching, grabbing, turning, checking the lantern from all angles. Did it meet their needs, was it just right for their intent,Continue reading “The Broken Lantern”

Thanksgiving Thoughts 2022

Transplanted seedlings we were once Or perhaps some started here In this valley verdant greenWith rivers, mountains, trees and streamsDeserts near for those who would Leave this vale where they did start Planting new shoots far awayIn climes calling to their hearts Yet our roots are intertwined No matter how far they have grown NotContinue reading “Thanksgiving Thoughts 2022”