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”
Tag Archives: pain
When Clods Are Thrown At You
Some days the clarion call in our lives is “Incoming! Take cover!” Battle worn and weary, we wonder: “When will it end? When will peace come again? How do we navigate through?” How do we find our sea legs in an unending storm? Second Samuel 16:5–14 records King David’s experience when his son Absalom conspiredContinue reading “When Clods Are Thrown At You”
Light in the Shadows
Thank you to all who joined me during book launch week. Like after birthing a baby, I’m catching my breath since sharing the book into the world. What joy to share this walk through life with you! For the next several weeks, I plan to share thoughts garnered from “Walking Through Shadows: Finding Hope WhenContinue reading “Light in the Shadows”
Launch Day 2 🎉
Woohoo! 🎉 Launch day 2 is here (three more days to go)! Get your 21-day devotional, Walking Through Shadows: Finding Hope When Life Seems Dark. It’s discounted now through October 24 (ebook at $0.99 and the print book for $10.99). After then, prices go back up. Click here to grab your copy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT515VPQ/ I pray this devotional will blessContinue reading “Launch Day 2 🎉”
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!”
Adrift in the Sea — “It’s OK”
What’s this lonely languishing As I drift on endless waves No port in sight No winging birds Just endless endless sea Beneath me churns those hidden things What might come to snatch me whole While sun beats hot And thunder booms And lightning strikes repeatedly Missing those who’ve turned away Rejecting still my poured outContinue reading “Adrift in the Sea — “It’s OK””
Beneath the Mask
Who am I beneath the mask Of daily said requirements The me whose soul is languishing Searching for the happy face Has carrying burdens overwhelmed Am I too tuned to inward self Not yet dead to temporal Searching for the joy Forgive me, LORD, for wasting time Or is this not a waste at allContinue reading “Beneath the Mask”
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”
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”
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 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”
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”
Under the Hosta
Axel scurried across the lawn, the early evening breeze a tail wind. Snakes and mice and squirrels, oh my! Such a long day of hunting and chasing. In need of a break, he crossed Swat’s well-worn path and ducked under a large hosta leaf. The size of the plant accommodated his full-grown length and girth,Continue reading “Under the Hosta”
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”
The Man on the Curb
Traffic slowed. The right hand lane emptied at flashing lights ahead. At the stoplight an enormous white pickup sat at a slight angle blocking the right hand turn; a man sat on the curb nearby; three police cars parked parallel to the sidewalk faced him and the truck. No other vehicles evidencing an accident wereContinue reading “The Man on the Curb”
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”
Broken for You
“Broken in my heart…then offered to the Father…” These were the words that highlighted her mind as she slowly awakened. Correlations came as she pondered why Christ’s body was broken for mankind. The ultimate offering of self for the uplifting, the nourishing, the restoration of life for others. What exactly did those words mean personallyContinue reading “Broken for You”
Those Things Between
What are those myriad things that wash against our souls, tidal waves lapping, churning, that retreat only to return again? Crests that are braved leaving us weathered and worn before the relief of calm, sun’s piercing light scattering the grey, blowing the gale away? What when those tides are words and looks, voice inflections, orContinue reading “Those Things Between”
Get Up and Walk!
Thinking about our grandson’s requirement to get up and walk after thoracic surgery, I could imagine his pain and the natural guardedness one has when asked to get out of bed and move. Bearing that pain, anticipating more pain, taking courage, receiving help from others, rising up, taking the first step… Like the pain ofContinue reading “Get Up and Walk!”
Entrusting with Hope
So many parents share our hurt A child now grown throws us away Rejects love, the blessings given Denying good we’ve brought her way It hurts, LORD, this rejection deep So well You know the pain we feel Shock, confusion settling in Before air clears to see it’s real Now we must forgive ourselvesOf imperfections,Continue reading “Entrusting with Hope”
Victim or Victory
When reading posts on Facebook (mine included), I find at times a thread of victimhood that raises its hoary head. It knocks on my door of awareness, and breaks my heart for those ensnared, captured in ways perhaps they do not yet recognize. That has certainly been my life’s experience. As the windows of myContinue reading “Victim or Victory”
Beyond Vulnerability
She could barely describe the situation, so overwhelming it felt. Yet she knew she could not rely on her feelings… they were capricious, diaphanous, wispy like foggy droplets wafting on the breeze. They were without substance… just feelings. And yet they flew at her like ice pellets in a raging storm. She felt her headContinue reading “Beyond Vulnerability”
Dew Upon The Arbor 