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: patience
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”
Facing The Lion’s Den
“I feel like I’m walking into the lion’s den.” I looked at my husband with those words hanging between us. My heart pounded. I was about to enter a situation I wasn’t ready for, face something I didn’t have the strength to handle. The biblical Daniel faced actual lions—thrown into their den for praying toContinue reading “Facing The Lion’s Den”
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!”
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”
Potter and Clay
Matt Tommey’s reel on The Thriving Christian Artist today on Facebook reminded me of who I am…clay in the Potter’s hands. It gave me pause to consider again the “design of my life, the position of my heart, the gifts I’ve been given.” LORD, am I malleable clay, is my heart soft, does my mindContinue reading “Potter and Clay”
Fighting Me
Fighting the “I don’t want to” Selfish tantrums reveal Unredeemed parts of me Needing to bow down Before the LORD For His will Immature places Not yet transformed Humble me Frustrate, yet Broken places are where Living water may pour in Come, Holy Spirit, come! Redeem my earthly soul Make my mind, emotions, will AlignContinue reading “Fighting Me”
Relinquishing Self
Why does this irritating trait Rise within my soul Though crucified Through Christ’s blood Is self-love reigning in my heartHard to let me goThe warp and woof of daily things Interrupted by my thoughts Hasty words only bringCorrection when I ought To patiently forebear Quietly forebearIrritants a crucible Reveals the stubborn dross A fire burningContinue reading “Relinquishing Self”
A Listener’s Lesson
Opening just a little To reveal a precious thing Even to beloveds Might crush a wounded wing If reins are rudely takenConverse torn away By overeager listenersIntent their words to say With surgical precision They wield an upper hand While tumbling o’er each otherIn exuberance so grand Diverting in a tangentThough parallel in kind TheyContinue reading “A Listener’s Lesson”
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”
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”
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”
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”
While Waiting
‘Tis not a final failure when A vessel’s power drops No wind to fill its sails fullSans force it finally stopsEnters doldrums not foreseen “Take charge and sail,” it’s told“Make the choice, demand your way” “Compel the winds to blow” Inept to stir the mighty wind Command, exert its will Rather readies for the changeContinue reading “While Waiting”
Extending Grace
{How long the wait, is the cry}{Before things run without a hitch}{Problems popping ceaselessly}{Seem to go indefinitely}{Pulling thoughts around me firm}{I know the answer, indubitably}{If only others would agree}{Work things out the way I see}WAIT! Could it be a larger view Helps reveal a deeper truth Of a picture greater than One’s own mind canContinue reading “Extending Grace”
The Introduction
“Come on, Rocky! Come on!” she cried. “Hurry up!” “No! No!!” he said shaking his head. “But…p l e a s e…this is important!” “I won’t do it,” he said, reluctantly. Grabbing his arms the young girl literally dragged her second grade classmate, his body and feet flailing, his red hair and freckles nearly glowingContinue reading “The Introduction”
Two Sides of One Coin
It hit me like a head-sized bubble one morning. That thing about opposites attracting, people somehow magnetically binding together so strongly one can hardly pull them apart…unless they get backwards. Then their magnetic forces push them apart, not unlike those magnets we played with as kids. A friend recently posted a Facebook comment about positiveContinue reading “Two Sides of One Coin”
Visits at the Wood Shop
The old man showed up faithfully. Not a set schedule, unless a project was in the works. Woodworking allowed his strong hands to feel the timbre of the wood, to grow in his mastery of creating, honing and shaping, fitting and joining, sanding and smoothing, then finishing all with protective oil or sheen. All thisContinue reading “Visits at the Wood Shop”
Love’s Refining
Sanded long with upmost care ‘Til satiny and smooth When a finish was applied Wood grains rose up quite rude Then with sanding once againPressure wielded precisely The wood in places yielded fine In other spots not nicelyStill the wood-smith worked his craft Refusing to destroy it More than just to feed his fire HeContinue reading “Love’s Refining”
The Gift of Irritation
Perhaps we are gifted With a thorn of irritation To help us see within ourselves Our own throbbing situation I wonder why a teller’s stance Never seems to change And sigh deep within myself‘Oh, here we go again!’Pricks of aggravation Settle o’re my countenance Listening to the same old tomeHearing heartfelt elegance Then contemplate whyContinue reading “The Gift of Irritation”
Dew Upon The Arbor 