This early November, not long after publishing the 21-day devotional “Walking Through Shadows: Finding Hope When Life Seems Dark,” I found myself reflecting on the ways the LORD has guided me through my shadows, and the encouragement I received in the process. And on questions that crossed my mind in the aftermath: How do I liveContinue reading “Stepping into the Light”
Tag Archives: prayer
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”
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”
Sin Versus Error
Hi, friends. Why does the word “sin” carry such weight? Why won’t the dread of it let go, no matter one’s culture or belief? The penalty of sin is spiritual death. No one can avoid it. Thankfully, God has provided the way of escape…the gift of salvation through Christ’s sacrifice. A free gift for allContinue reading “Sin Versus Error”
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”
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!”
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”
How Do I Live
How do I live, LORD Every dayWhen here, this place This mundane world Compares not To the joy Of beholding Your face How do I live More willingly When I’d rather sit Never stray from Your feet Listen, refillListen, learn Listen, heal How do I live To leave behind Something outlasting The breath of myContinue reading “How Do I Live”
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”
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”
HONESTY
Grabbed onto or slowly facedHonesty is but the start Of healing wounded shattered selvesOf clearly seeing hearts From retreat to near approach With trembling questions wonderedDo I really want to face Those buried hurts down under? Please…I do…I must for sureIf ever to be freeFrom the seep of festered wounds Into the heart of meContinue reading “HONESTY”
It’s Never Too Late
Have you been dwellingDeep in the coal mine Blackened by hard things So dark you can’t see Stuck in the mud pits Like mastodon capturedDoomed to be buriedBeneath sucking muckLost in the desert Dying for waterStung by the scorpion Vultures wait near Frozen to standstill In icy weather Snow heaped upon you Ice forming itsContinue reading “It’s Never Too Late”
Living Lights: Poems From The Heart
Love poetry? I’m excited to be included in this inspiring new anthology, Living Lights: Poems From The Heart, published by David Lee Martin. Take a look! https://a.co/d/2AXmjsf Blessings! 💞
A Gift of Gratitude
A writing friend recently invited me to keep a thirty-day gratitude journal. To identify every day what I am grateful for, notice the surprising lessons and blessings, contemplate life minus those good things, and journal for about twenty minutes each evening to give praise and thanks to God. How do I view God and theContinue reading “A Gift of Gratitude”
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”
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”
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”
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”
Braving the Door
“Why am I afear’d to go out the door?” Embarrassment crept around me unbidden, like a specter’s shroud. Had this feeling slithered in under the door or risen up from some long ago wound? Frankly, it felt weird…afraid to go out my door to the front yard? Was I losing my marbles? What was happening?Continue reading “Braving the Door”
A Tough Nut to Crack
Imprisoned in a rigid shell Protected from external force The meat, the heart of the nutGrew surrounded very well Defended from all foe Thinking it was self-containedIt realized not the greater strains That exert great pressure Causing change by measure Beyond what it did knowFearful of much transformation Holding sense of stiff controlIt toughened moreContinue reading “A Tough Nut to Crack”
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”
Beneath the Ventilator
As the woman lay flaccid she barely felt the tube placed into her airway, emergency treatment to correct her failed breathing. Her body raged with pneumonia and infection, her temperature high, her fluid levels low as dehydration became worse. Completing the intubation the paramedics hovered over her, administering oxygen while providing respiratory support via ambuContinue reading “Beneath the Ventilator”
Dew Upon The Arbor 