Recently, I attended an event where I sat at a table with several older women. Lovely women—all of them. Accomplished and happy within their retirement status. But as they began the recital of their health challenges, I realized I was the only one at the table with my original hips and knees. Thank you, God …
As my son deposited his first check from a ‘real’ job, I encouraged him to give some away. “Even if you think you don’t have enough to spare, give anyway. You’ll discover God’s math is different from our math. He can make money multiply out of nothing.” Through the years, I have underscored this principle …
‘Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines. Though the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food. Though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls . . . ’ (Habakkuk 3:17 Amplified). Sometimes we think …
Psalm 37 has long been a favorite passage. Outlined and highlighted in various versions of my Bibles. A familiar place to reflect on the variety of its meanings. This year I returned often to verse seven and found a three-step formula to ease me through the cold gloom. A stairway opened toward Hope. Be Still. …
My deck umbrella waves in the slight April wind as I ponder in its shade. God has granted a beautiful spring morning. A time for reflection. So beautiful outside yet not so lovely within. Every stinkin’ day for several weeks, some type of something has gone wrong. It seems as if my life is shadowed …
A massive earthquake in Turkey. Another black boy murdered. The diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer. Alzheimer’s. Kidnappings. The war in Ukraine. It’s enough to keep us from watching the news. In fact, I am limiting myself to only one short news show per day. Check out the 1440.com for an alternative. Sometimes life unravels a …
Petting zoos are not just for children. They can be a peaceful haven for adults like me who grew up on a farm and still nurture a country heart. So I was excited to find a petting zoo at one of the local fall festivals. I was eager for the sensory experience of touching and …
In different seasons of life, our spirituality fluctuates. No right or wrong involved. Just the normal ebb and flow that reminds us we are mortal. We may feel condemned as those old legalistic tapes scream, “Where is your joy?” But the truth is that feelings do not determine what or how we believe. Sometimes when …
In those foggy moments before the alarm rings and consciousness reminds me of the day ahead, I listen hard for the divine whisper. It is often in the early mornings when the meditations of my heart remind me that I am not alone. The treasure of Psalm 127:2 becomes reality, “God gives to his beloved …
Like a delicate scale tipping toward the stress side, balance remains a challenge. Work takes the main role. Responsibilities scream, “Do me first. No time for play.” But without play, creativity is a leftover. It fights against the stress and becomes its own version of writer’s block. Not that the words cease, but the sentences …