The above picture was painted by one of my daughters. I am the delighted and proud mother of several talented artists. One daughter in particular must paint to relieve stress and quiet her soul after a season of busyness. Watching her take a blank canvas and deftly apply color to create a picture depicting beauty,…
I Can Do!
Once there were two Rottweiler puppies. The first, Tipper, was a fierce protector. When she was all of twelve weeks old, she firmly planted herself between her human mom and a large 250 pound man who had the audacity to step into the yard. Her tiny stance spoke volumes, “To get to her, you gotta…
Can I Forgive Me?
“I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 She sadly shook her head, “Yes, I would love to help with that ministry! But with my past… I just can’t.” She had a colorful past, yet she had repented and…
Am I Ready For Such a Time As This?
The orphan girl who became queen. The stuff fairy tales are made of, isn’t it? Esther is notorious for her story. Her infamous conversation with her uncle describes a common plight we all face at one time or another: fear. While she could possibly save herself and her people from the King’s edict, she must…
Finding Faith to Ask
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Mathew 21:22 NIV I read the above verse, wishing it applied to me. Closing my eyes, I willed to experience first-hand the promise it contained. But I had already resigned myself to lesser things. Life in this world can be tough. I…
Prepare Before Battle
“I signed up for a marathon in six months, I’ve got to get training,” Sami said as she pulled her hair from her face, “but it’s been a long day and I feel so tired.” She glanced around at the mess in her room. “I’ll start tomorrow.” Tomorrow was born a crazy day. The alarm…
Lavish Love
She smiled as she handed me a cup of tea. I had a cold and our nine-year-old daughter insisted on caring for me. “Did you remember a little honey?” I asked. She started to shake her head then stopped. “A little more than a little,” she confessed sheepishly while covering me with a favorite blanket….
Awaiting An Invitation
Miranda angrily shook her head, eyes flashing as she read the text message on her phone. Are you kidding me? she thought. God doesn’t want me now. She knew her friend on the other side of the words meant well, but really, she’d turned her back on God a long time ago, a lifetime ago,…
Pause, Pray
End of the day, but not the list, Burnt meal narrowly missed, Pause to pray Piles of laundry, dishes to do, A dear little girl sporting a boo-boo, Pause to pray. Thunderstorms, Electricity out, Repair truck on the long route, Pause to pray. Drop dead tired, the house to clean, Confronted by…
Time for Everything
Have you ever felt both happy and sad at the same exact time for the same exact reason? This week, I will drop off our first child at college. I celebrated with her when she read the acceptance letter to her first choice school. I really got excited when her scholarship came through, making the…