-
Look to the Hills
The hills touch the sky. My eyes lift from the din of today’s circumstances. In my upward gaze I find solace and strength to face what lies in the valleys of my soul. Jesus is my soul keeper. He shepherds my soul well. I stand amazed at how Jesus knows what lies in the cracks and crevices of my soul. He knows what lurks behind the shadows; ever longing to rescue me from danger. He delights to meet me as I draw near to Him. He is ever present. Always willing to meet me where I am. Today, this is enough for me. He is enough. …
-
Floral Love
A new gift of creativity came with 2021’s mark of isolation. Inked florals poured out of my imagination, coming to life on paper through a soft blend of watercolor. This gift of God’s grace ministered life to me during a time of national upheaval. Ink and color became a needed respite during months of uncertainty and unrest. To my delight and amazement, these first six designs became the birth of creating blank notecards. This first set is entitled Floral Love. My heart has found joy through this gift of art, yet it is a great reminder of the love-gift that God so generously extends to all people, everywhere. For this…
-
Letting Go of My Own Understanding
Limitations Lately I have been struggling with a body that seems trapped. I long for freedom of body and mind. To journey life by going after my passion, without the limitations of being physically and emotionally exhausted. To accomplish what I have been gifted to do, with out constraint. In the face of a medical procedure and Covid, I have been consistently fatigued in body and mind. I don’t know about you, but when I get physically fatigued, I often find my mind in turmoil. How easy it can spin out of control! Casting shadows of doubt on the One who I know loves me unconditionally, and the One who…
-
Despite Covid I Have Jesus!
It is day nine of Covid. There is not a creative thought in my head. I am weary. When there are no words to write, it is the Word of God that gives me hope. It is here among these pages of truth that God tells me that I am not alone. He is enough. It is here that I find rest, renewal of heart and mind; as the longing to be Christ-like rises to the surface and spills out upon my blank journaled page. Today, these words spill out as scriptural affirmation and a prayer to God. Right now because of Covid, my health has failed, and my spirit…
-
He will hold me fast!
Today I woke up singing a rendition of He Will Hold Me Fast by Keith and Kristyn Getty. As I fixed my first cup of coffee, heated a grain-free, banana muffin, and sat to meditate, I began to reflect on each phrase. It was in this time of silent reflection, that I felt the truth of these words from head-to-toe. I needed this melody of truth ringing in my ears. As it settled upon my heart, I stepped into another day. When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold through…
-
Desire for Intimacy with God
She approached me in a coffee shop. I was new in town, and the instant I pushed open the door the smooth, grounding aroma of coffee ingulfed my senses. In this instant I knew I had happened upon a local gem. Settling in with my computer in one of four, identical wing back chairs, the ceramic logs in the stone fireplace created a warm, homey environment. Immediately I became immersed in my writing. Words and coffee, they flowed nicely together; but it wasn’t long before I noticed that the tables outside were being cleaned, chairs straightened, and lights dimmed. I had not thought to look at the sign on the…
-
Prayer for Chronic Pain Suffers
It’s two in the morning. A hot tumbler of peppermint tea sits to the side of my computer. In a sleepy stupor, I watch mesmerized, as the steam dissipates into the chilly morning air. I am hoping that my first sip will help to soothe “what-ails-me.” No answers to chronic pain keep me awake. I pray. I struggle. I sort out all I have done to find answers. I take another long, hard look at the answers I do have. Yet, in all this, the real answer alludes me and doctors alike. So, it is mornings like this that I find myself writing, praying, thinking of other chronic-pain-suffers, who also…
-
Courage to Risk
Today I risked! My children’s story is now in the hands of an editor. The Bella Project has been seven-plus years in the making. When Covid hit, I decided to pick Bella back up, and see her come to life by putting watercolor to her simple sketches. It has been exciting to see the progress over these past eight months, as I have steadily plodded along, putting corresponding illustrations to the words of her story. But…just hours after hitting send on my story, I felt like my spirit plummeted. Have you ever felt this way? You finally move forward on something you feel God nudging you to do, and then; BAM!…
-
Tunneling into worship
Paving the way for hope Have you ever wondered how God could take the good, the hard, and the impossible surprises in your life and use them to infuse hope in the life of someone who is journeying through a hard situation? For hope to rise to the top of any difficulty, we need to know that God is fully present, and will remain wholly faithful in every situation we step into and journey through. Hope in Christ gives us not only the desire for an expected end; but the assurance that God will use everything we have gone through, and everything we will go through for His glory and…
-
Social Distancing brings an odd push and pull of emotions
Living close to the Savior is not a place of clamor, confusion and clutter. It is a place of quiet rest despite the storm clouds that come rolling in. They may look like they are going to take us under; but Jesus Christ is the only One who can calm the angry waves. If you remember, the disciples looked at the waves that could sink them while the Master of the sea, Jesus, was asleep in the boat. Through all that we are going through Jesus offers His children the gift of Himself, the gift of hope and the gift of perfect peace admit the uncertainty of Covid 19. Jesus…
