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Social Distancing: Beginning with the end in mind
Part Two: Re-birthing the vision: The Bella Project This week I began my indoor flower garden. After purchasing a kit that contained multiple silver-dollar size discs, and several of my favorite seed packets, I invited my granddaughter over and together we went to work. I gave her a bowl of warm water and a measuring spoon. Soon she was tossing spoonfuls of water on the tiny pods. It was fun to watch the mystery on her face as each pod began to grow right before her big brown eyes. Within seconds the pods began to swell to well over three times their original size. The water had given birth to the…
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Beneath His Wings
FOR THIS I HAVE JESUS NO MATTER HOW STEEP THE HILL I CLIMB NO MATTER HOW SWIFT THE CURRENT I SWIM NO MATTER HOW ROUGH THE ROAD I WALK OR SWIFT THE BREEZES OF THE WIND NO MATTER HOW STILL THE SILENCE IS NO MATTER HOW THROBBING IS THE PAIN NO MATTER HOW MANY TEARS THAT FALL I KNOW THAT JESUS KNOWS MY NAME. NO MATTER HOW DEEP MY LONGINGS ARE NO MATTER HOW EMPTY IS MY SOUL NO MATTER HOW MANY PRAYERS I PRAY OR CRIES TO BE MADE WHOLE NO MATTER HOW WIDE THE CREVICE IS NO MATTER HOW FAR I FEEL FROM HOPE…
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The Secret Sanctuary
Enter into the Secret Place Have you ever longed for a secret refuge, a place of your own? That perfect spot where you could tuck yourself away from the world so you could pray or be alone with your thoughts – unnoticed by others. As a young girl I would often watch my oldest sister quietly leave the house and disappear around the curve in our country road. I would watch with mystery, wondering where she was going. Funny how I never thought to follow her. Somehow my heart knew this was her alone time. Years later I asked my sister where she would go and what she would do…
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The Incomparable God: Part Two
Rehearsing the Greatness of the Incomparable God I couldn’t believe it. I had lost the diamond in my wedding ring, yet again. Yet this time, not only was my diamond missing, but the entire setting! After getting over my deep dismay I cried out to God. “God, you care about the smallest things that concern me. You see my diamond right now. Please, help me find it!” The Incomparable God is intimately acquainted with me The Incomparable God is intimately acquainted with His creation. He cares about what we are concerned about. I have been able to rediscover this truth, time and time again. In the course of three days,…
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The Incomparable God
The Incomparable God Part One: Recognizing the Incomparable God After three international flights, and just as many layovers, I had lost track of how many hours it had been since my husband and I had left Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines. Just hours earlier we had sold our last piece of furniture, and now were rounding the globe towards a new beginning. Tears were crusted on my flushed cheeks revealing a hard ending to eight years of ministry among expat co-workers and our beloved Filipino’s. “Why are good-byes so hard?” I thought to myself, still feeling a pang of wanting to turn the plane around and return…
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Children of the Philippines
The journey is never long when you take it with a friend! Over the past 37 years I have taken many a journey with my husband and best friend. After years of traveling together and patiently watching Joel take all the pictures, I finally asked for my own camera. I remember the request well. We were walking through the crowded streets of Chengdu, China and my eyes longed to capture everything I was seeing. It was then, I finally decided, that no one should ever have to share a camera! That Christmas under the tree was a beautiful, red Canon camera. It was that Christmas and…
