I’m excited to introduce a special guest and her writing to you today! Kelly Balarie is a master encourager and a passionate writer and speaker about God’s truths. She knows the power of God’s truth for the heart, soul, and mind and since we are all about turning toward truth and grace here, I want […]
Outside forces can impact rivers; obstructions can cause the current to divert and cut channels in a new direction. The Mississippi River once changed course because of the New Madrid earthquake in 1811. It has been said that beavers are “ecosystem engineers.” When they build dams, they create brand new ponds and divert the way […]
Well, I’ve put this off for a long time, but I’ve finally created the first episode of my first podcast! Friends have told me more than once that they wished they could listen to my blog. Like me, they just don’t have time for all the reading they want to do. As my friends and […]
I didn’t sleep a wink the night before our class IV/V adventure down the Chattooga River. It was a ride I personally did not sign up for. A part of the vacation that my husband thought would be a great family experience. I was thankful for the mandatory safety video and short class we had […]
I used to live just one street over from the bluffs that rise up over the Missouri River. I’m familiar with its power. My kids and I loved to walk down to our historic town’s riverfront to stand at the banks and throw rocks and sticks into it. Sticks were our favorite because we could […]
Is it wrong for me to think I can reflect God? Humans aren’t perfectly holy, all-present, or all-knowing. Don’t worry! I don’t propose that we can reflect those kinds of attributes, but if we are in Christ we are enabled and called by God to image other attributes of Himself; the ones He calls His […]
It has been a few months since the bitter, cold day that our sweet rabbit, Cocoa, gave birth to her four babies. It was a day that Cocoa acted on her feelings instead of the realities and truth of her situation. The result was quite horrific to see. The ensuing tragedy gave me a terrifically […]
Sometimes, fighting my own thoughts feels like climbing a mountain. There are slippery slopes, jagged, painful edges, and dangerous cliffs. Being out of my comfort zone can bring on thoughts that are not based on truth and, hence, a mountain climbing expedition! I recently found myself outside of my comfort zone and started questioning my […]
Inspired by my journal from three years ago: “I told you guys I need peace this morning!” I had just prayed that the Lord would help me know what to write about for this blog post. He answered quickly. Without skipping a beat, my husband let the dog loose to come upstairs. “I thought it […]
We’ve come to the second of Brother Lawrence’s six ways necessary to develop the spiritual life in The Practice of the Presence of God. I’ve been talking a bit about my weekly phone call with Suzanne each week and how it’s inspired me in practicing the presence of God. Something I enjoy about my […]
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We weave thick vines in and out of and around our circular, amateur base to create a decorative ball. Soon, solar lights will be added to make it a visible yard ornament for the dark fall and winter nights that stretch ahead of us. It seems to be an illustration of our friendship. By now, […]
Do you ever feel ashamed or disappointed that you have lacked faith or confidence in God…or even doubted Him? Our doubts, lack of trust, or weak faith may tempt us to think our faith isn’t strong enough. Let’s look at some scripture passages that might encourage us – even if our faith feels small today. […]