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 […]
It’s been a lazy summer. Delightful, easy, carefree and…I don’t want it to end! With a light schedule and easy days, there has been less temptation toward frustration in the home. I guess that is why I wasn’t prepared for it. I became frustrated and angered very quickly at a situation with […]
Do you ever foolishly stoop to drink from another fountain than Christ? I do. I feel Him calling me to turn away from my fleshly responses to life and back toward Graceland. Trusting in Him fully in each moment. JESUS is my entire blessedness. Why do I wallow in the world and flesh? I have Him…abundance…in […]
I live in wine country. Grape vines surround this town and some, older than my grandmother, line backyard walkways and fences. I’m familiar with their lush greenery and abundant fruit in the late summer and also their barrenness in the late winter. Do you see beauty in these pictures of the barren grape vine? I do […]
I woke up this Saturday morning to a fresh blanket of snow. By mid-afternoon much of it had melted. With warmer weather moving in, I decided to take a walk with my camera. Just a short walk down a hill and I always come to this. A rock wall and an overlook of the Missouri River. A clear view of the […]
Today was the day we had been waiting for all winter. We spent twenty minutes locating hats, snow pants, the lost boot and the missing glove. We made the trek to our backyard sledding hill (the alley behind our house). I listened intently to each crunching footstep. Last winter, snow was a regular occurrence. Somehow, […]
Sometimes that sweet steeple can have some ugly underneath it. I think it’s safe to say it out loud. I don’t know too many who haven’t been disappointed by something ugly that has happened in church. There will be disappointments within the walls or under the steeples of our churches, but we are witnesses to a watching […]
“As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” […]
Do you ever wonder if you’re good enough or doing enough? I do. I have these thoughts quite often as I try to carry out my faith as a wife, parent, daughter, sibling, friend, parishioner and worker. The list could go on couldn’t it? All of the roles we take on in life. When I think […]
I love my country and the people who serve and have served me…us…with their lives. I join today with others with thanks to God for our freedoms and our nation. We are blessed. But I can’t help to think each Fourth of July about how I feel a bit strange declaring our independence. Is it because […]
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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. […]