Several weeks ago I was riding shotgun next to my youngest man-cub. Glancing down, I noticed that the cupholder between his car seats held multiple square post-it notes that had cursive writing on them. Intrigued but not wanting to appear nosy, I casually asked, “Are those notes from someone special?”…
A Tappable Grip
“Hold your plans loosely”, a beloved mentor once taught me. Leaning in eagerly at Naomi’s kitchen table on Saturday mornings, I would come like a thirsty young mother, trying to drink in every drop of wisdom and much needed encouragement that she offered. Naomi turned her right hand over and…
Rental Mindset
We moved last week.For the tenth time in our 29 years of married life, our address has changed again. My husband and I both grew up deep in the country, like 100 acres of country. We rode our bicycles on gravel roads, “went to town” to get groceries, and fell…
The Helper of the Fatherless
October 9, 2020Exactly 40 years ago tonight, I became fatherless. God’s promises to the fatherless have always been especially precious to me because of what happened in my life at the tender age of 12.Though my own loss of my dad was especially traumatic because he died suddenly and unexpectedly…
Beauty In the Remaking
My guess is that not many people cry when they read Ezra chapter 3. I did. And then I kept crying right along with the old men who wept in verse 12. Ezra chapter 3 is about rebuilding. After living in captivity in Babylonia for 70 years, a remnant of…
Marching Orders
Many moons ago, I was the majorette for our high school marching band. Truth be told, one of the reasons I tried out for this extra-curricular job was because of the adorable, white tasseled boots that were a perk of the position. Yes, the boots were that cute. As great…
Oxymoron
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 I like words and quotes and pretty scripty fonts. I have words and phrases and scripture references deliberately hung and strategically placed all over our…
Sitting Isn’t Quitting
Undaunted – adj. Not discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment. Aside from having a definition with a built-in alliteration, undaunted is an excellent and inspiring word.It seems an infinitely noble concept to face hardship and not be discouraged. Ever.Nerves of steel comes to mind. And yet to me, seeking to live…
Rosette
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I leapt without looking last December. And landed in Haiti. Throughout the week I felt generally unsafe and mildly afraid. And day after day was…
He Will Be Our Peace
On a ledge above my kitchen sink, the words of Micah 5:5 are displayed in brilliant white lettering on a lovely dark wooden plaque. “He will be our peace.” This verse is a reminder for me that when my world is spinning, my heart is racing or the plans I…