BLOGS
I’m so happy to have you as a visitor to my blog. My Christian journey is very special to me, and I hope to share some of that excitement with you here!
The Lifesaving Gift of SPR (Spiritual Remembrance)
Do you feel afraid, lonely, confused, or anxious? Are you desperately searching for joy and peace in the middle of chaos and suffering?
The Bible tells us that we have an enemy whose purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy us. But that Jesus came to give us a rich and satisfying life.
What good is a gift not yet received?
Beauty in the Broken
A couple of years ago, my family rented a North Carolina beach house for a month. The tall yellow house stood nestled right by the Atlantic Ocean, separated only by a short pier and a couple of very small dunes, offering an unobstructed view of and full access to the shore for four whole weeks. I was elated!
But a month before we planned to go, disaster rolled into our home like a squall that no one saw coming. And my emotions, like a roller coaster, took a free fall from elated to devastated in what seemed like five seconds flat.
But ONE
There is but One
Who knows the mountain that I climb,
The battle that I face,
The loss that I mourn.
My mountain is treacherous and steep,
Harsh and unforgiving,
With no clear path.
Directional decisions weigh me down, catching me off guard like an avalanche that buries a wrong turn;
Like a Great Grey Owl, camouflaged predators instinctively watch and wait –
Positioned to pounce
Placing bets on when – not if –
I will get lost, get hurt, or give up.
The Making of Lifeline
A few weeks ago, I realized that I had purchased too many perishable foods all at once. In an effort to use all that I had bought, I decided to make a soup.
I pulled out my cast iron pot and browned some ground beef. Then I added chopped sweet onions, garlic, celery, carrots, red potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and spaghetti squash. Next, I added various spices and herbs as well as a bit of cream.
I brought the ingredients to a boil and then reduced the heat and let it simmer. A few hours later, we enjoyed a delicious dinner. Beyond my own table, this soup fed and blessed a friend who was recovering from surgery.
Studying the Bible and memorizing it’s verses is a bit like making soup.
April 6 - Sin or Son
"Many are asking, 'Who can show us any good?' Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord." (Psalm 4:6)
As Winter turns to Spring and all that has been dead or asleep in nature is reborn, you can't help but feel joy when you look around and see the beauty of Creation. Grass and trees grow greener each day and brightly colored flowers pop up through mulch. Squirrels and rabbits scurry around seeking romance and food as they chase each other around my yard. Butterflies and bumblebees dance among the flowers looking for an ideal spot on which to land.
Despite the risks, I absolutely LOVE to lie in the sun. When I lie down and close my eyes, the warm breeze combined with the whispers of nature lull me into a deep, tranquil, state of peaceful bliss where I am truly able to relax.
UNTIL it gets hot and my skin starts to burn. Then the harsh reality sets in. Because even though it feels good, medical professionals everywhere agree that too much of the sun is not good. Best case, you end up with saggy, wrinkled, leathery skin. Worst case, you end up with skin cancer.
Perhaps I should remember there is a much safer Son in which to find rest.
Embracing Anguish
In thinking of anguish, despair and overwhelming sadness, my mind drifts back to vivid memories of my daughter’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. The first night we were in the hospital, I left our room around 3 am and went into the lobby where I broke down.
I do not mean I cried. I mean, I wailed. I could not eat. I could not sleep. I could not imagine how on earth I was going to give my baby shots every day! The thought of my little girl suffering with this disease for the rest of her life just overtook me. I felt I could not breathe. I cried out to God to rescue me and somehow pull me through the storm. He did.
Do you remember a time in your life when you felt anguish? Terrible despair and overwhelming sadness?
Loving Well
It has been almost a month since I last wrote. Not because I have been away from the Lord. But because I just have not had much to say and instead, have been listening.
What peace there is in simply listening to the Lord. Being still. Perhaps reading the bible itself or perhaps adding a devotional written by someone else to it. For me personally, I have to take some time every now and then to fill up: to just listen.
A few weeks ago, we sang a song at church that included a lyric about being filled up just to be emptied again. I keep thinking about that. It is true, isn’t it? We are filled up with the spirit just to be emptied again. At times, it is completely exhausting. But I do so enjoy the process of getting my spiritual gas tank refilled.
Today God led me to Colossians 3: 12-14
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”- NIV
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