Tagged: faith

6

Comfort and Hope / Encouragement / Prayer

Nothing Is Lost

PART TWO of the Following Jesus Birthday Adventure. The wide-open door of the purple building seemed like a warm, welcoming gesture. Two black benches adorned with perky yellow pillows flanked the entrance. So what if there was no signage outside, my friend and I were curious to discover the purpose of this darling establishment. Stepping inside was magical. Bright white floors, shiplap walls, and soaring ceiling planks enveloped us in peace. Light emanated from the space. An artful display of leather journals, meaningful jewelry, wooden signs, gorgeous clothing, and other goodies filled the store.  Eye AND soul candy—what can be...

All This And Heaven Too 1

Encouragement / Teaching

ALL THIS, AND HEAVEN TOO

She was in a bind. Her appointment began before her husband returned from work, and she needed someone to care for her two littles. The one-hour gap in parental coverage seemed impossible until a friend of mine offered to watch her children. If the mom could bring the kids to Sherry’s home, she would care for them until their father arrived.  Late in the afternoon, the grateful mom delivered her 3-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son to Sherry’s place. Sherry—imagine sunshiny happiness with a playful spirit—greeted the children. Although the young mom and Sherry were close friends, the children did not...

Advent joy 0

Advent / Comfort and Hope

ADVENT JOY

What joy! To think—before the foundations of the world—this moment. This time in history when we find ourselves smack-dab in the middle of the already and the not yet. Christ has already come. In Him we live and move and have our being, but He is coming back. The not yet has us waiting—confident and hopeful of Christ’s return. We join the ranks of those who waited long before we arrived on the scene. Those who knew of what was foretold, believed, lived by faith, but died without seeing it’s fulfillment. Waiting in faith Hebrews 11 recounts the stories of...

substance and evidence 2

Comfort and Hope / Encouragement

SUBSTANCE AND EVIDENCE

You know the feeling—when life careens off the predicable rails or the bottom drops out leaving you grasping at air. Those moments you never imagined—startling like the sinister jack-in-the-box jester. All is well, turning the crank while sprightly music tinkles from within the metal box. Then in an instant—unexpected mayhem erupts. Perhaps that is a bit dramatic but you get the point. Life has a way of catching us off guard.  Surprises, and not always delightful ones, come. I have been thinking a lot about those unsuspected surprises lately. MAKING MEANING From what I have seen, humans like to understand....

Calm collected faith 0

Poetry

CALM COLLECTED FAITH

ASSURANCE Not one “Oops!”, “Uh-oh”, or “Sorry!” but perfection in all His ways No mistakes, sovereign ruling throughout our fleeting days What seems mistake or worse, an “accident” of chance Is well within His grasp, not dicey happenstance. But evil and injustice—how can these things occur Without Him moving quickly and justice to secure? Higher, more profound, far beyond our grasp The Master works His wonders, and one day we will gasp When dimly becomes clearly, and all is fully seen Worship, adoration, repentance in between Humbled, staggered knowing—wise beyond belief Beholding Sovereign Wisdom, the fullness of relief When Cross...

GARDEN HOSES, GREENS AND GROWTH 2

Uncategorized

GARDEN HOSES, GREENS, AND GROWTH

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  ISAIAH 58:11 I stood in my yard, garden hose in hand, watering a field of cartoon-looking, cookie-cutter bright green plants across the road. A vast expanse of weedless dirt punctuated with perfectly spaced vegetation sprawled before me. Undaunted, I held the hose coming from the field and watered the crop. A man in a car approached. Slowing down at the sight of a hose stretched across...

mower 10

Comfort and Hope

SHADE OF GRACE — PART ONE It’s Hot Out Here

It’s Hot Out Here Think Hot Texas summers can be brutal. By August the monotonous stretches of 90-plus-degree temperatures leave you desperate for relief. The afternoon sun was high and so was the grass. Mowing earlier in the day would have been wise, but schedules and life often require flexibility. A couple of passes in the front yard and my pores were leaking. Rivulets of sweat ran down my face and back while flecks of grass and dust kicked up by the mower plastered my clammy legs. Wiping my eyes while trudging across the too-tall turf, I vowed I would...