My Sunflower Vine vigorously twined up my garden trellis. I allowed a wild vine to grow nearby thinking they would just mature side-by-side. However, by the time I realized my mistake, the damage was done. The wild vine had choked my Sunflower Vine!
All in God's Character
FAITHFUL…REGARDLESS
In deepest grief, the writer of Lamentations wrote of the destruction of his beloved city and nation. Even though his people had experienced terrible atrocities and even though they were still experiencing pain and suffering, he made an amazing statement about God: …great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23).
God’s Strange Work
God’s work of judgment is “strange” to Him. It’s a task alien to His nature. Scripture is clear that God’s act of judgment is always righteous and just, but as Lamentations states, God’s act of afflicting His people is not an act from His heart.
A Picture of Mercy
If I asked you to take a picture of something representing God’s mercy, what would your photo include? Would it be a selfie of you and your friend hugging—the friend you had previously hurt with your words. Would you take a picture of the warning you received from the police officer instead of a speeding ticket?
Consider This
Sandwiched! Troubles behind and troubles on the horizon. We’ve all been there, right?
What is your typical response when difficulty hits?
Climb on Up
My grandson climbed up into my lap. Of course, I loved that and hugged him tightly. He wanted to observe the actual process so I put my foot down on the pedal very gently. I did my best to go at a slow pace to keep him safe and sound. You can imagine the joy of holding him near while doing something I loved to do. My husband could not help but take a picture so we could hold on to that memory.
Jesus Loves the Little Children
The filing cabinet housed an extensive collection of Bible story pictures for teaching children. My fingers touched then gently, encouraging my childhood memories to slowly resurface. I could almost hear the words of my teachers who held them while telling those amazing stories.
Lost, but Found
It had been a full day of running errands, traveling out of town, swimming with my grandchildren… That night I noticed the diamond in my ring was missing. It wasn’t a large diamond, but it was treasured.
Write a Book
How many of us would love to write a book? It would have a clever title and then right below it would appear our very own name. We could then identify ourselves as authors. How prestigious does that sound?
Simply Because You Love Me
I could hardly believe it! I was moving into my new house that I had never even seen. My husband had called me a month prior saying he was putting a contract on a house. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to see the house first.
Strength of My Heart
Recently, I was walking behind a grandmother holding her granddaughter’s toddler- hand.
The hands intertwined were a precious picture… two extreme ages, with the aged lending strength to stabilize the young.
The visual made me realize… aging is not what I expected.
Found!
At the moment of realization that I had left my wallet in a busy interstate highway gas station two hours earlier, my heart began racing while my brain began rehearsing the rapid steps of what to do next. Call the bank card company. Call the credit card company. Call the station where I left it. Tomorrow, go to the driver’s license office to reorder my license.
Our Dependable God
My youthful father transformed rugged acreage into a small working ranch. The five springs on the property helped him envision the land’s potential.
The Journey I Wouldn’t Choose
She finished reading the book and declared, “It was a journey I didn’t like being on.” Using that statement to describe a book is no big deal. But for many of us, that statement describes a complicated life situation that we can do nothing about. Many of us are on journeys we don’t like.
Aging with Gratitude: Grace and Mercy
God longs for and tarries to lavish His lovingkindness on us. He honors those who do the same for Him! Waiting is purposeful, not inactive. Love waits and is long-suffering. I am so grateful to Him because I tend to tire quickly the older I get. Consider the following true story:
Our Heavenly Father’s Patience
“Hold your horses!” Though I did not understand the phrase, I did know Mother intended me to settle-down-and-be-patient. I still struggle with patience, but God does not. It is part of His essence as well as His Son’s and His Holy Spirit’s.
Level Ground
My daughter and I decided to go on a spontaneous trip to Enchanted Rock near Fredericksburg, Texas this summer. Fortunately for us, a cloudy sky led to much cooler temperatures than normal for June.
God’s Mighty Hand
My daddy’s hands were also the biggest and the safest hands to be wrapped up in. When I needed protection, his muscular hands were my help. When I needed comfort, his gentle hands would wrap me tightly and hold me close.
Full Circle Love
“Your mother was my teacher. When I discovered I was pregnant, I transferred to her school. She helped me through a very hard time in my life. It is an honor for me to care for her during this difficult time in hers.”
Love and Grief
I am, unfortunately, all too experienced at saying these goodbyes! But, I was not prepared for six granddaughters to simultaneously wail so loudly that their mothers came running!