Category Archives: The Beauty in His Grip

Nesting In

Janis Van Keuren

The “Nesting Season” has settled in. Instinctively, birds everywhere are gathering twigs, moss, cotton, string–whatever will pad their nest with comfort. Us humans feel that same need in spring to make our homes a comfortable place. Windows are thrown open releasing the stale air of winter. Closets are cleaned and organized. Walls, windows, baseboards, blinds and everything that captures dust is scrubbed down. Colors capture us, and we have a newfound fascination with paint swatches. We save magazine pages displaying … Continue reading →

Snowflakes Whisper in the New Year

Janis Van Keuren

Large flakes spaced far apart drifted down from the heavenly night sky creating a sense of newness. The Old Year was passing away. The slate was being purified and created for a New Year. As hubby and I looked at our unusual desert wonderland, we were as excited as little kids. The heart that Jesus wants coming to Him. We joked with our neighbors out in this barren wilderness a little before midnight they engaged in a snowball fight. Then … Continue reading →

The Writing Connection

Janis Van Keuren

This is Part II of a story about God’s dream and plan for my writing. Part I appeared two days ago here. It began last year with the American Christian Writers Conference. I was dragging my feet about going as my writing was a ringer for the round file. Then I heard that another blogger Janis Cox had arrived in Phoenix to spend her winter months away from the depths of snow in Canada. We began chatting online, and I … Continue reading →

Loved Beyond Measure

Janis Van Keuren

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3 ESV The alarm interrupted my morning slumber, and seconds later hubby was nudging me to crawl out of bed. Even though I had eagerly anticipated our women’s retreat, the temptation to just stay in bed after a long and tiring week was pulling me back under the covers. Once my feet finally hit the floor, I moved through the motions of getting … Continue reading →

Camping in His Glory

Janis Van Keuren

Rain pounded the metal room of our pop-up tent as we relaxed inside to the comforting sound while we read. It’s that forced moment of rest that we all long for but fail to create in our busy schedules. (Click to Tweet) After the summer monsoon passed, the pungent aroma of pine trees permeated the air. We stepped outside to a carpet of wet grass and wild brilliant daisies bursting forth from the soft ground. White clouds drifted across the … Continue reading →

It’s Not Always What You Expect

Janis Van Keuren

Every Tuesday as I push through the glass door of our local gym, I see the same older woman. On the same stationery bike. With the same bland expression on her face. The first day I saw her, I really didn’t notice her. I walked purposefully behind her and climbed onto the treadmill next to her. I carefully pushed in my earphones and began tapping out instructions on the treadmill’s panel indicating my speed and time for that session. As … Continue reading →

Are You Heading Down a Dead End?

Janis Van Keuren

Have you ever wanted to drive right past that sign that says, “Dead End” ? Maybe the palatial mansions ahead beckon you to venture a safe distance down the road. Or maybe you are a dyed-in-the wool risk takers or adrenaline junkie that just loves the rush of an unknown adventure, figuring you’ll stop just before you spin the wheels into a screeching halt. What is it that entices us down that road? Could it be our basic, rebellious, fallen … Continue reading →

Blooming in Barrenness

Janis Van Keuren

Each day I drive by these botanical symbols of life in the springtime desert. The ocotillo dressed in statuesque elegance with its plumes of red flowers sways in front of the Sonoran Desert hallmark, the giant Saguaro. I drink in this fleeting beauty which will fade as spring turns up its heat and all that will be left are the spiny thorns which make these sentinels unapproachable. Still I marvel at God’s artistic majesty to create striking beauty in a … Continue reading →

Peace With Yourself

Janis Van Keuren

Well, here I go for a second time writing this post. Somehow Blogger decided to publish–without my knowledge or even pushing the publish button. Of course at that time, there was nothing on the page!! And then I wrote for two hours…..And. It. Was. All. Gone! When autumn winds began to blow before the crush of the Christmas panic, I met an incredible writer at a Christian writers conference. And I made a promise. A promise to post a review … Continue reading →

Does Your New Year Hold Promise

Janis Van Keuren

                A New Year opens up like the budding of a new blossom. Some blossoms are filled with a sweet fragrance. Some blossoms have large, colorful petals. Some blossoms unfurl with spots, scars from pest-infested days. And some blossoms open quickly, announcing their presence to the world, then suddenly the petals fall off in rapid succession. The memory of the flower is gone.      We cannot predict how the New Year will unfold anymore than we can predict … Continue reading →