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 →
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 →
October rolled around and I had forgotten about the 31-day challenge to write every day on one particular topic. I’m late to the party but hoping I can add a little something here each day until the end of October. Even that will be a challenge for me. My topic will revolve around “Linking with Jesus.” Aren’t there so many things on the internet that ask us to link up with them? Everything from the “Linked-In” site itself to people … Continue reading →
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 →
On our ride back from a San Diego weekend that glistened with joy, the love of family, and the closeness of friends, I carefully pulled my Bible with its broken binding out of the red tote bag and read the day’s Scripture to our family. It seems the only time we do this though, is when we are tucked in our car together on long trips where no one can escape. That Monday, June 16, was our oldest son Tim’s … Continue reading →
“Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son And now let the weak say, “I am strong,” Let the poor say, “I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us.” Lyrics by Don Moen (c) 1986 Hearing the words wash peace and trust over me. I see myself standing shoulder to shoulder with our first Christian community of brothers and sisters. Hands raised in … Continue reading →
For days my heart has been tugging at me to count my blessings again! It’s a drawing that brings joy just thinking about it. Relief, hope, love, and deep gratitude are all tied up in this aching. And I cannot let it go another day. My very being cries out to proclaim the goodness of the Lord. I started counting my blessings in April of 2010 with Ann Voskamp’s Gratitude Community. Then the name changed to Multitude Mondays and I … Continue reading →
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 →
A special friend stopped by today. Unexpectedly. In her hand, she held a Christmas present meant just for us writers. Pencils standing at attention with their points poking up encircled a fashionable holder. Kindred spirits we are. I felt the bond of friendship deepening.Where could she find such a perfect gift? She casually mentioned that it just happened–“while looking in and out of the shops.” I imagined her strolling the aisles, poking in those cutesy boutique … Continue reading →
I was standing over the stove top cooking the Chicken Tarragon when I felt my impatience grow. The timer was set to brown each breast filet for 4 minutes on a side. The three boneless breasts huddled next to each other in the cast iron frying pan while I watched the timer tick away the minutes. I had already measured and set out the other ingredients so the only thing left to do was WAIT. The timer … Continue reading →
