I recently celebrated another birthday. Growing up, my mother always celebrated our birthdays and made sure we had a cake and at least one present, even when times were lean, and our numbers grew. She also liked to be celebrated, right into her nineties. So, birthdays are a big deal in my family, and I … Continue reading Birth Days
One of the things I love about working on a puzzle is seeing the individual pictures, or parts, pop to life. Out of the jumble of individual pieces, a flower suddenly blooms, or a cheetah prowls onto the mat. There is a sense of accomplishment and joy in bringing them to life, “creating them in … Continue reading Our Intricate God
What’s in a name? I was named Patricia Elizabeth. Patricia means of noble birth, and has its roots in Latin. Elizabeth is a biblical name meaning “my God is an oath.” * In the early days of our friendship, my friend and her husband were talking, and Rick was trying to remember my name. “You … Continue reading What’s In a Name?
At 16, I was living on my own. I wasn’t in school, had no job and no prospects. One day, I found myself with no food and only 25 cents in my pocket. I walked to the nearby convenience store and bought myself a popsicle (yes, I am that old), for supper. I had no … Continue reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Recently, there has been some disappointing and heartbreaking news about popular Christian leaders, singers, and writers who have admitted to not living rightly before the LORD. This is distressing to hear, but what has bothered me equally is what some other professed followers of Christ have written about them. We shouldn’t write, speak, or judge … Continue reading Handling Betrayal
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2-3 How many years did I go about my life knowing and agreeing with this verse, but never experiencing it fully. Even in the few moments when I gained a glimpse, the realization that it was … Continue reading A Restored Life
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given. Isaiah 9:6 NKJV Here we are, a few days away from Christmas Day. The stress is rising, fatigue deepening, and frustration mounting as we wonder how we will get it all done. Today, let’s take a deep breath, close our eyes and … Continue reading Advent – Week 5
“For God so loved the world…” John 3:16 NIV Most of us get a thrill from giving gifts to those who are precious to us. Our hearts look forward to blessing them with something that will make them smile, comfort, or help them. God made us in His image. Therefore, it stands to reason God … Continue reading Advent – Week 4
“He was despised and rejected by men, A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” Isaiah 53:3 NIV The faint sound of an infant’s cries, intermingled with the bleating of sheep, draws you toward the opening where the flickering of lantern light emits. The air, pungent with the lingering scents of animal waste, dampness and … Continue reading Advent – Week 3
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12 NIV God is a God of humility. During Advent, we celebrate that Almighty God, who needs nothing and lacks nothing, humbled Himself to be born as a weak, helpless human baby. Not a … Continue reading Advent – Week 2