There are places that stay with you. The log cabin meeting house where I spent countless hours at 4-H and other community meetings during my growing up years. The church where my grandparents did and now my parents and sister do attend. The farm fields around my childhood home. TheseContinue Reading
“Ok. Pack your stuff. You’re going on a trip.” “What?!?!? To where?” “Just pack. You leave soon.” “What are you talking about?” “Just pack.” “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1 NIV) “Seriously?! Just pack and travel for some unknown amount of time to some unknown place??”Continue Reading
This week I was able to visit my 100 1/2 year old grandmother who lives about 10 hours away from where I live. She’s in remarkably good health, all things considered, although she’s become blind in the last two to three years. For a woman who gardened, sewed, and createdContinue Reading
God of the Downtrodden, With all the universe, the high heavens and everyone on earth, we praise you! We praise your name in song and glorify you with thanksgiving. Thank you for the goodness of your love and how, in your great mercy, you turn to us and hear ourContinue Reading
God of Miracles, We give thanks to our Lord and call upon your name. We sing praise to you for all your deeds and wonders, for all your glory, and for your strength. We seek your face continually, longing to be in your presence. We remember with gratitude your marvelousContinue Reading
God of the Children and the Future, You, Lord, are our God and we love you with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. From everlasting to everlasting, your Love is with those who fear you – who have reverential respect for you. Thank you for the promise that thoseContinue Reading
As I write this I am preparing to take a ten-day trip to see family in two different states. The flurry of preparation for this involves preparing at our house to be gone, contacting relevant relatives to make plans, packing clothes, food, and children’s things, and preparing the car. AsContinue Reading
The pokeweed I have been battling in the garden has thick roots that are sturdy like a carrot. The bigger the weed, the bigger the root. The bigger the root, the stronger its hold into the soil. This is a metaphor for things in our lives that are “weeds.” SoulContinue Reading
(a part of the preface to the book I am writing:) I’ve never considered myself an exceptionally patriotic person. I was glad to be born in the United States and never wished I’d grown up elsewhere, but I wasn’t interested in being that flag-waving, crazy patriotic lady who cries duringContinue Reading
God, there are two things I’m asking you for before I die, only two: Empty out of my heart everything that is false—every lie, and every crooked thing. And give me neither undue poverty nor undue wealth—but rather, feed my soul with the measure of prosperity that pleases you. MayContinue Reading