Swinging Bridge

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 When I was 24 years old, I had three children under the age of 5. I was living in Montana miles and miles removed from my family in Texas. My husband, their father, was seldom home and not very helpful when he was home. I felt alone; I was alone. I had this recurring dream.  In this dream, I was … Continue reading Swinging Bridge

A New Pillow or Four

  Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7: 7-8 Some time ago, I had promised my son a new pillow.  I didn’t forget this promise, I just hadn’t made time to go get it. And, of course, he didn’t let me forget it. Many times over the period of 5 days, he reminded me. I found it … Continue reading A New Pillow or Four

Name to Face

Look at the sky and see.     Who created these things?     Who brings out the stars one by one?         He calls them all by name.     Because of the greatness of his might and the strength of his power,     not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26 Taking care of kids involves a lot of paperwork. One piece is our Name to Face sheet. On this we put the name of each child who is attending. Then every time we take them from one room to another or from inside to outside or vice versa, we are to call out each name, … Continue reading Name to Face

Who You Gonna Call?

People with their minds set on you,     you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet,     because they keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it     because in the Lord God you have a sure thing. Isaiah 26:3 No matter where we turn right now, news of the coronavirus pandemic has filled the airways. There’s Google and the neighbor next door, and the man at work (for those that are still working), and the latest report on the news. Everyone has a report, everyone has an opinion as to how well our government has handled this … Continue reading Who You Gonna Call?

Remember?

Remember the day when we first met?  I do.  I remember the sunshine and the sound of the creek as it rolled by.  I remember your tears.  I saw your pain, your confusion.  You lost all hope that day, remember? But you called out to me, remember that?  You called out through the tears.  Your words were barely audible, but I heard them. And when you were out of words and out of tears remember how I held you? Remember the peace we shared that day – sweet, heavy, lingering?  Did you hear the angels in heaven rejoicing that day?  I … Continue reading Remember?

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I did it again! How did I do that? Why did I let that happen? I meant to. I wanted to. But the day just got away from me And I knew You’d be there – later. When did You go from being first in my life to being an “Also Ran”? Dinner wouldn’t wait but You did. The boss needed me early what could I say? Work, family, dinner, garden, getting groceries, laundry where did the time go? Why didn’t You speak louder? Why is it so easy to have You wait when my life won’t? I come … Continue reading Tomorrow

The Unexpected, Unplanned, Undeserved Interruption

My husband was shot six days after we were married. It was an accident; the gun wasn’t supposed to be loaded. We never really found out how it happened. There were too many people with too much to drink and too many guns and the sheriff never told us the results of the ballistics test. We were with a group of friends at a hunting cabin in the piney woods of East Texas for the weekend. We had come to hunt armadillos and squirrels. We had returned from the woods with just enough squirrels for dinner. Donny and some others … Continue reading The Unexpected, Unplanned, Undeserved Interruption

The Handprint

I hear them whispering outside my bedroom door. Hear their father whisper “No. Not today. Maybe she’ll be better tomorrow.”  It is the same everyday. I consider going out there.  I think a good mother would do that. Go reassure them, tell them everything is going to be all right and then see to it that everything is all right. I pull the covers back over my head. Maybe tomorrow I will be better.  Maybe tomorrow I can reassure them. Maybe tomorrow I will be able to deal with the disappointment that is written all over their faces. But not today.  Today I wish they … Continue reading The Handprint

Healing Waters

  Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” John 4:14  Message Bible   When I lived in Montana, Mountain Brook flowed through my yard and my pasture year round. My daughters and their friends loved playing in that creek – trying to catch fish and float tubes down to the pond. The water rolled gently over the rocks and created a lullaby sound.  At least, most of the year. … Continue reading Healing Waters

A Special Secret

A Special Secret I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation … Philippians 4: 12 Paul didn’t have a particularly easy life. The trajectory of his life may not have gone the way he planned. Maybe he thought following Christ would make his life easier. I mean, don’t we think that at times? Paul was in jail as he wrote this letter, facing probable death if he wasn’t released. He could have twiddled his thumbs, he could have slept the day away, complained, grumbled, started riots or felt sorry for himself or gotten angry at God and indignant … Continue reading A Special Secret