For One Hour

Yesterday at Sunday School, our class leader was killing time while our teacher was making some announcements in the worship service. The leader is a really entertaining guy, but also a great teacher (he teaches high school). He had us read Psalm 40 and I don't remember much about what he pointed out about it. But I do remember him asking, "How far do you think Satan wants you from God?" My immediately thought was that he wants us as far as possible. But, his answer surprised me. He held up his pointer finger and thumb like he was pinching a bug, and said, "Thiiis much." He maybe even wants us to feel like we are still close to Him, but we can add in a bit of our own self-sufficiency, comfort, whatever in case He doesn't come through for us. Wow. That one really hit home for me. So, last night as I was going to bed I almost reached for my phone to flip through Facebook or Instagram and I thought, "Nope, tonight I'm going to read Morning a...

He must have been one of the first ones there that morning. When I arrived he was shouting friendly greetings at employees, asking questions about produce, warning me about bad lettuce. We crossed paths several times, me with baby in tow, cart slowly filling. He tells me of a wife lost to Alzheimers, grandchildren and great grandchildren, of blessings in disguise. All this through joyful eyes covered in cataracts. Each time I see him, there's a smile and a story. As we check out, he allows a lady to go in front of him, even though he only has about 5 items: 2 pounds of sugar, some wafer cookies, a slab of meat, and a few other items. She insists she is okay. "Oh, I've got nowhere to go all day. I'm sure you're busy. Go on ahead." She reluctantly goes ahead and he remarks that all he's got to do today is go home to an empty house and make some cole slaw. He says this all with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. I had entered the store with my list o...

Since losing Joseph in 2008, I've had a hard time finding my new groove, my new "normal." With lots of changes, physical moves, new babies, new jobs, etc., it has felt like I've been in a perpetual survival mode. And this had become normal to me. I would look at other people who seemed to have things together and just feel a bit defeated. In the last year or so I've been reading some great authors: Nancy Guthrie and Ann Voskamp being the main two who have spurred on some real growth for me. Nancy's book Holding On to Hope encouraged me and challenged me to trust in God's word and to trust Him despite any feelings of hopelessness or depression. She also has lost two children and her unwavering trust in God's goodness has been such an example to me. I think I felt that because I've gone through something so hard that maybe I got a break from being disciplined in reading God's word and living it out. I'm learning that nobody, no matter...

Ever since I became a Christian (and even before that, really) I have felt God speaks to me through nature. Not an audible voice, but it's like looking at the stars or listening to the beauty of birds or seeing the splendor of mountains speaks to my heart in ways words cannot. What my heart feels is the weight of God's glory, power, and love.  This goes along with the Scripture in Romans (1:20): "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Another way God speaks is through his people. We are so blessed that recently we have the privilege to sit under some wonderful preaching and teaching through our church. This last Wednesday evening one of our pastors, David Filson, spoke on John Newton's life (author of Amazing Grace). He was a dear man and a good friend to another man named William Cowper. Cowper s...

Well, I haven't written on here as much as I had hoped I would. These guys keep me pretty busy. I'm trying to be focused and do a good job in teaching Holly, while also giving June and Noah the attention they need as well. Sometimes I feel panicked at how fast it's going. Holly turned seven this winter and that threw me for a loop. She is moving out of her little years and is growing and maturing at lightning speed. It causes me to wonder: Am I doing a good job? Am I teaching her what she needs to know? The important things? And what even are the important things? I know I want her to know the Lord, love the Bible, love others, love learning, etc. It can all seem so daunting. And then I think, maybe the best way for her to learn all this is by my example. Do I love the Lord, value His Word, love others well, give thanks for this life I'm living? Now that really seems daunting. When I was a young married lass, we moved to Atlanta and Allen sta...

We were gathered in my kitchen, us happy women, away from our normal duties to have some wine, dinner, and discuss our book. The conversation was light and bursts of laughter punctuated the low roar of fun and conversation. The verdict was that the last book was the pits. No one liked it, the main character was evil and depressing, and the author was too verbose. This smiling lady standing next to me had missed the last book club and spoke her mind to me: "I felt so sorry for this man." This had not been the general opinion at the last meeting. Most of us hated him. I waited for her to go on. "I just wonder what he would have been like if his parents had cared enough to discipline him." (This man was a ruthless killer and manipulator and seemed to have no remorse for his actions.) Hmmm...an interesting thought. "I mean, he was such a creative, talented person, but his parents put absolutely no limits on him. They just didn't care." She then we...