The Language Inherent
I was getting ready to post this morning, and thought about this old post from 2008. I just felt like someone might need it, so I'm rerunning it. You've likely not seen it, as most of my readers now were not reading back then. Soak it in. He's talking to you...and He's made sure you know how to understand. Every time I head out for a prayer walk, I inevitably start out by praising God for His creation. I'm so moved by it, oftentimes to my own astonishment. It seems that when I'm in the midst of creation, the most minute details stand out in stark relief. I notice the intricate patterns on the smallest bug, the delicate veins in the tiniest leaf, the ripple in the...
It Takes a Village (or Sunday School class)
As I walked up to the park pavilion, I immediately saw my mom and dad, mixing about with a good-sized group of other folks their age. The closer I got, the more the familiar faces came into view. Older, yes, but there were none so changed that recognition was a challenge, and my heart warmed at the sight of them. In this group, I was one of the "kids," and soon found those faces, too. We were all the children of the older group, a Sunday School class from First Christian Church who called themselves "The Gleaners." But they don't meet anymore. Many have moved on to different churches, over the years, for many reasons, but those nigh on 25 years (30? More?) that found them together...
His Words (for when your heart is broken)
Every Sunday around here is for His words, instead of mine. If your heart is heavy, hurting, or completely broken, these are for you. "Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone; not even a finger gets broken." Psalm 34:17-20 MSG "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3 NIV "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 ESV "He will wipe away every tear from their...
I Did it My Way
Back when the kids were here, we took them to our local "trades day" gathering. It's really a nice way to spend a Saturday morning, with local crafts people selling their wares alongside junk sellers, garden nurseries, horse tack and western wear, and food trucks with barbeque and other Texas deliciousness. We are finishing our outdoor area under the trees, and have the hammock up and the fire pit built, but we've been looking for chairs to put around the pit. There was a local guy there who was selling his handmade Adirondack chairs, but these were gliders. Well-made and quite heavy, we were sold. We put our deposit down and set about waiting for them to be built. Delivery day was...
On Santa Fe Barbie, Dog Poop & Being Content
Yesterday, I ran across a photo of my girls with our big chocolate lab named Nick. He was one of our best dogs (we've had quite a few over the years), a gentle giant and dearly loved, but when he was young, he had a penchant for eating some odd things. Crayons, for instance. Sugary treats from the counter. (He survived an entire plate of brownies, a baker's dozen of blueberry bagels, and an entire bag of brown sugar with a Halloween candy chaser.) One (only one) of every pair of shoes in the house, except Kevin's. I'll leave you to speculate why. Sunglasses and cordless phones. Toys of all kinds, with a particular fondness for Barbie and her accessories. Yes, good ol' Barbie. Maddie...