Horrible Made Good

I don’t go to Sunday School intending to break up fist fights, but it’s happened a time or two.  After the most recent altercation, one of the offending parties flung himself down on his face in the grass and sobbed, “My life is so horrible!” He detailed the reasons why, and I couldn’t disagree. ThisContinue reading “Horrible Made Good”

Rusty Repentance

Listen HERE Snirt is an old plow truck. My husband bought it, and my children named it after the substance that results from the mixing of snow and dirt. Neither the truck nor the mixture is very pretty. Snirt is a 1984 Ford 350, and I don’t know what color it used to be, butContinue reading “Rusty Repentance”

Food for Thought

Listen HERE My children started school this week.  One thing I love about homeschooling is reading alongside my kids and setting aside time for reading myself.  I’ve read some excellent books this year, and I am sharing them with you today in the hopes that it will spur us both on to God-exalting mindfulness andContinue reading “Food for Thought”

Belonging

Listen HERE A friend of mine recently shared about attending a large cultural event in our community. She’d been many times before. She knew most of the people participating. But this year, it was different. As soon as she arrived, she thought, “I don’t belong here.” As a Christian, my friend recognized that a largeContinue reading “Belonging”

A Butterfly’s Path

Listen HERE Why don’t butterflies fly in a straight path? Today, I watched a yellow swallowtail butterfly dodge and flutter around the birds gathered at my birdfeeder. None were able to catch it, and it occurred to me that its haphazard flight path saves it from harm. As I watched, my teenage daughter was tellingContinue reading “A Butterfly’s Path”

Grass and Flowers

The wildflowers have overtaken both shoulders of the dirt road where I live. When I walk there, I watch bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds thriving on the pollen. It is a blessing to step out the front door into so much fragrant beauty. Whether the sun is shining on them or hail and wind batter them,Continue reading “Grass and Flowers”

For Dust You Are

Listen HERE “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” I’m sitting here at my writing desk, looking at the shelf I dusted yesterday. I had really let it accumulate, and all my knick-knacks are looking brand new without their layered coats of gray dust. Dust is insignificant unless it settles onContinue reading “For Dust You Are”

Golden Shields

Like every other angsty Christian teenager in the 90’s, I wanted faith strong enough to stand undaunted before a firing squad. We were listening to “Jesus Freak” and “Consuming Fire,” inviting our friends to “see you at the pole,” and our budding faith was ready to stand, to go, and to fight- for Jesus. MyContinue reading “Golden Shields”

Spiritual Sacrifices

Listen HERE The little boy motioned to me to bend down closer so that he could speak into my ear. Before then, the only whole sentences I’d heard him utter were, “Have to go bathroom,” and “Is it time to eat yet?” He had a long tale to tell that brought waves of grief asContinue reading “Spiritual Sacrifices”