Clean Your House and Renew Your Spirit
I like a clean house. But, as I grow older, it seems to take me longer. What used to take me three to four hours on a Saturday morning, now takes all day—and then some. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.—Psalm 51:10 (TLB) I attribute it to my wandering mind, or should I say forgetfulness. Here’s how it works. I start in one room, usually the master bath, with intentions of working my way from north to south. However, while wiping the bathroom mirrors clean, I remember something I need …
Could it be this still and peaceful the day after the storms?
Could it be this still and peaceful the day after storms wreaked havoc across Oklahoma? The sun was shining and I could hear the birds chirping. I spied a fat Robin sitting in my bird bath, which overflowed with several days of relentless rain. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble”—Psalm 46:1 (NIV). Tornado sirens had blasted their warnings, not once, but twice the previous night. Since I’d experienced a tornado’s destruction three years ago, I take precautions, preparing for the possibility of one tearing across our corner of northeastern Oklahoma again. It’s exhausting. It’s nerve-wracking, …
Could it be this still and peaceful the day after the storms? Read More »
The Lord Will Work Out His Plans for Us
When you discover your purpose in Christ, you’ll also understand God has a wonderful plan for your life—plans for good and not for evil.
Flowers Fade but the Word of God Stands Forever
The grass withers, the flowers fade but the word of our God stands forever—Psalm 23:4 (NASB). On my daily walks through the neighborhood, I love seeing God’s creation throughout the seasons. Observing the changing flora reminds me of life. Our lives are not constant but in a state of change. We try to cling to the past, fearing what the future might bring. We try to hang onto our youth by purchasing products or undergoing elective surgeries to reverse the signs of aging. But, like the spring flowers fade, so do our bodies, in spite of our attempts otherwise. Lessons …
Don’t Let Fear Dominate Your Life
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me—Psalm 23:4 (NIV). On April 29, I found myself huddled in a closet with my dog. Tornado sirens were blaring for the second time that evening. I took deep breaths, and then exhaled prayers for safety, not only for myself, but for everyone who was in the path of the storms relentlessly barreling across several states that day. According to the news, at least 18 tornadoes were sighted across Oklahoma this past Monday, leaving behind …
The Comfort of Old Age
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you”—Isaiah 46:4 (TLB). I’m blessed with good genes, thanks to my parents. Most people can’t believe I was eligible for Medicare last November. Confession: I can’t believe it either. In fact, upon receiving my Medicare card in the mail three months before my birthday, I immediately thought, “No way. This can’t be happening. I’m not THAT old!” Inside, I still feel young. However, my body …
Take Up Your Cross
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me—Galatians 2:20 (ESV). Can you feel His pain? With eyes closed, can you imagine the sounds, sights and smells of that bleak Friday, when our Savior and Lord was nailed to the cross, not for His transgressions, but for ours? Have you ever sat quietly, considering what He did for you and become overwhelmed by the …
When the Holy Spirit Convicts
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”—John 16:13 (NIV). When I sit down to write, I pray for God’s Holy Spirit to give me the words—the right words, His words, words that encourage, nourish, energize, and sometimes, even convicts. That last one was, I know, harsh. But, it applies to all of us who are following Christ. We sometimes find our thoughts, words and actions lead to …
The Truth about Deception
“Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What have you done?’ ‘The serpent deceived me,’” she replied. “‘That’s why I ate it’”—Genesis 3:13 (NLT). A recent email reminded me of how easy it might be to fall for a scam if we’re not discerning. The idiom, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true,” comes to mind. The email I received was supposedly from a church friend. The scammer was asking for money, writing that he’d lost his wallet while overseas. Without knowing this friend had passed away several weeks before, I …