Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. ~ Psalm 68:19 As hard as it is to hear your young husband’s brain cancer diagnosed with “no cure,” my late friend, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, told me that in that moment a divine blanket of peace descended on them both, and the Source of comfort entered into their lives in a fresh way. “God is not a burden giver,” Jennifer recalled,…

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For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. ~ Psalm 107:8-9 “I did not know then what I would learn over many years—that he was a healer of souls.” John reflected upon his first visit with Dallas Willard. He later asked his mentor, “What do I need to do in order to stay spiritually healthy?” Dallas responded with the unexpected. “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”…

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“I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing.” ~ Genesis 12:2 It took me a moment to recognize this holy moment, occurring in the midst of ordinary. I had just settled my first newborn grandchild into my eldest son’s lap when Uncle Justin did the unexpected. He gently laid his hand on top of his niece’s little head and…

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Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let’s continue to express our gratitude. ~ Hebrews 12:28 They are the first words I see. The moment my eyes open from a night’s sleep. Stenciled on the gable directly across from my bed — “Each day is a gift from God.” Prompting me to thank God even before my feet hit the floor. Before the world inevitably begins to invade my posture of…

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From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. ~ John 1:16 “Sometimes I blurt out words that hurt other people. In trying to hide my insecurity, I become bossy, controlling and impatient. With ears tickled by the praise of others, my mood can fluctuate from joyful to despondent on the whim of someone’s opinion. But I don’t want to be this way! I often wonder if anyone will ever really love me.” I…

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The next time I blog, I will be a whole year older. It seems to happen in the blink of an eye. One day we’re young and out to change the world, and the next day we turn around and six decades have flown by while we were simply living ‘one day at a time!’ Don’t scoff, my friend. If you haven’t yet experienced this phenomenon, your day will come (barring the undesirable alternative, of…

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“Mama, I got somethin’ to tell ya…” said four-year-old Maggie as she knocked on my door during naptime.  “What is it hon?” I casually replied as I closed my notebook.           “Mama, I cut off all my hair!”           And she had. Her shoulder-length bob had been turned punk-like with several bangs only 1/8 inch long. For once in my life, I was speechless. But I distinctly heard a voice in…

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This week we especially remember with gratitude our own mothers and we who are mothers and spiritual mothers also thank God for that great privilege and honor. Isn’t it wonderful that God often used motherhood as a symbol for Himself in scripture? God reminded us that He too is compassionate and comforting like a mother:As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you – Isaiah 66:13. God reminded us that He knows us the…

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I always wanted to be a Ming Vase for God. Beautiful. Exotic. Perfect.         Wouldn’t that be a powerful witness to my great God? Think of the people who would flock to faith once they experienced me in all my loveliness — always being, saying and doing the Right Thing!         Alas, it was not to be.          No Ming vases here. I saw in the mirror a clay pot…

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 I still cannot believe what Christ did. For me. This is Holy Week. It began as Christians all around the world celebrated Palm Sunday – a commemoration of that day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to the cheers and adulation of crowds waving palm branches and singing “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.” In mere days those cheers turned into the jeers of angry crowds shouting “Crucify…

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One by one, each person around the table looked at the guest of honor and told him what they most appreciated about him. Justin usually responded something like, “Yes, I am. Thanks.” He was beaming with delight. Like his mama, encouraging words are his language of love and tonight he was feeling much loved on his birthday. But his life has also held other times when he was overlooked, viewed as less-than, or just plain…

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The day is wide open but I can’t seem to settle — too many distractions. No sooner have I tackled one project than another calls my name and I’m off… What are your greatest distractions? For me, sometimes it’s in the juggling of too many things at one time – which has a 21st century term now. According to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, “continuous partial attention” means that while you are answering your email and…

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