He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I'm holding out a treat out for our six-month old puppy who sits with great expectation. (Did you know there are "high stakes treats"? For Lena, it's a morsel of smoked chicken.) But then comes the challenge. "STAAAAY!!" I back away and stare her down while counting slowly. Our goal is five. But Lena loses... Continue Reading →
Well, not exactly. On a recent Sunday afternoon an Amazon box was plopped at our front door. When I opened it, I was disappointed. I meant to order a box of individual note cards with Bible verses on them. Instead, what Amazon thought I wanted was one single giant card with one giant verse. I... Continue Reading →
“Thank you for this food. Thank you for our family. And thank you for being with us." I placed a bowl of mixed vegetables and chicken nuggets in front of my three-year-old granddaughter. “WHERE IS HE?“ she demanded. She looked around the kitchen as if to find God sitting on a nearby bar stool. “Well,... Continue Reading →
Last Sunday during church, Wendy (pseudonym) leaned over to me and whispered a prayer request. Her three-month old grandson was in the hospital, struggling with a respiratory virus. "Please pray!" Then she did something unexpected. She put her hand over her mouth and said these words into her hand, "Lord, I trust you for baby... Continue Reading →
We were driving home from visiting family when I realized my phone was not in my purse. It was exactly where I had left it - on a coffee table next to my adorable grand babies who were adorned in full princess attire and whom I was trying to video. "Should we go back?" my... Continue Reading →
I really wanted to honk.The light was green and the SUV in front of me was not moving. The driver must be texting. I was late for an appointment and my blood pressure was rising. I decided to ever so gently tap-tap the horn, but as I did so a jarring honk blasted forth. And... Continue Reading →
My palms were sweaty. I stumbled on words, restarting sentences. I paced the basement floor. Codie, our affable golden retriever, glanced up from her morning nap, clearly annoyed. If this is how nervous I am within the four walls of my house, how on earth am I going to pull off a speech in the... Continue Reading →
In the words of many a Bachelorette or Bachelor, I am "in my head" WAY too much. If seven positive comments are voiced - sandwiching in a single halfway negative comment - guess where my brain will go? The Bible says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7. Well I... Continue Reading →
My niece is sending the following verses to her son as he embarks on his Ranger training in rural Georgia. We may not be facing Ranger-like tests, but when we grow faint-hearted, weary, tired, may these promises bring us hope and encouragement. "Do you not know? Have you not heard that the Lord, the everlasting... Continue Reading →
"I think I ruined my friend's retirement plan," the speaker joked. "My friend had been aggressively planning for the day when he could quit his job and do nothing but play golf. Now, I love golf. But how much golf can you actually play? I decided to challenge his plan. So, when you get to Heaven,... Continue Reading →
In the midst of praying, a voice murmurs, "Really, now... you actually believe God cares about THIS? And really, now, has God truly forgiven you for THAT?" My prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling. One would think I could squelch this voice - being a decades long follower of Jesus. Lately, however, I've discovered... Continue Reading →
Things I try to avoid -- public speaking, mingling at a work-related social gathering, introducing people to each another (when the name of your best friend of 30 years inexplicably flees from your brain). Team building, role-playing, and of course, karaoke. I admit it. I want an Easy Life. A fulfilling job with moderate stress.... Continue Reading →
I am an introvert. Shy from day one. An 8th grade report card said I was an "enigma" - which I had to look up (not a compliment). If class participation was factored into a grade, I was destined for C's. As functioning adults, we introverts don't have the option of being selectively mute. Our... Continue Reading →
It seems there's now a Hallmark section devoted to women and wine. You've seen them. A Donna Reed type in pearls or a mom with a stroller -- either covertly drinking or clutching an urn like wine glass. I was recently given a pair of socks with the caption, "If you can read this, bring... Continue Reading →
I used to teach first grade Sunday school with an elderly man named Mr. Chang who really should have been assigned to a room with his contemporaries. He was gruff, gray, and used a cane. He viewed crayons, stickers, and glitter pens as superfluous. And when he gave his mini-lessons, there was nothing mini about... Continue Reading →
Shadows and Shelters 