Abiding Still...

I cannot believe we are at the end of another year. Where does the time go? The older I get the faster it seems to fly right by me. Time, that is. I have learned over the years that in order to truly enjoy my husband and my children, I must be intentional. The best things in life happen sometimes with no planning or warning, but if I am not intentional about celebrating them or recognizing them they just slip away.


2011 was no exception. So much transpired during this year. As I reflect today on all of it, I am so thankful for everyone and everything in my life. I have so much in my head that I want to share and write and unwrap in the coming year. I hope you will join me!


This blog has been a blessing for me. It has given me a chance to write what I am learning. I received some of the sweetest notes and cards over the holidays. Some from people I have never met. If the Lord can speak to just one person a day through some of my thoughts, experiences, failures and successes then I will continue to write what He speaks to me. Thank you for listening!


Enjoy this last day of 2011. Celebrate, remember, reflect and listen! 


Abiding with you, my friends! Love and prayers!!


Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Perspective in life is everything. Be kinder than you have to. Be loyal to your friends. Love your family. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Don't believe the lies of the enemy. And in all things give thanks because life is too short to let anyone or anything steal the Hope and the Peace and the Joy of this season. Merry Christmas my friends!!


Enjoy this week. Hug your children. Forgive the little things. Pick your battles. Let go of the stuff that does not matter. Look up more often. Be nice. Love like crazy and let the God of the Universe lift your chin so that you can look full in His wonderful face.


Blessings and Love until the New Year!!

Love so Amazing...

This weekend was full of love for us. Not only were all my girls home but we had Katie's first bridal shower. And it was a Christmas Shower to help her decorate her own home next year. So much fun!

For those of you who grew up in Atlanta, the shower was at the Swan Coach House at the Atlanta History Center. It is a gorgeous old mansion that has been a tea room for as long as I can remember. I have been to countless showers and luncheons there over the years. It is full of old, southern charm.

Katie's aunt wanted her to have a Christmas Shower so we decided to have it before the holidays got into full swing. It was such a sweet time. All four of the grandmothers were there. All three of her great aunts were invited. Both of her aunts and her cousin came. My friends who were like a second mom to her were there. She was surrounded by women who had loved her and watched her grow. Every woman there represented a part of her. They had helped to shape her and mold her into the woman she is now. As I looked at that room comprised of mostly the "older generation", my heart was so full. It was almost more than I could bear. Such amazing women full of such amazing love for my daughter.

The one defining factor of the women in that room was not that they loved Katie and had watched her grow up but that each one of them love Jesus. The legacy of faith in that room was the blessing of the day. The stories of faith and perseverance and hope that these women have could fill the pages of a book. And they share their lives with their children and their grandchildren. My girls know their stories. Both the ones from our own family and now, for Katie, the ones from her new family. I could not ask for a greater blessing.

The morning was filled with excitement and good food and generous giving. It was filled with laughter and stories as each woman there had a memory of Christmas time in Atlanta. That's right... all twenty four ladies have grown up here. There were stories of riding the Greyhound bus to downtown Rich's. Of taking their children to have breakfast with Santa at the Magnolia Tea Room. Of shopping in the secret Santa shop. And every one of us had a story of riding the Pink Pig! Priceless memories. Priceless legacies. Priceless love.

I am not sure if my heart can take another seven months of this but for now I am treasuring up the blessings. I am so thankful for each of them. Yes, there are issues that exist in each of the families and there are hurts that have come along with the years. There are heartaches and loss attached to those women. But through it all there is Jesus. His Amazing Love has brought us all triumphantly through the years. Through the issues. Through the hurts. Through the heartache and loss.

May that Amazing Love carry you through this season and beyond as you leave a legacy of faith and love for the next generation. 

Jesus Messiah, name above all names

Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel

The rescue for sinners

The ransom from Heaven

Jesus Messiah, Lord of all!

Love so amazing...

Joy Unending

When I look back over the seasons of my life so far, I cannot help but see God's hand in the mix. I remember those first few Christmas' when it was just Danny and me. I  can still remember that first Christmas morning waking up beside my husband of eight short months. He had gotten up early and put my gift's out under the tree. He wanted me to have the same kind of Christmas morning that I had for the prior twenty one years. It stills warms my heart that he worked so hard to make that morning special.


That feeling of child-like joy has been a part of most of my Christmas mornings. Even though life and circumstances have sometimes been hard during the season, we have tried to make that morning special. We protect it and celebrate it. It gives us joy.


That is the kind of unending Joy that God wants us to experience all the time. The kind that is unexplained by the world. The kind that doesn't have a definition or a picture that represents it. It is the Joy that comes from Jesus. The kind that is available to all of us by simply keeping our priorities and our focus on Him.


So I pray for you today that you will feel the Joy that never ends. The Peace that passes all understanding. The Hope that looks up. The Love that came down. That is what we are celebrating. That is the reason for the season.


As I look back over old pictures, I remember the holidays when my girls were tiny and full of wide eyed excitement. I never want them to lose that sense of wonder. That feeling that stirs deep inside and lets them know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is something bigger than the materialism surrounding them. The kind of Joy that fills them with peace and hope and love. The anticipation of a coming gift. The fulfillment of giving to others. I pray that they will always seek that kind of Joy throughout their lives.


Traditions are one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. The act of intentionally making a holiday special. Of seeking ways to share what we believe and who we are as a parent and as a family. The traditions are what mold our children and help pass on our legacy to future generations. Danny had been blessed with wonderful traditions and family time and he made sure that our new family was started with that kind of intentional celebration. I had my own traditions too and we worked together to make the traditions that are a part of our girl's memories. Our prayer is that they carry those into their own families and pour them into their own children. Making the Joy that we celebrate unending. 

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; 

and even though you do not see Him now, 

you believe in Him and are filled 

with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

 1 Peter 1:8

Complete Joy

This morning as I sat in my chair and had some quiet time, my mind was struggling to stay focused. The busyness of the last few days has tried to steal my joy and my focus. If I allow my feelings and emotions to take over then my family could really pay the price. It is such a hard balancing act to not let what we feel take over. And usually those closest to us take the brunt of those emotions.


As is usually the case, my devotions and journal just conveniently happened to focus on just what I was feeling. Don't you love when God does that? Very quickly, His perspective changed mine.


This is the quote that was in my journal this morning:
"Where the soul is full of Peace and Joy, outward surroundings and circumstances are of comparatively little account." ~ Hannah Whitall Smith


When we are tired or hurt or confused or just angry, our surroundings can overwhelm our emotions. It becomes very difficult to put things in perspective in the heat of our circumstances. Worldly thinking takes over and we react out of how we feel. But true Joy is not a feeling. It is a belief. It is a part of who we are.


My devotion this morning reminded me that God does not change. He is the same. He is the same God from yesterday. He will be the same God today. He will remain the same God forever. That is what we need to focus on. He is Emmanuel. God with us.


"If you live on the surface of life by focusing on ever-changing phenomena, you will find yourself echoing the words of Solomon: 'Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!'"


People are going to let us down. We are going to disappoint others. Especially those closest to us. Hard things are going to come. Sickness and hurt and death will be a part of our lives at some point on this earth. But we can choose to allow our soul to be full of Joy. Complete Joy. The kind that rises above the circumstances and the emotions. That looks up and cries out for help.


Today, I pray that you are filled down deep in your soul with complete Joy. Hold His hand today. Grasp it tight. He will make your paths straight. And as He meets our place of need today, let's spread our Joy to those around us. I don't want to let my emotions rule my day. It is a choice. Let's build each other up and live out of the complete Joy that is made available to us by a never-changing, all-knowing and abundantly-loving God.

"So encourage each other and build each other up,

 just as you are already doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Joyful Strength

This week has been long already

and it is just day number two

But I have a plan to remain steady

Giving all of my thoughts back to You~

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

So many things to think about

So many things to do

My anxious thoughts want to scream and shout

But my heart remains steadfast in You~

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

Each one of my girls have issues 

that they want to talk over with me

Some of them require tissues

But this too shall pass, they will see~

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

Three parties, exams and a wedding shower

are all crammed into this week

But You are my strong tower

in You is the strength that I seek~

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

So my prayer today for you my friends

is that you too will find rest in the Lord

His Mercies are new, the manna He sends

And His Word is as sharp as a sword~

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

Nothing can take His presence from you

No height, no depth and no length

Hold fast to that truth in all that you do

The Joy of the Lord is your Strength!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song."  Psalm 28:7

Fulfilling Joy...

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay. Did you sing this song in Sunday School when you were growing up? It was a catchy tune. It was interactive. It made us smile when we sang. But what does it mean to have joy in our heart to stay?


This week of Advent is about Joy. So many people sent me messages last week about how hard Peace was to find during the holidays. At least Peace is something that we feel. It is comforting. But Joy. That is something that is expressed. Something that is shared with others. Something that can be seen and heard.


I used to love to watch my girls get excited about Christmas when they were little. I would dress them up and take them to see Santa at the same mall every year. By the time they were teens, he knew them by sight and would be so glad to see us. (yes, I still take them to have Santa pictures made.) We would plan the day after everyone was out of school We would go to the mall and take the picture and then shop. I would take turns shopping with each of them while they bought gifts for each other. We would have a big lunch and go see Daddy at work. The day would always make my heart smile.


Danny and I decided early on that we were not going to let Christmas get out of control with presents and stuff. We really wanted to make sure that the girls knew what we were celebrating and why. A friend told me that she only gave her children three gifts from Santa each year. She would read them the Christmas story and explain to them that baby Jesus received three gifts from the Wise Men. It sounded good to me so we implemented the same rule. They could make a list and ask for things but they would only receive three. Danny and I would talk about what the three should be according to what they needed or what they had been asking for. We always try and make it something special. Something that they would not have otherwise.


My girls still know the rule. They now send me their list complete with websites and pictures. Sometimes they star their favorites. But I noticed this year that none of them starred more than three. Sure they gave me the whole wish list but they know that it is just that. A list of things they wished they had.


They have never complained or felt like they were shorted. It is what they know. It is what has always been. They get their three gifts and they are full of joy when they receive them. They aren't expecting more. 


God sent His Son. A single gift that changed the world. Full of Joy. Full of Life. Full of Grace. A well thought out gift that gave us all that we need. All that we have been asking for. Something very special. A gift that gives us something we would not have otherwise. Pure Joy and eternal life.


We don't need more. He gave it all. Wrapped in a blanket.

Every good and perfect gift is from above...

James 1:17

Peace like a river... may it flow all over you!

Good morning my friends. This week has been full of busy, busy stuff. I started out the week in Athens with my girls and then started a busy week of decorating, cleaning and playing catch up before I again have a full house for the next few weeks.


As I have spent each morning reading about Peace, I have discovered that God is just so good. (not that I did not already know that). But as I invested my time and my thoughts to His perspective, He gave me such peace all week. It has been another week of hard prayer requests from friends. Of phone calls about and meetings about wedding stuff. Of gathering and addressing wedding cards. Of making some tough decisions for our family. The everyday stuff of life that is always there even in the middle of the fun celebrations of the season.


But through it all His peace has flowed like a never ending river through my heart. Through my soul. Through my words and through my actions. Not because of anything I did in my own strength but through a quiet harnessed strength that held my heart tightly.


That strength is available for each of us. Every day. In every situation. With every breath that we take.


So my prayer for you today is this:

May the strength that is made strong in your weakness be 

so evident in your life today that those around you will notice 

that you are different. 

May the Peace that passes all understanding flow all over you like a river running over the rocks and filling the crevices as it goes. 

May you be filled to overflowing so that your Peace is then spilled out 

to those closest to you. 

May you know that you are loved and cherished and understood and protected by a Mighty Warrior.

Please let Jesus reach down and lift your chin. Look full in His wonderful face. The things of this world will grow dim in comparison and you too will have Peace. Rest in it today.

a Peace of perspective...

Last night was the last Bible study lesson for our study of Jonah. I always love finishing up a study and seeing the fruit of what God did in and through the wonderful women that sit in my den week after week. This study was no exception. Through the study of four little chapters and a story about a prophet and a big fish, we learned some invaluable lessons.


If you are not familiar with the book of Jonah in the Bible, it is not just about a man being swallowed by a big fish. Although that part of the story is pretty amazing when you view it from the perspective of truth, the part that truly got my attention is the humanness of Jonah complete with his fears and doubts. He was a prophet for heaven's sake but he still ran from God, justified his actions, pitched an adult-sized tantrum and in the end we aren't even sure if he learned his lesson or not. Now you cannot get much more human than that.


Part of Jonah's problem was that his focus was on himself instead of what was important to God. He was more concerned about his discomfort and his feelings than he was about the big picture. We do that too. Especially during this time of year. The focus tends to be on buying the presents and decorating our house and going to the parties and listening to the music and making sure that everyone is satisfied and fulfilled.


Even though I know what the season is supposed to be about and even though I can write about it and sing about it and even talk about it, doesn't mean that I live it each day. I think this is the time of year that we tend to be inward focused the most. Holidays can hurt. The memories and the emotions can be overwhelming sometimes. But if we only look inward at what we are feeling or experiencing, we miss the Peace that God has for us. When our fist are clenched and our arms are folded and our head is down, we can't receive. But as God offers the Peace we so desperately seek, we have the choice to extend our hands and to open our arms wide and to allow Him to lift our chins to look fully into His face.


Today I choose to change my perspective. To look out into the world around me. To receive the Peace of Jesus and then pass it on. To really listen to those around me. To really hear the needs and then find a way to meet them. To give a hug. To send a card. To write an email. To simply send a text. To put my focus on someone else. To love the hurting world around me. Not because it will make me feel better or because I am supposed to; but because that is what Jesus did.


I have found over the years that when I truly take the focus off of myself and just serve others then God does a miraculous thing. When I just meet the needs around me with no hidden agenda then God fills me with His love. The Peace that I seek is usually felt in my selfless love for others. That is how God works. As we see the world through His eyes then we start to see what really matters. 


May the Peace that you seek be poured out in abundance on you today. As you find a way to love those around you, may the gift of the blessing be yours. Reach out and let the Peace flow in.

It only takes a spark to get a fire going. And soon all those around 

can warm up in its glowing. That's how it is with God's love, 

once you've experienced it. You spread His love to everyone; 

you want to pass it on. 

I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I've found; 

you can depend on Him, it matter not where you're bound. 

I'll shout it from the mountaintop; I want my world to know; 

the Lord of Love has come to me, 

I want to pass it on.

a Peace in my heart...

My oldest daughter came home from college last night. She finished her last exam and her last classroom class for her college career. Next semester she will be student teaching each day and then she graduates. She came in late last night and I had already gone upstairs. I heard her come in the kitchen and talk to her daddy. I drifted off to sleep knowing that she was home and safe.


This morning she is tucked in her bed enjoying a morning of no stress, no tests, no schedule and no worries. Her wedding dress is hanging on a hook beside the window in her room. It is waiting to be fitted and made to look perfect for her special day. There are some boxes on the floor waiting for her to pack away some of her childhood things that she wants to take with her to her new home. As I looked at that scene this morning, my heart was overwhelmed with emotion.


This is the last Christmas that our home will look like this. She will not be in that bed next year on Christmas morning. She will be waking up with her husband. She will be waking up to a new world of her own traditions and her own memories. And my home will never be the same.


As I reflected on that thought this morning, I read something in one of my devotions that said to keep your focus on the things unseen even as the visible world parades before your eyes. My heart knows that she has made the right choice in a husband. My heart knows that she will have a wonderful and full life because she knows the One that will sustain her. My heart knows that this time next year we will be celebrating with her on her first Christmas as a married woman. My heart knows all of things but my eyes are seeing the now.


That is how Peace works. As I spend time with her these next few weeks, I have prayed that the Lord will help me to bury the memories and the sights and the sounds and the smells deep in my heart. There is Peace there. In my heart. There is a place that rests calmly and securely in the fact that He holds her future.


 I could so easily get entangled in the emotions and the thoughts of this being our last Christmas morning as a family of five or I could let myself be so busy that I don't even think about it. But this morning I have chosen to let Peace rule that area of my heart. The part that holds the memories of her sweet smile and her love for this holiday. The part that remembers how excited she still gets on Christmas morning. The part that knows that next year she will make it so special for her husband and the part that knows that one day she will make wonderful memories with her own sweet babies.


So today I begin this last season with my sweet girl. Yes, she will be here next year and we will all celebrate together and things will be wonderful. But they just won't be quite the same. The Peace that holds my heart will remind me of these days and I want to be fully engaged to make them special.


Pray for my heart to stay focused on the unseen Hope that I so believe and trust. And pray that as I watch the visible world of the season parade before my eyes, I will hold the memories tight and walk forward in the knowledge that He has a plan for all of us. A plan for our Hope and for our future.


May that same Peace be in your hearts this season and may you keep your eyes on the One that is the reason that we celebrate.  Enjoy each day and hold the memories tightly in your heart.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds

while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads...

Peace in my home...

Yesterday was one of those days that started out fine but quickly began to unravel at the seams. I was truly focused on praying for and about Peace. That is how I started my day. I was asking God what He wanted me to know about Peace. Well, I got an ear full.


I love my home. Not because of what it looks like or where it is located but because it represents our family. Our home is a specific answer to prayer. We try to make it inviting and warm and peaceful for all who enter. One of the biggest compliments I could ever receive is when someone tells me that they feel comfortable in my home. One sweet friend even told me that she wished she could just stay in my den because she felt safe there. That feeling has nothing to do with me.


We decided a long time ago to be willing to open our home for ministry. We agreed that we would be willing to use our house for small groups and studies and gatherings for our girl's friends. It is fun. We enjoy it. The carpet in my den floor reflects it.


As my day was unraveling because of circumstances beyond my control yesterday, my heart was strangely calm. The Lord had gone before me and prepared my mind and my heart with His Peace before the storms hit. Life still happened. The stress was blood-pressure rising for a while there. My flesh had a few moments that weren't very lady like. But my heart was held by the Peace that passes all understanding. 


Throughout the day I moved from room to room needing a quick reminder of His peace. As I sat in my chair in my bedroom, He reminded me of His Word and that He meets me at my place of need every morning. I went and sat on my back porch and He reminded me that all His creation sings to His glory. I sat in my den and looked at my heavy traffic areas on my cream carpet. He reminded me of all the lives that have been touched by Him in that room. I laid out decorations that have not been put up yet on my dining room table and He reminded me of all the meals involving family and friends that have been shared around that table. I walked in each of my girl's rooms and He reminded me that He is with them always and that He has a plan for their future. I stood in my kitchen as I made a few hard phone calls and read a few heart wrenching emails and He reminded me that He works all things together for good.


Life did not go as planned yesterday but the blessings and the peace that God promises did not go unnoticed. I had to look hard for some of it but as I allowed the calm in my heart to override the frenzy in my head, God was faithful to reveal His Peace. I am going to need it again today.


I pray that you will allow God to reveal His blessings and His peace to you today too. Peace be with you my friends...

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. 

I do not give to you as the world gives.

 Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." 

 John 14:27

Peace that begins with me....

As we enter into the second week of Advent, I have been reflecting on Peace. Did you know that Peace is a Person? That statement, as simple as it sounds, has helped me to wrap my head around the Peace that passes all understanding.


We sing all kinds of songs about peace. In Sunday School, I used to sing about the peace way down in my heart and peace like a river in my soul. At Christmas, we talk about peace on earth. But what exactly is peace?


Yesterday I spent most of my day in Athens with two of my daughters. We had brunch at a wonderful place downtown and rode down Milledge to look at all of the homes decorated for the holidays. We did some Christmas shopping but mostly we just talked and laughed. My freshman daughter is quite stressed at the moment because of the pressure of finals and finishing up her first college semester. The stress and the the strain was very evident on her face and in her demeanor. She is allowing her circumstances to dictate her emotions and her feelings. And I was trying to tell her not to do that.


Well, you can just imagine how well that went over. I couldn't possibly know about the pressure she is under or the difficulty of her classes or how little time she has to actually get all of it done. The more I tried to console, the more stressed she seemed to be. Finally, on the ride home, I decided that more prayer and less talk would be more beneficial for both of us. I could not produce the Peace she needed. But I could model it and pray for her.


Peace is not something that we can explain. In fact, the Bible is very clear that true Peace passes all understanding. It is felt and experienced not taught. However, it can be shared. 


Jesus is the answer to peace on earth. To peace inside of countries. To peace among war torn people. To peace among communities. To peace in our homes. To peace in our hearts. Peace is a Person and His name is Jesus.


So this week, I am committing to pray for peace. For peace for my girls as they study and finish strong. For peace in my home as we prepare for the holiday season. For peace in my family as we make plans to celebrate the season together. For peace among my neighborhood and my community as I look for ways to serve and share during the next few weeks. For peace in my words and in my actions as I interact with my husband and my girls and the people around me.


I cannot produce peace on my own. But I know the Person who can. And when I allow Him to love through me then Peace can flow like a river to those around me. I cannot make my children be calm. I cannot undo the hurt and the anger and the heartache that some of my friends are feeling during the holidays. I cannot give answers that will make it all go away. I cannot love enough to fix the pain of spending the first holiday without a loved one. But I can pray for the Peace that passes all understanding and then share it with others.


I do pray for Peace on Earth but today I pray that I can let it start within me.

Let there be Peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Let there be Peace on earth, the Peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father, brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let Peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.

With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow-

To take each moment and live each moment in Peace eternally.

Let there be Peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Hope Eternal... Go tell it!

It is Friday and it should be a gorgeous weekend. The weather is cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoon. But you can still put on a sweatshirt and curl up in the evening. That is the kind of weather I love and that is why I love living in the south. You get to actually experience every season. And in those seasons, God is revealed so clearly. His creation sings to His glory.

As we enter into the winter season, as well as the holidays, I love the subtle change from the vibrant color to the beginning of barren trees. As the leaves disappear and the empty branches are left, I have a different view around my house. The homes of neighbors houses I couldn't see when the trees were full are visible now. I can see the sunrise sooner as it peaks over the horizon behind my house. The leaves are finally starting to fall less and less so we can actually see the grass fading to a muted green. There is something peaceful about this in between time. It is like God is easing us into a season of rest.

That is what Hope is about. A constant moving forward and change but filled with the anticipation of what is ahead. As things change and we experience the ups and downs of the seasons of our lives, Hope rings eternal as a reminder that there is more to come.

Rest in that truth this weekend. We are entering the season of great anticipation and excitement. Just like our kids get excited about Santa and the lights and the decorations and the presents; we too should get excited about the coming Good News. Stand on the promises that Jesus is our Hope eternal. No matter what you are facing or how your life is changing, He is there.

May that Hope fill you to overflowing with the promises of Jesus and may you live each day with the childlike anticipation that something more is coming. Something that the world is in desperate need of. Something that is worth telling others about. Something that offers peace and comfort and Hope.

And this weekend... go tell people what your Hope is all about!

A Healthy Hope

I hope I make it through this day. I hope I can do good on this test. I hope the doctor gives me good news.  You gotta hope that she makes the right decision. Hope you feel better soon. Well I certainly hope that you learned your lesson. Do you hope to see your family soon?


How many of these statements or questions have you said lately? I think I have spoken each sentence at least once in the last few days. All of them are filled with good intentions but each is filled with uncertainty in the answer. Hope is unseen. At least with our natural vision.


We hear stories everyday on the news and from our friends about death and sickness and financial difficulties and other hard stuff. Sometimes it is almost overwhelming the hard stuff that people are facing on a daily basis. It can make us wonder what in the world is going on. We can feel the weight of all the hard stuff on our shoulders. We just sit back and hope it gets better soon.


If we are not careful, that kind of hope becomes unhealthy. It turns into wishful thinking when the answers don't come the way we want them to or when the situation doesn't improve quickly. But we have a Hope that while unseen can be as sure as breathing.


Our Hope is in Jesus. Our Hope is in truth. Our Hope is in faith. Our Hope is knowing that the One who has all of the answers is still on the throne. But the choice is ours each day. We can choose to have wishful thinking or we can choose to believe and trust and love and serve out of a healthy Hope.


Today is another busy day for me. I am already way behind in the schedule. My plan for the day is already unraveling. My time frame is already not long enough. My thought process is on the fringe of becoming overwhelmed panic. But right now I choose to go with Hope. The kind that although not seen is felt with such confidence that I know that I will be just fine. No matter what the day brings. 


I Hope you will choose that too! Praying for you, my friends...

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside

 it often looks like things are falling apart on us, 

on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by 

without His unfolding Grace. These hard times are small potatoes 

compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration 

prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. 

The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. 

But the things we can't see now will last forever.

 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 

the message