This summer, I have two healthy cherry tomato plants growing in my garden, despite the fact that I didn’t plant them and I’ve done nothing to make them grow.
Long after they started to grow, my daughter heard me talking about these plants, and she innocently said, “I planted them.”
What?
With a shrug, she said, “I planted two tomatoes last year.”
Apparently, not knowing if they would grow, she took two tomatoes from last year’s plant and buried them. Not seeds, but whole tomatoes.
I thought the extreme temps and very little rain would be the end of them, but my husband started watering them and they continued to grow.
Continue Reading »
“If we have learned anything over the last 22 years it’s this: God is able to do the impossible! We have seen it time and time again.” ~Tom and Allie Harvey, Safari Zoological Park.
I like to hear and share faith stories—stories of miracles and of God’s provision. Tom and Allie Harvey are living a story of faith through their Safari Zoological Park in Caney, Kansas.
This zoo is different from any other I’ve been to. Tom, Allie and their staff interact with the animals, including tigers, wolves, bears, and lemurs, just to name a few. Personal stories invite visitors into the lives of the animals, making you feel like you know them.
Continue Reading »
How do you hope to be remembered someday? Whether it’s your children, family, co-workers, or the person you met one time, what would you like them to remember about you?
I know I’ll be remembered differently depending on how close that person was to me. For example, my daughter and I have always spent a lot of time baking together. She will remember me in personal ways from our time together that a co-worker would not know about me. At the same time, a co-worker might remember me from working on team projects, which is a side of me my daughter has not seen.
Continue Reading »
My daughter does not like to clean her room. She never has. In fact, unlike me, she seems to like clothes on the floor and stuff everywhere.
Years ago when she was younger, I once again brought up the fact that her room was out of hand, and she needed to spend time cleaning it up. She wasn’t happy. The more we talked (I explained, she debated) the more upset she got, until finally she burst into tears, and cried, “God made me this way, and you should love me messy!”
I assured her of how much I loved her, messy or not…but her room still needed work.
Continue Reading »
If you exercise or participate in any athletic activities, you know the importance of breathing to keep oxygen going to the mind and body. We don’t really think about breathing, we just do it. But during physical exertion, we can become so focused on the activity at hand, our breathing becomes shallow. We need the reminder to take deep breaths and keep breathing.
“Make sure you’re breathing!”
It was during this reminder when I realized I need to think about breathing at other times as well.
When the stress in life is mounting…
When nothing seems to be going the way I hoped…
When I feel alone…
When fear begins to grasp at me…
When the future looks bleak…
Be still, and know that I am God!
Continue Reading »
You are altogether beautiful, my darling;
there is no flaw in you. (Song of Songs 4:7 NIV)
I was recently part of an online discussion on MODsquad regarding this Scripture verse. It was a discussion, I might add, that had me pondering Scripture all day long, as well as the days following.
What do you think when you read this verse? I wonder if it’s anything like my first reaction was.
“You are altogether beautiful, my darling…”
As I read this first line, I felt comforted to hear God’s sincere opinion of me.
“There is no flaw in you.”
Instantly the comfort was gone as I thought, “yeah, right.”
Continue Reading »
Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” (Genesis 3:13 NLT)
I’ve read this Scripture verse many times and always thought about how angry God must have been at Adam and Eve. As a parent, I know I would have been angry. I mean, really, the one tree they were told not to eat from is the one they couldn’t resist.
But not long ago I was reading this section of Genesis, and I heard something different in God’s words.
“What have you done?”
I heard sadness and disappointment.
God created Adam and Eve desiring the personal relationship He had with them.
Continue Reading »
As a mother, I’ve observed how my daughter watches me. In some cases, I think she learns more by watching what I do than by listening to what I say.
As a child of God, I want to be a Godly mother, but as a human, I’m a sinful being. With my flaws and insecurities, I’ve been wondering…what do I want my daughter to learn as she watches me?
I want her…
To learn forgiveness – to see me ask for forgiveness and to forgive others, just as God forgives me.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Continue Reading »
