Wednesday morning, our eldest (aka The Princess) came downstairs and greeted me, warmly, for the first time, as “high school mom.” Her brother, (aka The Professor) moved up from middle school and will be a member of next year’s freshman class. He and his sister will spend one year in school together before she graduates high school in June.
It occurred to me that there are (at least) three phases of motherhood. There are the “moms of littles” years, the “mothers of grown children” years, and, my current situation, living as a Mid-Life Mama. My husband and I are raising teens, and I find the experience of being here remarkable.
Continue Reading »
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17
I have a few regrets in life, like everybody else. As I reflect back on these past 13 and a half years of motherhood with all of the ups and downs, challenges, blessings and everything in between, I have come to appreciate the gift of the early years. Recently it dawned on me that there was something missing in those early years, something that, in retrospect I realize, I didn’t miss at all.
Continue Reading »
I’ve noticed a lot of quiet blogs and websites lately, and a good number of inactive social media profiles.
My website has been uncharacteristically quiet the past several months. Between my mom’s passing and my month in the Holy Land, I haven’t had much time (or inspiration) to be online. I manage to post on a couple of sites occasionally, but I decided to give myself some online breathing room this summer.
A lot of us choose to slow down the pace during certain seasons, especially summers. Our homes are chaotic with kids and family, or our schedules are busy with projects and travel.
Continue Reading »
When you need faith to move your mountain…
This passage has been a challenge to me. It’s easy to feel like somehow we must manufacture mountain-moving faith–as if it is some secret formula only the most devoted can learn.
Sometimes we’re trying to move the wrong mountain.
I struggled with the questions in my heart about how to have faith to move my mountains. But sometimes we’re trying to move the wrong mountain and too often we ask the wrong question.
Jaque Banas of Vision Writer’s International teaches the concept of journalizing, a specific way of meditating on Scripture by taking dictation from the Holy Spirit and writing to capture, assimilate and obey His personal instructions.In
Continue Reading »
My sister lives at the end of a long and winding road.
There isn’t much at the fork in the road to indicate safe harbor. In fact, the jarring yellow “Dead End” triangle warns you away.
Oh, but there is nothing dead at the end of this road when you venture past the strongly worded warnings and come through the curve of trees dripping with ivy. The gray-green glow at the bottom of the hill hovers over you with a living light.
There is a squat brick box of a house, square in the middle yard, with an incongrous bamboo forest towering over the back of it.
Continue Reading »
The word “peace” in the Bible refers to a mental attitude of tranquility based on a relationship with God; it basically describes a person’s correct response to God’s grace.
When you see the word “peace” in Scripture, it’s referring to one of two types of this peace from God.
- Personal peace that comes when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior.
- The peace of God that is available on a daily basis as we participate in the Christian way of life according to God’s plan
With this in mind, consider that true peace is…
- A gift we RECEIVE (Romans 5:1-2 & John 14:27).
Continue Reading »
“All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the Lord their offerings…” Exodus 35: 21-22 NLT
Friends, this was how the Tabernacle was built. Those who felt God’s calling gave their most prized possessions. Those who felt moved by the message from the Lord offered their time, talents, money, premier fabrics, heirlooms, rainy day funds — whatever they had, they gave to God.
Continue Reading »
Hello brave ones!
It has been a challenging month for a close friend. Through this trial, me and my husband have seen just how much faith this person has in God and it has encouraged us so much.
Without going to much into detail about what happened to our friend, I will say, one of his family members passed away.
When thinking about all the pain this person was going through and is still going through I asked myself, “Would my faith be as great? Would I be able to get up in the morning and say to God thank you for your perfect will?”
Continue Reading »
