The other day, I was jotting down some notes in a notebook, when I turned the page and saw a little drawing from my daughter– a happy face with an “I love you” next to it. It was a cute surprise—an unexpected “gift”–and it made me smile.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above…” James 1:17
That little happy face in my notebook, that little “I love you”, made me pause and be grateful for all the gifts in my life.
What are some surprises He has given you lately?
“Kommen sie hier, bitte.”
A simple phrase, yet a very special and poignant one in our home.
Several years ago, as we prepared for our trip to Europe, my husband and I devoured a couple of language tapes, trying to soak up enough French to sound legitimate in Paris and enough German to have some fun in Prague.
Now, almost a decade later, we remember very little of these impromptu language lessons. But this one German phrase, Kommen sie hier, bitte, remains a staple in my husband’s vocabulary. Translated, it means “Come here, please.”
But spoken in a hushed voice, accompanied by outstretched arms, it represents nothing short of pure comfort to me.
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Psalm 119:160 (NIV)
For the past month, I have been in a state of mind that I will refer to as writer’s funk. Unlike a case of writer’s block, I was able to come up with topics to write about, and even words to fill a page…but my interest to write waned. I kept telling myself that it was because I had nothing new to express. My style felt stale. My passion simmered to stagnant.
Friends consoled me with assurances that all writers felt this way at times. Perhaps that is true.
I can finally sit in my loungeroom and relax. I no longer see an unpainted ceiling, or half finished door, or cement floors, or light bulbs hanging out of the ceiling. I even have some pictures on the walls. If I try not to look down the hallway, I could nearly say that we have finished our renovations (inside at least).
We had to renovate our new place as it was lacking what some would consider necessities, such as doors, flooring and walls. We wanted to make it a more comfortable place to live in, to make it stronger and more durable, to make it more attractive, and enjoy the feeling of personal satisfaction at our work.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phillipians 4:13 NIV
My mother taught me how to swim. She taught my brother, all my cousins, and me. Where I grew up, my family all lived on the same road. Aunt Marilyn lived five houses down from us, and she had a pool. Many summer days were spent there. With swim suit clad bodies, we’d throw a towel around our shoulders and flip flop all the way to Marilyn’s.
When I was too young to swim, Mom put me in a galvanized tub of water beside the pool and let me watch.
I closed the book in stunned silence. My heart had been pierced by ten simple words. I wanted sit and absorb the truth. I needed to pray with a repentant heart.
Too bad I was in the middle of a homeschool lesson and the story I had just finished was intended to be character training for my children.
We were reading about David Livingstone, explorer and missionary to the people of Africa. Dave and Neta Jackson chronicle his story as well those of other heroes of our faith in Hero Tales.
This great man of “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” fame accomplished amazing things for the kingdom.
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. (Isaiah 26:4 NLT)
As the mom of 6 boys, I’m sure you can understand when I say that I have plenty of opportunities to lean on God for wisdom, strength and patience.
Last night I spent quite a while in our local walk-in clinic with our 5 year old waiting to get stitches in one of his little fingers. Let’s just say that our last experience getting stitches for this particular boy was about as unpleasant as anyone could possibly imagine (much thrashing and flailing about) so I definitely felt I needed a Rock.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
It’s happening again. I’m growing weary in the waiting. Why? Because it’s taking too long, and while I’m waiting others around me seem to be getting the very things I’ve been waiting for.
We’ve been waiting for our home to sell… five or six months now…I lost track.
I’ve been waiting for my book to sell… six months now…
I’ve been waiting for other things, more personal things like for God to do a work in my heart and family once and for all.