I understand how the garden must have called Jesus' name. I understand the urge to escape from all that screams and find comfort in all that whispers. At the very same time, I wonder what Jesus thought about as He walked through the tall grass and brightly-colored...

The stillness of it all. The bitter winds and icy floor. Hear the crunching as you move. Feel the sting of the morning breeze on your cheeks. Don't miss a walk through winter. Because it's part of His plan. He's setting the stage. Almost as if the curtain is drawn in...

There's a fine line between self-confidence and pride, but there's also a thin ribbon between humility and low self-esteem. As a person who works with teenagers in schools and at church, I see the dance between these very real and oh-so-human emotions up-close and...

PROVERBS 31: 10-31 A wife of noble character who can find?     She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her     and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,     all the days of her life.  She selects wool and flax and works...

High tide Low tide Calm seas Turbulent waves The ocean has nothing on motherhood. Uncharted waters with the rising of every sun. We wake up never knowing.................... Never knowing exactly what the day will hold for ourselves or our kids. Maybe we tucked them...

…one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray…" Luke 11:1 Have you ever had to approach someone who intimidated you? Sweaty hands, racing heart, hoping for the right words in the right order. Like Dorothy as she approached the Wizard of Oz, fear can...

In spite of all the chapters of my life that have been anything but easy, there's still a lot about my journey that has been very good. However, I can't think of any area of my life I would describe using the word "perfect." "Perfect" carries with it the idea of...

I stood with two teacher friends browsing a bookshelf as they eagerly shared reviews of each title. I needed something new to read. Something to draw me away from "real life" a bit. "Fiction," I said. Because honestly, life has enough drama to be its own book, and...

I have learned, often with much regret that............... Life is short. Hugs are free. Laughter is optional. Listening is a gift. All the while our children grow quickly, and time just keeps marching on. So, today, whether you're a husband, wife, mom, dad, daughter,...

The sharps. The flats. The minor chords. Great pieces of music are filled with sounds that sooth and sounds that unsettle. Highs. Lows. The clashing of notes and rhythms and beats. The mixture of many melodies and many  instruments. Crescendos to build excitement....