-
Faithfulness Matters
Faithfulness matters. A hidden message in my granddad’s desk reminded me of that truth . . . Passed down first to my mom, then to me, my granddad’s beautiful mahogany desk is a connection to my grandparents and to my childhood. I remember looking at the carved drawers and compartments when I was a little girl and asking my grandmother if I could open them all. But she said Granddad paid the bills at his desk, so I’d better not disturb things. Then she took me in the kitchen and gave me cake. Decades later, instead of paying bills here, I write. Once when I should have been working, I…
-
Ribbons of Grace
Somewhere out there is a mama bird with a flair for decorating. Most of the nests I’ve picked up after storms look similar. Some might be smaller and more compact, others larger with a loose weave, but all are cozy little pine straw homes. One mama bird, however, added something extra to her nest. She decided the reddish-brown pine straw needed a little bling. So she wove a green ribbon throughout the straw. A little of the miraculous in the middle of the mundane. The nest reminds me that God weaves ribbons of grace through our lives every single day. He works miracles in the midst of our mundane. Golden…
-
How to Have Confidence with Two Left Feet
I bought some new running socks a few weeks ago. Though I spent a little more money than usual, these socks provide extra cushion, moisture-wicking, and durability. They also come embroidered with R and L so there’s no question which foot they belong to. I like that. One less decision in the morning is a good thing. The problem with the R and L showed up on laundry day. I dumped the basket of clean clothes on the bed and began to sort socks. L, L, L … wait, what happened to R, R, R? I retraced my steps to see if I’d left the R’s in the washer or…
-
Forgiveness and Restoration
A visit to Israel several years ago beautifully illustrated to me the truths of forgiveness and restoration. We spent time at a church called St. Peter Gallicantu (Latin for ‘cock’s crow’). The church stands over the site traditionally thought to be the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. When soldiers brought Jesus here the night of His arrest to be questioned by Caiaphas, the disciple Peter waited in the courtyard to see what would happen. Matthew 26:69-74 tells us servant girls and bystanders asked Peter three times if he was with Christ, and each time Peter denied knowing Him. Immediately a rooster crowed. Verse 75 states: “And Peter remembered the…
-
It Snowed Today!
Snow might not be big news where you live, but here in eastern North Carolina, anything more than a dusting is a rare occurrence. The last big snow I remember was seven years ago. But guess what? It snowed today! We received four inches, five inches, or eight inches, depending on who you ask. Some of my friends don’t care for snow. They’ve moved here from the mountains or Chicago or Alaska and they’ve seen enough. I get that. But most of us locals love a good southern snow. Our friends from the north make fun of us for closing everything down at the first snowflake. But hey, we’ve got…
Faith for the Adventure
