Why is it that the last month of year is so cold and lonesome? Even the trees have lost their blankets and the birds flew away with them, carried on the winds of the changing season. I peer out the window, looking for sunshine only to find gray clouds cover its cheery light. The cold bites my nose as I press it against the glass, in hopes of seeing a bird in the bush outside. Occasional days bring sunshine, but there are no flowers or butterflies to reflect it's light. The dull colors of winter lay like silent shadows afraid of the sun's bright song. The bare trees stand guard, lest the rising sun of { Read More }
Shadows
Walking away from the sun I see my shadow bobbing on the ground in front of me. Funny how its outline looks just like me, yet the friendly silhouette is much bigger than I am. The sunlight filtering through a tree leaves splotched shadows to dapple the ground, sometimes shifting back and forth as if some unseen hand is sorting the pieces of a giant puzzle. Out in the open a giant shadow sweeps over the field as a hawk soars across the sky. Somewhere above me a butterfly is playing – his shadow dancing at my feet. Looking down again I note that my shadow has lengthened. Without turning around, I { Read More }
A Lesson from the Breeze
Standing in front of an open window I try to hold back tears. A little disappointment threatens to ruin my afternoon and leave me down. Suddenly an invisible hand, soft as a baby’s skin, reaches in and brushes a tear off my face. Washing over me like a cool ocean wave, bearing the scent of many flowers, it refreshes me. My hair flies behind me as a horse’s mane when he runs free. Smiling, I try to catch that hand… if I can grasp it, just maybe I can see it, but it rushes by. So familiar is it, that all of nature waves in its presence. I can’t see it, or hold it in my hand, but still it extends its arm { Read More }
Real in a Real World
A friend of mine posted this song on her blog a while back. I've always thought it was pretty, but never took the time to look at the lyrics and figure out what they mean. Then this week in our Bible study we were talking about the Bible characters whom God called friends, men after His own heart, those He blessed immeasurably. It doesn't take long to find out that these men (and women) were quite ungodly at times! David commits adultery and murder, Jacob tricks his father and brother, Noah lies around naked, Jonah gets angry with God, Peter denies his Lord, Joseph brags, and Sarah convinces Abraham to { Read More }
My Praise – Living a Life of Worship
Like an ocean breeze, blowin’ on Your face, Like a summer sun with its warm embrace, Like a gentle rain plays a symphony; That’s what I want my praise to be! Like a fragrant rose in the early spring, Just like an eagle soars when it spreads its wings... (My Praise - Philips, Craig, & Dean) Like an Eagle Soars Nature praises its Maker, just by being what He created it to be. Eagles don’t have to try to swim to praise God, they just go about life the way they were created to, and God is praised. Why then do we get confused about praise? Why are we always talking about how to praise, { Read More }
Sovereign God
This is one of those times where you question God. Not the "God, what right do you have to do something like this?" but rather, "why?" I don't believe it is wrong to ask why when God does something we don't understand. In fact, I think our asking and His answering helps us understand Him better. Yesterday we got the news that a local youth minister and young man were traveling to Colorado to meet with some families who'd gone ahead the day before. At 1:30am yesterday friends here in town received phone calls saying there had been a car wreck in Amarillo, TX and Mike, the youth minister was killed. { Read More }
