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Shepherd and the Shadow
When I was a little girl, in addition to what everyone normally called me, occasionally my mom would call me “Shadow“, because I would follow my dad so closely. Shadow. I like the image that connotates…and, it reminds me of this… One of my dearest friends and I were having a conversation one day. We were discussing the painting of Jesus carrying a lamb around his neck. This painting has hidden depth, because lore has it that if a lamb is wayward and goes rogue, a diligent shepherd will break the lamb’s leg. While this sounds cruel, and PETA would have a meltdown at this, it is truly for the…
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Hover Over Waters
It is Friday – a bright, sunny day in February. The sky is blue, and so am I. Mourning, actually. Feeling sorrow at the loss of so much we have identified as “America”. These days I wonder if was all a mirage the whole time? That being said, it is imperative to keep our eyes on what is true. Pontious Pilate epically asked, “What is truth?” How sad and pitiful that he did not recognize the Very One standing before his paltry self was and is The Truth – Jesus, our Messiah. Which brings me to the present day. God supersedes time. After all, He created it. That is a…
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The Sovereign
It wasn’t really supposed to have turned out this way. The days and weeks had somehow turned into years and then decades. One decision led to another, and before one knew it, the moments had stacked themselves neatly into bygone calendars. Listening to the small crackles of the fire on a January afternoon, there was no sadness, perhaps an infinitesimal regret, but not wholesale dismay. Because of that, she decided to attempt to write it down. After all, isn’t that what authors do – write? Instead of fiction, this time it would be a story of reality and of truth, as she had walked it. Life had not really prepared…
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Thresholds
The angels’ cries are echoing in my heart today, “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” Glory to God in the Highest! Our God has drawn near, not that He is ever far away. In fact, He is so near that without His presence our hearts would cease to beat. Every breath we breathe, every hair on our head, every thought and word (heaven help me!) are known. Does that stir your heart? I hope so. Today, as we have crossed another marker, let us rejoice! The current state of affairs humanly speaking may look grim. It may appear hopeless. Not so. We must look with our spiritual eyes. Through the grace and mercy…
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The Woodworkers
Imagination is a wonderful and powerful thing. Reading the Christmas story again reminds me how few details we have about the actual birth of Jesus. Was Mary in labor long? Did Joseph have experience delivering babies? Were there angels with them during this time – expectantly waiting and watching for the Messiah to be born? Did the Innkeeper have regrets after turning them away? Did Joseph ever doubt Mary’s faithfulness? Somehow, I don’t think so. This is where imagination comes in to play. Joseph. What a man he must have been! Much attention is given to Mary, but Joseph was also “chosen” and extraordinary. In fact, Joseph has been an…
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Practicing Gratitude
“Do all things without complaining and disputing,” Philippians 2:4 NKJV Certainly, this must be a typo. Everything? Surely there have be some activities that allow just a little grumbling, or at least heavy sighs? Or – one of my favorites – perhaps just a teensy sarcastic zinger? Nope. Ok – so let’s dig a little deeper. There must be a way out of this. Let’s look at the word “everything“. There has to be some wiggle room in the definition, right? Uh-oh, Dictionary.com doesn’t help my case one little bit. Its definition of Everything is, “every single thing or every particular of an aggregate or total; all.” Well, nuts! I guess…
