Canyons & Fireworks

Today, we are revisting a post from July 13, 2023. One thing we can count on is changing emotions. One day we deal with intense anger, the next extreme apathy. Our emotions may not be wise, but they are telling. Never Ignore I came cruising into my day refreshed and ready to go. Then, I experienced anger. Someone's misinformation inconvenienced my easy, breezy day.  Anger is one of those emotions I find less becoming than others. I was trying to calm myself down when Holy Spirit reminded me that I was not designed to reconcile my emotions on my own. In the past, I have fallen prey to ignoring and stuffing my emotions, but nowadays, I am more likely to try and reconcile my emotions on my own. Perhaps when I have "figured out" what needs to change, I then might go to God to request said changes. Today, I managed to be reminded that God likes us to come to Him raw. In the heat of anger or depths of despair, He wants to be invited into what we are feeling, thinking, and exper

Today we are revisting a blog from March 8th, 2023. I am happy to announce that my sister did land on her feet, and my sweet nephew just took his first two steps this week. God has been good! Changed by Love Redemption is such a hopeful concept. To maintain the full power of redemption we need transformation. Aw transformation - the chance to change for the better! I don't know about you, but I like the possibility of positive change. I want to be more full of faith, hope, and love in all circumstances and for every person.  Today, my hardworking, talented, precious sister was told her teaching job will be cut to part-time next school year. To make matters worse she is three months pregnant. Horrible timing! As she explained through tears and voiced her concerns my heart ached for her heart. Surprisingly, I was optimistic about her situation. I believe this change, while unwelcomed, will facilitate constructive adjustments. Surely she will transition to a more fulfilling position a

Today we are revisting a post from August 18th, 2023. How important it is for each of us to rightly balance wisdom and authority in our own lives. That balance becomes more crucially necessary in marriage. Wisdom & Authority  My husband and I had our routine check-ups this week. He is an emergency room nurse and promptly schedules all of our appointments. For two decades of my adult life, I took care of these matters myself. His planning is a welcome change in married life. He is also handy and takes immaculate care of our yard. Really I won the husband lottery because he also cooks, cleans, and is good at basically everything.   Not that he does everything. We share a fairly even distribution of responsibilities in running our household and raising our daughter. I may not be handy, but I was a responsible homeowner before we met. As someone who left home at 17 and married at 37, I learned how to take care of things on my own, but life is better together. Both my husband and I expr

A recent visit from my family has reminded me of a truth. Most children end up marrying a version of their primary caregiver. Below is a poem I wrote reflecting this fact, as well as a blog post from May 14, 2023. <My Spoon Full of Sugar> I married Mary Poppins. It is true.  No surprise for Mary is my mother too. They sing in the morning and like things tidy and clean. No time for nonsense or excuses, only good behavior will do. They are stern, responsible and  sensible…  a little vain and irritable too. They never explain anything but are diligent caretakers  paying  their  due. Yet he is my spoonful of sugar helping the medicine of life  go down. He loves with delicately balanced   quesadillas and grilled cheese. She loved with neatly cut and arrayed platters of fruits and veggies. He is “practically perfect in every way,”  or so they say. Attractive, enthusiastic, and well dressed, busy but playful. They cook and clean, work and glean, garden and farm. Effective in a magical s

This week's revisited archived post is from May 26, 2023.  Yesterday I finished the short series Howard's End . The main character, Margaret Schlegel, gives a beautiful explanation of worth in regard to her marriage choice. Margaret's wise words to her sister, "I do not intend to correct him, or reform him. Only connect. That is the whole of my sermon. I have not undertaken to fashion a husband to suit myself using Henry's soul as raw materials." Wisdom & Worth Wedding season is peaking! What better book to read than the Song of Solomon in a month full of marriage? The book of poems is rather sensual for biblical times and reflects God's intense desire for us, His bride; but there is more... Interestingly, the Song of Solomon is considered one of the five books of wisdom and, more specifically, one of the three books of Solomon's wisdom.   In chapter two the bride says, "My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me!" (MSG) What is He

Today's repost is from August 23, 2023. Remembering David's exchange with priest Ahimelek is timely for me. David had to leave everything behind but God highlighted which part of David's past was still anointed. Goliath's Sword  When I worked in childcare, I noticed almost every little boy's favorite Bible story was David and Goliath. Any other narrative was a distant runner-up. I remember one preschooler coloring over a handout of Goliath looming tall above a sling in David's hand. The enthusiast declared he was going to take Goliath's sword and "kill Satan with it, just like David!" We teachers enjoyed the toddler's zeal and rested in the knowledge that his theology had time to mature.  Who doesn't admire King David? The neglected son who became a giant killer, the harpist who dispelled an evil spirit, and the anointed king who was reduced to a hunted fugitive tugs on heart strings of men and women alike. Young David had more life experie