Canyons & Fireworks

Recently I had three separate people, in three distinct settings begin a thought with, "If I were a bird."  Bizarre, right? At the first comment, I began to joyfully hear Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like a Bird" song in my head. By the third comment, in a matter of just forty-eight hours, I was curious. I could not recall ever hearing anyone share such a thought before, and then to have a few in a short matter of time had me wondering. Seemed either an odd coincidence or God was getting my attention.      Just as I was pondering my options a new worship song came across my feed, "If I Were a Bird" by Mission House. Turns out the song is at least two years old but it was new to me. Right then and there, I opted for the “God was speaking” to me option.      I have a dear friend who, not long ago, received a prophetic word that she is like an indigo bunting. The name itself seems fitting for my beautiful confidant, but the unique details of the f...

Something about a rainy day awakens my pen. Sure, a cozy blanket and cup of tea are delightful when storms roll in, but nothing compares to listening to an instrumental melody in the midst of a consistent shower as I scribe my imaginations. The combination of chords and a wet outpouring serve as the perfect muse. Perhaps that is why some of our most enjoyed pieces of literature hail from rainy Great Britain.  The very words used for precipitation are inspiring. Sometimes the weather sprinkles in a new idea or two, while other times a deluge of thought floods the mind and page. Fluffy clouds often bring to mind a mizzle of feelings, but a dark covering carries in a torrent of intense emotions. The sounds of rainfall on a tin roof drizzle a certain charm, yet a streak of lightning escorted by the sound of thunder brings a cloudburst of fear and excitement.  Think of the sensation associated with a mist, flurry, or spate! Few words can titillate quite as effectively as those asso...

A part of scripture I have never understood is 2 Samuel 15. King David's family is in a dysfunction mess. The king's oldest and heir to the throne has defiled his sister and paid a deadly price. The punishment came not from the king or law but David's other son, Absolom.   Absolom took murderous vengeance on his brother and is now leading a coup to overthrow his father. King David decides to leave the city, and when the high priest offers to have the Ark of the Covenant of God carried with him, David declines the offer. This decision to leave the Ark behind may seem hopeless or at least questionable. The Ark had been credited for winning military victories, and David was about to fight his much beloved and much younger son.  Verses 25 and 26 give David's response. "If the Lord sees fit, He will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. But if He is through with me, then let Him do what seems best to Him." (NLT) This section of scripture is reminis...

This week, my husband and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. We were friends for a year and became best friends before our seven month courtship. It's hard to remember my life before we were together and the happiness we now share. We love each other deeply, but I think the biggest contributor to our happy home is that we appreciate one another. He makes it easy for me because he is a rare unicorn. My husband cooks, cleans, and leads our family spiritually. I may not deserve how great he is, but our marriage is a testament that God answers prayer! As wonderful as Rob is, he is not perfect. Despite all of his exceptional qualities (and yes, there are a lot), he can not possibly meet all of my needs. Only God is capable of such a feat. With any relationship comes an invitation to focus on the good, and another invitation to focus on the shortcomings. Perhaps that is why my pastor promotes Philippians 4:8 as the most important scripture to memorize, "And now dear broth...

According to attachment theory, our attachment is developed between birth and two or three years old. So often we hear things like, "No reason to celebrate the first birthday because the baby is too little to remember." I wonder if babies can feel celebrated. If so, those feelings are stored in the unconscious mind and nervous system. Our nervous system plays a part in almost everything we do and is our personal history keeper. May is mental health awareness month. I am a huge advocate for professional counseling, specifically professional Christian counseling.  That said, counseling deals mainly in the conscious and subconscious mind. Yet, our attachment is developed in a timezone outside of memory.  To address imperfections or traumas from our non-verbal unconscious beginnings, we must employ techniques that allow us to enter into a similar state.  Christian meditation is the practice of Psalm 46:10 (Be still and know that I am God). Meditation is not a time of prayer, ...