I went to a beautiful Lessons and Carols service last night at Piedmont. (They have another free concert tonight at 7:30 if you are interested.) Bill is in the choir, so Dad and I had dinner beforehand and went together. If you are unfamiliar with Lessons and Carols, it is an Advent service which includes … Continue reading The Long-awaited Promise
Beware of False Hope
Regarding hope, I must warn you there is such a thing as false hope. A counterfeit. It looks real and sometimes feels real, but it’s an illusion. Just as with money, you have to study the genuine to identify the false. The enemy is sneaky like that. Making promises he cannot keep. Making something look … Continue reading Beware of False Hope
Mary’s Song
I am but a girl. Engaged to be married. Betrothed. Preparing for my life as a wife with Joseph, my Beloved. That is, until the angel arrived and turned our lives upside down. He spoke words my mind was not prepared to hear. Unbelievable words. Unfathomable. An angel? Really. Who would even believe this tale … Continue reading Mary’s Song
Defining Hope
The first definition of hope in the dictionary is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” When I think of hope, this is the definition I accept and think of most. It is certainly true during Advent, as we look forward to the coming of the Christ, both back then … Continue reading Defining Hope
Hope Deferred
To have a discussion of hope we must talk about the elephant in the room. Hope deferred. Hopelessness. The crushing weight of broken expectations. The relationship that didn’t work out. The loss of someone dear. The fractured marriage. The wayward child. The lost career. The illness that took over everything. The huge enormous hole that … Continue reading Hope Deferred
The Days of Advent
The days of advent are upon us. A liturgical season to which I never paid much attention until recently. A season of waiting. A season of anticipation. A season of light in the darkness. There is certainly enough darkness these days to have me looking for some light. It seems overwhelming sometimes, the heaviness of … Continue reading The Days of Advent
Snapshots of Thankfulness
Walking down the gravel road, stirring up the dust with each footfall I was sweating. The heat of the Nicaraguan day had me longing for shade. Our group of Americans, equipped with an interpreter, was on a prayer walk through the barrio. Speaking to the people, spending time with them was our joy. They had … Continue reading Snapshots of Thankfulness
Hibernation
I know humans aren’t considered hibernators, but I think I might be one. When the light darkens because of the dreaded daylight savings time, my body decides if there is less light there will be less work. I feel a pull to the comfy covers of my bed and I don’t want to come out … Continue reading Hibernation
Joy-filled Moments
There are some moments in time which stick in my mind like a movie on a screen. Last weekend will be one of those. My heart was full to overflowing with joy and gratitude, as was my house. My kids came from all their places to celebrate Hannah and Jimmy, Georgia-style. We gathered around the … Continue reading Joy-filled Moments
God Cannot Forget You
When Bill was in the hospital all those years ago, I often wondered what was happening to him spiritually. He was out of his mind, so where was his spirit? When he came around, I asked him what he remembered, curious if he had seen or felt anything from the unseen realm. He didn’t remember … Continue reading God Cannot Forget You
