My childhood memories are riddled with worry, sewn together with panic, and painted with dread: about school, about gettingt things wrong, about getting in trouble, about being alone … None of my fears were rationale in case you were wondering. I was raised in a loving, middle-class family that included close extended family. My mom stayed home with the kids, my dad went off to work every day, and if the weather was good all the neighborhood kids played kickball in the street every ...

Because you are my helper,

I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 63:7 NLT)

My younger sister died when I was fifteen. Born with the genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis, her death was not a shock; more like a reality I grew up with. I remember the church family praying for a miracle healing as her health deteriorated. She was eleven when she died, and hers was the first wake and funeral I attended. ...

I do not have the profound words of the experienced business man and I cannot advise on matters of law or provide insight on the deep political implications of world matters. But I have my own words and…

… I will speak.

Perhaps you do not value my words as much as others. It is possible you hear my advice and doubt its reality or even question my sanity. But I know my words carry just as much weight as others…

…if n...

 Mary:  BELIEVING

“Mary believed ...”   Luke 1:45

Joseph:  OBEYING

Joseph “did what he was commanded.R...

OMG!

Most of us know what this strange looking collection of letters means but for those who don’t it’s the texting equivalent to the expression, “Oh my God!”  From the first moment that I was asked to preach, I’ve known I wanted to talk about the phrase, “Oh my God!”

Being a little Baptist girl, I grew up with a healthy respect for the phrase, “Oh my God!”  “Thou sh...

A Eulogy Written In Honor of Rita Barney

Those we love are with the Lord and theLord has promised to be with us.

If they are with Him, and He is with us,they cannot be far away. (Peter Marshall)

I didn’t meet Rita Barney until Sunday night.  Given that she was in ICU, unable to spe...

I was asked to do the women's devotional at the fall women's breakfast at our church.  Here it is.

My heart has heard God say, “Come and talk with me.”

And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

Psalm 27:8 NL...

 1 O God, you are my God;

I earnestly search for you. 

My soul thirsts for you;  

my whole body longs for you 

in this parched a...

I do not know if this conversation ever even really occurred ... nor does it really matter to me.  I just liked the way things were presented and thought I'd share.  It's a long piece, but worth the read ... but if you only want to read a bit skip down to the blue bit at the end.  That's my favorite because I agree with the argument!! 

So, when I found out I was a finalist in the 2008 Golden Rose Contest in the category "Novel With Romantic Elements" for Rosamund's Bower I was so excited I couldn't stand myself.  When the winners were finally announced there were four names listed and three award categories: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize. I was the fourth name.  Alone in my office I fought back my disappointment and tried to remind myself how great it was that I even finaled...