On:
In: Easter Sunday
With: 0 Comments

“Noooo! I don’t want to!” At four years old, she’s already fiercely independent. At four years old, my foster daughter has already known more loss, disappointment, and pain than my four decades of adulthood. So when her eyes glare at me with laser-sharp focus from under a furrowed brow, and a tantrum of tears meant to test my resolve (and my love), I think of Jesus. There are no words. Out of all the books I’ve read and Easter Sunday sermons I’ve heard, overflowing with comforting wisdom, prophetic prose, and life lessons, there are still no words adequate, big enough, deep enough to contain andRead More →

On:
In: The Right People
With: 0 Comments

There once was a young man who wanted to introduce his new love to his mother. To soften the introduction, he broached the subject with his mother first. Because lineage and social class were important to her, she quickly asked, “Who are her people?” The mother’s motives aside, like any concerned parent, she wanted to know more about the young woman who had won her son’s heart. What cloth was she cut from? What did she want? What kind of company did this young woman keep? They were all legitimate questions just not the right ones. Indeed the people in our lives are a reflectionRead More →

On:
In: Uncategorized
With: 0 Comments

“Father, I need you.” Those four simple words have saved me more times than I can count. When ends didn’t meet, and bills were overdue, help arrived. When I needed a way out of a bad situation, a window suddenly opened. When I thought I’d reached the end, there was a staircase beyond what appeared to be the point of no return. That simple prayer, time and again, ushered in help at my greatest point of need. Desperation makes praying knees go deeper. Those four powerful words do battle with pride, plans, and ego-driven power. ASKING FOR HELP Those four words replace pride with humility.Read More →

On:
In: Thanksgiving
With: 0 Comments

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones, memories of the holidays with my family come to mind. We didn’t have much, but my grandmother and great grandmother who hail from the Deep South would put both their feet in a soulful, southern holiday meal. A host of aunts, uncles, and cousins would cram into my grandmother’s modest home for a family feast. With so many adults and teens, there was not enough room at the dining table for my younger cousins and me. We sat at a small table for the children. I can remember wanting to sit next to my motherRead More →

On:
In: #MorningPrayer
With: 0 Comments

Let’s be honest. Sometimes we forget to pray. The pace of our lives can drown out that still small voice calling us to commune. For me, the call to prayer comes first thing in the morning. Sometimes before the first hint of light, my heart and my lips will utter: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) We can become so convinced of our power and ability to navigate our world, juggle all the balls, win all the contests, that we forget to take a moment to rest in Him (Psalm 131), to takeRead More →

On:
In: The Harmony of Life
With: 0 Comments

Every season has a distinct sound if you stop for a moment and pay close attention. The summer buzzes with bees, water sprinklers spit and tick, the shrieks and screams of kids playing on the block add to the symphony. Then fall eases in like cool jazz with a subtle breeze that rustles leaves, making Samba shakers out of tree branches. There’s a rhythm, a harmony. That’s how life should be. When life is in order and we’ve courageously removed all that isn’t serving our growth and purpose, there’s flow; we’re in synch. Chaos and confusion give way to peace. Add a little fun andRead More →

On:
In: Uncategorized
With: 0 Comments

Doctors tell us at least 30-minutes of exercise a day can keep cardiovascular disease away. Dieticians urge us to eat plenty of salmon, walnuts and berries to ward off heart disease as well. The prescription for treating the greatest muscle in our body seems simple with the onus on us to do our part. But what about the remedy for a heart that has weathered many storms? A good friend often says, “I’ve got a grown woman’s heart. It’s been duct-taped, super-glued, rubber-banded, paper-clipped and stapled.” Her wit and candor about relationship trials always solicit some good laughter. In all seriousness, what she means is:Read More →