Word choice is an important aspect of speaking and writing. If I say, “walk,” it might make any number of pictures in your mind. But, what happens when I use a word like “stroll” or “stride?” How about “amble” or “strut?” “Pace” or “march?” All have the idea of covering Read more…
(Warning: Longer than usual post.) I love volunteers! Not the kind that make the bake sale a success (though those are lovely and needed as well!), but the kind that appear in my yard and garden without human agency. These are the plants that appear somewhere I didn’t intend for Read more…
When I began to grow grapevines, one of the hardest things to do was to prune them. I understood that pruning was necessary if I wanted grapes and not just vines, but apart from that, I had no idea what I was doing. It was heart-rending to remove so much Read more…
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. How I treat other humans is a function of how I view other humans. If I respond to them as annoyances or as servants, co-laborers or competitors, or whether I regard them at all is because of how I see them. The important truth that I must understand is Read more…
Speechless in the blessed music of rain! Thank You. Thunder rumbles – a long, low growl over my head from west to east. Palm trees roar in the wind and bow to the force of You — bent but not broken as the giant grasses they are! The leaves make Read more…
The last few days have included lots of waiting: waiting for canceled flights to be rescheduled, waiting for a place to sit in the crowded concourse where hundreds of others also waited for skies to clear, planes to be emptied and readied for the next wave of passengers, waiting for Read more…
Why do I follow Jesus every day in the everyday? Jesus, You are my treasure. In You I have all I need; Without You, nothing is supplied. Through You I have peace; Apart from You nothing rests. Near You I am safe, protected; Far from You, everything threatens destruction. Read more…
The message was addressed to the students I help to mentor, but I am consistently listening for what God has for me. The book was Ephesians. The challenge was to stretch our faith by letting go of something and taking hold of its replacement, by the power only God can Read more…
Part of me wants to apologize for not putting out a post last week. Part of me hopes you didn’t notice and the rest of me hopes you all were desperate to hear from me…Yeah, so there’s that. The bottom line is: this is supposed to be a glimpse into Read more…
Last week I promised some more answers…not solutions, mind you, just answers…you know, like in a conversation? About a month ago, a dozen of us went out into the gorgeous Arizona desert on a brisk Saturday morning (Yes, it does get chilly here in winter!) for a few hours of Read more…