Take Time to Play

A joyful heart is good medicine… Proverbs 17:22 Standing in line at Walmart the other day, a boy about 4 came up to me and showed me his cookie he had gotten in the bakery. I saw the chewed up cookie in his mouth before I saw what was left of his cookie in his hand. He was shopping with his grandfather. I asked the boy what he was doing this day and he said playing. Just playing. But he was quick to add that he plays everyday! We must have become fast friends because when he left, he gave me a … Continue reading Take Time to Play

Hitting Bottom

So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time. James 4:7  MSG Bible I love how the Message Bible brings this to life for me.  I can remember times when all my plans had failed.  All the doctor’s plans had failed.  And worse, the prayers of faithful people seemed to have failed. How easy faith for healing comes when there is still hope coming from doctors or when healing manifests immediately. But what happens to our faith … Continue reading Hitting Bottom

Hurricane Ike Band

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39 Some years ago, my son and I flew to Houston for a weekend in September.  My daughter flew down from Montana and we stayed at my sister’s house.  We made these reservations long before we knew Hurricane Ike was headed right towards the coast of Texas.  Having grown up in Houston and being very familiar with hurricanes, we began the work of preparing for possible disaster even before the news of the hurricane’s impending … Continue reading Hurricane Ike Band

A Horse of a Different Color

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Years ago, when I lived in Montana, I bred Appaloosa horses.  Appaloosas weren’t all that popular then, at least not where I lived, and I took a good deal of ribbing about them.  They were seen as inferior by my friends who preferred Thoroughbreds or Quarter Horses or Arabians.  I didn’t mind; it was good fun and I loved the breed.  Besides, in the local competitions we were fond of, I invariably came home with more ribbons then they did, but it never silenced them. … Continue reading A Horse of a Different Color

Coping Skills

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11  Coping skills are overrated, can I just begin there? And I’d like to admit up front, I could be wrong. Lately, though, it seems that when I am with other Christians who are praying for someone, most of the prayers are about what I would call “coping skills”. Prayers to get the them through but not necessarily to get them over. Prayers like… God … Continue reading Coping Skills

And It Came to Pass

And It Came to Pass Luke 2:1 And it came to pass… My sister quotes this phrase a lot and we laugh every time she does.  She uses these five words as a reminder that what we are going through came to pass. Our difficulty didn’t come to stay.  That’s good news when what we are going through is hard to bear. This phrase – “it came to pass,” occurs 120 times in the King James Version.  Apparently, God thought we would need reminders from time to time. Disease is difficult.  Pain is difficult.  Not having answers is difficult.  Hearing … Continue reading And It Came to Pass

If Only God Would

Moses responded, “Then show me Your glorious presence.” Exodus 33:18 Moses had been given the unenviable task of leading God’s people up to the Promised Land. God assured Moses that he would not be going alone, God would be with him and would look favorably upon him. But Moses wanted more. Maybe he was thinking something like, I would do this, I maybe could do this is if God would only __________. Moses filled in that blank with “show me Your glorious presence.”  When called to go through something difficult or stretching, what would you fill in that blank?  Heal … Continue reading If Only God Would

My Dream Back Yard

Do not despise this small beginning, for the eyes of the Lord rejoice to see the work begin… Zechariah 4:10 “Do what you couldn’t do before and do it until you can do it easily.” I read this from a book on divine healing. I have heard similar exhortations before, but this time, I got it. I prayed about the issue of what I might do and picked one thing I have not been physically able to do in a very long time – yard work. I don’t particularly care for yard work, but I do like a nice yard … Continue reading My Dream Back Yard

I’m Shocked!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 No really, I was shocked!  My fingers had been numb for months and months.  Numbness is just one symptom of carpal tunnel.  Getting ready for work in the morning was the worst.  Routine things were difficult and sometimes impossible. I couldn’t feel my hair when I washed it, or feel my face to apply makeup.  I couldn’t button my pants or tie a shoe.  I couldn’t pick up a book and turn the pages or put ice in my tea. All very … Continue reading I’m Shocked!

The Report of the Lord

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:11 So it had come to this – me standing in the surgeon’s office looking at x-rays of my shoulder.   My left shoulder had been in constant pain for months.  My left arm was useless because of the pain.  I couldn’t lift anything; I could barely move my arm at all.  Just trying to take the covers off of me to get out of bed … Continue reading The Report of the Lord