May My Heart See...

Hello.  I wrote a poem while on vacation last month on So Padre Island.  I was sitting by the ocean and these words came to me.  I read them again this morning and it was SO what I needed.  I hope they bless your day. I sit and confess all my unworthiness. All I see is the ocean beside me. I hear the roar and know You are more.  More than I know. The sound of the waves washing up on shore Tells me I'm forgiven. For You took all my sin and washed them away as I sit and confess all my unworthiness. I need nothing more.

Its assignment season again.   School has started and homework will be assigned.   Now that I have no children at home anymore, I don’t have to be concerned with the whole concept of “assignments” and can I just say,   HALLELUJAH!!!!    in bright colors with just a little bit of excitement???   Let’s just say helping with my sons’ assignments wasn’t my most favorite kind of pastime.   But actually, I have an assignment myself.   You have an assignment.   Everyone does.   This assignment comes from God Himself. Some (me included) might think of this “assignment” as a “calling” of some sort.   You know, some are called to be preachers, some teachers, some evangelists. . . .    That type of thing.   But in a recent class, KINDLE – Christ-Like Disciple Training , our “calling” was worded as our “assignment”. God has assigned each of us to something.   I don’t know, when I heard that, my ears perked...

As she talked, I sat there amazed.   Not at what she was saying, but at who she had become.   Confident.   Godly.   Faithful.    Respected.   It just hit me that she is now a leader in our church.    A true leader.   The next generation of leaders, in fact. But wait -- is this the same young woman who God brought into our lives a little over 10 years ago?   The anxious, nervous, only-just-started-going-to- church- wanting-to-please-everyone young woman my son introduced us to?   Watching her confidently taking her seat, I started thinking of those first days . . .   and seriously, my breath caught in my throat.   How amazing God is!   He molds, He holds.   He shapes and He grows.   And He does this over and over – and it still amazes me.   That got me to thinking.   God’s amazing work in my life didn’t start with my daughter-in-love.   It started before that.   It starte...

    I left for a LONG walk by myself recently while vacationing at my sister's place.   Armed with a bottle of water, it was a perfect morning to get away.  The sun was shining and the birds were singing - what could be better??   Having walked this path before, I didn't have a worry in the world. Praying, humming and taking in as much of God's creation as I could, all was good.   Well, until . .   My bladder was full and no bathroom was in sight.   I figured I was still about two miles away from the nearest bathroom.   What to do?   Two miles is a LONG WAY when you gotta go.   Some of you know EXACTLY what I mean.   Or maybe you don't have problems like this and if you did, you at least wouldn't tell anybody about it.   But the older I get, the more of a problem it is.   And the older I get, I know that EVERY event in life has a lesson.   Yes, even one like this   So I did what an...

I belong to the Clean Slate Club, ever heard of it?   Probably not, cause I just made it up.   Not the Clean P LATE Club btw – although I pretty much could say I belong there too J . This is a club consisting of totally white – blank – clean – non-encumbered nothing.   A “clean slate”.   That’s what happens when God forgives.   There is no “sort ofs” with this – no “almosts” – no “halfways” – it’s all or nothing.   It’s complete.   It’s forgotten.   It’s absolute.   It’s the way God works - it’s GRACE . Psalm 51 says, Have mercy on me, O God,     according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion     blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity     and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions,     and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned     and done...

I’ve got all my Valentine’s Day cards done except one .  I got the mushy one for my hubby –  cute ones with stickers inside for the grandkids and one for a friend who just got divorced. To be honest, I didn’t even think of sending this one until I heard it mentioned last Sunday during the children’s sermon.　 Paper and scissors aren’t needed - not even a stamp.　 This requires the most heartfelt devotion I can muster.　No schmaltz or trite little words.　 In fact, this might be the hardest thing I have ever done.   Maybe I should rethink this. 　 I want to send one to God.  I want to tell Him, no SHOW Him how much He means to me.　 I want to offer my heart to Him like I have never offered it before. This will be my best Valentine ever! 　 But my heart is deceitful . . . 　 Jeremiah 17 says: 　　　 　　The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. 　 I can’t do this. There is not one thing I can do or offer that will be a ...

Nothing like a 21-foot fall to turn your life upside down.   That’s how our week started.   One of our sons fell at work, 21 feet off scaffolding.   He backed right off.   Backed right into life changing, horrific, yet merciful mud.    Merciful mud?   Yes, I say “merciful” for he dislocated one finger, broke his shoulder blade and two bones in his back.   Merciful for obvious reasons:   he did not lose consciousness, no surgery was needed, he can still walk – you know things like that.    Needless to say, his life will never be the same.   Nothing like a 21-foot fall to show your true colors.   My son’s, amazing.    My husband’s, glorious.   Mine, not so pretty.   I have always known about and loved my husband for his steadfastness and his “rock-solid” faith.   None more than I do now.   When I think back on his servant-attitude, compassion and devotion to my son and his family during the...