How amazing is our God! Some days my time with God is like putting on an old pair of shoes, familiar and comfortable. Other days His presence is more like a new pair of beautiful heels, exciting and different. Today, as I reflect over all the events, emotions, trials and joys of the past week, I stand amazed by God's patience and grace toward me. My constant prayer...less of me and more of You, Jesus!

On Being a Mom

The most amazing role I ever had is that of a mom. I am forever grateful to God for the years of raising children. I will always treasure the memories in my heart of when the kids were little. Every season, every age is so unique. I use to think when my children became 18 my job would be basically done. Ha! Once a mom, always a mom! Although the job changes from year to year, it is a lifetime position. The challenging part is 18+ years of instruct, discipline, correct and then just turn it off and wait for an opportunity to make a suggestion. Only with God's help is being a mom so much fun!

Do it Afraid

Two of my granddaughters learned to swim last summer from the neighborhood swim lessons. I will always remember little Calah as she stood on the side of the pool with her toes over the edge. She stood there for the longest time while her instructor in the pool attempted to talk her into jumping in. I was so sure Calah would never jump as I watched her cry a deep heart-breaking cry. But then she surprised us all and through crocodile tears she jumped! 'Do it Afraid' is the title of a teaching I heard a number of years ago. This mental picture of Calah describes perfectly our inner struggle with stepping out into the unknown area of faith.

Coffee on the Dock

I was on the dock last evening enjoying a quiet time deep in thought. The noise under the dock next door was unusually loud, so much so that I thought a child had fallen into the water. It turned out to be fish running for their lives, flying in the air to escape the jaws of something larger under the surface. It is amazing what we can do when we are fighting for something important, like survival. An inner strength and ability rises to the surface in the middle of a crisis. Just like those fish we can leap over a wall or fly into the air when we are threatened. What could we accomplish each day if we acted as if we had a large fish trying to eat us?