Beyond Words

Rays by Surlan Soosay
Flickr.com_photos/ssoosay/6995846806_CC BY-ND 2.0

If you're joining me here from Encouragement Cafe, welcome!

People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7b

I’m a slow forgiver. You?

So, when the sassy girl at work spewed insults under her breath in my direction, my heart hardened. I took mental note and recorded her name on my imaginary “grudge list”. Yep, instead of being the Jesus girl, I chose to be the grudge girl. My motto used to be, “I’m the kindest person you’ll ever meet…just don’t cross me.”

Grammy Camp

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18 NIV

My heart swells when I look into the eyes of my grandchildren and see who God created them to be. It's not that I can see into the future, but their undeniable, unique, God-given personalities spill out of every one of my six grandchildren. What a joy to watch their quirks, their talents, their individuality blossom with each new growth spurt--both physical and emotional.

Deep Dark Waters

Image by Steve Conger
Flickr.com_/photos/dukie1/13937228763
CC BY-ND 2.0

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5b NIV

I'd rather scale the side of a mountain or jump from an airplane (with a working parachute), than dive into deep waters. I find no pleasure wading blindly through muddy silt among invisible, toe-nibbling fish and I panic when my feet can’t touch bottom.

However, heights comfort me ̶ whisper freedom deep inside ̶ lends a broader perspective of what’s below.

Covenant: more than a pinky promise

Image by All Holding
Flickr.com_photos/116388762@N02/12315726084
CC BY-ND 2.0

My mother never made promises. "I can't promise you anything because I don't know what tomorrow might bring," she'd say. All spoken from her shattered heart knowing full well the pain of a broken marriage. Those words haunted me, (probably still do since I'm compelled to write about them), for years. I'd even avoid childhood pinky-promises, for fear of breaking them, so upon my own engagement, I trembled.

My husband and I spoke often of covenant promises. There was more at stake than a pinky promise held. This was our future, our family, our legacy. I could not--would not--face a lifetime of uncommitted tomorrows where we left open a window of mistrust or an opportunity to slink away. We either entered our marriage covenant fully committed--promising to fight for one another and our future together no. matter. what.--or not at all.

Little People Praise God, Too: Book Review

Little People Praise God, Too illustrates Psalm 150:6 perfectly: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" Author, Lynn Calvin integrates multicultural children and special needs children into her story beautifully, expressing God's desire that all His children praise Him. She even includes an example of braille within the book.

Using humor and age-appropriate dialogue, Calvin covers the meaning of praise; where we praise God and how we can praise God.