Thursday, February 27, 2020

It's been awhile. Three years since I've visited here.

Life's been tough. Death has a way of stopping life.

I can finally breathe again.

Parenting at 60 is no easy task.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Grandparenting with Grace: My Fait Radio Writer's contest Life's Pebbles

Please follow the link and vote on my piece for the My Faith Radio Writer's contest. I'd love to earn a seat at the Writer's Conference in July at Northwestern University. Life's Pebbles

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Living in a Broken World

The problem is we live in a broken world. Made up of broken people, and unless we are totally perfect, without a flaw, that includes every one of us, only we have a hard time admitting this brokenness, or don't even realize we are broken. Perhaps we believe we are the only one and we'll be found out. . . We live in fear of the future. We can't seem to hold it together, being torn in too many directions. Between home and work- Maybe we want to be home but can't, or we'll be thought less of. Maybe we want to work and feel guilty leaving the kids or we are frustrated in our attempts to move up the ladder. Perhaps we drink too much to deaden the pain, or we can't get moving in the morning because we are depressed-our expectations for life haven't really panned out. It could be our marriage is giving us a tough run, or we can't find that special person and we're tired of being alone. An addiction to pornography? Food? Anything? Perhaps we regret that decision we made-a one night stand, an abortion, screaming at the kids, or that affair.
The list goes on and on, and on. But no matter what it is, you're not alone. It has been done, happened, and been felt before. Over. And over. And over-like a broken record. We can be sure it will happen again-to some one somewhere. We are broken, doing the best we can, with what we have in this broken world.
"So what's the answer?" we might ask. I can say in all confidence Jesus. You see, He was broken too. For us. That is where the healing is found-in His brokenness we are redeemed. In His brokenness we find the pathway to wholeness. ". . by Whose stripes you were healed" (1 pet. 2:24, NKJ). Is this a magic trick to take it all away and make life perfect? Not in the least. This world is broken and will remain so because of sin. But Grace, now that is ours. Forgiveness for the meanness we feel and exhibit. Forgiveness for the making of idols (placing anything as more important than God- First). Forgiveness for the complete mess we make of our lives by trying to do it our way. Forgiveness, follows repentance as we cry out to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than we could possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
It will never all be "fixed" until that day when we leave this earthly home and stand made whole before the One who heals and makes whole. Each day is part of our refining process. But the truth lies within the Living Word (Jesus). God doesn't change, He is consistent and the same today, yesterday, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). No matter how we try we aren't going to change that or His promises-no matter how hard we fight to get it our way.
We all need repentance. We all need the Savior. That's it. With that He can help us find the way. The truth. Life. (John 14:6) We may struggle, but nothing worthwhile is ever handed to us without struggle. Even His grace was payed with a price- Death- a struggle. And we, we struggle against the Grace gift- amazing as it is. Why? Perhaps we know that once accepted we have to change. (Jesus changes us. . . The woman at the well. The woman standing, waiting to be stoned. Zacchaeus the tax collector, the prison guards watching over Paul and Silas. It happens. The refining. It takes courage, humility, and grace. But the peace. Watch any of the "I Am Second" videos. Change happens.
I may not agree with all the protesting and name calling being done; I may not agree with your lifestyle and choices; I may not agree with how you raise your children. But that doesn't mean I don't believe you are loved by God just as I am. You are no less a human being. You are not crazy, stupid or Etc. He wants His best for you, for all of us. ". . . He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9, NIV). That includes you, me, us.
And here I can say I sometimes post things that I think are humorous. It doesn't always mean I agree or believe it, after all we all know everything on FB is true(lol). I sometimes like to stir the pot-bad. But we have a 45th President. His name is Donald Trump. Fact. I think we can all agree on that. We can steal his pens, but he will still be President and find a new one to sign his name as President. I will pray for him and my country, because I know the One who holds both in His hands. And I will be watching, waiting, in anticipation for what He will do. I'm sure it will be more than you or I can imagine.
Won't you join me?

Friday, December 25, 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015

Grandparenting with Grace: Pebble's Ripples




 The Pebble's Ripples

Without a faith in God that assures me He is at work for my best and that of those I love, many times I would have given up. The older I get, the more my life does not flow, as I had perceived it would.
We all make decisions and speak words, many times without much thought-or perhaps with much thought(?) that affect the lives of others. As a pebble tossed in a pond sends out ripples, our actions and words, our life pebbles, can touch another with life changing and soul scarring ripples.
In this my final few decades of life, as the last chapters of my life story are being written, and the pages of the past begin to yellow and take on that musty smell common to old and neglectfully forgotten books, it has felt as if I am standing on the opposite shore of all other lives that touch mine- and rocks are being thrown. I am losing my shoreline to the erosion of the choices, misunderstandings, and unkind judgments of others.
I could stem the damage being done, but at what cost to an innocent? I refuse to throw the huge boulders needed to stem the raging waves that are eating away at what should be my peaceful sandy shores. Yet, I like to think that these boulders will enhance my foundation of faith and trust, and one day I will realize that a shore of peaceful sand held a misconception of importance.
Unfortunately, knowing these things does not remove, or even diminish, the pain that holds me captive behind the growing wall of rocks amassing my life’s shoreline. However, I believe one day I will put on the harness of a rock climber and with the aid of my faithful  belayer (Christ) I will scale that imposing wall of rock and all will be chaos free. Then, as I stand atop what was meant to bury me and defeat my spirit beneath its crushing weight, I will see the entire vast array of what my life was purposed to be.
Until then my prayer is that I will choose to toss out into life pebbles of love and understanding, pebbles causing truthful and gentle ripples in the waters that caress the lives of others more often than choosing, inadvertently or selfishly, those that cause demolition and destruction. My biggest fear is that I would callously cause another life to withdraw from riding on the sparkling waters of life because my pebbles’ ripples caused too much pain. I pray I will never force another to retreat from rippling the hopeful and promising waters of their life by my choices.
Often we are not aware of how our ripples interact with those of another life. The pebble leaves our hand, hits the water and the ripples subside leaving what looks like calm waters; but water moves beneath the apparent surface stillness.  Our self-righteous shaming moral judgments and selfishness, done thoughtlessly or with intent, can shatter a hurting soul.
My hope and prayer is that the ripples that rise and fall from the pebbles I have tossed are ones that tug at the heart. I pray that as God orchestrates my life and the lives of those around me, that the swell from my pebbles will continue to touch those of others for years to come in a kind and gentle way.
I pray that God in His graciousness would send others into all our lives to toss pebbles that gently rock and comfort us and assure us of His unconditional love, especially when we are struggling.  Most of all, I pray that the pebbles you and I toss create ripples of the same beauty and love as those of Jesus.   



 October 26, 21015


© Copyright 2015

Monday, October 12, 2015

Grandparenting with Grace: 31 Days of Family Life-storm

Back from a weekend of a much needed adventure with my lovely married daughter. We had a fun time sitting up late chatting around a camp fire and saddling up our horses and riding some awesome trails. The trees were at peak color, the weather fantastic and the company grand.

Now to get on with this 31 days of writing. Today's prompt is Storm.

I love a good storm. Rain. Snow. That's about what I see in Minnesota. I am fortunate, I don't need to worry about Hurricanes, or many tornadoes. But rain with thunder and lightening I love. And snow-blowing wildly about, drifting and crazy-that is spectacular after the storm. Spectacular after the storm.


 I stop and breathe deep after a rain. I walk out in the cool damp air, the ground giving way under my steps. I marvel at the colors, exquisitely  vivid after their drink from heaven. I survey the branches strewn about and gather them for a quiet evening of s'mores. I accept the fierce winds, flashing sparks, and  bellowing thunder as an instigation for renewal.


After the howling cries of the blowing snow, I marvel at the beauty that lies before me. The white intensity glistening, too brilliant for my eyes to behold. Soft wisps of white dancing on the last  breaths of the wind.


 The storms of family and life can be like a good refreshing rainstorm. We can embrace the coming renewal from the storms of life. We can accept the winds to come and the earth to shudder under life's thunder and flashing lights. We can see these storms as a cause for renewal-with our relationships, and with our savior.

We can look for and  anticipate the spectacular of the outcome. We can be in awe of the diamonds in life we are given. The spiritual growth glittering in the sun as fresh snow, sharp and crisp, glitters in the sun lying beneath the frigid air.

Storms can truly bring a spectacular renewal to our lives. We only need to accept the storm, wait it out, and open our eyes.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Grandparenting with Grace: day 7 of 31 Days of Family Life- Love

Love

In romance novels it is
tingling touch in the firelight.

In reality
love is exhausting
late nights.

Crying and
vomit.

Scratches and scrapes.

Gum in your hair.

Poo in their underwear.

Budgeting.

Praying.

Staying.

Loving
when you DON'T feel like it.

 Love is knowing you will make it
because you promised you would.

And He is who you trust.
And He is love.