Real Life is Better Than Fiction

Bearuty "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." That is so very true. What one person sees as gorgeous another person only sees as ugliness. Sometimes only a mother can see the beauty in a picture a child draws. Sometimes it's not actually the artwork itself it's the heart behind it. I remember after my mom passed away us kids were helping my dad go through some things when we came across the Christmas decorations. We begged my dad to let us throw away the ones we had made while we were children – you know those over-glittered, over-glued paper items, and the angel who lost her Styrofoam head more times than was respectable for any angel. My dad didn't object. It wasn't that he didn't love us or our creations; he just wasn't as attached to them as Mom was. Moms see beauty more than dads do. I love the snow during the winter. We don't get a lot here in Virginia, but growing up in New York there was no shortage of it. I posted a pictu...

Maintain I am a great starter of projects. Unfortunately I'm not a great finisher of those projects. My sewing room has plenty of proof with piles of started yet unfinished quilts. Then there's a drawer in my office that is full of notebooks of started but unfinished books. Will I ever return to those projects and finish them? I hope to. Someday. The problem I believe is that a new, more exciting idea comes along that I can't wait to begin, or it could be that I get bored with the time it's taking to complete the project. I become complacent when I need to maintain the course. Persevere. More often than not we have the same unfortunate attitude comes to our Christian walk and ministries. We get excited to begin something new, but soon pizzle out when we don't get the response or the recognition we think we should get. But ministry is not about a great response or recognition. If one person responds to God's call or grows spiritually, that should ...

Praise An attitude of praise is one that can be difficult. People expect us to be happy all the time. They would rather we put on a brave face in times of difficulty instead of talking about them and looking for support from friends or family members. Yet it's in those times of distress that we can be a testimony to others as we give God the praise. Yes, even in the bad times. And, yes, it's hard. When my mom was battling cancer I certainly didn't feel the inkling to praise God. I didn't see anything for which to be thankful. However, I just wasn't looking hard enough. In the midst of my sorrow I found some complaints and also reasons to praise. Complaints •              I wanted my mom to be a grandmother to my kids •              she was way too young to die •              she was such a g...

https://devotableapp.com/perseverance/ God’s people need God’s people. As a family of God in my small town we live in community. An open and honest family who shares struggles and brokenness and rest in the hope of Jesus. We live openly, our doors and our lives and we have all things in common. Last year we “planted” a church with two other families who were seeking Jesus. Things have gone well and God is truly blessing His work. Many new families have come into covenant fellowship alongside of us and last year was beautiful.  The first service of the new year God laid a word on my heart to share with the families in our body. The word was cut and dry and fell among good soil. This was the word, “Suffer Well.” Suffer well knowing we serve a God full of grace and truth Who loves us and gave Himself for us and is working for us an eternal weight of glory in our suffering. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being rene...

Ready Ready. That's a word that describes my personality. When big events come up, I have no need to panic or to be nervous because I am fully prepared. My husband thinks I plan too much and too far in advance. Spontaneity isn't an idea I'm always comfortable with. People who are ready are prepared for whatever life throws at them for the most part. Doomsday preppers come to mind in the extreme. I knew someone who was sure the world would come to an end at Y2K (remember that?). He and his wife bought 5 gallon buckets of rice, beans, and other sundries in preparation for the event. They're probably still eating that food. We prepare for weddings, school, new babies, holidays etc. We prepare for the inevitable by purchasing life insurance policies. The Bible warns us about being prepared versus worrying. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34). ...