“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NIV). There are times in our lives when the pain is so great, the sorrow so intense, the confusion so overwhelming that
Read moreTag: God’s Presence
Finding Deeper Meaning in the Quietness of New Beginnings
“Be like a tree. Stay grounded. Connect with your roots. Turn over a new leaf. Bend before you break. Enjoy your unique natural beauty. Keep growing.” Joanne Raptis Have I mentioned how much I love,
Read moreFaith Over Fear
Fear over faith or faith over fear? You choose. Fear says: Life changes. Change hurts. I’ll stay where I am. God says: Chance change. Grow through pain. I’m with you all the way.
Read moreA Forest’s Song
I will sing a forest’s song. Let every creature praise his holy name. Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult,
Read moreFinding God’s Presence in Our Praise
The spirit of the Lord is here. Worship in His presence. . . Seek, and you shall find Him Praise and worship affect my spiritual well-being and restore my soul. Although I’m reminded how the
Read moreNever Will I Leave You
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). When I was eight years old, I read Bible verses that explained God’s love, my sin, Jesus’ sacrifice, and my need to
Read moreHow to Find Peace Where the Sparrows Live
I’ve often wondered how to find peace where the sparrows live and how the answer to that quirky thought compared to my life-long desire to discover and abide in God’s presence. Those who know me,
Read moreI Need You to Be Okay Without Me
This post is about my dog. And about so much more than my dog. It’s also about me, and possibly you, too. When the pandemic hit, I was one of the lucky ones. Through a
Read moreHow to Keep Our Eyes Open for God
Keep your eyes open. Maybe we keep a lookout on our neighbors’ house while they are out of town. Perhaps we look for a friend’s lost pet. Or, we watch for a specific job ad
Read moreSome Things are Worth Repeating
Instant replays. Silly jokes. Favorite stories. Oh sure, we may roll our eyes at the 200th telling…unless of course, we’re the one doing the telling. When you’re reminiscing with a friend, the stories just get
Read more