Growing Deeper

Just recently I had a conversation with friends of mine who stated that they were questioning their beliefs. What IS really true and what could they have absolute faith in with this world of so much controversy. I felt that recent events were instrumental in those questions and triggered an even deeper quest for what is true in all of what we are seeing going on in the world.  I think that being a believer doesn't inoculate us from questions; I also believe that questions are inevitable and actually good, especially in these time war and loss. One friend even said, "Yes, I do believe there is a higher power. But I am not sure who that actually is. I was very surprised at that comment. But at least it was an honest one.  I continued to listen and think about how to answer.  Later a thought came to my mind.   I recalled a movie that I had seen so many years ago. The movie was "The Miracle Worker" with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke. It was a true story about Helen K...

 Recently, our Golden Retriever, Angel,hurt herself. Somehow, she ended up with a puncture on her neck. I noticed it because she was scratching her neck and there was blood on the floor.    I investigated and found a wound. "What happened girl that you have this hole here?" and looking at it closer, I said to her "you cannot be scratching this, or it will get infected." It was already looking pretty nasty. She had a compulsion to keep scratching so I decided that a trip to the farm store was in order. Thankfully they had exactly what I had in mind. There, hanging on the wall was a large assortment of cone shaped covers that could be fitted around her neck. Here, I felt was the answer, to keep her from effectively scratching her neck.  So, once I got back home, I went to her and put it on her. I can only imagine what she must have thought. "What is this, and what did I do so wrong that you are punishing me?" She looked sad immediately. And tried to take it ...

I have been reading a book lately that has really upset my applecart of theology. And I am so glad! I have always believed that my prior thoughts about God have been pretty accurate, but now I believe that I was off in a number of ways, Thank God! The Old Testament is quite violent and harsh. And I felt that this God of the Old Testament doesn't seem like the Jesus I know in the New Testament. But to my surprise, I have found that the loving God of the Old Testament is exactly like Jesus. Even thought God was at times quite severe, His motive was love, because God is LOVE. My understanding of Him had a lot to do with my memories of my finite earthly father. I have heard that our experiences with our fathers have deep influences on our views about God. My life like so many, had a lot of twists and turns through my formative years. I was adopted at 2 years old along with my twin sister. My parents already had 7 other children. The story I was told, when I started asking questions abo...

 The internet has brought us many very useful tools to help us out and enhance our lives.  Many of us google just about any issue or problem we encounter for information. This googling ranges  anywhere from "what does poison ivy look like "to "what other movie have I seen that actor in?"  Another app I go to quite frequently is Pinterest. It is full of all kinds of things to look up. And in my account I can choose to save many categories, for example, I can find ideas anywhere from keto recipes to how to heal a chicken of a" splayed foot." I have spent much time (I won't relay how much)  looking on Pinterest for recipes, and other things. There are so much interesting subjects out there that because of my access through the wonder of the internet I can find just about anything.  Recently I discovered a new word that captured my interest.  The word is "Influencer."  I found that there are actual people that are called influencers. This may not...

 Today is a new day. Our world is turning on its axis as it has for centuries. The sun is up in the east and people are getting ready for work. It is a very busy world!  I am starting another day. A day full of ideas and a list of things I feel need to be done.  " It's just another day" as the song goes.  It could seem that way because I have had so many days in my 68 years of life that I tend to see a repeating trend of days and weeks and years. I could become numb to its value. Having another day is a blessing. But in reality, this is a day I will never get back. And to be sure, I do not know how many days I have left. My brother's birthday would have been November 15th. But he passed away from a heart attack two years ago. So, he has no more birthdays. He would have been 62 this year.  I have lost a number of family members. My Dad and Mom are no longer here, my two brothers are not here. I have been widowed twice in my life. Needless to say, I am familiar wi...

When I was first saved, Gods Word was so new to me. I had never read it before. It came alive in my heart as I read the gospel of John. I was intrigued by Jesus and his response to people and their needs. I ate it up. I was a new creature according to his Word. I believed God and became like a child when it came to my faith.     This is a miracle in itself. I was not always so trusting. But to be honest, I had come to the end of myself. I was a  very bitter young woman of whom life had thrown one too many curves.   I was desperate, lonely, forsaken and very angry.   God knew all this. He was always there, patiently  waiting for me to see my need for Him. Its sad that I had to come to that place to actually look up, and see  that I couldn't live this life on my own.     I had made so many mistakes and bad decisions. I only had myself to blame.  Even though I didn't know it, God had always had a plan for my life. His word tells us that. ...

 I love seeing the beautiful gardens all around in the summer. The  peonies are out now, gracing many yards. I have worked in my yard and planted flowers many times. The yard looks pretty good, but nothing like  a few people I know that have incredibly beautiful yards. They have annuals, and perrienials lining their  walkways, butterfly bushes, and all kinds of wild flowers, some even have set areas of beauty on their patios.   I, on the other hand, have had  some pretty flowers, but more weeds than I can count.  Poison ivy comes up  faithfully every year, and... weeds that show up all over the place. I have a yearly stint at Urgent Care  to get some predisone, once again,to bring my bout with poison ivy to a halt.   I do not have a green thumb. I sure wish I did. But its just not part of my DNA. Its not natural for me to even remember to water my plants.  Lord help the flowers in my front yard that I do not see unless I am driving ...