Posted by a friend who has been wounded by the sharp blade of criticism. It always seems to feel better to say loving, uplifting things to people, though I often fail. The Bible says let your speech be ALWAYS with Grace. It also says, "The tongue is a fire." https://www.facebook.com/Prov31Ministries/photos/a.390955286960.162138.99550061960/10153298529496961/?type=3&theater

Habakkuk 3:19 "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." Great thoughts on these three clauses, from Alexander MacLaren, "the prince of expositors" (including a thought or two of my own; no claim to "greatness" on those 😃) 1) “The LORD God IS my strength” – Note, this is greater than, “The Lord GIVES me strength." You can give a dollar to a beggar, yet keep your distance and go on your way.

If I were to judge, "is this the best time for my daughter to take on the responsibility of caring for a tiny human," considering her health challenges . . . Or, "is it the best time for us to add a new child to our home," amid the already daunting stresses of two grieving parents battling the effects of Lyme disease, in a new ministry and new home, far away from the loving support network we spent decades establishing in Wisconsin . . . My answer would have to be . . . "BUT

Levi Nathanael Richards, playing the theme from Downton Abbey at the wedding of Jared and Danika Dellelo; October 11, 2014. A little over twenty months later, the music was silenced. On posting this, I can hear a couple mistakes in his playing, which I did not catch the first time (must have been sobbing too hard). I do remember now he wasn't thrilled with his performance. He had perfectionist tendencies and did tend to be hard on himself. https://photos.google.com/share/

Tonight I applaud the love and courage of my daughter and son-in-law in their quest to adopt a child. Nearly 30 years ago, before Carissa was born, her mother and I sought to adopt a young girl who had a background of abuse, but it wasn't what the Lord had for us at that time. Now we feel like our firstborn natural child may be the one to fulfill the loving desire the Lord once placed on our hearts. Last night, we had the joy and privilege of sharing our Christmas with a wo

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." -- Psalm 126:5 "For in that He hath suffered being tempted, He is able to SUCCOUR (i.e., "RUN TO THE CRY OF") them that are tempted." -- Hebrews 2:18 "The cry of a baby demands examination of the situation by the parents and their provision of what is needed. A cry is a proclamation of helplessness, dependence, trust and need, the recognition that "I cannot." There is simply too much stress that comes from not crying. Several years

We set aside yesterday, December 23, as "Levi day" (Carissa's idea for what we hope will be a new yearly tradition) The idea is to "put margins on our grieving." Typically, the holidays can be brutal; like swing dancing through a minefield. Certain sights, sounds, tastes and smells trigger memories that hijack the emotions and can unleash torrential waterworks at any moment without warning. Favorite foods Levi loved, decorations and ornaments that have been out of sight, out

This is an excellent piece that will impart comfort and hope to the hurting. And I am hurting for my son, Levi, right now, but not "just" for Levi. I hurt also for the way this loss continues to affect the other loves of my life (and Levi's!); his siblings, and his cherished mom ("the 'gift' that just keeps on giving," say I, with dark sarcasm.). But for those of you who are currently enjoying the excitement and joy of anticipating a Christmas untainted by the sorrow of loss,

Someone may be wondering why I randomly blitzed out posting quotes on "forgiveness" recently. Let me clear up that little mystery for you right now. Very recently came to a fresh realization of just how much I've been forgiven by God. At the time I received Jesus Christ as my Savior, I really didn't think I was such a terrible guy (as Hell-bound sinners go). I've come to something of an awakening since then. I see now I really was one nasty rat-fink self-centered turdbucket (

Even the joy of having my adorable grandson sitting on my lap, absorbed in "Toy Story 2" with his Zayde does not fail to remind me that once upon a time, it was my curly-mopped son, Levi, who snuggled with me on my recliner, in that same, amazing and wonderfully affectionate way. "Will the pain ever end? Not on this earth, no. A mother can experience symptoms at any point in a pregnancy, and distance from pain is no foolproof shield. Fortunately, the symptoms of early preg