Living Water: Our Story, Chapter 8

Outside My Window, Illinois 2021 The Soil of His Planting The soil is my heart Lordbut my heart belongs to You ...The seeds of faith were plantedby YouWhen You came to dwellwithin As I watch the garden atmy windowspring up new with lusciousdewy, greenSo too, You watch Your plantingAnd cause Your seeds solusciousRinging, singing, springing … Continue reading Living Water: Our Story, Chapter 8 →

Weakness: Our Story, Chapter 7

Moving day had finally come. After 17 years, we were leaving Wisconsin. And we were leaving, not in strength for a bigger and better home, but in weakness as we had become so aware of our physical ill health. The picture before me only emphasized what I had come to know: I had never been … Continue reading Weakness: Our Story, Chapter 7 →

Miracles: Our Story, Chapter 6

When I have shared these posts from the chapters of Our Story, remembering the ways that God led us through our years of ministry, I have usually seen a correlation between then and now. However, this month's correlation is a little more unusual than most. So I am saving the current update until after the … Continue reading Miracles: Our Story, Chapter 6 →

Our Story: Chapter 5

You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.” Isaiah 62:2 Her name was Beckon Fretfulness. Everyone knew they could depend on her to listen to their hard stories. After all, her life seemed easy compared to the difficulties that most of her friends found themselves in. They … Continue reading Our Story: Chapter 5 →

Our Story: Chapter 4

Isaiah 35:1 Rescued Blooms in Wisconsin The tulips shone brightly in the morning sun as I opened the window blinds, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Tulip bulbs are notorious for slowly fading and eventually dying out. But this one bulb that I had rescued from alongside the road many years ago had … Continue reading Our Story: Chapter 4 →

Sharing: Finding God’s Upholding Strength

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.Psalm 46:1 The silence echoed throughout the house as I felt the aloneness that I knew would be coming. My husband was in post-surgery recovery at our oldest son’s home, and our daughter had finally agreed with my urging that I would be fine … Continue reading Sharing: Finding God’s Upholding Strength →

Our Story, Chapter 3

Miniature Iris captured by Barry, Haiku by Bettie, springtime 2021 Of Miracles and Mysteries On the day, just a few weeks ago, when we thought my husband might be released from the hospital, I awoke with a start from two very strange dreams. Both dreams were about blood. And I thought of several dear friends … Continue reading Our Story, Chapter 3 →

Sharing: A Place of Quiet Prayer

AN INVITATION FROM JESUS – COME PRAY IN SIMPLE SILENCE Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 THE WORLD IS NOISY The headlines shouted … Continue reading Sharing: A Place of Quiet Prayer →

Our Story, Chapter 2

As the snowstorm raged across most of this entire country, I was at home alone, wondering and praying for my husband. He was moving through heavy medical tests in snowy Chicago and meeting with specialists to discuss the results of those tests. What would they tell him? Would our lives be turned upside down yet … Continue reading Our Story, Chapter 2 →

Sharing: A Lenten Prayer Prompt

He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” Colossians 2:14-15 NLT During this Lenten season, I paused again, with so many others … Continue reading Sharing: A Lenten Prayer Prompt →