Almost a month later, this white hydrangea still looked perfectly fresh with no signs of wilting. So I took to Instagram and posted about this flower that must be some miracle representing the eternal love of the bride and groom.
That’s when the groom’s mom messaged me: the white hydrangeas were faux.
Rest can feel out of reach when unresolved hurt keeps resurfacing. This piece explores how forgiveness is often a slow, repeated choice that gently loosens the weight we carry and opens the door to deeper rest.
Relationships shape us more than we realize. This article looks at how God uses friendships, even the challenging ones, to refine our character, reveal blind spots, and help us grow in righteousness through honesty and grace.
Obedience is hard when clarity is missing. This article speaks to the tension of sensing God’s leading without knowing the outcome, and how trust often grows not through certainty, but through taking the next small step with Him.
Quiet time with God can feel discouraging when your mind will not slow down and your heart feels worn thin. You sit down with sincere intention, but your thoughts wander. The list of responsibilities presses in. Emotions you have been avoiding rise to the surface. What was meant to feel sacred ends up feeling messy.
There are seasons when God’s provision does not feel generous. It feels careful. Measured. Almost quiet.
You pray for a breakthrough, but instead you receive enough strength to get through the day. You ask for answers, and what comes is endurance. At first, this can feel like being overlooked. It can feel like God is withholding something good.
While traveling, I once walked into a cute honey shop. Everything honey related seemed to be in there!
In the past, it seems honey was quite important. The psalmist, David, recognized the value of honey too and he aligned it with gold. He even compared it to his relationship with the Lord and His word to show, as important or valued as honey or gold was, David’s relationship with the Lord and His Word was even more important!
Who do you know well? It may be a family member or a best friend. According to AI, knowing someone well means you grasp their core motives and can predict how they think about things because you have a history together, a shared experience that connects you.
When the wonderful aroma of cookies in the air fills the house, you know it is about time! They are almost ready! That good smell is your clue that you are about to enjoy that treat!
Picture sitting by a warm fire ablaze, roasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate on a cool winter evening with family and friends. Enjoying sweet fellowship is a delightful moment most people cherish. The warmth of the fire and love for each other encourages our hearts.
Recently, I had a dream that Jesus was returning soon! It was a surprisingly happy and positive dream! It was similar to the feel of a wedding reception celebration filled with festive foods, confetti in the air, flowers and cheerful music. There were lots of happy faces, people hugging and greeting each other!
The big questions become: Do we each live a life that brings glory to God? Is fear transposed to joy and gladness and celebration in our churches today? Is it evident that God is in our midst? “The More the Merrier” at the throne and in front of the Lamb!
3am, 3:30, 3:45—what to do in the middle of the night? Oh how I do not like those wee small hours of no sleep. Up to the bathroom—no, I’ve done that already; toss and turn—maybe it’ll be better on my right side. Perhaps some hot tea. The clock ticks on before my very eyes.
Yes, Esther was lovely in form and features (2:7); but more importantly, she oozed grace. Names were significant in those days. The queen’s Jewish name, Hadassah, means myrtle: “a tree native to Babylonia, (which) the returning exiles took…with them to Canaan... (as) a symbol of the nation of Israel—transplanted from Babylon to the Promised Land.” Her Persian name, Esther, means star: “The myrtle tree bears a beautiful star-like flower…full of beauty and grace.”**
Fascinating, the book of Esther, for as many times as I have read it—fascinating in its place in history; fascinating in its complex simplicity; fascinating in the conundrum of God’s absence. Where to begin?
In just a few weeks I anticipate the blessing of welcoming another generation of girls as I become a great grandmother. I pray that this little girl will also come to know Jesus Christ as her Savior, making six generations of Christian women I have known.
Receiving a hand written letter feels like a gift of love! Writing one requires time, thought, and a signature—most often a simple signing with “Love Linda.”
A young mother raised in a culture hostile to Christianity shared a joyful experience with me. After discovering the love of God through Jesus Christ, she immediately noticed how the sky glistened with a deep blue and the leaves on trees reflected various shades of green!
Accompanying a friend to a conference on domestic violence introduced me to the impact of traumatic experiences on children. A child’s brain rapidly forms during those earliest years and the unprocessed emotions of the trauma become hard-wired into their brains and creates a template for viewing life as adults.
