Wednesday, May 29, 2024
The Simple Life
Saturday, May 25, 2024
But I Missed It
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do
not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we
understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is
seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrews 11:39-40
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what
had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that
only together with us would they be made perfect.
I’d wanted to see the northern lights/aroura borealis, but I
missed it. Sara had posted her photos from her yard and said, “Go outside.” So,
we did. We drove out to an area with fewer lights to see if we could see it,
but they never materialized. If we’d driven farther east, we may have had a
chance, but we were both tired and decided to go home. We tried again the next
night, but nothing materialized. But that’s okay. I enjoyed all the photos of
our grandkids seeing them and all the Facebook posts.
A week later, Tim and I stopped at the local Dollar General and when we went outside, the sunset was stunning. Orange, lavender, and purple painted the sky. God put on a beautiful show of color. The amazing sky reminded me of a truth our pastor spoke of recently.
God has a better plan. I might be disappointed or devastated
because my plans didn’t work out. But God had something better for me. I may
not have gotten the writing opportunity I wanted, but God had a greater plan
for my work.
I didn’t see the northern lights, but I did witness a
glorious sunset that reminded me God is with me.
No matter the circumstances, God is faithful, and Jesus loves
you. He’s always with us if we invite Him on our journey.
Ask Jesus to join you on your everyday walk.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Every Single Day
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Congratulations, graduates!
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
It seems like yesterday that we held these babies in our
arms.
Eighteen years ago, between October and March, four babies
were born into our family. My siblings and I each added a new grandbaby to our
bundles. It’s been a joy to watch the four of them grow into themselves. Dylan
(the only girl) Casey, Cody, and Colton played together at family gatherings
and now they all have the honor of being high school graduates.
![]() |
Cody, Casey, Colton, & Dylan Cousins-photo by Maggie |
My heart overflows with joy for them, and I'm curious to see where the future takes them. Their paths will vary, and their vocations differ, but their hearts will all show the kindness and caring they’ve learned from their parents.
When young people graduate, they hear lots of advice. I’ve
shared some with my granddaughter, Dylan, and I’m sure the boys have all heard
guidance from their people. When it comes to scripture, the words I want them
to place in their hearts are to trust in God, seek His wisdom, and listen to
His guidance.
I have a t-shirt that says, “God has a plan, so I have a purpose.”
God does have a purpose for each person’s life, sometimes it takes a while to
figure out where He leads, but we can’t go wrong when we trust Jesus with our
life.
I pray over all the graduates as they venture into the world
of adulting. It’s not easy, but it can be blessed with joy and hope when you
follow God’s word and seek His guidance.
I pray for these four as
they step into the next phase of life.
Invite God to walk beside you.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Sprout!
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Walking Shoes
1 John 1: 5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is
light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have
fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live
out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us
from all sin.
My husband, Tim, said to me, “A good shoe is a shoe you don’t notice.”
I have a hard time buying comfortable shoes. My feet have
not aged well, and I can no longer wear heels (not that I wore them much
anyway) and I need a wide footbed. My go-to brands have become Topo for tennis
shoes and Earth shoes for “dress” shoes. Fortunately, once I figure out what
size I need, they usually fit me when I order them online.
One day, Tim, Rosie May, and I walked around the path at the
park. I had on my newest pair of Topos and Tim asked me how they felt. I told
him I didn’t notice any pain, as a matter of fact, I didn’t notice them at all.
That’s when he said they must be a good shoe. Without any tingles, aches, stones
poking through, or pain the shoes marched along content to do their job.
As we continued to chat, the conversation turned to life and
how if we are on the best path, doing the right things—following God’s lead—it’s
kind of like a pair of well-fitting shoes. Guilt isn't poking my conscience because I'm making choices according to God's guidance. I’m
not stumbling over something I shouldn’t have said. My soul is not aching from
misguided intentions, because I’m following the Master’s guidance and walking with Him.
When I take my eyes off of Jesus, I stumble and feel the
pain of my ill-chosen choices, just like I feel the pain from ill-fitted
shoes.
Take the time to listen to God’s lead, seek His wisdom, and walk by His side.