“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”   (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)  My husband listens to a Sirius XM station where Thursday is “Throwback Thursday”. Listening to familiar oldies sets my mind back to past times; living in Jordan Park (the project), going to Jordan Park Elementary School, 16th Street Junior High (before it was called Middle School)… fond memories. Life seemed less complicated then; familiar people in familiar places… I felt liked, loved. I expected kindness, ‘cause that’s what I was shown, at home, at school, in the project, at church….buying flips (frozen Kool-Aid in a cup) for five cents; walking home for lunch; seeing my favorite teacher…

“I will praise You, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell all the miracles You have done. I will be happy because of You; God Most High, I will sing praises to Your name.” Psalm 9:1-2 (NCV)  November 17, 2022: “Mom, I flipped. I had to be cut out!”  Suddenly the phone seemed like a stranger in my hand. My mind tried to register what “flipped” meant. “I had to be cut out.” quickly rose as a lump in my throat. “Where are you? Your dad and I are on our way.”  As I looked at the phone in disbelief, I felt a strange calmness. Too calm. Heading to…

“To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)   “Larry, thank you so much for what you said to me this morning.”  I could see the questioning look in his eyes. “Do you know what I am talking about?” I asked. He looked me in the eyes with a gentle, steady gaze and answered, “I don’t remember what I said to you this morning, but I do know whatever it was, it needed to be said. I say what comes to me at the moment. It’s done. And I move…

“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” Isaiah 58:11 (NLT)        7:00 pm at the dinner table, my head snaps back.   “Larry, I’m nodding out and it’s only 7:00pm.”  “Well, go to bed,” Larry said. In my heart, I know he’s right. In my head, “no way am I going to bed this early. Clean kitchen, write checks (yes, I still do that), fold clothes washed last week….”   Sometimes I do not even know I am crying out for help. But God does.   For the past week and…

“Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider’s web.” Job 8:14 (NLT)  The other night, I walked outside smack dab into a spider web. The web was large, strong, and wrapped around my face, entangling my glasses. I started laughing to keep from freaking out as I tried to remove the web. As I was swatting it, I thought about my mom, Essie Mae Brown Chever, and her spider web episode. According to mom, as a young girl, hoeing weeds in the field, she accidentally chopped off the tip of her finger. How this happened, I do not remember. All I know is when she explained it,…

“Here I am sending an angel ahead of you to keep you on the road and to bring you into the place that I have prepared.”  Exodus 23:20 (NWT)    I believe God sends Angels to minister to us when we need it the most. This happened on the way to Larry’s neurosurgeon appointment. Traveling down Hwy 26, a large cardboard box blew into the path of my car. I could not stop; I drove over it. The box got lodged underneath the car. I kept driving looking for a safe place to pull over. Thinking, now I must crawl under the car to dislodge this box. Larry cannot do…

“You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you.” Job 22:28 (NLT)    Sitting in the waiting room during Larry’s MRI, thoughts swirl in my head….” Well, God it looks like the trip I was so excited about is not going to happen.” The words slipped out of my mouth. I did not even bother to look around to see if anyone heard me talking to myself. Being concerned about what others think was the last thing on my mind. At that moment, my disappointment and Larry’s MRI results was all that mattered.   Slowly, I opened the devotionals I bought…

“People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord’s plan will happen.” (Proverbs 19:21 NCV)  Finally, after two years, we were heading to Nova Scotia again to visit family and friends. My heart welled with excitement. I pictured myself sitting on the deck of our rented cottage looking at the Bay of Fundy; playing Monday night bingo with my niece Kris, her partner, Susan, my sister, Arie; sitting outside fellowshipping with our friends, Joe and Lucie. After the isolation of Covid-19, after working through my husband’s diagnosis; it was liberating to think about three glorious weeks with friends, family, and the magnificent Bay of Fundy. I was confident…

“And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You.”  Psalm 39:7 (NLT)  I’ve been praying a lot lately. Not that prayer is new to me; it isn’t. But sometimes it seems like every breath is a prayer and, at times, the breathing can be labored. Deep inhales; even deeper exhales. I wonder when or if certain prayers will be answered. I know God is good. In my heart, I know He hears and answers prayers. In my head, at times, it feels as if these heartfelt prayers will never be answered. Then, guilt tries to step in.   I am blessed. I have a caring, loving family. Loving, supportive friends.…