“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)    Almost 20 years ago, Annette Short, a good friend, introduced me to “The Highwaymen,” a group of 26 African American artists who painted Florida landscapes. I had never heard of them, but I was intrigued by their art and the history of their painting.  Annette gave me a Highwaymen calendar which contained pictures of the artists and their paintings.  I remembered  Annette’s words,  flipped…

“I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.” John 14:27 (CEV)  I love the idea of Throwback Thursday because it conjures up memories from the past; usually childhood memories. But this Thursday brought back more recent memories…a few weeks ago on the Suwannee River. ‘Though only a few miles away; it seemed like we turned back time for 5 days. No TV, sketchy phone reception, little human encounter; but lots of nature. This ‘come away’ gave me a much-needed break. A break I didn’t even realize I needed.  That’s…

“May He grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.”  Psalm 20:4 (NLT)    “I don’t want to be 80 years old paying off our mortgage.”   Looking over our mortgage statement, this thought just popped up. I thought I was just thinking it, but I realized I was verbalizing it. I repeated it again, slowly, deliberately, aloud. I breathed in and out, then continued looking through the rest of our bills. That was June 2021. I was 71 years old.   Fast forward to today, April 27, 2022….  Looking over paperwork to file. Mortgage Paid in Full. By the grace of God, we paid off our mortgage on…

“The Lord says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past.  Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.” Isaiah 43:18 – 19 (NCV)   I forgive easily; myself and others.  However, lately God has whispered, “just forgiving is not enough if I want to flourish in every area of my life.” If I want to see the new thing He is going to do, I must allow Him to make rivers in all my dry places.  So, a few days ago while…

When it comes to people, I find that ….. It’s not about what we see.  Often, it’s more about what we don’t see.  It’s not about what is said.  Often, it’s more about what is not said.  It’s not about what we hear.  Often, it’s more about what we don’t hear.  Sounds simplistic. But, this is where relentless faith steps in…it’s about believing the best about others regardless of what we see, what we hear or what we thought we heard.  It’s seeing the good even when it seems as if  we are witnessing the not so good.  When we meet others where they are and view them through eyes…