“God, please don’t take Grandma from me yet,” I frequently prayed. Though I’d moved to the USA and Grandma remained in Jamaica, the world felt a little less scary and lonely because she was in it. “But when you take her home, Lord, I promise I’ll give her eulogy and tell those in attendance about her and how she pointed me to You.”
One day God whispered to my heart, “It’s time to let her go.”
Continue reading “A Time to Disobey”Feast on a banquet of truth from one who greets life’s challenges with grit & grace. Michael Duncan: author, pastor, master of the one-line sermon returns as my guest interviewee. Undeterred by threats, he shares wit, wisdom, and some wild stories including the unlikely setting in which Jesus saved him.
Continue reading “Grit & Grace: Michael Duncan ~ Author, Pastor, Master of the One-Line Sermon Returns”Jesus told us not to worry because he knew we would and thus need this counsel. God gave us His Word not for us to use it to bludgeon ourselves or each other, but to instruct, encourage, correct, redirect our missteps, and draw us to Himself.
Continue reading “The Futile Pursuit of Worry”Delay. Sometimes it’s divinely ordained, but most times it’s due to our negligence or obstinance. There are sins of commission (those we do) and sins of omission (when we fail to do as we ought).
Continue reading “Unconscionable Delay”Some delays are unconscionable. A heinous example of this is the slow enactment and delivery of the Emancipation Proclamation message that declared freedom for slaves in America.
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I hate being hurried but struggle to be still. “The Sabbath feels more like a day of stress than a day of rest,” I’ve said. “How do you cease from work, as God says in His Word, when you’re a woman, especially when you have young children? Where is the rest in the rush to ready your little ones to get to church, then home to feed the family, clean up, and barely make it back in time for evening service?”
Continue reading “Saving the Sabbath”Let’s hate hate—not each other.
Have we forgotten that the difference between America and dictatorships is we have the freedom to think and feel differently and choose accordingly? And we don’t have to cancel or kill each other because our opinions contradict.
Continue reading “Let’s Hate Hate—Not Each Other”I needed to return and see if it was true. My sudden departure and extended absence left me longing for closure. I hadn’t said goodbye to my childhood home in Jamaica. Up the winding mountain route with its lush tropical vistas, past the vendors of fruit and roadside roasted corn. Over Flat Bridge edged with inches-high stone hemispheres and hung just over the troubled Rio Cobre River. In heavy rains, the waters cover the bridge, but not on this day. Through the cool shade of the bamboo arched Fern Gully roadway to Windsong, Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Ocho Rios, where I grew up. I prayed the new owners would let me on the grounds and was grateful when they welcomed me.
Continue reading “Windsong”I’m doubly blessed this week and pray you will be too. Blessed to share my salvation story titled “Three Men, Jesus, and Me” featured on the Heart of Flesh Literary Journal site.
1. “It wasn’t the first time suicide knocked on my door. I vowed…” CLICK HERE to continue reading “Three Men, Jesus, and Me,” on the Heart of Flesh Literary Journal.
“Heart of Flesh is a semiannual, online and print literary journal that seeks quality writing and art with Christian themes.” Owner, author, and editor Veronica McDonald publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, photography, and art, and features Christian salvation testimonies online throughout April and October..
Blessed to offer encouragement with my article “The Power of One In a Writer’s Life” on The Write Conversation.
2. “When we’re not making progress as we’d hoped, discouragement can set in, and temptation beckons us to turn away from our call…” CLICK HERE to continue reading “The Power of One In a Writer’s Life,” on The Write Conversation.
The Write Conversation blog is a ministry of Edie Melson, author, editor, writing instructor, and director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. The Write Conversation hosts encouragement and instruction for writers on the craft and in their faith from a variety of contributing authors including Edie’s frequent offerings.
SCROLL TO DOWNLOAD FREEBIES & MORE!Continue reading “Double Blessing”
Resources to encourage for #PastorAprpreciationMonth
A #gospel tract for sharing Jesus on #Halloween
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP WITH HURRICANE RELIEF!
Unforgiveness, like a dam, hinders the flow of God’s Spirit and leads to spiritual stagnancy.
How freeing it is when we practice love and keep no record of wrongs as Scripture instructs in 1 Corinthians 13:5. If I want God to use my life and words to refresh a thirsty world, I must forgive.
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Sometimes it’s a struggle to forgive though, especially when the person who hurt us is unrepentant.
Continue reading “No Record of Wrongs”Christmas 2017
In the year of our meager manger, a snowman made of sand, a lone shepherd, and two sheep showed up for the annual frenzied day-of-decoration at our home.—Sans Mary, Joseph, Jesus, or anyone else.
Continue reading “Missing from the Manger”
Tattoo It On Your Heart 