Along with the Sunshine — Comes a Little Rain
I heard it said that “Bad things happen — how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life.” Amen to that! Some days feel like heaven is pouring out blessings. The weather is perfect, the phone rings with good news, and every traffic light seems to turn green just as…
How Beautiful are YOUR Feet?
Let’s be honest. Feet aren’t exactly the stars of the show. Most of us tuck them into shoes, hide them under socks, or hope nobody notices them at the pool. Some feet are knobby, some are crooked, and some look like they’ve walked on gravel roads. But God sees something different. The prophet Isaiah wrote,…
Facing Forward in a Changing World
March in Texas is in a season of change. One day the wind roars like a lion. The next day the air turns gentle as a lamb. Trees bud, skies brighten, and the earth seems to whisper, “Something new is coming.” But lately, the changes we see in the world feel heavier than spring breezes.…
Construction Zones of the Heart
Carl and I drove to and from East Texas in a matter of just three days. If you’ve driven the highways between Alto and Austin lately, you know something about that trip. Construction zones. Everywhere. Every few miles we ran into orange cones, blinking signs, and long lines of cars waiting patiently while road crews…
When Heaven Whispers
We’re back home in Austin after a few glorious days at Epiphany Ranch in Alto, Texas — 62 acres of lush East Texas beauty. Tall trees. Rolling fields. A sparkling lake. Tiny homes tucked like little jewels across the land. A place where people come for counseling, training, encouragement, and sometimes just to catch their…
Joy on the Ranch, Tears in the Valley
What better treat for having finished up the elections with true grit and determination — than to be in Alto, Texas. Aw — 62 beautiful acres called Epiphany Ranch. The name alone feels like a whisper from Heaven. A place for respite. Healing. Encouragement. My Staci and Larry built more than homes, a lodge, fences…
Soul and Body Food
I’ve noticed something about myself. I don’t forget to eat. If there’s banana bread in the kitchen, I know it. Well that’s because I made banana bread Saturday night. If there’s fresh coffee brewing, I can smell it from two rooms away. My body gets fed regularly — sometimes enthusiastically. But my soul? That takes…
Don’t Let the Birds Nest There
You’ve probably heard it before:“You can’t stop birds from flying over your head — but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” Now, I don’t know about you, but some mornings my thoughts sound like a full-blown bird convention when……Worry swoops in.Fear circles.Old regrets flap loudly.That one embarrassing thing we said…
God’s Great Big Beautiful Family
Have you ever noticed how church can feel like a family reunion — minus Aunt Mildred’s potato salad and Uncle Bob’s political debates? You walk in thinking, We’re just checking out this random church. Casual. Observing. Sitting near the back in case we need a quick escape. And then something happens.Someone remembers your name. A…
STOP! Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid
That phrase may sound a little dated, but the lesson behind it is timeless. It came from one of the most tragic examples of blind followership in history — people swallowing a lie that cost them everything. And while we shake our heads and say, How could they believe that lie? But, we aren’t always…