When Love Carries On
God has certainly gifted me with true-to-life human interest stories lately. And, it sure gives me pause to craft a blog about them. Here’s an example: On December 23rd, dear friends said goodbye to their beautiful daughter, Lisa Samuelson Cole — known to many as Mama Cole. She was just 59 when she stepped into…
Our Emotions Serve a Purpose
I’ll admit it — I can be an emotional basket case from time to time. Sometimes it’s something small — like a touching memory from years gone by. Other times, it’s when I think about the sheer goodness of God or when I get a call from Bryson, my youngest grandchild — who’s currently sailing…
I Am a Promise & I’m Something Special
When my children were little, our home rang with the happy sound of little voices singing Gospel songs. Two of our favorites were Bill Gaither’s “I Am a Promise” and “I’m Something Special.” Those songs weren’t just cute tunes — they were declarations of truth. We sang them at breakfast, in the car, and sometimes…
Pass It On — The Comfort You Know
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 says it so beautifully:“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” That’s not just…
You Matter!
Some things just don’t change…..but wouldn’t it be great if they did? The first two kids, Cain and Abel, born from the first two parents, Adam and Eve, couldn’t get along. In fact, their sibling rivalry led to the death of Abel. Fast forward to the dad, Jacob, and Joseph, his son (his favorite son…
Just a Little Bit — Goes a Long Way
Ever found yourself looking for love, compassion, or even just a smidge of encouragement in all the wrong places? Like expecting a plant to grow in a desert without a drop of water? We’ve all been there, haven’t we? But here’s the thing – God didn’t just start it all; He started it all with…
Can There Be Love in Politics?
The recent presidential debate left many of us pondering not just political strategies, but deeper questions about kindness, truth, and our capacity to love one another. As I watched, I couldn’t help but feel empathy for both candidates. Biden, struggling to articulate his thoughts coherently, and Trump, bold in his statements yet sometimes lacking in…
Being Ventable
My dear friend needed to vent. I was “ventable.” Is that a word? I made it our word because, in this world of anger, heartbreak, sadness, brokenness, and loss, God set us up for being burden and weight bearers. He gave us the goods for being encouragers. He built us for relationships that sincerely matter.…
Let’s Break Some Rules
The other day, I blogged about a brave young man who got in trouble for mentioning Jesus in his graduation speech. Now, I’m pretty sure Jesus was up there clapping for him. Why? Because Jesus was the ultimate rule breaker. Not the “Thou shalt nots,” but the rules made by the hypocrites. I remember being…
Our Hummingbird Mothers
I watched the hummingbirds flurry around at my East Texas children’s home last spring and summer. The remembrance caused me to find out about those hummingbird moms. Before Mother’s Day, I found myself reflecting on the remarkable qualities of motherhood observed in nature—specifically, in the hummingbird. Thsoe tiny birds, known for their incredible energy and…