Following Jesus Means Loving Everyone
If we’re honest, loving everybody sounds beautiful — until we meet everybody. Love the kind. Sure.Love the grateful. Of course.But love the ones who mock faith, roll their eyes at truth, or treat believers with open hostility? Lord, are You sure You didn’t mean most people? And then — quiet as a whisper — I…
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…
Forgive… and Remember
We’ve all heard the phrase “forgive and forget.” People say it like it’s as simple as deleting an email. But life doesn’t work that way. The heart doesn’t work that way. Some hurts leave bruises that can’t be hidden — and some leave scars that don’t erase. Forgetting? That’s humanly impossible. But here’s the best…
Faithfulness and Forever Love
Our weekend in Tulsa was a walk through memory lane — and a celebration of God’s unwavering faithfulness. The highlight of our visit was witnessing my godson’s sister, Grace, marry the love of her life. Grace — a beautiful name — and what a picture of God’s grace Saturday turned out to be. The ceremony…
Friends in High (and Tulsa) Places
Yesterday, Carl and I made the road trip to Tulsa — my old stomping grounds for over 40 years — to hug the necks of dear friends who’ve walked some of life’s winding roads with me. Oh, the memories we rolled back! Weddings, babies, healings, answered prayers, and those precious late-night talks that seemed to…
Coloring Outside the Lines of Grace
I still remember my grade school glory days — me, a blank coloring page, and my prized 64-pack of Crayolas. Oh, the smell of wax and potential! I might not have been Michelangelo, but give me a steady hand and I could color within the lines like a pro. Let’s just say, if there’d been…
God Would Never Unfriend Us
Goodness gracious. Have you noticed lately how some of our grown-up leaders are acting like kids on a playground — tossing words like dodgeballs and shouting, “You’re not my friend anymore!”? Mercy! It makes me want to unfriend the whole bunch of them. Back in the day, “unfriending” someone meant scratching their name out of…
Oh, To Have My Father’s Eyes and Heart
We’re back home in Austin after a most blessed few days in Nashville for my granddaughter’s wedding — and yes, I’m still floating somewhere between joy and exhaustion! But today, before I start humming again, I’m pausing to simply be — to soak in all that God created us to be and to realize just…
Jesus — Brought to Life
On Thursday, Highland Lakes Camp on the beautiful shores of Lake Travis, rolled out the red carpet for senior citizens from many Texas churches! Yay for owning up to being a senior citizen — bring on those perks! Imagine driving through Austin’s gorgeous Hill Country and then being treated like royalty. Delicious fruit and muffins…
I’m Being Followed
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”— Psalm 23:6 That’s quite a promise, isn’t it? Some days it feels like anxiety and fear are tailgating us while goodness and mercy got stuck at the last stoplight. But life has taught me something — goodness and mercy don’t always walk…