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…
Red, White, and Blue — and Rooted in Truth
Carl and I just wrapped up two weeks of Early Voting and yesterday’s Election Day itself. Long days. Early mornings. Lots of smiles. And a whole lot of red, white, and blue. There’s something sacred about watching people vote. Young parents with babies on their hips. Seniors walking slowly — some with canes — others…
The 40 Days of Lent
Not all Christians observe Lent. Some never grew up with it. Some think it’s only for certain denominations. Some just aren’t sure what it means. So let’s “dumb it down” in the best way.Lent is simply forty days of intentional closeness with Jesus — His journey to the cross. Today marks the 13th day of…
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…
God Still Leads the Way
I first became acquainted with Harriet Tubman when my youngest grandson’s school reading was “The Story of Harriet Tubman — Conductor of the Underground Railroad” written by Kate McMullan. Harriet couldn’t read or write. Let that sink in.She wasn’t armed with education, influence, money, or connections. As a young girl, she suffered a brutal head…
Forty-Six Years in the Making
Not since 1980.Forty-six long winters. Generations born, raised, and grown who had never seen Team USA men’s hockey strike Olympic gold. And then — yesterday morning — it happened. Overtime.1:41 on the clock.A puck kissed the net and history exploded. We were in full exultation mode when that final shot hit. The kind of joy…
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…
Get Ready for YOUR Comeback
At just 20 years old, Alysa Liu didn’t just skate beautifully — she staged a comeback for the history books. The first American woman in 24 years to stand atop the Olympic podium. Gold around her neck. Tears in her eyes. Her father, Arthur Liu, celebrating wildly in the stands. Twenty-four years is a long…