Welcome to my blog! I hope to fill this spot with both travel articles, inspirational pieces and my photography. Hopefully, you’ll choose to read both. I love to travel and experience the world, whether it’s in my own hometown or across the globe. I also love to study and learn more about our awesome God and His plans for me and this amazing world He has created. So, if these interests are up your alley too – join me for some thoughtful “ramblings” from a Joyful Writer.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Our Father's Tender Love
Monday, November 11, 2024
Autumn Trees
Thursday, October 10, 2024
The Hoax
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Flight
Saturday, June 22, 2024
The Water of Life
Let's stay fresh in our walk with the Lord each day - inspired by these crisp green leaves and radiant pink flower as it stands upright before its Creator.
Let's say, with David, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake..." Psalm 23:1-3.
Friday, May 17, 2024
The Genealogy of Jesus
Friday, May 10, 2024
Time
Friday, April 26, 2024
Beauty and Heaven
A carpet of pink cherry blossoms spread across my daughter Sara's deck and transformed it into a magically beautiful scene that brings a smile to my face each time I see it! Only God could scatter the blossoms from that tree in such a delightful pattern. Two days before Sara took that picture, I'd been visiting her and found a small area of pink blossoms on the deck. I thought they were so pretty, I took a picture of my feet on that spot:
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Games, Rules and Life
Friday, April 12, 2024
The Odor of Mendacity
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The Joy of Reading
I'm calling this "Throw-back Thursday," because
this is a post from Thursday, August 30, 2018. I was re-reading some of
my posts and couldn't resist re-posting this sweet ode to Reading with my
darling grandkids - and encouragement to get out there and "READ!"
I have loved to read ever since the summer I was 12 years old and discovered the mobile library that visited once a week down the street from our house. A whole new world of adventure opened up to me and I've never stopped reveling in the wonder of the written word.
And so, I'm thrilled when I see my grandchildren into books. Marisa and Landon avidly read their library books while they enjoy a nice cuppa tea. Noelle peeks over the shoulder of her sturdy friends to see what they are reading, as she repeats her stock photo word, "Cheese!"
This photo with my dearly-departed mother and grandson
Storm when he was just a little guy is very precious to me. She was
reading him a book about an Angel and he was leaning in, not wanting to miss a
word of the story. It reminds me how wonderful it is when generations
pass on the love of reading to the generations to follow.
One famous author wrote: “To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” ―W. Somerset Maugham, Books and You.
I've always said, you will never get bored in life if you enjoy reading. So - I hope you are caught up in a lovely adventure on the pages of a wonderful book for at least an hour each day (:
Friday, March 29, 2024
Guide My Path
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Anxiety -- What's That?
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
The Battle Rages
This version of Satan's appearance also gives us a better glimpse of his true nature which is evil and ugly, beastly and vicious. The sharp teeth are used for tearing apart his hapless victims. While he sometimes disguises himself as angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), his true nature is the epitomy of evil and he is the father of lies (John 8:44).
Sadly, too many people fail to see Satan for what he really is and they fall for his honey-laced lies over and over again. He's actually not very creative, because he's using the same lie that he's been using for thousands of years -- the same lie he used with Eve in the garden when he said, "Has God indeed said..." (Genesis 3:1).
In her book, "Praying God's Word," Beth Moore wrote, "Tragically, Satan has successfully duped the vast majority of our churches into imbalance regarding all things concerning or threatening him. We tend to give the devil either far too much credit or not nearly enough. A war of unprecedented proportions is raging against the church and the people of God. We must put on our armor, learn how to use our weapons, and fight with the confidence of those who know they are destined to win."
I love the way she ended that quote -- we are indeed destined to win in the battle against our enemy Satan. He will not win and he knows it. Therefore, he fights tooth and nail to keep sinners from being saved and to keep Christians off their knees and distracted by the world. We need those weapons described in Ephesians 6:10-20, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places," verse 12.
Suit up for battle, sisters and brothers! We are definitely on the winning side, but we don't want the enemy gaining any ground in the meantime. Stay true to our commander, Jesus Christ, and He will give us victories that will thrill our hearts and set the enemy running for cover. I love the verse in 1 John 4:4 that tells us of the awesome power who resides in us as children of God: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Like a Phoenix Rising