Hallelujah! We Are Not Alone

I remember being in high school and receiving an assignment from my English teacher. We were to take Psalm 23 and   break it down line by line and write a paper on what we thought it meant. I've often wondered if that assignment would be allowed in public schools today. I was reminded of this, when I heard a recent message that referenced the psalm. Specifically, verse 4... Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... The pastor pointed out that it wasn't death itself, but the shadow of it.  By definition, a shadow is:  A   dark area where light from a light source is blocked...* I've found that s ome Biblical translators actually call it  the darkest valley  as they feel it gives a more accurate meaning, based on the original Hebrew text .  Regardless of the translation we use, I think we could all agree that King David was referring to having peace even when we are in low places of darkness.  The important thing to keep in min...

With all of the recent devastation from storms in our country, it's hard not to think of the families that have lost loved ones or may still be searching for the missing. Even those that rushed to safety, may have lost their homes or other worldly possessions. The recovery and rebuilding process will be a lengthy one and people's lives will never be the same.  As churches and other organizations come together to help meet the obvious needs of the people by doing physical labor and donating money or items, we know that there are some wounds we will never be able to heal.  Thankfully, there is someone who can.   One of my favorite songs right now is Rescue by Jordan St. Cyr. The words speak of Jesus coming through in the hardest of times when we are desperate or surrounded by fear. He is described as being the Peace within Disaster and the Calm within the Storm .   Although there is much we can do to help and I will list some ways to support those efforts be...

  The above photo is one of my favorite views. I took it Wednesday afternoon as I was nearing the end of my lane and just about to make it to my house. It normally looks especially nice on a Thursday afternoon in the Fall as the tunnel of multicolored leaves lead me home for a long weekend, but this  past Thursday was the exception. I left work a little early because I wasn't feeling well. By the time I finished the twenty-minute drive home, the view was the last thing on my mind. I just wanted to make it in the door, take some medicine, and go to bed. Thankfully, after  a few days of rest and lots of Alka Seltzer Cold medicine, I feel much better.  Whether we're sick or just want to kick our shoes off after a long day and get comfortable, one thing is for sure...There's no place like home!  Although we've now lived in Arkansas for 20 years, any time Daddy would call and ask when I was planning to make a visit, he wouldn't ask me when I was coming to Mississippi...

My Granny made the best persimmon cookies.  When I was young, it took a lot of convincing for me to even try one.  Just the word persimmon made my lips pucker and my body shiver. If you've ever bitten into one that wasn't fully ripe, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The bitter taste is something you don't soon forget.  We all go through things in life that can leave us with a bitter taste. Just like the persimmon, we want no part of it again because we have no desire to relive that same feeling.   There’s nothing wrong with distancing ourselves from situations that are hurtful or don’t bring out the best in us for a while. However, we have to make sure that the bitterness doesn't take root in our heart. Otherwise, everything around us will soon be bitter as well.  With a little time, and adding in the right ingredients like... prayer, love, and forgiveness, something that we once avoided can actually be pleasant and enjoyable. Strive for peace with...