“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.” (Ps 118:5 ESV)
I was born and raised in one of the most blessed nations in the world. While the U.S. has its share of problems – just turn on the news and you’ll be bombarded by them – I’m so thankful to live here. I’ve listed just a few reasons why this country means so much to me. Continue reading “The Blessings of Freedom”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jr 29:11)
Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post about my word for the year (BOLD) and how my goals fall in line with the word that God has placed on my heart. With the year almost half over, it seemed like a good time to evaluate my progress on meeting these goals and to analyze how God is moving boldly in my life. Continue reading “Goals: Progress at Mid-Year”
Originally posted June 19, 2011
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)
When I was growing up, I discovered that my dad could do just about anything. As a welder, he could build or repair all sorts of things, and one summer, he built an impossibly large swing set with a teeter totter, swings, tire swing, and couple’s swing along with a slide that was so tall that my brother and I became the envy of all the kids in the neighborhood. Thanks to our dad, all of our friends would come over and play with us for hours on end, and we loved every minute of it. Another time, my dad took an old lawnmower that had seen better days and remodeled it so that it looked like a miniature Jeep. My brother and I spent countless hours taking turns driving that thing in circles around the yard. Continue reading “A Godly Example”
“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Gen 18:19)
As Father’s Day approaches, I think it’s good to look to the men in our lives and acknowledge the impact they’ve made on us. From fathers to father figures, from grandpas to uncles, from in-laws to friends, we all know men who have been a positive influence on us and who even now have an impact on our lives and the lives of others. Continue reading “A Father’s Influence”
“For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life.” (Prov 6:23)
Earlier this year, I submitted several entries to the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI) writing contest. I entered more categories than I ever had before – eight – including several categories in which I stretched myself. As the feedback started trickling in, I was surprised to see my highest score was in poetry – something I don’t write and an entry on which I spent about five minutes late one night when I couldn’t sleep. My mystery book received a good, but not great, score. I received my worst scores in the two categories that have historically been my best – juvenile fiction and flash fiction. I admit that I didn’t expect much from my flash fiction entry. It was a last minute entry, and I didn’t take nearly enough time to fully develop the story. But I had entered the juvenile fiction story in a different contest a few years ago and placed, so such a low score was kind of a shock. Continue reading “Receiving Correction”