My anxiety had teeth that day. In the quiet darkness of the early morning, apprehension stealthily lurked in my dreams and poised to strike with the initial ray of the sun. Before my first cup of coffee, my heart was hemorrhaging with fear as the deceitful claws of panic gripped my soul. I knew the feeling all too well. My …
The early morning wet market was mostly dry by nightfall. Housed open-air under a corrugated tin roof, the stainless steel display tables and wire shelves stood chained together and ready. Except for a night breeze, an eerie silence was the only sound awaiting the coming day. Sometime before sunrise, generations of market vendors hosed down their stalls in preparation for …
Journaling is vital to our spiritual well-being. As technology replaces memory, any reflection initiated by God is rare. We tend to view journaling as triggering pain rather than avoiding it. Distractions, entertainment, and propaganda are more comfortable than being still and knowing God (Psalm 46:10). Is the fight to focus worth it? Deep within our souls, we know that encountering …
Imagination was my childhood sanctuary on those rural drives. With just a little inspiration from the passing Texas landscape, I could fabricate life-like figures from the pages of my mind. I envisioned fanciful deer leaping through rows of cotton upon a summer windshield. In October, I invented a window-wide audition of tiny raindrops, each showcasing their best to dance with …
Standing at the window watching the downpour, I realize why I love rain so much. The sound of thunder and lightning always reminds me of my mother. As a dry land farmer’s daughter from West Texas, we always asked God for “moisture” in our family. My mother wasn’t particularly specific about how it should come. Mist counted, and the fog …
“May I set the topic today?” Here between the morning light and my first cup of coffee, the Spirit arrested me and gave me pause. “You know I love to hear your heart,” He continued. “Your highs and lows, your hopes and anxieties. But We have covered this particular ground already, haven’t we? We’ve talked about these fears extensively over …
“You came from tough stock,” my Mama always said, and I would ponder just what lineage she was referring to. I knew about livestock in our field and the tree stock used in grafting, but I recognized she meant neither. When I asked, she always pointed to photos of grim people on shabby porches surrounded by acres and acres of …
The two coats of armor stood behind the museum glass in stark contrast to one another. Although made for the same man, one was a medieval plate armor for a tall, twenty-something Henry VIII with a 32-inch waist and a 39-inch chest. The second piece of mail, fashioned years later, sported a 48-inch waistline. Fascinated, I read more about the …
O Tender Father, I am so thankful that You do not avoid the crushed and brokenhearted but come near us in our agony (Psalm 34:18). Compassion sends You to those who’ve been battered with abuse and trauma. Although You are exalted on high, You willingly descend to be with all who are contrite and lowly of spirit (Isaiah 57:15). I …
By: Linda Merriott Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) During this pandemic, I have talked to many people who have been full of fear. It …
