Hartlee Kirk‘s guest post reminds me not only of my early days of marriage, but of deep truths that ring true today as well. No matter where we are in the process of our marriage (or even other relationships), she makes us want to roll up our sleeves and get to work! As he peeled the rusty-orange shag carpet away, …
Living in the Dark
For two full years, I worked in the dark. Hours were flexible, but the job itself had to be performed without light. Today, we call it old-school. Then, it was the only way to produce black and white photos. Chemicals, wash, paper – all were sensitive to light, but needed darkness to develop. Accompanying me in the room …
Needlework, Spelling, and a Sopwith Camel
It was a glorious book cover. Nothing like the paper ones of purple ink and purposive advertising provided by Crosbyton Elementary. Mine was of yellow muslin, heavy enough to take a beating, yet delicate enough to take a stitch. Like a personalized badge of honor, my mother made it for a small girl who resolved not to learn …
The Spark of Anger
Dear Mentor, My anger continues to get the best of me. I seem to erupt over the smallest thing lately. Can you help? Signed, Burning Dear Burning, Nature teaches us that …
The Fruit of Discouragement
“Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2) Think about the spiritual fruit that you most desire to bear – let’s say joy, for instance. What happens when He nips our bud of joy? I’m discovering that it gives me a perfect opportunity to truly know the source of …
The Cannibalistic Branch
Okay, I’ve been kinda stuck with something that we talked about during our last blog. Granted, it was the one that my five-year-old grandson helped with, but still I can’t seem to get away from the fact that “fruit never consumes itself”. As I think about the nine fruits of the Spirit that Paul describes in Galatians …
The Little Sprout
Oaks. We have two of them in our yard. Now, in Asia, we never had oaks in the public areas surrounding our apartments. So, when our first fall arrived here in America, I was shocked by the abundance of acorns that those two trees could produce. Mark and I picked up barrels of them for weeks on end. …