When we first moved to Tennessee and started homesteading, the first animals we raised were chickens. My father-in-law, wanting to support our endeavor, brought some of his full grown chickens all the may from Maryland to Tennessee. He gave us an older hen, who did not lay anymore but was an excellent brooder. Since she […]
Forgiveness
Have you ever been hurt by someone? The pain of betrayal cuts deep through you like a knife, especially if the person who hurt you is someone you care about. You may try to move on from the anger and resentment, but feel like they don’t deserve your forgiveness. Maybe they haven’t apologized for the […]
Root Bound
I have a room at the front of my house that is mostly windows. I treat this room like a greenhouse. I could probably call it my therapy room. I love plants. I love to see what I can get to grow. If I find seeds, I’ll put them aside so I can place them […]
Some People are Hard to Love
I’m just gonna say it- some people are hard to love. It’s true. You know it. I know it. We all know it. Some people are hard to love. But, Pastor Dennis said something that really got to me in our staff meeting this week. He said that this Christian life is not […]
Prayer, Scripture, Praise
Once again, the time has come to make new year’s resolutions. You know; getting in shape, reading more, eating less, slowing down, being more productive, staying more hydrated. Unless you’re like me and had previously decided to give up on some of those dreams entirely. At least that was my mentality going into 2023. Now […]
Restoration
What a Nanny Goat Taught Me about Restoration When I read the Bible, I am struck by how God always restores something to a better state than the original condition. Jacob was cheated in his wages seven times by his uncle Laban, but God blessed Jacob and increased his flocks so he left […]
God Provides
The other day I came across this short little story by an unknown author: “An old man stood on his front porch as flood waters approached. An Army National Guard truck stopped in the street and the driver called, “C;mon, we’ll take you to safety.” The old man answered, “Naw, the Lord’ll take care […]
Let it Rain
Isaiah 45:8 says, “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it.” Sometimes the rain makes me grumpy. I admit it. All the times I have heard people say, “April […]
5 Minutes In Hell
When my brother, Jimmy was in his mid-40’s he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 2 years to live. As a Christian, his diagnosis led him to a great curiosity about what death and heaven would be like. I was curious too. I started reading books and other accounts of people who had […]
Imitators
The other day I was scrolling through social media and came across a post that posed this question: “If asked, what would the people who know you say you love?” The answers varied greatly. Some people listed foods such as ice cream, pizza, or coffee. Others said their family, friends, and even sports teams. At […]