Returning home from a mission trip to Ecuador, God laid this message upon my heart. Think of a time when you have struggled financially in your life. Perhaps you were not sure how to pay all your bills, or you had to scrape together loose change to buy a loaf of bread. Remember what it took to make it through that tough time. Perhaps you borrowed money, sold or pawned a possession, or applied for public assistance. Now, think of what you felt – frustration, despair, fear, hopelessness, or shame. Missionaries in Ecuador and other poor countries minister to people who also have struggles. ... Read the Post
The Life Jacket
Wrinkles is a female Sharpai owned by an eighty-five year old man named B.J. of Gulfport, Mississippi. My volunteer and very amateur construction crew worked for five days to finish hanging the sheetrock in B.J.’s hurricane damaged home. I was initially apprehensive about giving up a much needed Spring Break to volunteer in Katrina ravaged Gulfport. However, I have learned over time that I might miss a blessing by not participating in an opportunity that God presents to me, and I was not disappointed this time. As the renovations unfolded, so did the story of Wrinkles and his owner B.J. ... Read the Post
Clark’s Prayer
When our mother died, my five brothers and I started an ongoing dialogue reflecting on the loss of our last surviving parent. While the rest of us stumbled along in our attempts to comfort each other amidst our own grief, my brother Clark would simply say, “Let’s pray.” I recall one prayer he led with me that went like this: “Dear God. Help Pat in Heaven. Amen.” You have to know my brother to understand the significance of this simple prayer. Clark took care of my mother as she deteriorated over time from her diabetes. He lived with her until she was placed in a nursing home after her ... Read the Post