The year my mother and brother died, we decided to have a big ole family Christmas at my parents’ house. Everyone would be there from my mom’s side of the family. We even decided to draw names and exchange gifts. My mom and brother had only died 23 days apart from each other. It started in October, so we were all still very raw and pretty much going through life like zombies. Continue reading Life is Like a Chocolate Pie
Oftentimes, my husband asks me things like this:
“What do you want to do this evening?”, “Where would you like to eat?”, “Would you rather go to the movies or stay in tonight?”.
My answers are usually something along these lines:
“Whatever you want to do”, “Wherever is fine with me”, “Doesn’t matter to me”.
These types of responses are not what he would like to hear most of the time. However, they are actually the truth. I don’t care what we are doing, I just want to be with him. Being with him is enough for me. It’s not about what we are doing…it’s that we are together. That’s the prize for me – simply being with him. Continue reading In The Presence of God
One of my favorite times in church as a child, is when we would sing songs in our Sunday school. Often, we would perform one as a special for the congregation before the preaching service began. These children’s church songs usually had hand gestures or other body movements to go along with the words, signifying the ideas in the verses. I particularly loved, This Little Light of Mine. The version we sang went like this: Continue reading This Little Light of Mine
Mrs. Jones, my kindergarten teacher, had just explained to us what “Show & Tell Day” was. This was the first time I had ever heard of such a thing, and I was very excited about it. All the students were going to get to bring things from home, show them off, and tell about the item. Such a great way to get to know my classmates a little better, and a great way to let them know more about myself. We were all, pretty much, new to each other. I quickly began to look around the room and wonder, “What will Julie bring? Ooh, what will Tammy bring? Shane, what will Shane bring?” It was very exciting, and then I focused back on myself. What would I bring? How would I decide what was the best item to bring? This provided endless possibilities for me. I really wanted to “wow” the crowd. So, I decided on the best, most amazing, most interesting thing I had in my house…the brain. Continue reading If I Only Had A Brain
Christ was sent from God to Earth
A plan, a prophesy, a promise from birth
He bridged a gap from old to new
He brought a covenant from God that’s true
A promise to all who would believe
The Son of God should be received
Eternal life, a life to serve
Straight and narrow is what God deserves
The blind to see, a leper healed
Forgiveness, Love, is Christ revealed
A sacrifice, no other way
Nailed to the cross, my sin is paid
Darryl Hanks
I come from a family of many colors. On my mother’s side, we are Native American. That rich, red blood, mixed with a wonderful variety of shades of white, provides for some beautiful skin tones ranging the spectrum from white to just left of black (that means not quite black for those of you struggling with the color spectrum). So you get caramel…oooh, chocolate…yummy, a few pieces of divinity (the candy not the Creator)…mmm, and a couple of espresso lights thrown in there just for fun. Continue reading The Mark of The Lord
Let not your heart be troubled
Let faith carry the day
God’s grace is more than sufficient
Give all your cares away
Lessons learned the hard way
Senseless works for naught
When faith is all that’s needed
And faith is all I’ve got
Darryl Hanks
Woman, why are you weeping?
Woman, who are you seeking?
A broken heart, life in despair
A joyful heart, my teacher’s here
Go tell the brethren, so they will know
That I was here, and I must go
To our FATHER, ascending high
To our LORD’s, sweet bye and bye
Before I go, remember this
Feed my sheep, is what I wish
Remember all I’ve shown to be
Faith, Hope, and Love, a gift from me
Darryl Hanks
It’s Your breath in our lungs,
So we pour out our praise,
We pour out our praise.
Great Are You Lord!
These words from one of my favorite praise and worship songs pretty much sums up how I feel this Thanksgiving. I fall on my knees in praise of the Lord, thanking Him for all He has blessed me with. I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all Your wonderful works. Psalm 9:1 Many could look at my life and ask why would I thank Him. That always makes me grin just a little because I realize they just don’t get it. Then it makes me sad because I realize, they just don’t get it. Whatever you have been dealt in life, you cannot forget that God is still on the throne, and everything is part of His great plan. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 Continue reading Thanks Be Unto The Lord
At my desk, my pen in hand
Waiting, wondering, what’s God’s plan?
A calling came, that much I know
A need to share? A need to go?
But where I ask? What can I say?
Patience child, a piece of clay
Mold me Lord, please shape my heart
Mold me Lord, to play a part
Use me Lord, Your message heard
Use me Lord, to spread Your word
Darryl Hanks
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