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The Eye of the Beholder
It was Sunday morning, and the sun had yet to make an appearance. As I stepped outside, the coyotes were celebrating just a little too near for my peace of mind, so I went back inside to get some coffee. A couple minutes later, I headed back out and saw the first hints of red washing on the horizon line. The bluff I was standing on is on our property at slightly over 1,100 feet up. The Brazos River is below, as well as a ranch with pasturelands that are verdant after several days of rain. At that moment, they were still cloaked in the final remains of the night.…
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The Door
It was “one of those nights” where my brain was wide awake at 1:40 AM. The dogs were asleep, curled sweetly next to me, blissfully unaware of the churning thoughts in my head. After a feeble attempt to readjust my position and fall back asleep, I decided to focus on others. I started with God…what I knew about His character and His love. The thoughts became more focused as the moments ticked by. The tension began to ebb from my body, my breathing regulated, and I felt relaxed as if I were almost floating. What a relief from the turbulence of the last hour! As I continued to dwell on…
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Build – 2024 “One Word”
Each year, in lieu of a New Year’s resolution, I mull over and pray about what one word I would like to have characterize my coming year. In 2023, it was “Shine”, which I still have an affinity for and treasure dearly. It was a great word on many levels in 2023, and I hope I continue to carry its corona with me into 2024. 🙂 On this first day of the new year, it is fitting that I launch my one word. In 2024 it is BUILD. There are many possibilities and positives in this word. It is also an action word – one of participation, intention, planning, execution…
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Always and Forever
Like winds that bring the shifting seasons, Life’s breezes have ushered in many changes. In the twelvemonth past An array of differences has been woven into my life. Some have been very difficult, And others more than welcome. As Christmas approaches, I find the typical dread has been replaced with an expectancy. God, in His immeasurable faithfulness has once again provided. Moment by moment, Day by day – And yes, throughout all of 2023. As my heart is bowed within me in gratitude, I feel His unwavering love encompassing me. His hope and light filling the empty places, His love covering a multitude of sorrows… He came to Terra Firma…
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Chapters
Sunday…the first day of the week. And what a week this will be! Earlier this year, I selected “shine” as my one word. As of tomorrow, I will be working at Sunoco. How interesting is it that shine and sun have so much in common? Do you think this is coincidence? I don’t. I think it’s emblematic of the fact that “all my steps are ordained by God”. That’s right, all of them – even the ones that seem a bit uncomfortable. A friend at work said something so surprising to me on Friday – it gave me shivers. He said, “you bring light where you go. People have needed…
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Ramblings
It’s funny how a day can come and go and blur into the next without leaving an overt telltale mark. In hindsight, if one will look back, it is as though a series of legos or building blocks have stacked up creating our reality, our world, our life. Seconds turn into minutes, hours, days and eventually years. Then there are those defining times we call “moments“. They may be mountaintop experiences or “the valley of the shadow of death“. I actually love that death is described in Psalm 23 as merely a shadow. On its own a shadow has no substance. It can neither affect or inititate anything. Much like…
