Posts with the tag “karon-cecy”

A hero is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “A person admired for achievements and noble qualities. One who shows great courage.” Who are the heroes in your life? Perhaps a favorite Bible character, ...  Read More

My sister Marsha and I were raised in a home with a mentally ill mother. Our mother was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. She refused medication. Consequently, my sister and I grew up in a volati...  Read More

There are some images that will stick in my mind forever.  One of those images is my dear husband lying on his back next to our foster daughter under the coffee table.  He was talking softly to her as...  Read More

There we were at the Department of Motor Vehicles—no one’s favorite place! It was one of those times, as an eighteen-year-old cop’s daughter, I felt the pressure. I adored my Dad and wanted to him so ...  Read More

I don’t know whose idea it was—my sister Marsha’s or mine. She was eleven years and I was thirteen. Our house was situated on two and a half acres. We decided to create a village under the giant cypre...  Read More

Sleep captures me every night. I can drink coffee, sing or watch a movie to delay sleep, but sleep will come over me like a fog rolling into a valley. Sleep always wins. God gave us this turn-off swit...  Read More

Our seminary days were a real financial strain. While he studied full-time to seminary, I worked full-time. Besides living expenses, the tuition for seminary put our budget to the test. Jim worked bet...  Read More

We see in the Scriptures that hospitality is commanded by God, especially for church leaders (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). But what is hospitality? Quite literally it means to be “a lover of strangers.”...  Read More

UGH, I have ignored this walk-in kitchen supply closet long enough. Whenever I try to find something, an item crashes onto the floor. I stuff it anywhere it can fit. Balanced on the edge, it is ready ...  Read More

One evening I was leading a Bible Study for young women in my home. One of the women shared that the Bible she carried belonged to her mother who had passed away. Flipping through her mother’s Bible, ...  Read More

Growing up in a home with a schizophrenic mother, I learned to be silent. The less I said, the better. Consequently, this protective shell of silence became my norm. People called me shy; I felt it wa...  Read More

I have always looked for teachable moments with my kids with the goal of creating a hunger and thirst for God. One day a lesson came in a most unexpected way. It had been storming for a few days as th...  Read More

I spent many years as an executive secretary. (Now they call them Assistants). I was eventually able to type sixty-six words a minute and was also quite adept at shorthand at 110 words per minute. To ...  Read More

Oh, how I enjoy my chickens!  When I step out of the house and head for the chicken coop they jump up and down, dancing for joy! Of course, they know I am coming with treats!  I open the top half of t...  Read More

Growing up in a cop’s home, protection was always a topic of conversation.  My Dad was the Chief of Detectives in Santa Cruz County. He had built a reputation of integrity and strong leadership which ...  Read More

One Christmas season we prayed as a family for an opportunity to minister to someone who really needed us.  As an emergency foster care family, we were fully aware of how many kids needed foster homes...  Read More

I loved our new apartment!  As newlyweds, we were so delighted with our new apartment.  Yes, it was humble, with thread-bare carpet, but we were grateful for it.  We were poor and grateful for our hum...  Read More

My emergency foster care placements were two lovely teenagers. The minute they stepped into our house, I knew they were afraid.  Their fearful eyes and the way they hung on to each other declared thei...  Read More

It is awfully quiet in here... Moving down the hall into the living room, I glance at the clock over the fireplace. I turn and behold my three-year-old daughter stands framed in the kitchen doorway li...  Read More

On the way to visit family in Santa Cruz, I asked my husband, Jim to stop at the small Baptist Church where I accepted Christ many years ago.  We park and are greeted by the Pastor who agrees to let m...  Read More

Many times, God uses what has happened in my past or present to drive home a lesson He wants me to learn.This week, God took me back to the time my daughters were little. My daughter stumbled into the...  Read More

Antique auctions were great fun for me!  I would bid on antique treasures, restore them and sell them making a good profit.  I remember the day I first saw the piece of furniture that now lives in my ...  Read More

I push the little red button on the black box and the magic begins! The reset button renews the Wi-Fi settings, corrects glitches, refreshes and restores the connection. I love the reset button!There ...  Read More

Who is not inspired by the account of the shepherd, David slaying the seasoned, giant warrior Goliath!  David did not shrink in fear before giant Goliath! David knew that God was  bigger and more powe...  Read More

My wide-eyed, startled young daughter stood poised with a black marker by her artwork on the wall. Guess how she answered, when I asked “who wrote with black marker on the wall?” “Not me!” was her lie...  Read More

Hunger is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as: “A craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient. An uneasy sensation occasioned by the lack of food. It is a weakened condition brought about by...  Read More

I pinch myself. Is it real? Yes, I am in Jerusalem. Past-present-future history in front of me! I stand enthralled as my eyes study the Western Wall.  It is just like the pictures…at the foot of this ...  Read More

We have arrived! On the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem our tour group enters the Garden of Gethsemane! We have the whole Garden to ourselves!  Oh, my what a privilege!  I am in awe!  After a short talk ...  Read More

I want to see the clouds!I am buckled in and waiting for the plane to take off.  The plane rumbles as the power of the engines are engaged.  Then it happens- the plane screeches forward. I feel the bu...  Read More

BREATHE in and out.  This simple action gives life. We breathe in and out about 22,000 times a day!  This life function happens when we drive, when we are in conversation, when we are working-- even w...  Read More

My favorite time of the day…I am snuggled down in my favorite chair. My study Bible in my lap. With a feeling of expectation, I read:Numbers 9:15-17 “Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the...  Read More

I am captivated! Walking in Northern Israel in a Nature Reserve, I am surrounded by luxuriant foliage.  This tunnel of trees shelters beautiful ferns and delicate flowers.  I wish this ancient pathway...  Read More

It’s everywhere.  Above me, below me beside me, on me! WATER, WATER and more WATER!It’s raining…a steady flow. Does it have to rain today!? After a busy time of ministry, my husband and I are touring....  Read More

God’s sovereign rule cuts through all circumstances, sin and disasters. In Genesis 37-45 Joseph’s life illustrates this beautifully. Swirling throughout the life of Joseph are all the emotions of man...  Read More

Waking up this morning, I open my eyes to the reality that the race will continue today!  Another full day of my to-do list, work, house duties, people who need me.  Before my feet touch the floor, I ...  Read More

Words! Words! So many words, but not the right words! I am standing in front of the card section in my local store, I am frustrated!  There are no cards that adequately express my deep love for my hus...  Read More

The moment I gently took my baby in my arms, my life changed forever!  My baby gazed into my eyes and we knitted together. As I tenderly held her, my tear-filled eyes poured all my love into her soul....  Read More

There are wounds in the redwood forest that draw my attention to Christ.  First let me explain.Did you know that a Redwood tree is able to survive its’ heart burned out?Also, did you know that Sequoia...  Read More

The context of this verse is revealing the wrath of God on those who worship the creature rather than the Creator.  I want to draw your attention to the declaration that the things that God has made r...  Read More

Preparing for a guest to arrive is always revealing.  Revealing in that I notice how dusty everything in my house is!  Walking across my living room I stretch up on my tiptoes to view a layer of dust ...  Read More