“Thin places are snatches of holy ground, tucked into the corners of our world, where we might just catch a glimpse of eternity. They are aha moments, the beautiful realizations.” (quoted from back cover of Thin Places)

Every now, and then we come across a movie or a book that affects us in such a way that our own lives are forever changed. Our hearts are lain bare, attitudes, hurts, or joys we have long forgotten bubble to the surface.

Mary DeMuth’s book Thin Places is one such book. Birthed out of the immeasurable healing work God has and still is producing in her life, this book removes her cloaks of security and self-preservation. Each chapter offers a glimpse into those areas of greatest vulnerability, and bares her soul to the anguish left by rejection and abuse then leads us gently through to where the natural meets the Eternal.

While Thin Places is Ms. DeMuth’s memoirs—a window into her own life—it becomes a mirror into our own. This book removes, ever-so-tenderly, that bandage placed over our hearts as we try to forget those things that fill us with doubts, anger, feelings of hopelessness and failure. Where she splays her soul, naked and vulnerable, we will find ourselves not mourning her losses, but weeping over our own. Then the veil lifts and our Healer rushes in. Waves of sorrow and rejoicing alternate their grip on our heart as they each spring forth at the truth of God’s amazing love.

Take this journey with Ms. DeMuth yourself. Share Thin Places with the people in your life who are weary in soul from the weight of their cares. Be ready to meet the God your soul longs to know, in depths you have never dreamt possible.

You can purchase your copy at Amazon.com, [Read More]

I am in the second full week of my 90-Day challenge. It's been a battle. As stated in previous posts, this battle is for a shift in priorities: mine.

I confessed the fact that my thoughts have been allowed too much ownership over what got accomplished in my day. And selfish as my mind is, not much was done for the household, the children saw enough of me to know I was in the house and making sure they did their work. But beyond that...

Anyway, God is patient. This is not an attribute HE had to develop. It's who HE is. I've seen over and over again the complaints of the Israelites rising to God. The spies entered the land, came back with fruit larger than...

Wait, a cluster of grapes had to be carried on a pole between two guys. How large is that? And yet the ten said "It's too difficult. We are grasshoppers in our own sight." WOW!

They had been promised this land. God had shown His might, flexed His muscles and delivered these people time and again. They saw the entire nation of Israel cross the Red Sea on dry land, yet the Egyptian chariots' wheels got stuck in the mud. Now, come on! They couldn't trust God for Canaan?

They had finally complained too much, didn't they. God said those twenty years and older, except for Joshua and Caleb, would never cross over the Jordan into the promise. Then they wanted to fight. But the Lord wasn't with them.

Later, they complained again, "Hey, where's the milk, honey, pomegranates You promised?" (paraphrased)

Didn't God tell them they'd forfeited their inheritance?

Then we have the men who decided to rebel against Moses and Aaron saying, "Who are you? We hear from God too. Why do you set yourself up as prince?" (paraphrased)

Moses challenges them and says if God is with them in their rebellion, then they will die a natural death, but if not... the earth will swallow them and their households. Two hundred and fifty men swallowed up in the earth as it opened underneath th... [Read More]

Christmas for us this year is quite lean. I'm thankful for it because we are able to focus on Who we are celebrating, rather than what someone bought for me or the amount of money spent. Next month, I will be returning to school to complete my English Lit. degree while building my career as a member of Thru His Grace Editing Services (a group of writers who edit, proofread, ghostwrite, etc).

I would like to take a moment and ask of each of you a favor. It's not for me really, but for a gentleman and his family I've come to know (in the hearing) over this past year, and respect as a pastor and expositor of God's Word. He has had a great impact in my life, and I'd like to give back by asking for each of us to pray for him.

The man--Matt Chandler--pastor of The Village Church in Highland Village, TX is young. His attitude amazes me and I find incredibly refreshing.

I have grown to appreciate and respect the teaching of this 35 year young man from Highland Village, TX. 

On Thanksgiving he collapsed in his home and rushed to the hospital where a tumor was found in his brain.

I will leave you with the link to his page where you can read his prayer needs. It blesses me to see his attitude desire God to be glorified in it all. Please pray with me for him, his wife and three small children.

http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/ (Pastor Matt Chandler)

Weaving words that'll carry us home;
all to the glory of God the Father!

Change:
1)To cause to turn or pass from one state to another; to alter, or make different; to vary in external form, or in essence.
2)To put one thing in the place of another; to shift.
3)To quit one thing or state for another.

Often times we walk through various changes. Some changes are exciting, like getting married, having that first child, or graduating high school. I'm sure you can think of things in your life (changes) that brought about those giddy feelings of anticipation.

There are also those changes we dread, the death of a loved one, being alone, losing a job, house or something we hold dear.

Then there are shifts in our lives that are bittersweet: Our first child leaves home for college, marriage, or whatever else to begin their grownup life; someone we love--a friend--moves to the other side of the state or country; or our last child leaves home--which then we face empty nesting.

Our family is in one of those seasons of change. It's bittersweet. We will be saying good-bye to people we love, while saying hello to new people we'll grow to love. My firstborn will be finishing her high school career, graduating next May.

I remember as an eighteen year old, I sat under the leadership of a beautiful mentor who taught me about seasons. She said to me I shouldn't be alarmed when friends come and friends go. The Lord takes us through seasons and HE brings us friends, for us to bless and be blessed by. Some of them are for life, while others are for a time. We are to cherish every moment, learn the lessons well that co... [Read More]

“All you need is a little perspective,” is the famous phrase used by an old man named Jones. Not Mr.—just Jones.

“The Noticer” by Andy Andrews is the story—a mix of truth and fiction—of a man who encounters a stranger named Jones during the lowest point of his life. The man shows Andy how to gain some perspective and move forward in life, rather than stay stuck.

Andrews shares various stories of people who also encounter Jones. The man’s impact on their lives is immeasurable and profoundly valuable.

You’ll want to read this book and see if you don’t agree: Jones is one who gave me a little perspective, changed my life and gave me some hope for tomorrow, regardless of the circumstances.

My favorite quote is this: In desperate times, much more than anything else, folks need perspective. For perspective brings calm. Calm leads to clear thinking. Clear thinking yields new ideas. And ideas produce the bloom…of an answer.

Once the seeds of hope have taken root in your heart, pass it along; for hope is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give or receive.

Who of us can say we’ve no fear in our lives? With the threat of layoffs, foreclosures, plant closings, and loss of health, everyone has something they fear. As a Michigan resident, I watch helplessly as families flee for other states. Why? Because they can’t find work. They are running for security, hope, something to behold to that says, “It’ll be alright.”

Max Lucado’s newest release “Fearless” addresses these issues and more. In sharing his own personal experience, and a hefty amount of Scripture, he offers another option to living in fear of calamity; he offers hope, courage, and an Advocate we can turn to.

My own fears ran for cover through the revelation of truth in this book. Life is NOT out of control.

One of my favorite quotes: “Everything will work out in the end. If it’s not working out, it’s not the end,” perhaps you’ve heard this before. It is a clear reminder and an encouragement, “Don’t give up! There’s help.”

This book reminds me of a great hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

It is possible to have a life overcoming fear.

Watch this 60 second video message from Max.

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Sheets of rain bathed the van. Windshield wipers chased each other back and forth across the window in a hypnotizing rhythm. The kids complained when I turned up the air conditioner to help revive me.
I moaned. This is supposed to be an adventure! Cold, rainy weather in August is WRONG! Hrmph…Gotta love Michigan!
A midnight express across southern Michigan was not part of our plan. We should have reached Sheboygan, WI by now; our tent erected and a campfire ablaze to warm us. Aren’t vacations a time for relaxation? What did we know? This was our first family camp trip—ever!

Saturday, while inspecting the van, Dan noticed our license plate—EXPIRED.

Someone told us of a 24-hour automated machine at the Secretary of State (SOS). “Just go there, it’ll spit out a tag for you,” they said.
We found the nearest location. It rejected our card, saying, “System error--” We found another location. The machine offered the same hopeless message. We drove to another location then another … until we covered most of the 24-hour machines in the metropolitan area—no luck!

Our next option: drive through the night, Sunday—tonight—for Benton Harbor. There we would wait for the SOS to open and get the tags before crossing into Indiana.

So here we were at three a.m., hoping to use the cloak of night to cover the offensive plate. The rain helped that; but lulled my eyelids into a state of heaviness.

I glanced over at my husband. “Dan…wake up! You promised to help me stay awake!”

He snored. I reached for the CD case, fumbling through a mountain of chips, cookies, candy, and water, until my hand made contact. Eureka! I tugged on the case, creating a landslide of snacks across Dan’s feet. Serves him right!

I pulled a CD from the case and plugged it in. Some fire-breathing preacher I liked bellowed through the speakers. I fidgeted with the knobs, need more volume! [Read More]

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 23: 1-3

This seems to be an overdone part of Scripture, but in giving it some time to really settle in my Spirit today, and as I looked into the water in the photo, I realized what that Scripture is saying.

I love camping in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the Tahquamenon River. The water is so still at the rivermouth, where it empties into Whitefish Bay.  I could sit for hours, soaking in the tranquility and peace that settles in on me there.