I sit and watch as beautiful pastel colors seep and blend into the canvas of the dark morning sky, like watercolors spilling onto a blank piece of paper, and I think about the blank canvas of this new day. And I wonder what the Master Artist envisions for me today. For my children, for the … Continue reading The Blank Canvas of a New Day
"BUT, I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously." Psalm 13:5-6 Why do these verses of praise start with a "but"? Before the Psalmist gets to the praise, some wrestling was going on. I get that. I … Continue reading The Wrestling Before the Praise
Sometimes...we're on this life-path...it's all safe and paved and predictable. Comfortable. All of a sudden, life halts our perfectly paved and planned-out journey and takes us for an unexpected turn down a rocky, rough, difficult, unpredictable path. We look at the path that we've been on...we look at the destination that we were headed for...and … Continue reading Unknown Paths
 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8 I love how the Lord strings His truths together like lights on a wire. His Word is alive … Continue reading Grieving in the Lovely
I normally do really intense and in-depth studies of God's Word...if you've been in one of my small groups, you know this to be true. But lately, I keep sitting down at the table to where my Bible is flipped open in the Psalms and don't get any further. I've been rubbing the Psalms in … Continue reading The Rock
God's peace is incomprehensible, and His peace is likened to a military guard that protects our hearts and minds from hostile invasion. His peace hems in and protects our hearts and minds that are so vulnerable.
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
So...who am I imitating?
We need you. You are not forgotten. Please, don't give up yet...there are some of us out here who are looking for you. For your stories. For your wisdom. For your advice. We want to know about that path that you've walked to earn that beautiful Crown of Splendor that gracefully wraps around your head. … Continue reading To The Ones Crowned In Splendor (or…to the ones whose heads are graciously wrapped in silver or white or gray splendor…) **and a note to the rest of us awaiting that crown**
The battle is waging, The enemy's strong... Mothers and Fathers cry out. His tactics relentless, Temptations so sweet... Mothers and Fathers cry out. We're confounded, astounded, We're desperate and weak... Mothers and Fathers cry out. He keeps inching closer, Creeping in on all sides... Mothers and Fathers cry out. We close all our doors, Yet … Continue reading Cry Out
Nicole Dotson 