Reflection of Providence

The ancient elm obscured the delicate etching on the colorful glass. The red brick - as if it had been molded from Georgia clay - sat strong, hugging this ancient creature, giving the window a feeling of being encased in blood. The tints of glass in shades of blue, purple, gold and aqua were a stark contrast to the bleeding brick. Its exquisite features sat perched on the sill with the words "I was glad" etched deep into the granite. Who wrote these words? Why? And what manner of beauty was I beholding? What small cell of history had I stumbled across? I found myself wanting to know the inner workings of the person who wrote these three simple words. "I was glad", they slipped so softly from my lips I barely realized I said them. A light breeze wept sunlight through the leaves and reflected off the colored glass. A thought came to mind, "Don't forget to be grateful that you love words." All well and good, but how was I to describe these snared thought...

A tidal wave is an exceptionally large ocean wave, especially one caused by an underwater or volcanic eruption. Just as with nature, our inner struggle can create outward signs that hit so unexpectedly our emotions become shrapnel which imbeds itself into our well-being. Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. The urban dictionary defines a panic attack as, “the worst, most uncomfortable thing that could ever happen to someone. (Death comes a close second)” In the last few years I have met humans of all ages, shapes, and backgrounds that are experiencing life altering anxiety. The social norm, much less the spiritual one, is to overlook this condition, thinking someone should be able to simply “get over” the crushing emotions they are experiencing. As Christians the road can be hobbled by road blocks which hinder the security of our faith. From an early age I was told, “don’t fear...

“Faith is not a vague sense that, “God will work it out.” It comes from prayerful immersion in the Scripture.” – Timothy Keller I am experiencing a bit of emotional fatigue. I am mired up in what May brings. The responsibility is overwhelming. Instinctively, I want to bury my head against the wind and just get through it. Yet, that is unfair to this gift of life. I am forsaking the blessings by dreading what hasn’t even happened yet. So, I’m trying to own the pain I feel while traversing, with revelry, this rocky road we call life. These seasons are equal reminders, as rejoicing often is, that there is beauty to behold – little bumps and bruises can be blessings to. I just found out a “boy” I liked has a serious girlfriend. The pin prick reality that I am not a mother placed salt in a fresh cut wound. I don’t write this with bitterness. I write it with loneliness, and an ache that feels too real to mark with borders. We are often frightened to feel these emotions. How ar...

“God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.” – Colossians 1: 13 – 14(MSG) He is asking me to walk past dead ends. I’ve lived safe; etching Crayola color borders on construction paper. A dream, 27 years in the making, is taking shape. There have been no words. The tender wet, the flint and steel lost. But, I linger on the precipice of merriment. I am standing on a hillside with Him. The break of day touches the horizon in a low pink glow that feels strangely alive. The sun rises over the mountain range, glistening over a river that cuts a deep swath through the valley dotted with wildflowers. He looks at me and says, “this is what I have for you, Melissa.” When we come up against a dead end our first reaction is to turn around. We feel there is no way around, out, or over. What if? What if, past ...

A  flood plain  is an area of land that is prone to flooding. People realize it is prone to flooding because it has flooded in the past due to a river or stream overflowing its banks. A flood plain  usually is a flat area with areas of higher elevation on both sides… I am struck by this imagery. An area of land that is prone to flooding, its landscape ever changing – washed away and consistently made new. The pain and destruction are great. It would be easier to move to higher ground where stability is a bit more certain. Yet, the elegance of change always makes life more appreciable. As Sara Groves sings in her title track, “some hearts are built on the floodplain”… In 2015, I have seen more sorrow than joy. There have been more sharp edges than soft. My heart has quivered underneath emotions of doubt, insecurity, anger, apathy, hurt, and desolation. It has truly been an odd broken 12 months and, I must say, I am tickled pink to see this year in my rearview...

“You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.” – Psalm 92:4 *I get to cheat a bit. I have actually written on Simeon twice. The first blog post got deleted by mistake. Last year I revisited his story through "Anna's Candles". Of all the people that took part in the Christmas Story, Simeon is my favorite...let us step into his story and see what we find:  Jesus Presented in the Temple 22  Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present  Him  to the Lord  23  (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), [ a ]   24  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” [ b ] Simeon Sees God’s Salvation 25  And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name  was ...

“Because of love, God trusted a brave young woman and an honest, hardworking carpenter with the precious gift of his Son.” (p.108, Women of Christmas, Higgs) “And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.” – Matthew 1:16 The Nativity is a lovely little movie, and it does a really wonderful job fleshing out Joseph. Oscar Isaac (who plays Joseph) displays the complexity, kindness, and devotion of this man in a beautiful way. I ponder this gentle, righteous, and obedient man. His actions fulfill prophecy! He walks with dignity and serves God with his whole heart. He is quick to follow the Lord’s prompting. He is a minor character, so it seems, but his actions speak volumes of who he serves. I cannot imagine being Mary, a young woman in her early teens, expecting a child and never knowing the touch of a man. The weight of enormity must have been crushing. How was she to convince her parents, much less the man she was betroth...