Enter in. Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving in your heart. Enter in. In. "used to indicate location or position within something" A location. Enter in. The door is open. You need to walk through. Not when you're happy. Not when things are going swell. That's not what it says. Enter in. Just as you are. When you're hurting. When life is overwhelming. When your weary soul aches with breathing in and out. Enter in. My heart hurts. The burning sensation ... View Post
His Ways. . .Not Mine
Many came to help ready the farm for guests. There are so many details. My head spins. The weather could be an issue. I want it to be sunny. I don't want to have tents. I want to sit out in the open. But that is not the case. It may rain; It may not. How do you decide? So much of our walk in life is about letting go. Changing our expectations. If we just trust God. Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Put aside our desires and ... View Post
We’re Wrapping All That Hurt And Sadness In Love
My brother in law gets a jump on the day. A Fundraiser. A BBQ. There is food to cook, tents to place and list a mile long. We're hoping for sunshine. The doors to this farm will be flung open once again. This time we'll breathe deep. We'll gather together to honor Elijah's memory. We will remember. Deuteronomy 6:13-19 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your ... View Post
The Everyday
He comes to visit.On his way home from work. He sits with us on the porch. So different. Elijah's friend. Here to talk about the fundraiser. A fund raiser to bless graduates. Hopefully many more along the way. To help. Offer support. In Elijah's name. Because he has been called home. I look at this boy in front of me. He and Elijah friends since they were small. I can't help but wonder. What would Elijah be doing right now? How hard this must be for Elijah's friend; helping with this fund ... View Post
Keep On, Keeping On
The words on the pole begin to fade. The area around the site; bare. The remnant of something. Unknown to passers by. A cross. 3 flags. A memorial, one thinks. Each drive along that route, I cry out to the Father. I ask for mercy in this process. I beg for the pain to be softened. I long to know why. Yet I don't remain there. There is still purpose and work left to do here. The tension of how to move on and remember, pull. A desire to hide from all that is moving on; strong. Effort made each day to surrender my ... View Post
A Gift, We Hope, Will Keep On Giving
I walk into the auditorium. They are setting up for Honors Night. I feel the weight of grief. I stagger against the emotion. This is so hard. Each event tormenting in some way. I hand them the envelope. An envelope filled with a portion of a communities' generosity. It's been a year since we watched our red headed boy walk across the stage and receive the Music Department Award. He wasn't going to college. So there were no scholarships. He was going to serve His country. Now he resides with the King of Kings. In ... View Post