Have you ever started out on a road trip knowing the highway you were going to take, but not quite sure how many miles you were going to travel, or exactly what would become your final destination? This was the kind of journey the “Magi,” or Wise Men from the East” found themselves on as … Continue reading A Journey Full of Hope
Category: Encouraging Words
A North Star Worthy of Following
I don't think anyone reading my blog today would disagree with the statement that our society has become less and less civil. As information is spread so quickly through mass media, we make snap judgments which may or may not be based on truth. Consequently many allow their perceptions of what is right or wrong … Continue reading A North Star Worthy of Following
In the Beginning…
As I was recently going through some old family documents, I came across a United States Postal Service first class stamp with the denomination of six cents. “Wow!” I thought. “When I sent a Christmas card this year, the cost was ten times as much-sixty cents.” The stamp had never been used to send a … Continue reading In the Beginning…
Vibrant Vibes: A Musical Phenomenon
We see a wide-eyed little girl, maybe six or so, in a church worship service. She’s standing next to her mother in a pew at the left side of the sanctuary, very close to the pianist whose fingers move adroitly over the keys of the ebony baby grand piano. The child’s eyes shift from the … Continue reading Vibrant Vibes: A Musical Phenomenon
Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
There are times when life can become overwhelming. The sense of not being able to shoulder alone what is being thrown at you is very real for all of us at one time or another. It may be the loss of a loved one. Or losing one’s job. Struggling with health issues. Betrayal of a … Continue reading Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
Enduring Thorns 🌹
One of my climbing red rose bushes a couple of years ago developed a really thick stem with huge prickly thorns for practically its entire length of about four feet. That started me to think about the thorns we are enduring in our daily lives which have been turned topsy-turvy since 2020 as we continue … Continue reading Enduring Thorns 🌹
Worry the Judge!
For a long time, I interpreted the judge in one of Jesus’ New Testament parables as a figure representing God. I even had a family member whose instruction to me was, “Worry the Judge!” when I would complain to him about some disturbing aspect of my life. However, now upon closer examination of the Gospel … Continue reading Worry the Judge!
Nonny’s Favorite Holiday Recipes – Magic Chocolate Cake – No eggs or dairy!
It’s that time of the year again when we begin to think about the upcoming holidays. And, of course, that means visions of delectable foods we might prepare start to dance in our heads! Some of mine take a good bit of preparation. But some are super easy to make! What I am sharing today … Continue reading Nonny’s Favorite Holiday Recipes – Magic Chocolate Cake – No eggs or dairy!
How to Live Forever
In the twentieth century, the practice of cryonics (preserving dead bodies for a future ‘resurrection’) came into being. Though dismissed by many as a pseudo-science, others have clung to its hope by having their own or loved one’s body go through the preservation procedure. According to my Google search, there are at least four cryonic … Continue reading How to Live Forever
Frieden Finden—The Lord’s Prayer in German
For the fourth and final week of our blog series on Finding Peace As You Pray The Lord's Prayer, I'm posting in German. The featured Holy Bible selection is from the revision of Martin Luther’s translation, the German DELUT—Lutherbibel 1960. Jesus’ disciples requested that He teach them how to pray. Thus, we find in the … Continue reading Frieden Finden—The Lord’s Prayer in German
Encontrar la Paz—The Lord’s Prayer in Spanish
For the third week of our blog series on Finding Peace As You Pray The Lord’s Prayer, I’m posting this prayer, which is also called “The Our Father,” as it is translated in Spanish. It is found in The Holy Bible in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 9-13. You are not alone if … Continue reading Encontrar la Paz—The Lord’s Prayer in Spanish
Trouver La Paix—The Lord’s Prayer In French
For the second week of our blog series on Finding Peace As You Pray The Lord’s Prayer, I’m posting this prayer in French. If French is not your "heart language" or a language you are studying, you may choose to read and hear it in another language by going to http://www.Bible.com You will find there … Continue reading Trouver La Paix—The Lord’s Prayer In French
Finding Peace as You Pray The Lord’s Prayer
In uncertain times life can seem overwhelming. Perhaps you, along with many others, are feeling abandoned, fearful, or if not that extreme maybe just uneasy. Things just don't seem ‘normal’ or the way they may have been in the past. Today marks the beginning of blog series on finding peace. Finding peace by praying and … Continue reading Finding Peace as You Pray The Lord’s Prayer
Do You Need A Father?
If there is no father in your life, whatever the cause—perhaps death or abandonment—a Holy God wants to fill that void. And He equally desires to comfort and protect the widow who has lost her mate. What I’ve chosen to share with you today in my blog is a brief but powerful promise from the … Continue reading Do You Need A Father?
Going Out the Way You Came In
There has never been a single individual born on earth wearing bejeweled rings, a fancy headdress, or an elegant garment. All come into this world completely unadorned. And there is nothing from this world that you can take out with you. In the Christian religious faith, we believe after death the soul of a believer … Continue reading Going Out the Way You Came In
A Tasty Dish that’s Good for Your Gut! (Recipe)
A note from Nonny -- Thanks in no small part to your prayers and well wishes, I'm out of the hospital, back home, and getting stronger by the day. Thank you, Connie Carlisle Polley Millions of people in the U.S.A. and other parts of the world have gastric disorders related to the foods they eat. … Continue reading A Tasty Dish that’s Good for Your Gut! (Recipe)
They All Showed Up For The Party!
A note from Nonny's youngest -- It would mean so much if you would keep Connie Carlisle Polley in your thoughts, hearts, prayers, and best hopes at this time. She has been in the hospital for the last few days. Ever-diligent, Nonny prepared this blog in advance and asked me to make sure it got … Continue reading They All Showed Up For The Party!
Still Putting Bread and Butter on Our Family’s Table
As a child I knew my Dad had a strong work ethic, both at home and on the job. And I was used to seeing him occupied with fixing something such as malfunctioning plumbing or painting inside and out to keep our house looking well-kept. When I was in grade school he began working at … Continue reading Still Putting Bread and Butter on Our Family’s Table
Money Is . . .
Have you ever heard that saying, “Money is the root of all evil”? Where does that come from? Shakespeare? Let’s see, maybe it’s Benjamin Franklin. He left behind a lot of words of wisdom. Or is it from the Bible? Just might be that you are nodding your head and saying, “O, yeah, that’s a … Continue reading Money Is . . .
A Story Retold So All Can Understand: A Resource for Hope
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘translate’? If you are like most of us in the United States of America, your mind envisions a text in English which has been rewritten in another language such as French, Spanish, or German. You may encounter these three languages in the instruction and/or care … Continue reading A Story Retold So All Can Understand: A Resource for Hope
Sabbatical Series: Enduring Thorns
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Enduring Thorns
Sabbatical Series: Need a Break? Sixteen Minutes to Restore Calmness and Bring Hope
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Need a Break? Sixteen Minutes to Restore Calmness and Bring Hope
Sabbatical Series: Work Brings Hope
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Work Brings Hope
Sabbatical Series: Giving Grace and Salt to Our Words
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Giving Grace and Salt to Our Words
Sabbatical Series: Lessons Learned Through Loss
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Lessons Learned Through Loss
Sabbatical Series: How to Keep Standing
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: How to Keep Standing
Sabbatical Series: Music’s Magic Healing Place
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Music’s Magic Healing Place