A Knight's Journey

Wide awake at 12:56. It happens.   There has been a precious family on our hearts who are walking the painful road of letting go of a loved one. That wakes me up. It was the first thought when my eyes looked at my watch. I got up. Praying for them as I walked to the kitchen--looking at the clock, I decided against coffee and just went on to the prayer spot. View from my prayer room in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 2018 There are times when praying comes more easily than others. Praying for God's will--yet knowing it will be painful often causes a hesitancy in our voice to our Father. Yet we pray on. "Thy will be done"... and in the process--"please grant peace- peace that you cannot fathom- to every single family member." The timing of God is not ours to control or even try and figure out. We will tire ourselves out trying to think that far "ahead"... A thought rolled in my mind about 10 minutes ago, and I wrote it down in my prayer journal: "In...

It's almost that time...   Seniors all over the nation are cleaning out lockers, making sure they have every "i" dotted and "t" crossed, and double-checking with all their teachers to make sure all their credits line up as they should—to be able to walk on the field, the gymnasium, or the auditorium.   We have our fourth graduating senior .  I, along with our whole family, am incredibly proud of this fella right here. He stands head and shoulders above the rest in my book.  Strong faith, big heart, and a humble servant attitude.  In watching Cy interact with others throughout his life, I noticed he has always looked for ways to help someone else.  From passing out popsicles at the Watermelon Parade, to walking around the fellowship hall with cafeteria plastic gloves on that were 10 times too big, holding a pitcher of water to look for people who needed a refill.  Sometimes, you got a refill whether you needed it or not, just to watch him pour. Then he ...

There is a prayer my mother has always taught us to pray as we became young adults: “ Father, we want Your will to be done —regardless.” That’s probably right up there with the  “Whatever it takes, Lord ” kind of prayer. We have our ideas of what we want—and we put them in the class of what we “need.” Yet, stepping back and looking at things with a viewpoint more in line with His—we see most clearly that for the greater good, it’s not what we actually “need.” What we “need” is His will. Even when it’s painful. I have to tell you this devotion has been stirring in my heart for several days now. I put it off. I didn’t want to write it, mainly because I have to deal with what I write. Meaning—if I write about “fear,” I most often have a moment of dealing with it in close proximity to the time of the writing. When writing about faith, mine is stretched to the breaking point. So, I didn’t relish talking about this with you today... but I will. Because every single Christ-following perso...

Three words stuck out to me in my reading this morning:   Jesus went with ... Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them,  “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”   He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.   Then he said to them,  “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."   Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,  “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”   Matthew 26:36-38 NIV           Jesus went with ...  I don't know what the circumstances are in your life...you may be facing death through disease.  Or, you may be trying to pray for a prodigal to come home, physically and/or spiritually.  Your business may be floundering, or your marriage may ...

I know some people rarely share memories, feelings, etc.  I probably over-share.  So, for the icing on the cake today --or cookies in the Tupperware ® The Main House (Tom & Martha Ford) The Cabin Kitchen I remember well the evening the five of us, three sisters and two sisters, gathered around the fireplace in the tiny living room of the beautiful West Point, GA, cabin.  The air outside was cool enough to build a fire.    Supper dishes had been cleared.  We brought our meal from home, pre-cooked, even the dessert of homemade teacakes of raisins, pecans, and the simple old-fashioned plain teacake.  I have a picture of all hands (except mine) reaching down into the bowl of deliciousness made by Aunt Evielean.  I wanted a picture memory of that trip.  Teacakes :) We all gathered near the fire for whatever unfolded next.  We never knew.  Times like this have always been where we learned the most of our family history--and we were al...

I've been in a lot of prayer meetings in my life.  I can't even come close to a number.  Lately, I have wondered if we still recognize the gift we have received in the ability to just "pray"--anytime---anywhere. One of the greatest gifts we have been given with the salvation of our souls is the gift of prayer and praise.  No longer must we go to a priest to offer sacrifices for our sins.  We can enter the throne room of God--because we belong to Him.  We can do this while driving down the road--we can do this while working in the garden--I've done both-- and we can do this in our churches and our homes.  Not everyone in this world can put a checkmark beside all of these I've mentioned. Prayer is a gift given to us that cost Christ everything.  EVERYTHING.  His own life was given so that we could be made whole... When I think about this tears just fall.   I remember when the movie "The Passion of The Christ" came out in Dothan, AL.  We we...