Christ in the Clouds

 "A family is like an oak tree. A few blows wouldn't bring the tree crashing down. But it would require a lot of healing and love to ensure stability." (Source) It's interesting how family members respond and react to each other , sometimes even sad or frustrating. We had our ups and downs through out her younger years, but I had always hoped that, as the only daughter I'd ever have, she and I would eventually become close. It didn't happen. With the entering of a half-brother and later the sudden passing of her full - b rother, the bon d ing didn't occur ... with either her father , nor her stepmother...myself. She grew up, married, started a family, and had her own l i fe...a busy life.  I ached for a close relationship, b ut the more I strove to bring us closer together, the futher she pushed me away. Every now an d then, she reappe ared and would spend an hour, maybe even the day, wit h us. Then, we did n 't see her or her beloved f...

  In church on Sunday, we sang Chris Tomlin's version of "Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone." But we sang the original lyrics, which I didn't realize he had changed in his version of the song.  Of course the first few verses most of us know: Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now, I see. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed   Then the original lyrics are: Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come 'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home (I love this!! There have been many dangers in my life and especially in my son's life this past week. Someone had broken into his apartment and stole some of his roommates things. Nothing of his was taken and he was not at home. He also had a couple of accidents, one at work and one at home, that ...

“Couples who pray together, stay together”  Study after study has shown that the old adage is true.  Couples that pray together daily have a significantly lower divorce rate. But, at least for me and my husband, this has been one of the most difficult things to do on a regular , daily basis. I realize that much of this is due to our individual upbringings. My husband was raised in a very dysfunctional and less than Sp irit -filled home. I very much doubt that there was ever family prayer, let alone, his parents praying together. Th e fact that he is willing to pray with me is a blessing ! I grew up in a very structured Christian home. M y mom was the sp iritual leader, but I always felt that she longed for my father to ta ke that role. He never did.  Throughout our 2 6 years of marriage, I have attempted to start both family and couples prayer time at home. Usually it starts out awkwardly. Eventually, we just pray less and less together, till we comp...

"I'm convinced that the whole world is better when we, as individuals, capture and savor ea ch moment as the gift that it is , embrace the challenge or joy of it, and thereby transform it with the ma gic of creative posi bility. Life, for the most part, is what we make of it. We have been given a responsibility to live it fully, joyfully, completely, and richly in whatever span of time God grants us on this earth. " (Luc i Swi ndoll ) Continuing to count my blessings, one by one at   " Multitude on Mondays ". 1,381 - The moments I find to take a picture almost every day of God's creation . 1,382 - Enjoying all the different animals that I get to see daily, now that we are living on a lake. 1,38 3 - Fishing has been good. 1,384 - The weather has been, for the most part, really nice, too! 1,385 - Learning to not let daily occurrences get me down, but , just like the Luci Swindoll qu ote above, re...