Dear Friends,

I would like to introduce a new resource found on my blog site called A Passage and a Prayer. This collection consists of Scriptures, and then prayers that I have written over the last several years concerning the heart of my children. If time permits, take a moment to check it out. I hope it will be of use to you as you pray for any of your loved ones: spouse, children, grandchildren, or friends. Take joyful confidence that our Lord loves to hear and answer the voice of his people!

LINK: A Passage and A Prayer

Summertime brings new growth. For example, there is a crepe myrtle planted by our screened-in porch that I have watched spring up over the last couple of months. Morning by morning, when I go out to sit quietly on the porch, the tree before me seems to be one inch taller than the day before. (It "leafs" me amazed).

By observing this tree, these verses come to mind:

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:2-3

Likewise, in our front pasture, a cow just delivered a sweet baby calf that is getting sturdier by the day as he consumes his mother's milk. (I'm sure he thinks the milk is "udderly" delicious). Soon, he will be chomping grass right beside her side.

There is a Scripture that speaks of this as well:

...like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow... I Peter 2:2

These scriptures remind me that I, too, have the wonderful opportunity to grow... spiritually, day by day. I see in the above verses that the "common denominator" of spiritual growth is God's word. So I must ask myself, am I delighting in the law of the Lord day and night, or am I longing for the pure milk of the word? If this is the case, then I can expect something wonderful to happen. Just like a young tree responds to water by stretching its branches heavenward, and a baby calf responds to milk by growing more sure-footed, a willing heart responds to God's word by becoming more and more like Christ each day. As we grow, we will reflect His image, which is full of love and compassion, patience and steadfastness, faithfulness and joy.

My prayer for you and for me is to crave His word, take in and meditate on His word, and then obediently respond to His word. Then you and I (and the world around us) will see growth, beautiful and sturdy growth, that rivals the crepe myrtle in my back yard and the baby calf in the front.

I just returned from our family trip to Florida. There is nothing quite like ocean waves and the white sand. The week was a restful "re-grouping" for the six of us, plus one cherished family friend. I would have to say my favorite activity was taking one-on-one beach-side walks with Mac and then each of my children. At the kids' ages now (20, 18, 15, and 14), it's all about quality time... I cherished each step.

As I felt the sand beneath my feet, one verse kept coming to my mind:

How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them they are more than the sand. Psalm 139:17-18

Another translation, the Message, puts it this way:

Your thoughts--how rare and beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them! I couldn't even begin to count them--any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Psalm 139:17-18

Just think, if I had reached down and picked up one grain of sand, the psalmist is saying this would represent one rare and beautiful thought of God. And then if I counted the next grain of sand, it would be likened to another wonder-filled truth about God. And the next grain of sand, one more powerful trait concerning God. And the next grain, one more profound assessment of His character. And the next grain...

My friend, our God is an amazing, complex, exquisite, righteous, compassionate, generous, lovely, holy, listening, helping, saving God. And He is... so much more! The more we know of Him, the "bigger" He becomes to our hearts, and we just keep praising and trusting and learning and leaning into Him.

I am home now; how quickly life gets back into full swing (or should I say spin). The sweet walks, and the grains of sand on the beach were left behind as a cherished memory; but His rare and beautiful thoughts I will keep counting for years and years to come.

My son Bink has a 4 year old labrador retriever named Sarge. This big lovable black dog would fetch a ball from morning 'til night if someone had enough energy to keep throwing it. He lives to do what he was created to do... retrieve.

My daughter Emmy has a 7 month old cairn terrier named Juliet. This little energetic white puppy loves to pull, tug, chase and chew. But because her best friend is Sarge, she too has learned to retrieve, something very uncharacteristic of a terrier. So when any one of us throws a ball, Sarge races after it, Juliet pursues Sarge, and then both return in full speed to the thrower... back and forth, back and forth they go.

Recently, however, Juliet has added a new dimension to the game. While Sarge is running with the ball in his mouth, Juliet begins to nip at his heels. This distraction, of course, frustrates Sarge to no end, which results in him often dropping the ball before he gets to his final destination. Nip, nip, nip, drop, drop, drop. In the midst of this "game", we now have to encourage Sarge to keep his eye on the goal (instead of the little nuisance beside him).

I think sometimes "my call" can resemble this picture of Sarge and Juliet. Can you relate? Is there something you know that God has asked you to do... that He has created you to do? And in the beginning of this project or mission, joy and energy and excitement are overflowing; but then, little distractions pop up in your path, and other frustrations "nip at your heels" while you pursue the work God asked you to do. Let me encourage you to keep your eye on the goal set before you. If God has asked you to do something, He will be faithful until the task is complete. Please listen to only three of many verses that I hope will help you "pick that ball back up", and reach your final destination:

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. (Pr. 4:25)

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. (I Peter 2:20-21)

...Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God...is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. (I Chronicles 28:20)

So my friend, keep your eye on the goal; trust Christ with each and every step, and through each and every obstacle that may come your way. He promises to complete the good work that He began in you.

(Meanwhile, I have to go apologize to Emmy for the not-so-good-work of calling her puppy a "little nuisance"...)

As many of you know, my sister Peggy and I have a ministry together called "Walking with Hope." Many of you receive our weekly devotionals that give direction through God's Word and His ways. Also, we have gathered friends like you in my home on several occasions with the purpose of sharing a message of hope that will encourage you in your walk with the Lord. Peggy and I would LOVE each of you ladies to join us for our next gathering. So:

Please Come to "Walking with Hope"

Wednesday, July 6th

7:00 -8:30 pm

1765 Warren Hollow Road

Nolensville, TN 37135

You are welcome to bring a friend who may be in need of encouragement.

Please respond to this email or post if you are able to attend.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.

Psalm 62:5

Thank you friends. I look forward to seeing you if you can come, and will greatly miss you if you cannot. You each have been such a sweet encouragement to me in this journey of writing and speaking the Good News of Jesus Christ. We're in this walk together... and I'm so glad!

It has been a while since I have posted a devotional prayer that begins with the declarative statement "God, You are..." . Here is one entitled "Lovely". If your heart connects to our God through this prayer, more like this one can be found in both The Heartbeat of God and The Heritage of God on my website. Pray with me...

God, You are Lovely. One thing I have asked from the Lord, that shall I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and meditate in His temple. Indeed, how lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs and even yearns for the courts of the Lord. And as I come into Your holy presence, O God, the eyes of my heart are enthralled by Your matchless mercy. For in this place of worship, lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. To think, You have allowed my soul to be sweetly intertwined between this embrace; yes, I have been wrapped with Your love, truth, righteousness, and peace. So I will stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of my God! And I will praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; I will sing praises to His name, for it is lovely. For You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup…the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. Thank You, O God. I will drink from Your cup with gratitude, and I will enjoy my inheritance forever. Indeed, how lovely You are to me.

Psalm 27:4; Psalm 84:1-2; Psalm 85:10; Psalm 135:2-3; Psalm 16:5-6; Song of Solomon 1:15