One year ago today my oldest daughter Maggie was thrown from her show-horse April. She and April were practicing walking backwards, when persnickety April had simply had enough. She suddenly reared upwards and backwards, throwing Maggie forcefully first into the air, then down into the ground. April followed suit, falling partially on top of Maggie.

When I think back on this day, believe it or not, my heart still floods with thankfulness. I know God's hand of protection was wrapped around my daughter. So many "could have's"... "didn't" happen. Many of these kinds of throws end with broken hips, backs, or necks. While Maggie did walk (very slowly) away from the accident, she wasn't completely unscathed. Somehow, she broke a tiny bone behind her eye; this snap then pinched her eye muscle, entrapping it so that she could not move her eye at all. This, of course, was severely painful until it was surgically released two days later.

During these two days, Maggie lay on the couch basically "blind", as it hurt to open either eye. Also during this time, our family was inundated with love and support from people who "walk life" with us. As Maggie lay there, hearing all the sweet voices come and go, a bible verse kept coming to mind:

Taste and see the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8

She now understood this in a deeper way. Although she couldn't see physically, she could feel God's love and goodness pouring through His people.

Another surgery a few weeks later was ordered by the reconstructive eye surgeon, who inserted a plate in place of the broken bone in order to support and position her eye. The remaining "marks" from the accident are: physically, she still has double vision in the right periphery, and emotionally, she is no longer a competitive rider.

Maggie's grandmother VeeVee gave her this verse during the "blurry vision" days which ironically represented Maggie's future. College riding was now off her radar, but God was not:

Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth...I will make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

On March 2, 2009, Maggie's life did turn upside down. But I have loved watching the same Hand that protected her in her fall, also guide her as she walks into new and beautiful things.

Through this accident, I too have learned much. One thing concerns my faith walk: I must walk steadily and obediently by faith in God, knowing and trusting that at any moment, He can change my direction--for my good, not harm (Jer.29:11). He is for me, not against me. I must believe this, so that I, too, can walk away with hope and peace, if my life were suddenly turned... upside down.

Thank you, sweet Maggie, for your life-lesson to my heart. You have beautiful eyes, that see truth. I love you and celebrate YOU today.

We had a couple of "snow days" here in Tennessee. The half-inch white fluff made our world stop for a short while, and I absolutely loved it. I am a southern wimp when it comes to ice on the roads, so I just holed-up in my home, put on my comfy clothes, and kept the fire going. As I watched the snow fall one morning, I just sat very very still; I was mesmerized by God's immaculate beauty. I didn't want to move from my contented position...I was wrapped in a blanket like a cocoon...not doing anything, just "being"...

My "stillness" got me to thinking about personality types. As you know, there's the "A" type and the "B" type.

Words that come to mind when describing type A are: Alert, Attentive, Aggressive, Always Active, Absolutely Accurate most All of the time. I am positive that "they"--whoever "they" are--must have done a case study on my husband when creating this personality type. God loves him and so do I.

And then there's type B: Be still, Be Quiet, Be Steady, Be Careful, Be thinking of many things, but doing close to none of them. And yes, "they" came back to study me on this one. As a matter of fact, if "they" were putting me on a grading scale, I would have gotten a B minus, with the next personality being type C: Comatose, Cave-dweller, Cocoon, Closed-in, Cute(?). (Sorry, I had to add "cute"; my self-esteem was beginning to wane).

Have you ever wondered about Jesus' personality type? Was He A or B, or both? Of course, He was (is) the perfect blend, with no sin involved. Wow, think of that. No wonder people climbed trees and rooftops, walked miles upon miles, and dropped everything just to get a glimpse of Him. He was calmly charismatic, peacefully powerful, winsomely wise--all in One.

The wonderful news is this: Jesus is ALIVE today, in you and in me! He has given us His Spirit without measure. So, just like God graciously gives us spouses and friends to help us counter-balance our core personalities, He, much more than this, has given us Jesus Christ, not only to enhance who we are, but also to birth and grow who we are not.

Therefore, a type A personality can call on Christ to help him/her respond to this simple, yet difficult command:

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

While a type B, when relying on Christ, can come out of his/her comfort zone and respond to verses such as this:

Get yourself up on a high mountain...bearer of good news...Lift your voice mightily; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" Isaiah 40:9

Let's face it, no matter our personality, we all need Him. Let Him come in and enhance His unique design (you). Trust Him where you are weak, and then watch a steady strength arise.

On that note, this closed-in cave-dweller needs to go find some hiking boots; I have a mountain to climb and some Good News to bear. Any Body want to join me?

Every New Year's Eve and Day the world exclaims, "Happy New Year!" to each other; some shout it passionately at a wild party, while others whisper it politely to a passer-by.

Well, I have decided that I would like the world to stop saying this phrase (do you think they will listen to me?). The word "happy" is really such a small, shallow word, and the world needs so much more! Happiness is over when the party is finished, or when the last bite of dessert is eaten, or when the money runs out, or when the doctor walks in with negative news--on and on.

What the world needs is a "Hopeful New Year." Hope is not dependent on the outside influences of health, wealth, and the next best thing. Hope comes from within, no matter the circumstances, no matter the trial. Listen to this verse:

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

God's love in us--wow! I am not alone in my trial; there is no need to fear. Again, because of my faith in Christ, God is with me, in me. Because of Him, I will not be shaken (Ps 62:2). This makes me more than happy; this makes me hopeful. Yes, He promises each of us this:

He who believes in Him will not be disappointed. Romans 9:33

You and I may receive disappointing news this year; but He will be with us as we receive it, and as we walk through it. His word can direct each of our steps--into peace that passes understanding, and into joy that causes others to wonder. Let's make this declaration is 2010: "In His word I will put my hope" (Psalm 130:5).

So I expect to see "Hopeful New Year" on all party hats, plates, and napkins next year. Do you want to help me start the movement? (I'm kidding, but not really). Just tell a handful of people the difference between happiness and hope, and who knows what will happen? Because remember, nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37)

"Behold, like clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand..." (Jeremiah 18:5)

I have always loved the clay/potter analogy given in Scripture. What a beautiful picture of our personal relationship with our Maker. While doing a little deeper research on this topic, I found a short video on www.millhousepottery.com. Master potter Alan Frewin works quietly and intentionally on his thought-through vessel. Please watch this 3 minute video keeping these lessons in mind concerning our Potter:

1. The center of His wheel--The clay is placed in the center because it is the foundation of the vessel. The pot is only as true and as strong as the centering (Out of Fire Studio). Likewise, our life's foundation should rest on Christ alone. If it does not, then everything will be off kilter.

2. In His Hands--The potter uses the palm of his hands to gently press and pull, in an upward and then downward motion to obtain his smooth, desired results. The potter also uses his arms and shoulders, with elbows resting on his knees, to help support the motion; he doesn't mind the mess because he knows what he is doing. Our Potter, too, holds us between His hands securely, making us and molding us into His planned vessel. We may wonder what He is doing at times, but He always knows the plans He has for us.

3. The utensils--The potter uses different tools to chisel away excess clay, and to create something new. Similarly, our Potter allows certain circumstances to enter into our life to groom and grow us.

4. The water--The potter continually adds water throughout the whole process so that the clay stays soft and manageable. Our Living Water, the Word of God, keeps our heart tender and our will bendable so that we can become exactly what our Potter desired from the beginning.

I pray that I will let my Potter have His way with me. I must trust Him fully. Yes, I want to stay in the center of His wheel.

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Holy--a small word that can hardly, humanly be defined. Descriptive words that embody holiness are: perfect, sacred, set apart, divine. When men in the Bible encountered God's holiness, their response was similar; they each fell face down in humble worship. Likewise, when you or I allow our hearts and minds to dwell on the great I AM in this way, we too, become like Isaiah, and Ezekial, and Paul--we become wholly His.

Wholly--all-in, everything, full capacity, entirely. I love this promise found in Scripture: For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth, that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. ( II Chronicles 16:9) I want to be strongly supported by an Almighty God, don't you? I want to be completely His. But often times, things (and I mean frivolous, meaningless, empty things) lure me away. Each thing punctures my heart, causing me to become...

Holey--crack, breach, rift, leak. God says, "For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13) I must daily make a choice: do I want to be wholly or holey? One is more deeply satisfying, and the other is superficially pleasurable. One is eternally rewarding, the other is temporarily gratifying. One stays full (to overflowing), the other leaks.

The King of kings asks for our whole heart. He then promises: "He who believes in Me...from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38) The only hole in the vessel should be the one in which His love flows.

I want to be still enough in God's presence to hear the angels sing, "Holy, Holy, Holy!" I want to fall face down in humble worship. I want to be filled completely with His power and His love. And then from my whole heart, I want to cry out, "Here I am Lord, send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

I grew up in the deep southern woods of Mississippi--lots and lots of pine trees towered over our home. So when I moved "way up here" in Tennessee, the colorful fall season took me by surprise. Year after year, I am mesmerized by the radiant reds, the fiery oranges, and the brilliant golds that are bursting from the trees and bushes--incredible, breath-taking beauty.

I'm sure I am not the first to correlate God's seasons with His love story:

Fall represents His dying for us on the cross.

Winter represents His burial, enclosed in a death that we will never have to endure.

Spring represents His resurrection... a newness of life for all who believe.

And Summer represents the growth and abundance of this new life.

So, here we are again in the seasonal cycle; the glorious fall surrounds us. It's hard to believe these brilliant leaves on the trees are actually dying. But isn't that exactly what happened at the cross? Listen to Jesus' words to His Father, just before He was taken into custody:

Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of Your Son so the Son in turn may show Your bright splendor." (msg, John 17:1)

Come to Me all you are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 Two thousand years ago, the King of Glory hung on a tree, dying. His fiery passion for the world He loved held Him there, not the nails. His perfect crimson blood was willingly shed for you and me. And as our Savior's life was drained from Him, it was the most tragically beautiful gift to behold. Before the darkness of "winter" encroached, the Light of the World triumphantly cried out, "It is finished." Indeed, it was awe-full.

Today, this day, when I see the radiance all around me and watch these colorful trees of the field clapping their hands, I know why they're applauding. I want to join them in honor of the King that gave His life a ransom for many. So I too, will praise Him, and thank Him... for His glorious Fall.