Miracle Moments

Eleven is a great age for boys. They're in the middle of the road...not little kids but not teens. They still Love sports and playing outside, family fun and cuddling with mom. I spent two hours tonight watching Zack's baseball game...Listening to the crack of the bat striking the balls, watching the boys scream with excitement...and then catching myself whooping with delight as Zack miraculously caught a fly ball in center field. Watching my youngest of five, healthy and happy, innocent and free. This is my idea of a great Friday night! Of course-now I'm home listening to Jake's little crew of friends, in the next room, screaming at their video games, eating chips and cookies and betting on how late they can stay up. Boys will be boys, but not for long...and so I'm just enjoying the ride, for as long as it continues...Because as we've all learned, there's no going back and this is much too wonderful to miss!

There is a movement underway, that grew one million strong...in just fifteen months. A movement that has spread like wildfire through Colombia, Peru, Mexico and now the United States. I interviewed today, the man God chose to head this ministry...John Rick Miller. Miller is a former business executive, whose profoundly inspiring life story weaves a wonderful journey from the soul of man to the heart of God. Miller's movement, "For the Love of God," is a clarion call for action among every man, woman and child. It is a call to turn back to God--personally, intimately, lovingly...To turn our lives over to God...by developing a one on one relationship with the creator of Heaven and earth. That eternal power at the top of the spiritual chain of command...The alpha and the omega-the father of all mankind...God. Our video interview lasted one hour, but I could have continued much longer. Miller's phenomenal conversion experience began as a young child, but took a pivotal ...

The kids and I ate the most delicious dinner this week. Pancakes! White chocolate chip pancakes smothered in butter, syrup and whipped cream. Bisquick baking mix pancakes like dear ole mom used to make. Something about the texture and the taste and the delightful treat made dinner seem more like dessert-just the way we planned. So then we thought...What is for dessert? Ice cream-cool and smooth and deliciously decadent-won hands down! Sometimes dinner just needs to be dessert and dessert needs to be included...Because some days need a little something extra to sweeten up the sour notes. We're already talking about how we can improve upon our pancakes with pecans and fruit and flavored syrups. For me, pancakes are endearingly homey, comfort food...A forever feast that's foolishly fun, festive and for everyone, anytime...Breakfast, lunch or dinner! Yum!

God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't create junk. He has a perfect plan for each person. In fact, God sees in us what we cannot, or will not see in ourselves. He has designed a very definite purpose for our lives and equipped each one of us with the talents to carry out those plans. When we align our will with the will of God we have a clear understanding of our abilities and how we are to use those gifts in the service of God. When we rely primarily on our own free will, we fumble through life, feeling inadequate and unfulfilled and we often fall short of God's plans for us. Sure, there are fleeting moments of satisfaction and happiness, but consistent, spiritual serenity is absent and there is an emptiness that is palpable. When we are disconnected from God the separation causes us to lose the guiding grace of our co-pilot, the Holy Spirit. Often without knowing it, we are drawn into a state of darkness that hardens our heart and alters our view of life and those entrust...

It's a special day, for my special friend, Kat. Her birthday! In fact, it's an anointed day in the annals of time! As we mature and watch the world revolve around us, 365 days, year after year...A birthday sometimes seems like just another day...and just another reminder that we're getting older. But truly, it's the day God designed just for us...The day he decided to rock our world, by unleashing us into the world! I can imagine the festivities that rocked the heavens when Kat's anointed hour came. Designed by God with a divine purpose, her potential knew no limits. Sometimes our higher power gives some people a little something extra-just because. Or maybe because Kat would use her gifts well...Giving of herself, without expecting anything in return, anticipating others needs, before they ask and quietly letting the world know that unconditional Love is the best gift of all. Don't be fooled by her petite frame-She packs a powerful punch, pulling out ...

The hardest part--is always the waiting...Keeping steadfast serenity...Believing- even without seeing. The doubting Thomas in us questions, complains, loses patience...and demands proof...even in the midst of the Miracle. It's true...the Apostle Thomas wanted to stick his hands in the wounds of the risen Christ, before he would believe...But let's be truthful, he'd just had a traumatizing week...The crucifixion and death of his beloved Jesus...and then-the worry about what would happen to him and to his fellow apostles. That's enough to make anyone nervous and suspicious. It's the same for the rest of us. Stuff happens...And sometimes it's scary stuff...So-we get nervous and we lose our nerve...We want to give in or give up. But when that happens...remember who you are and whose got your back, even when you can't see him. Remember who paid your ransom, so that you could move from the darkness, into the eternal light. GOD CALLING-APRIL 11 "Remember t...

My friend Karen is an amazing woman. For the last eight years she has spent nearly every day caring for her husband Bruce, inside his hospital room. An accident left Bruce neurologically impaired, requiring him to be under 24 hour medical care which includes feeding and oxygen tubes. I did not know Bruce before the accident and I only met Karen a few months ago. I honestly never suspected, how much she had suffered, because she carries her cross with such dignity and grace. When you meet Karen, you don't see her heartache. She's always smiling, even though I know she often cries, she is soulfully cheerful, even though she sometimes feels despondent, and she never loses her faith in God, even though there are times when she feels all alone. Karen radiates the power of a higher power-without even trying. I met Bruce for the first time today, which is the eight year anniversary of his accident. Karen and I and our prayer warrior friends, gathered around his bed for a special h...