Who decided to call it insomnia and not resisting a rest? I want to sleep but my brain won’t stop talking to itself. Anonymous People who fall asleep quickly freak me out. I mean, don’t they have thoughts? It’s adorable when sleep tries to compete with Facebook. I want to be like a caterpillar. Eat…
Category: A Faith in Process
Notes from the Journey
Teach Me
The RequestTeach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. Psalm 86:11 NLT The ReplyThis is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the…
Cancer, second trip
From my journal dated 6/19/2000 The doctor just took a biopsy of the “cobblestone” tissue in my mouth, tissue that wasn’t there two months ago. And again I am filled with Novocain and anxiety. Not “I’m going to die” anxiety, but “I’m going to be in pain and in need” anxiety. Which suddenly looks a…
Two Images
From my journal dated 6/18/2000. Totally from my imagination. I am the queen of negative self-talk. I sense disapproval everywhere. The first is not a dream, but a quiet-time thought, two pictures from my imagination, both calming and affirming. I am standing and singing in church. Jesus comes into the sanctuary. Immediately He is surrounded…
Misadventure, Kitten Style
Now it was time to clean the house, the big, annual deep cleaning: walls, woodwork, floors, rugs. It had to be now; during the school year I did not have the time or energy. So in spite of the kittens and their problems, we would clean. And everyone would help. Everyone. The kittens had been…
Trouble
The Request:O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble? Psalm 10:1 NLTDo not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. Psalm 22:11 NLTListen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help!Please listen and answer me, for I…
More from Reader’s Digest
We all make mistakes. Some are just more public than others, like these real newspaper typos: “Here the bridal couple stood, facing the floral setting, and exchanged cows.” Modesto News-Herald (California) “It took many rabbits many years to write the Talmud.” Holland Evening Sentinel (Michigan) “Mrs. ____ fell down stairs at her home this…
In Your Presence
The RequestCreate in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51: 10-13 NLT The ReplyThe Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and…
Humility & Love
From my journal dated November 27, 1999, after my first cancer surgery. It is Thanksgiving, and I’m too weak and sick to cook or to help at the free, community dinner at church. Barry went to church for the whole day, and, after some coaxing, the kids and I went to eat. I think I’ve…
Thoughts on Stress
From my journal dated November 16, 1994, during my battle with Chronic Fatigue. I watched a video with my son last week. It was for his Psychology class and was about stress. The film mentioned that stress is caused by “lack of control” and “lack of predictability.” While no one on this earth has complete…