The audience rose to its feet with clamorous applause. It had been her finest performance, one she had lived and relived in her mind since her first piano lesson. Taking her second bow, her eyes scanned the crowded concert hall for the reaction of one particular person. Her mother, the personification of perfectionism, had proven to be the most difficult to please. She always managed to hear the one missed note. One measure was too fast, the other too loud. The tempo was off or the mood wasn’t set.

Butterflies fluttered wildly in her stomach, as she anticipated the response. Would this finally be the moment of affirmation? Would she at last give the nod of approval? Could this actually be the performance that met her toughest critic’s expectations? “Oh,” she thought with desperation, “let it be so.” » Continue Reading

Jerusalem, be strong and great again!
Holy city of God, clothe yourself with splendor!
The heathen will never enter your gates again.
Shake yourself free, Jerusalem!
Rise from the dust and sit on your throne!
Undo the chains that bind you,
captive people of Zion!
Isaiah 52:1-2 (TEV)

What an incredible passage of scripture, when we recognize God is talking to us. You are Jerusalem…you are Zion…and God is telling you and me to be strong and great again! » Continue Reading

I’ve learned:

1)that raising children is the source of our greatest joy and our greatest heartbreak — all at the same time.

2)that hearing the first heartbeat of your unborn baby causes your heart to beat differently from then on. » Continue Reading

Her name was Orpah, and this would prove to be the most critical moment of her life. Would she take the risk and follow her mother-in-law to Bethlehem or turn back to Moab? Would she risk living in a land of complete strangers? Take a chance on never remarrying? Never having children? Would she be willing to take on the responsibility of a widow for the rest of her life? » Continue Reading

“Good morning to you! Good morning to you! We’re all in our places, with sun shining faces. And this is the way, to start a new day.”

Funny how certain childhood memories stay forever. Growing up, my mother happily greeted my sisters and me with that sweet little chorus every morning. The lights would come on (a terrible shock to a slumbering little soul), and the music would begin. I remember throwing the pillow over my head, wondering how in the world she could be so alive at such a ridiculous time of day. I dreaded the song but loved it at the same time. » Continue Reading

“Guess who I am, Granny!” Four year old Nathan ran through his grandmother’s living room with his homemade cape flapping behind him. Holding his head high and stretching to his tippy toes, he was undoubtedly a big, proud bird of some sort. » Continue Reading

My friend, Melana, e-mailed this to me recently. I thought you might enjoy. Merry Christmas to all you wonderful TRANSFORMING WOMEN!

I got my first Christmas card today. A week before Thanksgiving. Therefore, I am not thinking too badly about my type A anal retentive personality that had my Christmas cards stuffed and ready to go before Halloween. And it gets even worse than that, I promise.

Why do you ask? I had a tentative Christmas gift list in my brain in July, on paper by the first week in August, and beginning to make it’s prescence known by the end of August. It’s not that I was doing this out of boredom, and there was a reason. Her name is Shelby Danielle. » Continue Reading

Our Sunday service had just ended, and I was on my way out when a fellow church member asked for a moment of my time. A loved one was in critical condition. One of those formidable storms had landed on the coast of her life, and demolished everything in its path. More evidence of the mystery of bad things happening to good people. » Continue Reading

If nothing else, I’ve got your attention with the title of this meditation! Maybe I should explain before I’m accused of encouraging lewd and immoral behavior.

Hebrews 12 is an incredible chapter. It’s loaded with great revelation regarding the race God has set before us. Take a look at the first two verses: » Continue Reading

There is something very appealing about a confident woman, isn’t there?

Recently, I attended a women’s conference out of town. It was a wonderful experience of interacting with women in ministry I had never met, but would not soon forget. » Continue Reading