This House has stood through storms before, It has stood without crack, without leak, without crumbling.   But somehow every storm feels like the first.   In the dark, the lightning flashes, brilliant and terrifying, Illuminating every corner, painting unfamiliar shadows of familiar things.   In the silence, the thunder rumbles and then roars, Shaking the windows and the walls with an inescapable voice.   In the stillness, the constant pattering steps of the rain remain, Tip-toeing and whispering, or stomping and shouting their arrival.   The flash, the voice, the ste ..read more

Hi my name is. I’m just an ordinary girl, No I wouldn’t stick out No extraordinary traits to mount, Against humanity’s indistinguishable swirl.   Except this, I used to live in a whirlwind.   Every morning, I’d climb inside, Fasten my mental seat belt, Ignoring the panic I felt, And hold on for the numbing ride.   Swirling spinning never stopping One Day I’ll slow down One Day it will get better I’ll be able to breathe, One Day.   Holding on for dear life I was missing my life.   Then one day, it was One Day. I didn’t get into my whirlwind, I deserted my chaotic frien ..read more

My mind was racing at a hundred thoughts per minute. My heart was overwhelmed at the thought of all that had to be done. Would the list of things to do ever stop? It seemed like there was always something or someone that wanted a piece of me. And all I wanted to do was take a nap. Well, I knew that was not going to happen, nope the washing needed to be hung up, I had not swept the floor in days, (no udging now) and I had to still change the sheets on the bed. I could go on and on, but I will not bore you with the finer details of it all. I always seem to be living on my last nerve, I’m always ..read more

“Give thanks with a grateful heart…” The old hymn that I sang long ago in church surfaced in my memory as I sat on my veranda on a glorious fresh spring morning.  The sun peeked over the horizon, the air was cool and calm, the birds sang their sweet melodies and the hills displayed the glory of their Creator.  As I rested in the stillness and beauty around me, I suddenly realised how very blessed I was to awake to this each morning. Have you ever observed that thankful people are generally happy, and a really cheery person is always grateful for the good in their lives? They have ac ..read more

She is clothed with a lovely garment; Sweet serenity walks with her, She has the heart of a lion And the gentleness of a dove.   She has a crown of wisdom; Understanding is her kinsman, She is bejeweled by her kindness And a great peacemaker she is.   She has the shoes of peace; Her footsteps silence scoffers, She has highly gifted hands And diligent she is.   She smiles with grace; Her laughter is contagious, She is of great value And her humility knows no bounds.   She has the fragrance of Christ; The Holy Spirit is her teacher, She is the true child of her King And a vi ..read more

Prior to recovery, I felt like everyone knew how to deal with their problems except for me.  Like somehow on the day they handed out the instructions for life, I was absent.  There was an emptiness that I wasn’t sure how to fill, and no amount of alcohol, drugs, men, or any material thing was able to fill the void.  You name it, and I’ve tried it as a solution.  Spoiler alert…none of it worked but God did. Growing up in a chaotic, dysfunctional family, I learned at an early age to survive with little emotional support.  As an adult, this left me riddled with anxiety ..read more

My Cornerstone was the breaker from the crashing wave As it tossed me up and out I hit my saving grace Life has a way of rushing in bringing with it pain But I knew on this day the wave echoed His name What washed ashore was hidden below Covered in muck from the undertow Now brought into the light fully exposed There’s no more playing in the shallows Seeing your sin as scabby flesh changes your perspective The call to be ‘holy’ and ‘set apart’ is not really an elective I’m grateful for My Rock that day, who waited in the deep To catch my fall and whisper ‘My daughter, I play for keeps’ He is M ..read more

Have you ever had a heavy feeling? Sometimes knowing what it’s about and sometimes not? A few weeks ago, something was brought to light in my life that opened the door to a feeling of heavy sadness. I can’t quite put words to it, but it’s there. It’s a familiar feeling, one that was my best friend growing up. A sadness rooted in rejection, abandonment, and loss. I’ve been praying and up all night trying to shake this thing for weeks. Tonight I heard a song that I feel is so appropriate for the time we are in, and it brought the beginning of a release.   So many of us are dealing with suc ..read more

I’ve learned to listen more when a heart is speaking. If I’ll wait long enough Holy Spirit will give me a glimpse at the unique need.   At some point, He had to teach me that “His gentleness makes me great.” (Psalm 18:35)   I’ve not always been in such a place. There was a season where perhaps self-righteousness came first, a hurting heart came second. It’s a shameful admission but, nonetheless, true.   I’m grateful He didn’t allow me to stay in that place of harshness and truth delivery that merely clangs a loud cymbal. For I’ve seen His gentleness let me hold a pained soul in ..read more

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Psalm 3:3   I heard your cries this evening You thought nobody heard You thought nobody saw you You uttered not a word.   And yet your tears kept falling Into that bitter sea But what you failed to realize Your tears flowed back to Me.   I keep them in a bottle They’re precious to me, you see For every tear that fell today Was an offering unto Me.   I will replace your anguish Your awful pain with glee Just turn your sorrow upward And place your thoughts on Me.   Your grief, your tears, y ..read more