Tag: nature
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The Gift of Longing: As the Deer Pants
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God. (Psalm 42:1) Daniel and I have had a relationship full of what we’ve come to call “God winks”—signs, unprecedented experiences that could only be explained by God Himself. One of my favorite God winks is from the weekend Daniel and…
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The Gift of God’s Timing: I Said Yes
I heard the still small voice in my spirit whisper, “No matter how dark it gets, will you keep your eyes on my face?” “Yes.” I replied. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. (Isaiah 69:20) In 2024, my faith was repeatedly put to the test as I…
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The Gift of Mothers and Mountains: Covered in Love
I’ve been inspired lately by mountains with my recent visit to Monte Sano. Mountains are awe-inspiring, majestic, and they cover about 24% of the earth’s surface. Taking in this breath taking natural wonder, I was reminded of the beauty and the majesty of mothers. Both mountains and mothers both possess great strength and stability as…
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The Gift of Living Water
The name hydrangea comes from the Ancient Greek words for ‘water vessel’, ‘hydor’ and ‘angos’. This was chosen as the seed capsules on hydrangeas resemble cups. However, it’s a fitting name in another way—hydrangeas love water, and they tend to be quite thirsty. We as human beings have a certain likeness to that thirsty flower.…
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The Gift of Stillness: Growing For God’s Glory
Have you ever noticed the stillness of a flower? I don’t mean a lack of movement, but rather, a lack of striving. Flowers don’t strive; they just grow. Flowers don’t grow to please man or earn love; they grow for God’s glory; they grow to reflect the love of their Creator. This is what it…
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The Gift of a Hero
“Sisters, Heroes” is inspired by and dedicated to my sister, Leslie. I am the only child my mother and father had together, but my father was married prior. I have a sister who has no relation to my mother but has chosen to care for her as if she were her own. My mom and…
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The Gift of God’s Timing: When Two Are Better Than One
Many have questioned over the last several years—why I haven’t been in a relationship, why I haven’t settled down with someone, why I have chosen to remain single. The truth? This is why—because I knew deep down a love like this existed, and I wasn’t going to give up on that. In many of these…
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The Gift of God’s Strength: Made Perfect in Our Weakness
I’ve spent many hours over the last week at the hospital in uncertainty waiting for answers. My mother suffered a stroke, and for the first time in my life, I was cast into a reality where I was the mother and my mother was the child. I sat beside her and listened as she tried…
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The Gift of Forgiveness: Blooming Beyond Blame
Lately my pastor has been talking a lot about forgiveness. It’s inspired me because for so many of us, forgiveness is the main obstacle standing between us and peace. Unforgiveness stunts our growth; it keeps us from healing. Once we stop assigning blame and instead replacing it with compassion, we can grow; we can bloom.…
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The Gift of a God Beyond Faithful
I decided to buy a piece of Peacock Ore to celebrate my first art sale which was “Beyond Beautiful” my floral peacock. I like to gift myself pretty stones to commemorate certain eras or special memories, and this is something I want to remember. Even more significant than my first sale was the faith it…
