Hope

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:6b (NKJV) One of my favorite Bible stories is about the “Lost Sheep,” and one of my favorite hymns is “The Ninety and Nine,” about the Lost Sheep. It wasn’t until I went to a church and saw a picture of Jesus carrying a lamb on his shoulders with the title, “The Lost Sheep,” that my heart was touched and I thought, “That’s me! That’s me!” I was the lost lamb that no one ever missed or searched for, but now I saw a picture of Jesus […]

“Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.” Ecclesiastes 5:4,5 (NKJV) Janis was tired of her job flipping burgers. Now an office clerk, she is welcomed into the women’s office clique! Kandace, her new coworker, sings, “Remember it’s Friday. We’re meeting at Jambo’s this time!” “See you there!” Janis replies. But she remembers when Friday nights were when she and her church’s “band of sisters” visited the sick, prayed for them and helped with needs. Yet, having fun-loving office friends feels so good! But after dressing, applying makeup, and heading for Jambo’s, a […]

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) This Bible verse is commonly used to speak about trusting in the Lord, and it would come to my mind as I would seek God’s will about certain matters. One particular matter I did ask about when I first became a follower of Jesus was if marriage was in store for me or not? I was 20 years of age when I first asked God about marriage. Then I turned 30 years old and was still single. Then as I approached 40 […]

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV) It was time for spring cleaning in our home again, and I had finally reached the last room, the living room. After a few hours of pulling furniture out and starting to clean every nook and cranny, somehow the room looked worse and was a total mess. Everything was in disarray. Deep in thought, as I continued to clean, I thought about how this is what my life was — […]

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Philippians 2:9-10 (ESV) When I was about 11 or 12 years of age, I was given a special Kiowa name from my grandfather on my mother’s side of the family. All of the Tsoodle family of the Red Tipi clan gathered together that day. Grampa George began to speak to the family. He said, “We have gathered today to give Huron a new […]

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NIV) Now and then you run across some lines in a song that just kind of hit you. As a songwriter, I hear a good one and tend to take notice of the way the words are put together. I find it really fascinating! The other day I stumbled on an old 1972 Tom T. Hall song on Satellite Radio that just kept cycling through my head. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Soooo, I googled it and saved the words. It was […]