The Resting Place

Don’t Wait

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16

Last night, our family lost a dear friend. It was sudden, and when Mary’s husband Ron called to tell us, I was shocked and saddened. The thing I can’t stop thinking about is that all week long, my sister, Peggy, and I had talked about calling Mary to thank her for the beautiful, handmade Valentine card we had both received in the mail a few days earlier. I literally carried the card around with me as a reminder to call. It seemed as though every time I thought about it, the timing didn’t seem right because of the time difference between my home in Texas and Mary and Ron’s home in Arizona. Now it is too late. I suppose I will always blame myself for not following through, because Mary was strongly on my mind those three days before she passed. 

As I tried to make sense of this today, I was reminded that God wants to stay beside us through every season and circumstance of our lives. Unlike the humans we encounter from time to time, He comes into our lives to stay, never leaving us. He is not one to abandon His children, and He will give us His peace and comfort through every situation we face. We can be thankful for that and take His Word to heart. 

Over my lifetime, God has blessed me with some very dear friends. Some have come into my life only for a season, others for a reason, and still others for a lifetime. I value and cherish each one, and I am thankful to have so many who have stayed by my side through thick and thin. Mary was that kind of friend to my sister and me. She was like another sister, and we loved her and Ron very much. 

Friends, if there are people in your life—family members, friends, or others who are special to you—I would strongly urge you to give them a call. Don’t let other distractions get in the way, as I did this week. We never know when we won’t have that opportunity again.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, the One true friend who sticks closer than a brother and who will never leave us. I thank You for the memory of our dear friend Mary and ask that You give Ron Your perfect peace and comfort, as only You can. Please help each of us not to put off the things You lay on our hearts. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

He Misses Nothing

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22–24

Here we are in January 2026! Some folks have made New Year’s Resolutions, but I haven’t done that for a while now. At my age, I’m just thankful for each new day and try to do my best to stay active and engaged with my family and friends.

Already this year, I have many for whom I’m praying. If you look, you’ll see that there are hurting people all around. Some are suffering from serious health issues, while others are experiencing relationship problems. Many grieve the loss of loved ones and friends. That doesn’t sound like any way to begin a new year, does it? It doesn’t sound very hopeful, either. Unfortunately, that’s life in this broken and sinful world in which we are living. But listen, I’ve not come here to depress you; instead, to encourage each of you in whatever way is needed. Please hear me when I say that God is in charge of your problems if you will allow Him to be. He wants you to call on Him and ask Him to strengthen and help you keep moving forward. He promises to see you through, and He is faithful to His Word. That’s where prayer comes in. When we can’t fix the things that have broken us, we can go to the Father. He is there, He listens, and He will bring you peace in the midst of your situation.

Isn’t it great to know that not one of our prayers has ever slipped by our Heavenly Father? That truth, based on His Word, encourages me, knowing that I’m never alone in my struggles. Yes, we all have them, but we have the hope of Jesus Christ with us each moment. He is with us, and He is for us. What Good News that is today!

Prayer: Dear Father, sometimes the cares of life weigh us down. But when we continue to focus on You, we are eternally grateful for the love, mercy, grace, and peace that only You can bring. Please help those for whom we are praying and those who don’t openly share their pain. We want to be good representatives of Jesus, so strengthen us, I pray. Amen.

Happy New Year!

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

As I look back over 2025, I am very thankful for the love of family and dear friends who have made my life richer. Of course, like everyone else, our family has had highs and lows in 2025, but never once did we lack the loving hand of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Never once did we lack the love and prayer support that we needed. In every situation, the Lord has been our sustainer, and He has led us safely through every step we have taken. We have much to be thankful for, health-wise, as Ray has completely recovered from his open-heart quadruple bypass surgery last June 4th. What a blessing his recovery is for me, our family, and our many friends.

In just a few short hours, we will step into the year 2026. Our memories of 2025 will still be there, but we will have the opportunity to make new ones. The reality for all of us is that with each new year, time on earth grows shorter. I don’t know what the coming days, weeks, and months will bring, but I do know who will be beside us each moment. With our faith and trust centered on where God is leading us, we cannot lose.

My prayer for 2026 is that we will listen more intently for that “still small voice” and continually ask God to lead and use us for His good purposes. I pray that He will help us to see people as He sees them and to love them as He does. May each of us strive to be the kind of person who makes everybody feel like somebody. Through Christ, we will accomplish much, not for our glory, but for His and His alone.

Happy New Year, everyone! Praying that you have a blessed year!🎉🎉🎉

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, by Your mighty hand, we have made it safely through another year. We are thankful for the ways You’ve loved and cared for us. As we enter a new year, we pray that 2026 will be a year dedicated to the cause of Christ. Help us to continue growing in our faith so that we might share His love and light with those we encounter daily. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This Is How I Enter 2026

”Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)

I’ve been on a writing hiatus lately—listening for that “still small voice.” Now that the rush of the holiday season is over and the stress of publishing a book has passed, I am asking the Lord to show me what’s next. For several years, I had a conviction and the strong desire to publish my writing someday, hoping to encourage others with what the Lord had given me. It was a LOT of work, but 84,000+ words later, with messages from my heart centered on God’s Word and guided by the Holy Spirit, that goal has been accomplished. So now, I end 2025 with gratefulness for God’s love, guidance, and mercy. It has been a year of challenges and spiritual growth, but I am thankful to have experienced more joyful moments than sorrow or disappointment. God has been so good to me, and I praise Him for loving me through it all. I hope that, above all else, in 2026, I will please Him with how I live my life and handle everything that comes my way as Jesus would do.

I ran across the poem below and wanted to share it. It expresses much of what I feel at this moment.

Happy New Year! I am very grateful to have had each of you along for this journey. May the Lord give you His strength and blessings in 2026.


This Is How I Enter 2026

I enter 2026 slowly.
Like someone who has learned
that rushing only blurs
what matters most.

I don’t need this year
to prove anything to me.
I’ve already been tested
in ways numbers can’t measure—
and I’ve learned that Jesus
was steady beside me
even when I didn’t know
how to stand.

I’ve learned how grief hides
in ordinary days.
How joy often arrives quietly,
hoping we’re paying attention.
I’ve learned that God is found
not only in the miracles,
but in the moments
we almost miss.

I enter with gratitude in one hand
and grace in the other—
for the years that shaped me,
the losses that softened me,
and the strength that grew
when I leaned on Him
instead of my own understanding.

If this year finds me quieter,
it’s because I’m listening more—
learning to recognize
the voice of Jesus
in the stillness.

If it finds me slower,
it’s because I finally understand
that life isn’t something
to outrun,
and faith isn’t something
to force.

I don’t know what 2026 will take.
I don’t know what it will give.
But I know who walks with me now.

And that feels like enough
to step forward—
hand in hand with Jesus—
without fear. From: The Grandparent Club

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, as we end another year, we recognize how each moment of life is precious. You gave us Jesus to save us from ourselves, and we are forever grateful. Help us to live out our days trusting You and sharing that love with others. Our prayer is that 2026 will be the best year of our lives as we seek to make a difference in the lives of family members, friends, and those we meet each day. May we honor you in all ways. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen

Merry Christmas!

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:21-23 (NIV)

“When Jesus traveled from heaven to earth, He used a round-trip ticket with stops along the way. He left the throne for the manger, the manger for the cross, the cross for the tomb, and the tomb for the throne. He left blessings behind at every stop. He emptied Himself so we might be filled. That’s the true story of Christmas.” Dr. David Jeremiah

I am very thankful that I learned the true meaning of Christmas at an early age. Even before I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, I still knew about Him. Almost everyone in my small East Texas community did, too. Seems like Jesus was accepted much more back then than He is today, which is disheartening. But we must keep the faith, for there are many, many believers who do carry the light of Jesus. Almost everywhere I’ve gone this Christmas season—business places and the like—people freely say, “Merry Christmas.” There is no doubt that some who say that are not equating Christmas to its true meaning, but it is still a good feeling to hear the words, repeat them, and be reminded of what Christmas is all about.

It is a good time to stop and reflect on how Jesus came to fill us with His love and light so that we might carry it wherever we go. In all of our busyness, may we not forget the One who came to Earth on a rescue mission—that of saving the souls of humanity—sinners just like you and me. We have every reason to honor Him in all ways for what He has done and continues to do for us. I am eternally thankful!

Merry Christmas, one and all! May you experience God’s peace, love, and joy, now and always. I pray that 2026 will find each of you healthy and happy.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, knowing that You are with us continually brings such warmth and assurance that we will never be alone. Be with those who find themselves alone during this season for whatever reason. Please help them to feel your presence and place their hope in You. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Resting Place: Finding Hope, Peace, & Joy in All Circumstances

AVAILABLE NOW!


The Resting Place: Finding Hope, Peace, & Joy in All Circumstances

I am pleased to announce that my new book is now available for sale! You will find it on the following sites:

Amazon.com
barnesandnoble.com

My prayer is that through reading these uplifting devotions, many people will find hope, peace, and joy through every season and circumstance of life.

On this, the ninth anniversary of my daughter Shelly’s homegoing, I have dedicated The Resting Place to her memory, as we remember her with great love. Shelly wanted me to tell my story someday, and I have done so by sharing these devotions on how faith in Jesus Christ can get us through the deepest and darkest times we face in life. When we hold onto our faith, we will emerge spiritually stronger and more confident in sharing with others how God carries us through life’s twists and turns.

I am thankful for you all—family and friends, near and far—for your love, support, and encouragement throughout these many years. God is so good to give us such wonderful gifts in life through the relationships we build on Him. 💜✝️

Shelly and Mom, 2010 at East Texas lake house.

God’s Faithfulness

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)

As our family nears the 9th anniversary of our beloved Shelly’s passing (Nov. 13), many memories flood my mind. I miss my precious daughter more than I can say and will always hold her in my heart until we are reunited in Heaven. Although time has a way of dulling the grief, there are times here and there when something triggers the pain and sadness. Through it all, God has been faithful to allow me to use this challenging season for His glory and to encourage others as they walk through their own pain.

Pictured above is the beautiful front cover of my new devotional book, The Resting Place: Finding Hope, Peace, & Joy in All Circumstances. I am pleased to announce that this long-awaited (three years in the making) devotional book will launch on November 13th (See below for ordering information).

Within this 320-page book, there are over 200 devotions, a small section of uplifting messages that celebrate and honor Shelly, and another small section of poems I have written over the past five years. My prayer is that all who choose to read these devotions will be encouraged in their faith, regardless of their current life stage.

I have personally experienced God’s faithfulness throughout my lifetime, but it has been through the hard times that He has stretched my faith and used me for His Kingdom here on Earth in ways only He could do. Throughout this book, my only goal is to glorify God for the good work He is continually doing in my life and to encourage others to trust Him enough to lay their burdens at the feet of Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Father, You are an awesome God, and I thank You for guiding me through the presence of the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. I pray that this book will bring glory to Your name and that all who read its messages will find hope, peace, & joy in all circumstances as they rest in You. We love You and honor You in all things. This I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The Resting Place: Finding Hope, Peace, & Joy in All Circumstances will be available in both paperback and hardback formats and can be ordered from the following sites starting on or after November 13, 2025:

Amazon.com

Barnesandnoble.com

Spiritual Therapy

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2 NIV

“We often need physical therapy, but God is the great spiritual Therapist who can keep us strong of heart even when we are weak of body.” Dr. David Jeremiah.

I’ve had physical therapy twice in my life. A few years ago, my left shoulder was so painful that it was impossible to reach behind my back. At that point, my doctor recommended that I have physical therapy in hopes of avoiding possible shoulder surgery.

In keeping my focus on what I needed to do to improve my shoulder pain, and in having a physical therapist who knew what she was doing, I was motivated to do whatever it took to improve this physical situation. Over the course of twelve weeks of sometimes complex and painful work, I improved to the point that I was dismissed from in-house PT. But to have a lasting recovery, I needed to be intentional by doing the exercises I had learned in PT. To this day, the therapy I received has lasted, and I have had no further issues with my shoulder. Praise the Lord!

The quote above from Dr. David Jeremiah resonated with me this morning. Don’t we all need a spiritual Therapist—One who knows how to “treat” us and motivate us to be better representatives of Himself here on Earth? One who will show us the best spiritual exercises in order to have a healthy spiritual mind and body. As for me, I’ve called on Him countless times in my life and sought the spiritual therapy that I needed to make it through the next chapter in life. Each day, I find myself seeking His help and guidance so that I will represent Him well. For me, it is a moment-by-moment thing, knowing that His strength is made perfect in my weakness(es).

The good thing about having a firm and lasting relationship with Jesus is that we aren’t limited to a specific amount of time for our ST (Spiritual Therapy). He is always available to cover us with His hope, peace, and joy throughout any situation we encounter. He is with us through the good, the bad, and the ugly places of life.

Isn’t it wonderful to have the peace and assurance that we will ALWAYS have our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, available for the spiritual therapy that we need—day and night—24/7! That’s such Good News today.

Prayer: Dear Father, were it not for You, our spiritual strength would be nonexistent. Thank You for loving us so much that You sent Jesus on a rescue mission to save us from ourselves. We honor You and ask that we be made stronger through Your guidance and wisdom throughout our spiritual journey here on Earth. May we always represent You well. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Watch Your Step

“Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (NKJV)

One year ago today, I had a serious fall while playing badminton with my 12-year-old granddaughter. Things were going nicely until Sophie served, and I saw that the birdie was about to go over my head. As I ran backwards, my foot stepped into a small hole that was concealed by the grass. I was then propelled backward into a large red oak tree, with the crown of my head taking the brunt of the fall. That night, I had my first ride in an ambulance—not something that was on my bucket list. A few hours later, after X-rays, scans, and three staples in my head, I was released to go home, feeling blessed that I only had a slight concussion. While it took several weeks for me to recover fully, I never missed an opportunity to explain that I had received a sports injury. Somehow, that sounded much better than saying a senior citizen had fallen and couldn’t get up. However, I did commit to being more careful and watching my step to prevent any future falls.

As I relived this memory today, I asked the Lord to always give me His wisdom and guidance, away from any spiritual holes or pitfalls that might hinder my walk with Him. There is nothing more important than our relationship with the Lord Jesus. His is the peace we need deep in our hearts during each season of life, whether expected, or like my fall, unexpected.

Today is a good day to be thankful for faith in Jesus and for His watch care over us. Through our trust in Him, we will always have Someone who has our best interest at heart and who will always help us to watch our step.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You from the bottom of my heart for Your protection a year ago today. Thank You for the peace that surrounded me in those moments, even though I thought You might be calling me Home. Sensing Your presence was better than anything I could have hoped for. Today, we ask that You help us be more aware of any spiritual holes or pitfalls that might hinder our witness for Jesus. We love You and praise You in His name and all for His glory. Amen.

Challenging Times

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

We all have days and seasons that are more challenging than others. When I look at those on my prayer list, I see that many family members and friends are facing serious issues. Their challenging times call for a lot of perseverance and trust—strength they don’t have on their own.

If you’ve had some hard days lately, please remember that you are not walking alone. Jesus is as close as the mention of His name. With Him, you’ll get through. He will guard your steps and give you strength for your particular journey. When you can’t, He can.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus. Without Him as our Lord and Savior, we would be nothing. Forgive us when we fail to give You our best, for our greatest desire is to live and serve You in such a way that others will see Christ in us. We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

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