The list of issues I have with packing goes on and on. At the end of the day though, what I’m really battling with, is my own excess baggage.
Are you contagious?
As 2020 draws to a close, I keep thinking of one word; contagious.
I Prayed for this.
The Coronavirus Pandemic is in full swing. Schools and businesses are closed. Nursing homes and hospitals are on lock-down. Travel plans have been cancelled. We’re all reeling from the uncertainty, the inconvenience, and the economic impact the virus has caused. In the midst of the panic, I can’t help but think; I Prayed for this. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t pray for contagious illness, toilet paper shortages, or rampant unemployment. What I did pray for though was a slower pace of life, for more time with my family, and for neighbors to care for others above self. Maybe you prayed for some of these things, too. Good things have come out of the Pandemic. The lonely plight of nursing home residents has been highlighted on the evening news. School teachers and administrators have been given proper recognition. Doctors, nurses, and medical personnel have been venerated. Support for small businesses…
Harvest Season
Plants need the right conditions to grow, and so do we. Unlike plants though, we aren’t reliant upon the weather to determine our harvest. We have control over most of the conditions we are subject to.
The Recipe for JOY
for joy?
Isn’t joy what we’re seeking when we strive for the big promotion, watch the funny cat video, eat the extra slice of pizza, or buy the shoes?
The Mustard Seed
This past Saturday morning, I set out on a run, but didn’t even make it a block before I had to stop. I had a giant boulder in one of my shoes (or so I thought.) When I stopped to shake out my shoe however, all that I could see was a teensy, weensy, itty-bitty, little grain of dirt. The “boulder” that I was certain I had in my shoe, wasn’t even big enough to be categorized as a pebble! As I shook out my shoe, I marveled at the ability of this tiny speck. Despite it’s demure size, it had the strength to stop me dead in my tracks. The grain of dirt in my shoe immediately reminded me of the mighty mustard seed. “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this…
Just in Case
“Just in Case” was written by my dear husband, Ryan Miller. He shared this with me on our 23rd Valentine’s Day together, and it warmed my heart in a way that flowers or candy never will. I hope you enjoy his sweet message, too. – God Bless, Mimi Just in Case I used to attend church when it was convenient for me. I attended when I felt I needed to go, just in case this “God thing” was real. I didn’t care about other people’s place with God. I didn’t want to hear about others problems. I just went to church in case the God thing was real, and I needed a ticket to Heaven. I never really reflected on that until now. I’ve shared my “Root Beer Barrel” testimony, and if you haven’t read it, you can read it here, but I’ve had a history of wavering in my…
An Unlikely Friend
I haven’t always had a lot of friends. For a long time, I only had a lot of “acquaintances.” Matthew 5:47 helped me to recognize the difference. “If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? Ouch. I was (and still sometimes am) guilty of only engaging would-be friends with superficial small talk. Afraid to open up for fear of rejection, I dance around deeper subjects, missing the opportunity to fully engage with God’s fellow children. When I make this mistake, I am missing out on experiencing one of our Father’s greatest gifts: friendship. We can be certain that God intended us to have friends on this earth; Scripture is full of friendship references, and the word “friend” appears approximately 107 times (depending on the version of the Word.) Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found…
God Loves Math
I’ve never been a “math” person. I struggled with it in school, spending many evenings crying at the kitchen table while my Dad tried to explain the principles of Algebra and Geometry. In college, my best friend (now husband) tutored me throughout my Calculus, Accounting, and Economics classes. Today, I rely upon my handy calculator on my phone to complete simple math problems. So to say I’m not a “math” person, might actually be an understatement. What I’ve recently noticed though is, GOD LOVES MATH! This concept that God Loves Math really dawned on me when having lunch with a new friend a few weeks ago. She kept using the word, “discipleship” to describe how she and her husband complete their work as campus missionaries for Cru (also known as Campus Crusade for Christ.) In their work, they seek out others to “disciple” with the hope and intention that they too…
Nancy’s Favorite Show
Early last week we had a vibrant storm with thunder, lightning, and pouring rain. It made me smile. I smiled because I knew this storm would bring joy to my friend, Nancy. You see, Nancy lives in a nursing home,. She’s been there for years, has no family to speak of, and she will most likely live in this nursing home for the rest of her life. I’ve been blessed to get to know Nancy through Church ministry. As a Christoper, I am one of many members of our Church taking turns visiting and distributing Holy Communion to those that are institutionalized or home bound. Nancy is just one of many special souls that I’ve been blessed to meet through this service, but she holds a special place in my heart. Nancy lays in a bed day after day, and night after night. She is unable to walk or…
A Recipe for the Saturday Before Easter
A few years ago I came across this recipe and made it with my boys on the Saturday before Easter. It was a great activity not only because we got to make cookies together (which they loved doing) but it was a great way to talk to them about the true meaning of Easter. The cookie preparation is simple, and each step has a Bible verse that coincides with the ingredients and the Easter story. The best part is the anticipation and joy of cracking open the cookies on Easter morning to find them empty inside. The cookies bring the focus of Easter morning back to Jesus and away from the egg hunts and chocolate bunnies. If you have small children or grandchildren, consider making these cookies (and these memories) this Easter weekend! Resurrection Cookie Recipe Prep these cookies the Saturday before Easter (or whenever you want to share the…