No Useful Moves Detected?

I am a bit of a junkie lately. A solitaire junkie. You know it's bad when you close your eyes to sleep and images of alternating black and red playing cards appear.

Obscure Parenting Advice

I was a parenting expert before I had children.

Since then, my children's aging and my parental know-how seem inversely proportional.

I am not really qualified to give parenting advice. You might think birthing three children in a span of 51 months gives me some credibility. 

Don't be fooled.

It doesn't.

Love Came Down

This song has been on my lips lately.

One recent morning, 
when emotional clouds hung low and patience ran scarce,
I sang the chorus over and over in a prayer.

Mountains high or valleys low
I sing out, remind my soul
I am Yours
I am forever Yours

It kept my mind staid on Jesus, which brought calm.
I needed strength for that moment. For that morning.
Conscious clinging to lyrics because I was desperate.
I sang truth to battle the lies.

When I Read About Joash

I finished the bible story, shut the book, and my heart was sad.
We read about King Joash tonight.
How he was 7 years old when he became king.
How his uncle helped him rule until Joash grew to be a man.
How Joash repaired the temple.
How he served and loved God.

Stick-to-itiveness

The usual translations, put it something like this:

But the fruit of the Spirit is...

love, 
joy, 
peace,
patience, 
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness, 
gentleness
and self-control.

Ash Wednesday II (An Apparent Oxymoron)

Their foreheads donned the black ash cross.

A symbol of somber devotion.

A reminder of mortality, frailty.

Lent inherently carries a sober awareness.

Ash Wednesday

This year it's Facebook and dessert.
What I am giving up for Lent.
Not out of obligation. 
Not out of a sense of duty.