Hope in the Garden

From the top of the hill, where our church sits, I can see it coming, miles away across the Texas Hill Country. The clouds are so dark and heavy. Moving faster and faster as the wind bends the trees and turns those leaves wrong side out.  I can hear the thunder bellowing over and over louder and louder. The lights from heaven send streaks across the dark clouds lighting up the sky momentarily.  The air is heavy. The atmosphere tense and anxious.  The tv warns of tornadoes, the rain comes in buckets beating on the roof. Many run for shelter...in their house, in their basement, under the covers...anywhere to seek protection...trying to calm their fear. The house and the basement and the covers may only offer temporary comfort. There is only One who can give you complete protection. Only one who is the Center, the Calm, who has the power to still your storm. There was once a terrible storm, on a small sea, a world away from mine. Again, some common men wer...

The little house we rent is in a small, antique town at the beginning of the Hill Country, in South Texas. The house has two redeeming features that made me want to live there. One, the large floor to ceiling limestone fireplace and two, the added on sunroom. The sunroom is so quiet when the door to the kitchen is closed. There are wide windows, which give a peaceful view of our shaded backyard, and make up the walls on three sides. I have made this quiet place my own. A third of it is a quiet sitting room. A third a computer/treadmill area. And a third my craft area. It is here He is teaching me to slowdown. Rest. Accept what He is doing. What I cannot change. Five have died. Two last year and three more this year. People I have tried to help to heal naturally. People I have tried to urge to run hard while they had the chance. I can feel my soul has 5 new scars on it. The thing about tackling cancer or any other disease, naturally is-- You have to be aggressive! You ...