Faith, Hope & Joy

A Gate, A Shepherd, and His Sheep

A Gate, A Shepherd, and His Sheep

I don’t know a lot about sheep. To be honest, if God hadn’t called us sheep there is a good chance that I would know next to nothing about them now. I’m a city girl. Well, city for the my area. So when Jesus says He is the Gate for the sheep and the good Shepherd, I’m thinking, OK, so how does that work? How does that help me in my everyday walking around life? In John, chapter…

Spotlight or Floodlight for Our Hearts

Spotlight or Floodlight for Our Hearts

Have you ever looked at another’s life or circumstance and thought, How could they miss the red flags? How are they so blinded? We can get so self assured righteous. We tell ourselves that we keep our own hearts in the spotlight. All is light and bright. The thing about a spotlight is…it hits “a” spot. Everything around it is dim, in the shadows, unnoticed.  If we are not diligent, we can get so accustomed…

Bread that Satisfies

Bread that Satisfies

I’m not quite sure where my love of bread came from. I cannot remember coming into our home after school and smelling fresh-baked bread. There are no memories of being at Grandma’s and watching her knead dough, waiting with anticipation (and butter) for the first slice. I do love me some bread though. This past summer I decided to limit carbs (sigh). Of course, this means bread. Sugar in all its shimmering, white splendor does…

Finding Freedom in Unlikely Places

Finding Freedom in Unlikely Places

Every time Pastor Roseberry and his wife were guest speakers at my local church, I would feel uncomfortable. They are passionate leaders of a prison ministry, InnerFaith, and as he spoke I would be reminded of that pesky little verse about visiting those in prison. At the close of service on each visit, I hurried from the church so I could avoid Pastor Roseberry. His questions about participating with his wife, Christine, and her team…