Planning a New Hope

                                               The Beginning of Peace               When Patches, a cocker spaniel, came to live with me he was five years old. Having been raised alone, he wasn’t particularly social, but never mean. One day he and I were out when I stopped to talk with a neighbor. In the process, her dog became snarly and it was interesting to watch Patches. He didn’t seem scared, nor did he react defensively, rather he quickly walked to the other side of me, effectively putting distance between the other dog and him. Because of his actions, peace prevailed. Oh, how I wish I had been like him throughout my life. It’s so easy to attack when you feel threatened. This reminded me of a story that happened many years ago when I first moved to Houston:    ...

  Make me know Thy way, O Lord; Teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me. For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee I wait all the day. Psalm 25:4-5 The Paralysis of Unmet Dreams             Picture this: Two young women are eating lunch together, each with an unseen lightbulb over their heads. As the meal and conversation progress, the light of one bulb shines brighter, but the light of the other begins to dim. When the two women stand to leave, only one lightbulb was shining.             The above scenario aptly describes how I felt many years ago after a lunch with my cousin. She and her husband had moved to Houston just a few months before. While listening to all of their activities, I realized how much fuller their lives already were in the few months of living here compared to my several years of residence. Oh, how dull I felt. That lunch h...

  Proverbs 3:21-26: 21 My son, let them not depart from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 So they will be life to your soul, and adornment to your neck. 23 Then you will walk in your way securely, And your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, Nor the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; 26 For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught . (New American Standard Bible. Don't disturb me with thoughts of change.   I Don’t Want to Hear This!   Many people are being thrust into an unexpected and unplanned present and future with perhaps little understanding as to how to proceed. While moving outside our comfort zone is often a necessary part of life, it is not necessarily easy.   Several years ago, I was challenged to make a lifestyle change I didn’t want and that didn’t make sense to me. The good n...