It all began when I ordered a book from a magazine add. After receiving the book, written by a pastor and his wife from Tennessee, they put me on a mailing list to receive their monthly newsletter. One newsletter told of a new ministry they were beginning. In the pastor’s travels, he learned of a…
Author: Dara
Texas Wind
It seems most days are windy in our neck of the woods, except during the hot summer when I pray for a breeze even if it would feel more like opening a hot oven door. The first 6 months we lived in Fort Worth I would ask people, “Is it always this windy here?” Everyone replied, “No….
Surrender
My dad has always laughed about my relationship with my hair. When I was a teen he said I never got a haircut I was completely happy with. He was right, though it wasn’t the stylist’s fault. I was mad at my hair. My thick and wavy hair has a mind of its own. Since…
The Spanish-Speaking Dog
One day I was walking through my neighborhood and a dog began barking. Probably at me. Then a woman began loudly speaking Spanish to this dog. Immediately the dog was quiet. At that moment it occurred to me; this is a Spanish-speaking dog. I had no idea what the woman had said to the dog…
God Is Not Silent
One of my grandmas used to say, “I never hear God speak.” It wasn’t as if I heard His voice all of the time, so I didn’t know what to say. But that was many years ago and I have learned some things. One way we “hear” God is reading the Bible. God did not…
Faith And Patience
We all go through times when it seems our prayers are not being answered and our faith is not working. There are various reasons for this, but one of them could be that we simply need to add patience to our faith. Most of the things we believe for don’t happen immediately, and isn’t this…
God’s Plans For Our Lives
Finding God’s plans can seem overwhelming: who to marry, where to live, what job to take; and on the list goes. It would be helpful if God sent a daily email with a “to do” list, or let me borrow His daily planner where all of my days are recorded. (Psalm 139:16) God doesn’t use…
Made Of Mud
“God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those…
Regrets
While attending visitation at a funeral home, I heard several people sharing their regrets. Some wished they had said words they hadn’t said; others wishing their words had been left unsaid. Some regretted things they had done while others regretted not doing more. But it was too late; the past could not be changed. As…
Live Like the Bible Is True
I met Jesus when I was 6 years old and have read the Bible since that time. I believe the Bible is God’s Word, and I believe God always tells the truth, but I have found I don’t always live like I believe the Bible is true. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is…