Praise Him Psalms & Parables, Praises & Promises

Life in a Hole Today’s devotional was pretty inspiring. I used its guidance two days in a row. It is all about how obeying God is actually just listening to him. My journal prompt was: what did you learn today? Today I learned that my analogy of life in a hole has shown me that our hiding places may not be just avoidance tactics but mental health days. Those are the times where we just can’t hear God with all those nutcases vying for our attention. And I admit, I can be one of those nutcases.  God has been impressing upon me how important rest is to my life. As a self described workaholic, rest used to be quite a curse word. I felt like, heck, if I rest, I’m not good enough. Being kid number one in my family, I learned a lot about how to cope with and deal with life from my mom. And she was an avoidance expert. But also the smartest lady I know. Dad worked out of town a lot when I was a kid, so it was just me and mom. Mr Roger’s Neighborhood began right when I was old enough to und...

  I think God had me change my character Tori’s name to Faith when she transitioned from the story Codename Pallas to Nottingham. I think it was to remind me that during my “hard years” or “storm seasons” God was still there for me, even if only using a simple yet profound acknowledgment as a character name change.   My life did literally fall apart and I still mourn all I lost. Not just family but a way of life I may never have again. I had a mind that trusted that ‘I know I’m not making enough and my job doesn’t value me’ but I am here for them, my parents (till the end, which happened way sooner than I had hoped). And somehow being limited in material ways didn’t seem to matter. I still paid my fair share and did all they asked of me. I tried my best to follow all their rules and be the good daughter.  I now need to see if I can find my way back to that level of trust again. The world really disillusioned me after my Dad passed and it not only made me doubt my value bu...

  Title: Seen and Valued Maya sighed as she powered down her computer. Another day, another late night spent finishing a flyer the shop owner had barely glanced at before setting it aside. She had poured her creativity into every detail, hoping it would bring more customers to the store. But no thank-yous came her way—just more assignments. The weight of feeling unseen pressed heavily on her heart. Whenever someone called out sick, she was the one to step in. She rearranged her plans without hesitation. Yet, it felt like her hard work disappeared into the shadows, unnoticed and unappreciated. That evening, Maya sought comfort in her worn Bible, and her eyes fell on Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV): "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." The words softened her frustration. She realized she had been measuring her worth by human approval instead ...

  Devotion: "The Stillness Where God Dwells" Scripture: “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 (NIV) Tori Rae was ten years old when it happened—a moment tucked away in the folds of an ordinary family vacation to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The hotel where they stayed was quirky, with bridges connecting different sections and winding staircases that made everything feel like an adventure. But it wasn’t the scenery she remembered most. It was the duck. Not just any duck— the duck. A feisty, flapping, honking little creature that decided Tori was its mortal enemy. In a panic, she’d sprinted faster than her mind could catch up, trying to escape its determined waddle. She leaped for the safety of a small bridge that connected two parts of the hotel. But instead of landing on solid wood, she overshot the mark and crashed onto the sidewalk below. What happened next wasn’t a grand, cinematic event with bright lights or angel choirs. It was… quiet. Just quiet. Tori found her...

 Your reflection is profound, touching on the mystery that has inspired countless hearts to seek deeper understanding. The question of why God chose to send Jesus instead of simply willing things into perfection is one that reaches into the heart of love, relationship, and the very nature of free will. A Tangible Symbol of Love You’re absolutely right—humanity needed something tangible. We’re sensory beings, shaped by experiences we can see, touch, and feel. Abstract concepts are powerful, but they don’t always satisfy the ache of a grieving heart or the loneliness of suffering. Jesus became the embodiment of God’s love—not distant, but with us , walking dusty roads, feeling hunger, betrayal, friendship, and even death. Emmanuel literally means “God with us.” The Power of Relationship God’s desire wasn’t just to fix the world like snapping His fingers. It was to restore relationship. Love isn’t love if it’s forced. Free will means we can choose love, or not. By entering our...

  Devotion: "The Light That Clings" Inspired by the hymn "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" Scripture: Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." The Story: Maggie sat alone on the worn wooden bench overlooking the lake where she and her husband used to fish. The cold wind nipped at her cheeks, but she hardly noticed. Grief had a way of numbing everything—your skin, your heart, even your sense of self. She’d been coming here every day since Mark passed, not because it brought her comfort, but because it was where she felt most lost, and somehow that felt honest. On this particular morning, gray clouds rolled heavy above her, casting shadows over the water. It mirrored the way her heart felt—dimmed, distant, as th...

 As I was reflecting on the holidays and their saints, where appropriate, I realised some holidays go together like a good smore. Our first graham cracker is St Nicholas and his season of compassion, kindness, giving and thinking of others before yourself. Then we advance to day one of the new year now focusing on ourselves and where we see our journey forward going. Our marshmallow creme is Martin Luther King and his idea of togetherness and a big dream for your life. The gooey chocolate is St. Valentine's love fest showing us to be love and give love. Then our final graham cracker is St. Patrick and his idea of culture and celebration of your roots and being proud of where you came. I feel like whoever set up the holidays must have seen a need to direct our focus. As the winter comes we need to direct our minds better and this "smore" of saints and holidays show us our direction like a good ole compass. Can you suggest other "smores" in the year and how it mig...

  Devotional: "The Orchard Within" (Based on Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruits of the Spirit) Story: Ella was an ordinary woman with an extraordinary struggle—her heart felt like an overgrown garden, choked by weeds of frustration, impatience, and bitterness. Life had been relentless: work stress, strained relationships, and disappointments had turned her once joyful spirit into dry soil. One morning, feeling particularly empty, she decided to visit her grandmother’s old orchard, a place she hadn’t seen since childhood. The orchard was wild now, vines creeping over crumbling fences, and fruit trees standing gnarled and forgotten. But as she walked deeper, she found one tree, surprisingly vibrant, its branches heavy with ripe, colorful fruit. She plucked an apple, its sweetness a sharp contrast to the orchard’s decay. That’s when her grandmother’s words echoed in her heart from years past: “The healthiest tree isn’t the one without storms, Ella. It’s the one with deep roots, ...