Pencil in His Hand: A Mother's Journal of Stories, Thoughts, and Poems.

  Hope Today could be the day, that loved ones bow and pray, That all who've gone astray will find Your precious way. Yes. Today could be the day. And today might bring the sound of a trumpet all around, As Jesus' love abounds and He lifts us from the ground. Yes. Today might bring the sound. *** Thank You Lord Thank You Lord, I can do this day, Thank You  Lord, I can walk and pray. Thank You Lord, by my side You'll stay. Thank You Lord,  I can take one step, Thank You Lord, You have paid my debt, Thank You Lord, You have said don't fret Thank You Lord, for this could be the day, Thank You Lord, when You take us away, Thank You Lord, by Your side we will stay. *** At His Side The safest place is at God's side and there beneath His wings I hide. The strongest place is where He keeps His little ones, His own dear sheep. The highest path is His sure way so follow Him and never stray. *** Pure Joy Wind rages, branches whip Cold darkness envelopes the garden But here, bl...

  Rapture Collection Dear Readers, Given the urgency of the times, I felt it on my heart to write this post. I have written several stories with a Rapture message. Below are links to three of them. You will find other references to the Rapture, or the great snatching away of the Bride, throughout the blog. I will also include a link to my testimony. Today is the day to repent and to call on Jesus to save you. With much love and prayers, Alison Waiting A Reason To Clean The Last Reminder My Testimony  (Scroll to view. I titled it, He Stooped Down.)  💕🙏🩷

  Photo: Joshua J. Cotten The Bird Feeder Penny watched in fascination as the eager birds descended upon Aunt Tina's bird feeder. The elderly woman had just placed seed in it. Penny moved closer to the kitchen window, not wanting to miss a moment. The male weaver birds with their bright yellow breasts were the boldest. Their soft, brown mates followed their lead, and a flock of sweet sparrows pecked at the fallen bounty on the ground below. Penny smiled a little sadly. How hungry the birds seemed as they darted about and swung on the bird feeder. Still, she doubted that they could be as hungry as she was. Inside, she felt as hollow as the old log in Aunt Tina's rockery. Empty. Alone. Painfully alone since Jeremy had walked out on everything they'd built together over a span of twenty years. Now, she was hungry for hope and for answers. Her whys still echoed three years after he'd closed the door on all she'd held dear. Aunt Tina's kind voice interrupted her tire...

  The Bench It was weird how the sky could be so blue when everything was gray and rainy inside her. Maya let her weary feet take her home as her mind went once more through each messy detail, and then listed her three dismal options. In order from bad to worst. The sound of her scuffed shoes on the warm tar mingled with suburban noises and the jumble in her head. She shifted her bag and wiped her damp forehead with a crumpled tissue. The heat wasn't helping. She was drained. Hopeless. Sinking. A man grinned at her and whistled as she passed, but she ignored him. They all just wanted one thing, and she wasn't playing their game anymore. The park beckoned to her as she neared home. Children were playing in a carefree way on the equipment, but a shady bench drew her. She needed time. Space to think. To breathe. Maya relaxed her weary body and watched the children for a few minutes. She remembered what it had been like to be happy. Her gaze shifted back to the bench, and she saw s...

  An Answer For Adeline All Adeline knew was that she was at her wits end, and ready to throw in the proverbial towel. Having a husband, five children, several pets, and a part time job, meant that she was spinning several plates at once. And, two of those plates were teenagers. Another plate was a challenging marriage. Then there were the careening plates of three busy younger boys, one of whom had recently been diagnosed with ADHD. Her part time job as a receptionist was probably the least wobbly of her plates. That is, until she received a phone call from the school principal during work hours. Often, she’d stay up far too late, whilst she searched for answers to her problems online. How to cope with ADHD in boys, Teenagers and social media, Communication in marriage, How to get your kids to help around the house… Or, she’d watch an endless stream of YouTube videos. Each one dishing out advice about everything from the ideal routine to revolutionize your life, to decluttering s...

  The Lightbearer The Lightbearer kissed his wife and two young children goodbye. He held the little ones and their mother for a long moment, as he whispered softly in their ears. Then he shouldered his pack and headed into the jungle. At first, the trails he followed were well worn by the many feet that had followed them to the river, or to mango or banana groves. But after a while, the paths, though still there, became overgrown in places and harder to find. These trails were used infrequently, and the Lightbearer often had to make use of his machete, as he walked deeper into the jungle. And as he walked, he hummed a little, or sang, or whispered, and seemed to talk to himself. After walking for an hour, he stopped for a short rest. He checked the branches of the tree above him for tree snakes or pythons before sitting at its base, then he took a sip from his canteen and smiled. Life was good. The sun was directly above him as he reached the clearing. Huts encircled its perimeter...