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

  Salvation Stories: Heather Heather loved nothing more than to pull her old gumboots on, don her floppy hat, and head out to the garden. She'd always preferred being outdoors as a child, and now, although in her fifties, she still felt the need to get out of the house at least twice a day. As she tugged her dilapidated straw hat over her graying curls, the sun was just kissing the tops of the fruit trees. Heavenly! Not that Heather believed in Heaven or in God for that matter. Her faith was in science; in the theory of evolution, and in the resourcefulness of man. Yet, recently, her thinking had begun to shift, albeit very slowly and haltingly. The more she worked in her garden, the more she had doubts. Just yesterday, she had happened across a new butterfly in one of her flower beds, its wings delicately opened in the sunshine, displayed an intricate and charming pattern. Heather recognized the work of an artist in those amazing wings. That morning, she'd made an even more st...

  Photo: Jussara Romão. Unsplash Salvation Song I woke up on that new, clear day and wondered what might be different. The previous evening had been a watershed moment in my relatively short life. I was sure that I'd turned the proverbial corner and couldn't wait to discover each sparkling discovery. My eyes widened.   He would be with me. I didn't know much, but I knew this. My energy levels were higher than they'd been in a long time. I got up, and quickly finished my morning routine. I could feel His presence; it was as though He was right beside me whilst I got myself, then my two little sleepyheads ready for the day. Morning Jesus. You see, just a few hours before, I had poured out my heart to Jesus, listed my horrible sins, and asked Him to forgive me; to save me. And He had! I was a new Alyssa now. The old Alyssa was gone. I laughed quietly to myself. Would anyone I knew even recognize me? Would Kyle. and Gabriel and Everlee? Would I even recognize myself? *** I ...

  The Graphics Card Jason thought he may as well stick his neck out a bit further. He didn't have much to lose. Ryan, along with most of his fellow students already thought he was weird anyway. "It's like this," Jason smiled as he rummaged around in his backpack. Before long he held up the object he'd found. Ryan laughed. "A computer graphics card? You really are nuts." Unperturbed, Jason handed the graphics card to Ryan. "A mother board would have been better, but this will do. Tell me, Ryan, did the graphics card come about as the result of a random explosion in a lab, or did someone design it with great care?" Ryan huffed. "It was designed of course." "And so was the earth. It was no accident. Just look around." He gestured to the trees and gardens of the campus. "There's plenty of evidence for a designer. Not to mention, you yourself." Ryan was quiet for a moment as he studied the piece of hardware in his h...

  Free coffee break read. Welcome! Salvation Stories: Mattie Mattie's finger moved rythmically as she scrolled through her feed. It was her lunch break, so she didn't have much time. Despite her need to eat and rest, her slave driver of a phone glared insistantly at her: keep looking! Keep scrolling! Mattie caught a glimpse of a Christian post as she scrolled on: something about Jesus being the only way. Her mind fired up for a moment. Could the claim be true? Was Jesus the only way to Heaven? A little further on, she paused at a video: an advertisement for a well known Bible app. Mattie pushed her phone away and finished her lukewarm coffee. She allowed her mind free reign whilst she did so. Her phone showed she had ten minutes left. Mattie grabbed the device. Her thumbs moved with lightning speed: click, click, click. And then, Mattie tapped the download button next to the Bible app that Toby used. She opened it and read the verse of the day: John 14:6 ESV [6] Jesus said to h...

  Go! No Time No time, no time no time at all Only today: so give Him your all *** How Beautiful the Feet See the lost people battered, hopeless, bruised feet of beauty, go! *** Calling Help me to see Lord help me to see the bruised and the broken  waiting for me to bring them the Gospel that saves and sets free *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand

  Two Free Short Stories & Poems From My Heart *** Coffee break reads * In this post: one sanctification, and one salvation story, as well as a few poems to inpire you.* Sanctification Story: Alissa There was one thing that Alissa knew with intense certainty: she couldn't go on this way any longer. Everything was falling apart and she had no idea how to fix it. The weird thing was, her days started out fine. She'd wake early, make herself a cup of coffee, and enjoy a good, long, quiet time, complete with Bible reading and prayer journalling. She'd sit in the soft, gentle stillness and just savour the peace. The problem was, it didn't last. As soon as she stood up, the demands of her day would assail her, and she never slowed down again until she fell exhausted into bed.  The quiet peacefulness of the morning always disapeared the way mist vanishes as the sun makes its appearance. Alissa sighed and raised the volume on her phone so she could hear her podcast better. ...

  Salvation Stories: Leo The atmosphere in the city was growing steadily more unsettled; uneasy. People walked where they needed to go with nervous energy, eyes on their screens. Leo had always been sensitive. Perhaps he felt more; thought more. Perhaps that was a good thing, but he often doubted it. He couldn't just bury his head in cloud cuckoo land like most people did. He was like a dog with a bone: he'd lay his questions aside, only to pick them up again. Someone, he thought, must surely have the answers. "Where are you headed?" His friend Zane lifted his eyes from his screen for a moment. "It must be important for you to walk so fast." "The bookshop. I need a Bible." Zane stopped abruptly. "You need a Bible?" "I've been doing some research. The Bible may have some answers to my questions about where the world is headed." Leo began walking again, and Zane kept pace. He shook his head. "Don't go down that route,...

  Changed Lives Part Seven "Sixteen weeks along, now, Wren. It's time for your first ultrasound." Wren's doctor opened her file. "Would the two of you like to know the sex the baby?" "Yes. We would. Gretchen is dying to know if she can buy pink." Wren laughed. "It would be nice, doctor, but it's OK with us if you can't see." "Girl or boy is fine with us." Jasper added. Once gel had been smoothed over Wren's belly, the doctor began his examination. Wren and Jasper's eyes were glued to the screen.  "There's the heart." The doctor told them. "And it's beating good and strong." With his help, Wren and Jasper's baby appeared before them as it floated in its temporary home.  "Ah. I see." The doctor took a second look, then nodded. "It's a girl. Definitely a girl." "A girl. Oh, Jasper. A girl." Wren stared at the screen. She was really having a baby. A sw...

  Changed Lives Part Six (A little early. :) The last part will be posted tomorrow, and stand alone stories and other posts will commence again from Monday, God willing.) Eli's heart felt a great deal lighter as he entered the Chapel. He was no longer bound to the legalistic church he'd attended for so many years. Perhaps now, he would finally be able to settle down. That is, once he'd spoken to Pastor Roberts. He felt the need to be part of a church, and something about the Chapel felt right. After the service, Eli shook hands with the pastor. The man's friendly handshake put him at his ease. "Pastor, I'd like to become a member here. You see, I've left Mount Sinai officially. Now I need a new church home." "Have a seat, Eli." Pastor Roberts gestured to a pew. "It always makes me happy when people say they need a church home. If there's one thing people need apart from sound Biblical teaching, it's fellowship. I need to ask you ...

  Changed Lives Part Five A couple of weeks later, Gretchen headed to the popular farmer's market. She'd fed her guests well with a full English breakfast: now the dishwasher was loaded, and Gretchen was looking forward to her outing. Homemade preserves were on her list, as well as free range eggs, and the usual vegetables. She smiled as she wondered what else she might find. Perhaps a handmade baby blanket? Wren was about four months along now and Gretchen could hardly wait for the little one's arrival.  The thought of buying something for the little one was so much on her mind that she stopped by the crafters' stands first. There were plenty of booties and other hand knitted baby clothes on display, but Gretchen's eyes were drawn to the crochet afghans. One made up of pink, gray, and white granny squares caught her eye. She wished she knew whether the baby was a girl or a boy. She selected a pretty white matinée set instead to put away. Gretchen decided to wander ...

  Changed Lives Part Four Eli had settled on a hire tractor for the moment. That Monday, he put it to good use leveling and grading the sizeable piece of ground he'd marked off for his barn. As he worked he mulled over the weekend. First, his visit with the Merton's and Gretchen, the happy news, and the interesting conversation they'd had over coffee. That conversation had led him to do something he'd never thought he'd do. He had attended not only one, but two services at the Chapel on Sunday. He'd come away convinced that something was seriously wrong with his own church. At the Chapel, he'd met up with the Merton's and with Gretchen again. They, along with the pastor and other folk, had welcomed him warmly. After the service, Eli had spoken for some time with the Pastor, and he'd come away with a great deal to think about. *** Eli finished grading, then headed for his truck. He needed to fetch his first load of timber from the hardware store. Putt...

Changed Lives Part Three It was Monday, and all the bed and breakfast's guests had left that morning. Gretchen felt free to sing "Blessed Assurance" as loudly as she wanted to whilst she changed the sheets. Her bed and breakfast, Gretchen's Getaway, boasted three double rooms and two singles. All of the bedrooms had at least a partial mountain view, as Kelby was encircled by them. Shade and fruit trees also graced the view, along with flowering shrubs and an ample lawn. Gretchen's guests could enjoy the country sunsets from the gazebo or enjoy the splash pool on hot days. The house, a gracious old lady, had been in her family for years. Gretchen, who'd never married, lived in the granny flat, but she loved pottering about in the house, cooking in the spacious kitchen, and making her guests feel at home. Her next guests would only be arriving on Wednesday, so she had plenty of time to give all of the bedrooms and bathrooms a good clean. If she worked quickly, s...

  This cottage is just the kind that I was imagining. :) Changed Lives Part Two Eli Walker left his stand in the care of one of his farm hands, and walked steadfastly past the tempting treats on display at the market. There was a tractor show going on this week, and he was in the market for a new one. It needed to have all the attachments too, for he was getting ready to clear some of his land for a new barn. Unlike many other farmers in the area, Eli didn't grow fruit. Instead, he raised free range meat birds and laying hens. He kept goats too, as well as cows and a couple of horses. That's how he'd gotten to know Harvey Blakeway: the best farrier in the area. Or at least, he had been. Eli sighed as he remembered his good friend, gone for more than four years now. He missed stopping at the forge for coffee and a chat with the soft spoken man, who'd often had wise advice to give. Eli walked up and down the rows of shiny machines. He wondered which one Harvey would appro...