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

  The Doily. Free Flash Fiction I selected the smallest crochet hook in my collection and observed it dubiously. It was as impossibly fine as the peacock blue crochet cotton in my hand. There was only one thing the cotton was good for: an old-fashioned doily. The kind that looks like a delicate and intricate spider's web. Impractical, yet fascinating.  I had a pattern. I had the right hook, and the right thread. But could I do it? My hands stiffened involuntarily at the thought of the cramping they would have to endure. All for a rather pointless item. Despite my doubts, I began. Somehow, several little rounds of chains and stitches formed between my fingers. The brilliant blue shone. My crochet hook flashed. I smiled. For the first time in days. And somehow, the delicate project became a symbol of fragile yet enduring hope. My faith and my joy seemed just as fragile as the thread between my fingers. Until I remembered how strong my hope really was: that no matter how dark thi...

  Photo: Sime Basioli. Unsplash Salvation Stories: Washed As he walked slowly to the front of the church, to where the kindly pastor stood waiting for him, he could feel the slimy weight of his own filth clinging to his being. He nearly turned tail and ran for the back door. Who do you think you are? A church is not the place for rubbish like you! The voice hissed in his ear, but he kept walking. Somewhere, deep inside himself, he knew that the pastor could help him. That Jesus was the answer. How he longed to get rid of the stinking weight! He knew with absolute certainty that no amount of strong soap could do it. Only Jesus' blood could wash him clean. He straightened his shoulders and walked the last steps with purpose. *** She had no more places to go, either in her mind or in the city. There was only one option left, and she needed to be quick before she lost her nerve. She could feel the darkness pressing in around her as she stepped off of the train, but she didn't falte...

  Un-Distracted Talulla gathered her supplies and allowed a wave of hopeful excitement to wash through her. "Lord, please help me. Please give me the words..." God had laid it on her heart to write this story. A story that could help someone. Now all she needed was time and space. She grinned as she tossed a cupboard key towards her room-mate, Prisca. Her nearly new smart phone was safely locked away inside it. "Remember, only give it to me when I've finished my first chapter." Talulla patted the dumb phone in her pocket. "You can get hold of me on my other number." As Talulla entered the venerable old library, the smell of both musty and of freshly printed books greeted her. She took a deep cleansing breath. In that moment, she felt as though she had all the time in the world. Her story was going to be written, and with God's help, no apps or notifications were going to get in her way. *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand *** Just imagine what you co...

  The Last Reminder "The world is going crazy, isn't it?" He turns his phone so she can see the news article. "Good thing our country's got a good nuclear program. Looks like it's going to be our only hope" Her smile is sad as she fingers the ring he gave her so many years ago. Part of her wants to keep quiet, but she obeys the prompting of the Spirit. "Our only hope is in Jesus and His soon return." Her voice is soft. Loving. After many mistakes it has gentled. He just grunts and turns back to the article. After a few moments though, he opens his mouth to comment, to say how naive she is, but her spot at the table is vacant. The scarf she was wearing is neatly draped over her chair, and   he catches the echoes of far away trumpets. *** Hebrews 11:5-6 ESV [5] By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. [6] And withou...

  The Conversation  Gavin was so absorbed in his book, that he barely noticed that the train had stopped at a station. "Mind if I sit here?" He looked up. A young woman with friendly freckles across her nose and wide brown eyes stood in the aisle. He nodded, then smiled faintly and she quickly stowed her large backpack. "I'm Sybil." The young woman offered. "Thanks." "No problem. Travelling to Barton?"  "Nope. It's Dunmore I'm headed for. You?" "Same." Gavin was cautious. He wasn't sure he felt like a chatty companion. He'd been looking forward to finishing his book. It had hooked him from the first chapter. But thankfully, Sybil didn't bubble on. She just smiled before taking her own book out.  Gavin went back to his reading, not without noticing that it was a Bible that Sybil had opened. Unusual.   Sybil glanced towards him. She liked to study people, and would often strike up a conversation in the ho...

  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...

  The Mansion: A Short Story In our time, and in our world, there lived a man in a palatial and ostentatious home. He had inherited a vast estate, and lived off of its benefits as well as the investments he had made.  The mansion  was so large, that one could easily lose count of its bedrooms when walking through its hallways. Each bedroom was luxuriously and vibrantly furnished with welcoming beds of various sizes, cozy seating, lush plants, and entertainments. The over-sized home also boasted large living areas, as well as a library and study which were any bookworm's dream. As for the grounds, they were a fantasy land, which beckoned one to stroll, play, and swim. An elite army of servants saw to it that efficiency and near perfection were maintained. But their job was made more challenging by a strange oddity of the man of the mansion. You see, he had no wife or children. Instead, he had collected many, many pets. And these pampered and spoiled pets filled the luxurio...

  Free flash fiction The Rosebush: Flash Fiction "I thought you might like something that will last a little longer." He smiled his quirky smile, and her eyes travelled first to the drooping flowers on the table, then to the plant in his arms. "We can keep this one on the patio. Red for love, you know." He winked and planted a kiss on her surprised  mouth. They made planting the rose bush their Saturday afternoon project. "Somehow, it reminds me of marriage." She spoke softly as she patted the soil. "There are the hard bits, like these thorns, but then there is the beauty." He drew her close as they knelt by the planter, the roses on the small bush almost completely covering the thorns. *** Snuggling I'm nestling in Thy Hand through storm, and wind, and drought: While nestling in Thy Hand, I wake and look about: then seeing Thou art here, I snuggle deeper still, and in Thy endless care, I cast my doubt and fear *** Patience Like still, sweet,...

  Inspirational flash Fiction The Clock: Flash Fiction Only one piece had made it back to his apartment after the big clean up. His grandfather had moved on to his heavenly home; to Jesus, the Lord he'd served for many years. Logan had been assigned to the task of sorting through the elderly man's possesions. That one piece, was a small, ornate clock, which now stood on his desk. Logan noted that it seemed to be keeping time well, and now and again, his ears would tune in to its soft ticking as he worked at his computer. Its ticking dimmed into the background as his work day progressed, and later, as he banged a couple of pots and chopped an onion. But the ticking of the clock faded completely as he sat back to enjoy some videos and play his favourite game. Logan forgot about the small addition to his  home as his day wound down. Finally, he climbed into bed, ready for a good sleep.  It was then that the clock made its prescence felt: tick, tock, tick, tock. Logan changed...

  A happy ending! :) The Waiting Room. Episode Nine: Blessed Hope Jonah held Tara's hand in his as the two most important people in her life said 'I do.'  Their eyes locked, and he mouthed 'I love you.' Tears threatened her carefully applied make-up, but she didn't care. Thank You, Lord. You are so good. "I do." Robin gazed with open adoration at Grayson.  Grayson's face was alight with love and hope. Time was short. Jesus' return could be any day, but he intended to do things right as he waited. As he and Robin waited together for the Lord. *** As Jonah led Tara by the hand to the dance floor, the light caused the diamond on her engagement ring to sparkle. Jesus' joy bubbled up in her heart. I love You, Lord. Thank You. She laughed as Jonah twirled her around. No, they did not know what the future held, but they had Jesus, and the blessed hope of His return. *** Maranatha, Lord Jesus! Copyright: pencil in His Hand Ps: Thank you for reading...

Free inspirational story. (Serialized.)  The Waiting Room.Episode Seven. The Invitation Grayson leaned slightly foward in his chair throughout the meeting. What the preacher was saying was fascinating. The most pressing question in his mind was whether what he said was true. Were a series of incredibly detailed prophecies about to play out for the world to see? And how could anyone survive such catastrophic events? At first, Grayson had been distracted by Robin's nearness; by the scent of her subtle perfume, and the movement of her hand as she wrote notes. But now, his eyes were directed solely on the preacher and his chart. The man began to read from the Bible before him: Revelation 8:1-13 ESV [1] When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. [2] Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. [3] And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to...

Free serialized story.  The Waiting Room. Episode Five: Katya and Jonah In a lull during the busy supper time rush, Tara opened the dishwasher. Her friend and fellow waitress, Katya, began loading it with glasses, and flatware. "Why not come with me tonight?" Tara asked brightly. "You've always been interested in the spiritual side of things." Tara knew it was highly unlikely that Katya would agree to go to the End-Time meetings, and would be very surprised if she said yes. She had in fact surprised herself by accepting her mother's invitation to the church meetings.  Katya closed the dishwasher door firmly. "No thank you. I'll go to just about anything except a Christian meeting. Narrow minded people are not my thing, and you know it. Why are you going, anyway? I thought you walked away from the church ages ago." Tara looked over at her customers before answering. They all seemed happy enough. "I guess I started thinking again. You know, ...

  New book! Angelica's Journey Dearest Readers, Happy Monday:) I'm happy to bring you the third book in what I refer to as my "Adama and Perpetua" series.  I didn't initially think that I would write a third book, but there was a third story after all. You will see that we jump forward a few years in this story, but I wont tell you more than that so as not to spoil it for you. In case you have not read the previous books in the series, here they are: 1.  "The Searching" 2.  " The Yearning" *** Please share the series with friends and family if you enjoy it. *** Dedication: To Retha *** Angelica's Journey The Sequel to “The Yearning.” By Alison Lawrence Copyright: Alison Lawrence Note: “Angelica's Journey” is a work of fiction with a message. Chapter One Angelica positioned the bucket of the tractor under a large boulder. The tractor bounced a little as the burden filled the bucket. The young woman driving the tractor easily reversed th...