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

  Photo: Pawel Czerwinski. Unsplash Shape-Shifters Shape-shifters spread their lies attacking God's  good plan: Be a goat or be a cat a woman or a man they mutilate the children But God's  wrath will bring an end to all their evil shifting: For God's Word cannot be bent. *** Copyright: Alison Lawrence *** God is patient. He wants everyone to repent and be saved. Call on Him to save you. The truth will set you free. ***

  Carried He has carried me Home, He has kept me from harm; For knowing my weakness, and seeing the storm; He has carried me Home, and has kept my heart warm *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand *** Psalm 23:1-6 ESV [1] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. [3] He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. [4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.23.1-6.ESV

  Photo: Denisse Leon. Unsplash Carnival The devil's carnival has them trapped in an endless, mindless game. Brainwashed and addicted they never pause to think; to breathe. They don't know that it's part of his evil plot: never let them stop, never let them look up for if they did, they might wonder and ask. They might find God. *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand *** Garden Glimpses Another fruit on my eggplant! Many pomegranates. They keep bopping me on the head. Peppers Julius says Hi! (He's a grandpa cat. About thirteen now, but still hunting birds!) Thanks for stopping by. Love Alison 🍄❤️🌹🙏

  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...

  First Love Everlee Lewis reluctantly placed her Bible and notes on the bedside table. As she brushed her almost blonde hair into a ponytail and applied just a whisper  of make-up, Everlee's thoughts returned to Ruth of the Bible. How faithful, determined, and brave the young woman had been. It must have been incredibly challenging to set out for an unknown land with only her mother-in-law beside her. And yet she had. Ruth's courage and determination now lived on in the small book which bore her name. Everlee pulled a sky blue cardigan over the simple ankle length dress she wore. It didn't take long to gather up her bag and secure the windows and door of her compact apartment. Down on the street, the busy work day was well under way. Everlee found herself yearning for the relative peace of her small home. The sounds of the city rushed to greet her: clanging, beeping, squealing, and hollering. She wrinkled her nose at the exhaust fumes of the passing traffic. At least Ruth ...

  Surrender I'm looking forward, moving on, I'm giving them all to God's dear Son: And though I'll always love them so, theyr'e safe with Jesus: I've let them go. *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand ***

  Today? As I'm frying at the stove, thoughts wander to Him: Could it be today?.... Will my spoon clatter sudden to the floor, as my feet lift, and I rise to Heaven's door? *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand ***

  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...

  Hostages We were all held hostage by the dragon of sin: But God! And then, The light broke in! All chains were broken when we came to Him *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand *** Have you brought your burden of sin to the foot of the cross? Jesus is waiting for you. He will save you if you call on Him. ***

  Give-Away Take it all, Lord take it all: I give it up to You. And if I take it  back again, I'll return it all anew For You are best and You are all, The only One I need: And when I give it all to You, from bondage  I am freed. *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand *** Love and prayers *** Find them here:

  Escape Ona crept nervously through the shadows. Each step sounded hopelessly too loud in the silken air. Lomi had said not to fear the Darkness. The Darkness, he'd said, was actually a presence; a person. And now, The Darkness had extended an invitation to her, Ona, through Lomi. "A great honour," he had whispered as his burning gaze had sought her wide-eyed one. She had nodded. She knew something of The Darkness and of the meetings which were held in the dense copses and remote caves. Attending a meeting would take her from the edges where she'd been dabbling and into the inner circle. "You desire more knowledge, don't you?" Lomi drew her near, and suddenly, the relationship they shared seemed to be entwined with her decision. "I'll go." She said quietly. "But only if you go with me." Lomi had shaken his head. "No. Each one must go alone. It's safer that way." Lomi's voice was firm, but he toned it down when h...

  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...

  A Reason To Clean. A Short Story. Grace shoved the book she'd been reading aside. It was time to put her plan into action. She flicked her long silver plait over her shoulder, and looked around her living room. Where should she start? The title of the book, was "Swedish Death Cleaning." Rather morbid, but on point, Grace thought. She really did have far too many things.  Grace grabbed a roll of rubbish bags and tore one off. She was ready. The author had suggested that one should start with the easy stuff: rubbish, junk, old food, and broken items. That would be easy. She moved quickly through the rooms of her moderate home, and threw anything rubbishy looking into the bag. It didn't take too long. She lived alone. Greg had passed on suddenly a few years previously, and now there was only one "G." Grace had finally parted with most of his possessions. Now it was her own stuff's turn. By the end of the day, Grace had moved on to the kitchen drawers as w...

  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...

  Where Light Reigns Neo shouldered his pack and stiffened his shoulders. He locked the door of his childhood home and wondered whether he would ever return. It was unlikely. He'd grown up on the nourishing stories his father and mother had told him about the City of Light which lay at the centre of the world. If he could somehow make it to that city, he might  never return to the Gray Kingdom. But first, he'd need to travel through the Gray Kingdom and on to the borders of the Kingdom of Darkness. His only hope of survival would be to find the secret ways which led to the centre of the world. To journey through the neighbouring empire of evil would mean certain death. Neo shuddered. The thought of traveling so far only to be viciously murdered by thugs or thieves was more than he could bear. His steps faltered. "Neo! Neo! Wait for me!" The familiar silky voice brought him to a complete stop. Mira. How like her to turn up just when he was feeling weak. "Hi Mira....

  High tide. Author's photo Salvation's Song. Poem Salvation's song rings through my heart, A brand new life, A brand new start For He has died to set me free, shed His dear blood, now blind eyes see Salvation's song I sing each day, and share my Jesus on the way *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand *** This poem accompanies  Yesterday's story This will not be an ongoing story as I thought, but rather a stand alone story. Apologies for any disappointment caused. *** See you next week, God willing. Hope you have a blessed weekend. 🩷💙🙏💌

  Photo: pencil in His Hand Invitation All that stuff entices, it calls to me: keep wanting, keep buying: come, worship me And busyness, it pressures me: keep going, keep doing: come, worship me But now, His call transcends their screams: Come, ye weary and lost: Come worship Me. *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand New gardening post

  Photo: A Mc Key Ready for the Rapture Five year old Mason yelled as he ran through the house: "Mom! Sophie! Britt! Jeremy! Logan! Chase! Lily! Where are you?" The little boy had woken up from his nap to find his whole family gone. Had that thing happened that his mom spoke about? Had Jesus fetched everyone but him? "Mom!" Mason pulled hard on the kitchen door and hurtled down the steps. He raced through the small orchard, then came to an abrupt stop. His mother and all of his siblings were gathered in front of the neighbour's fence, admiring a new puppy. "Oh!" Later, as Mason snuggled beneath his covers, he asked his mother the question that had been turning in his brain all afternoon. "Mommy, how can I ask Jesus to take me up in the clouds too?" ***   My Testimony *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand New gardening post