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

  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: William Krause. Unsplash Thoughts on Surrender Sometimes, I wonder what it means to surrender to Jesus fully. I mean, I was born again quite a few years ago. I gave Him my heart, and my life. I definitely chose to follow Him. But I can see that slowly but surely in mine, as well as in the lives of all Christians, the self starts to crawl back towards the heart's throne, until eventually, he or she is sitting pretty once more. Of course, you are still saved, but Jesus is now off to one side, whilst you are in the driving seat. Until you and I get off that throne and hand over the crown as well as the keys over to Jesus, we are doomed to a life of failure. When we surrender, we give up our "rights." Our "right" to sleep in, our "right" to another slice of cake, our "right" to read a novel instead of God's Word, our "right" to be entertained, our "right" to be comfortable, our "right" to get even, or to...

  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 ...

  Born Again Into God's Kingdom a child is born: he sheds the rags that he has worn No more the  prison hell his fate: He shouts for joy at Heaven's gate *** Copyright: pencil in His Hand *** An eternity with Jesus awaits you if you call on Him to save you. ***

  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...

  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 ***