Uncompromised

  Known by God, Held by Hope Oh Lord, You know my heart. You know exactly where I am today.  You know my thoughts and my words even before they come out of my mouth. I am here, Lord. Use me. Today, I am sad. There are days when sadness arrives quietly and other days when it feels heavier. Today, the sadness is tied to longing. I am missing my mom. I miss her voice, her presence, and the comfort of knowing she was near. Even after time has passed, grief has a way of returning, often when we least expect it. I am fully aware of all that God is doing for me. I see His provision and His faithfulness. I recognize the many ways He has carried me and continues to sustain me. Yet knowing God is at work does not erase the ache of missing someone we love. Gratitude and grief can live in the same heart. Faith and sadness can exist together. The Lord knows this. Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. You underst...

Rainy, cold day. It didn’t start this calm, running around making lunch for our son, getting everything ready for the day. But everyone walked out the door laughing and joyful, and that alone fills my heart. There is something about hearing those little bursts of happiness as my family heads off to their day, it reminds me that life is full of small, precious moments. If you know me, you know I am a planner. I love my days mapped out, hours marked, and goals lined up. I usually have a list of things to do and a plan for how to get it all done. But today, as the rain tapped softly against the windows, and the house settled into quiet, I felt the Lord nudging me to slow down. So I made a choice, no checking my art sales, my plans, or my classes. Today would be a calm, slow day. And oh, it is good, so good for the soul and for the body. The house is quiet, Moe has been extra sweet, curling up nearby, and it is warm inside. I have been savoring the simplicity of this moment, the comfort of...