Welcome
HE IS THE POTTER, WE ARE THE CLAY
True life stories to encourage and inspire
God is good
A BLESSED LIFE 2/13/2026
My Dad went to the hospital last Sunday, and when l found out, it scared me to death! l mean, I‘m his “Leeno,” his “Punkln,” his one and only girl, and my childhood memories are sweet about chores and animals of all kinds, but mostly Holsteins, and hayfields, and gardens… l remember a Dad who cared about the community, attending funerals or calling hours when he could, and still does. We went to Church after the milking, usually late which drove Mom crazy, but Dad was bone weary after a week of farming and managing a second job. Little did we know then how very blessed we were!
l CAN’T COUNT THAT HIGH
It’s been a good week with Dad coming home on Tues. Oaklynn needing help on Wednesday to decorate a box with a cat-theme for Valentine’s Day. The weather ls showing signs of a thaw which is absolutely thrilling. Then one goofy, not so swift moment came which will be engrained ln my great-granddaughter’s bright little brain forever. While babysitting, l prepared macaroni and cheese from scratch using cheddar cheese, which l love! I grabbed the salt shaker off the top of the stove for seasoning, and the salt was course. Ooh, l bet this will be yummy! Only, when we started eating, the grittiness of the “salt” ruined the whole thing. How was l to know white sand was ln that bottle!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Psalms 84:11&12 says, For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly, O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusteth in thee.
GOOD GOD
NO KO THIS TlME 2/6/2026
When life gets difficult, Christians can get knocked down for the count. “1….2,” cries the referee in a forceful voice while we lie there helpless. “3….4.” On our own, we try to slip out of the hold the devil has on us, but we are powerless against his wiles. “5….6.” Suddenly, a bright light appears, and we reach for it, but it’s so far away. 7….8…. But wait! In the blink of an eye, the brilliant light surrounds us. That old devil retreats. We don’t hear those last two numbers, and we can joyfully say, “Hallelujah!”
TIME TO GROW UP
I don’t know about you, but my biggest challenges are the ones I create. I’m trying to say, “No.” It isn’t my nature to, but the Lord must get bone-tired of picking me off the floor (or the mat) and dusting me off.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
The parable of Luke 10:30-34 tells us that no one cared about the man who lay beaten and battered until the “good” Samaritan came along. This story reminds me of how often God is mentioned as good in the Bible. Matthew 19:16&17 says, And behold, one came and said unto Him, (Jesus), 'Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” “And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into (eternal) life, keep the commandments. Like the good Samaritan, God picks us up and cares for our wounds.
father knows best
NOT THE CAT'S MEOW 1/31/2026
My Japanese goose, Little Foot, has no sense at all when it comes to taking care of himself. He will stand out in the cold, cold snow, first on one bright orange foot and then another, forever, unless someone intervenes. He likes to sleep on the doormat or near the steps next to the house. He doesn’t try to get out of the wind. He could. He won’t stand on the hay that’s been spread out for him. He ignores it. With super cold temps approaching, my granddaughter felt sorry for our friend. She decided he would be better off in the peacock enclosure inside the barn, which is home to two young barn cats. He would have a heat lamp, a tarp overhead, and a wool fleece to lie on - if the cats shared. That goose didn’t know what to think about all of this, and the cats were wary. In the morning, you could tell they hadn’t eaten or slept a wink; they were scared to death of that honking critter! I opened the door, and out he ambled. He is still out in the barn today, nearly a week later, accustomed to his surroundings, and definitely warmer.
ON MY OWN
How many times did I stubbornly act like that silly goose, making poor decisions in business and in relationships? A dear Bible study teacher and friend once gave me advice on a financial matter. From a biblical perspective, what she said made perfect sense. Advice from God? Yes, I know it now, and l knew then. But l was too proud to listen.
WHAT DOES THE BlBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Proverbs 16:18 & 20 says, Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good; and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. Amen!!I
Fruit of the spirit
A LESSON WELL LEARNED 1/23/2025
In wonderfully crafted children’s books, you will find lessons on kindness, spirituality, or a combination of the two. In a book called “Light of Christmas,” by Richard Paul Evans, you see both. A young, poor boy named Alexander wishes he could place a gift under the village tree worthy of earning the privilege of lighting the Christmas torch this year. On his way to town, he sees a frail, old man in need of assistance lying by the side of the road. He gives him his overcoat and a drink from his decanter, and says he will return with help. In the town, no one agrees to assist him, so the boy hurries outside before the gate locks to prevent anyone else from entering. Rushing back to the old man, he finds no one there. Returning to the town’s gate, the door mysteriously opens, and Alexander slips inside. People are placing their wondrous gifts beneath the tree in front of a grand, berobed Keeper of the torch. After the last gift is given, the Keeper announces that Alexander will light the torch! Alexander suddenly recognizes the Keeper as the old man. Everyone else had passed him by. Only Alexander cared enough to help.
KINDNESS MATTERS
In this story, we are reminded of the parable of the good Samaritan found in Luke 10:30-37. Can you picture yourself in the role of Alexander, someone who selflessly cares for another’s welfare? If your answer is yes, let's look at this from a different angle. Say we are heading to a meeting. We need to be there. Someone calls. Needs assistance. Right now! Do we get defensive or show kindness? Do we act selfishly or decide on a plan of action to assist them?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Philippians 4:5 says, Let your moderation (gentleness) be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Galatians 6:2 tells us, Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. To love others as ourselves.
no fear
WHEN GOD IS IN CONTROL 1/17/2026
A year ago today, something traumatic happened that affected not only me, but also my friends and family. The man I’d been married to for 52 years joined his Savior in heaven, and consequently, left the rest of us behind. One of the things I learned this year is that God encourages us to live outside of our comfort zone - even when we have no confidence in ourselves. He takes us through one difficult situation after another. He is ever-present, so there is no need to worry about being alone. He is all-knowing, so He understands our needs, even when we are unable to express them. He is all-powerful, so we know He works all things together for our good. He loves us so!
A DAY TRIP
The last time Hubby and I went to East Liverpool, as we crossed the Newell Bridge into West Virginia, he asked the two men in the tollbooth if he could bring them back coffees. One said, “No, thanks,” and the other said, “It’s too much of a bother.” Hubby did it anyway, and the fellows were thrilled! Today, my friend Cathy and I made the same trip, and as I “relived” the day spent with Hubby, I told the men at the tollbooth what had transpired the year before. On my return trip, I stopped at a gas station to purchase the coffee. It felt good to follow in Hubby’s footsteps and to honor his memory in this way.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
God is omnipresent. In Psalms 139:8, David says, “If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in sheol, behold, Thou art there.” God is omnipotent. Jeremiah 32:17 tells us, Ah, Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and outstretched arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee. God is omniscient. I John 3:20 says, For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
TRUST IN GOD
STAYING IN FOCUS 1/10/2026
Three of us plodded along on the snow-covered road, wearing layers of clothing, pulling bright colored toboggans behind us. Our boots made strange patterns in the snow as we doggedly moved forward. Reaching our destination, Cathy took the lead. She’s the expert, so her sister Mary and I paid close attention to her advice and her successful descents down the hill. To gain speed, she would push off a few times at first, and then, for balance, sit up straight, hold her hands out to the side with palms down a few inches above the snow. As long as we followed Cathy's advice, we were successful.
SOMEONE ELSE WHO STAYED FOCUSED
A shepherd boy named David experienced two miracles before his confrontation with Goliath. In both incidents, God led him to do the impossible, to kill a lion and a bear. David focused on God instead of his own frailties and knew if God brought him through those dire circumstances, He would certainly bring him through the present one.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
! Samuel 17:4,37 & 50 says, And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (9’ 9”) David said, moreover, The LORD who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of the Philistine. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
PROVIDENCE
SOMETIMES IT POURS 12/7/2025
Two months ago, I sold an old car for $2,000. After removing it from the garage and depositing the nice chunk of change into my savings, I felt euphoric. For a little while, that is, until I sideswiped the passenger’s side of my caddy in an effort to avoid hitting the goose! The insurance company paid the entire car repair bill, except for the deductible. Guess how much that turned out to be? Oh, how I whined, but my wise friends shook their heads and told me to be grateful for God’s provision. After a few days of whining, I straightened up, somewhat.
A DIVINE APPOINTMENT
Hubby and I had tried to sell an outdoor burner for a couple of years, but no one seemed interested. After the car incident, I made a huge “For Sale” sign with all the important details and affixed it to the stove. Two weeks passed with no one responding, until a young man called to set up an appointment. When he arrived, he never quibbled over the price, saying their outdoor burner quit working recently and they were heating the house with an open fireplace, which means the house wasn’t warm. He had been pricing a new outdoor burner, “… and new stoves are super expensive these days,” he concluded. I could sense God had arranged the timing of this sale for this man and his family. We talked on. For some reason, I shared that my husband had died earlier in the year. He responded immediately. “My son died two days ago.” At that point, I knew who he was. He went on to tell me a strange story of how he had installed his burner on the day his son was born. On the day the boy died, the bottom of the stove rusted through. I told him I had been praying for his son for a long time. What should I pray for now? After he answered, I marveled at how indescribable the love of God truly is!
Isaiah 41:10 says, Fear thou not; for I am with thee. Be not dismayed; for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Philippians 4:19 tells us, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
relationships
A MATE OF GOD'S CHOOSING 9/12/2025
They loved their 90th birthday party! Mom looked classy as usual in tan slacks, a chocolate-brown pullover and a string of pearls. My jovial Dad dressed casual in a blue-striped shirt and jeans. 38 people assembled at the farmhouse to celebrate. Photos were snapped when we gathered in the kitchen to sing “Happy Birthday” and to eat a slice of Holstein cake made by my brother’s daughter, Holly. I took my own pictures, and Mom’s wide-open smile nearly made me cry. You see, in planned photographs, her mouth is always closed, but on this day, her joy could not be contained. Did Dad’s adoring glancnces have anything to do with it?
A BIBLE LOVE STORY
It just so happens that my bible reading on the morning of this birthday occasion came from the book of Ruth. A story of God’s leading to bring a woman (Ruth) out of a foreign country to meet and marry a man (Boaz) who was in the line of Christ. Ruth had put her faith in the God of the Jews, and He phenomenally blessed her.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
When Naomi exits the foreign land to return to Israel, her attempt to prevent her widowed daughter-in-law (Ruth) from following fails. Ruth’s devotion is touching, and in part, her words have been used in countless weddings. Ruth 1:16, And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to turn away from following after thee; for where thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God.
THE RAPTURE
AN EVENT 9/5/2025
Paper supplies for serving slices of homemade pie. A canopy in the yard for shade or (perish the thought) protection from a cloudburst! Metal chairs, borrowed from the Church in case we need them. Jugs of bottled water, stored beneath a desk for making lemonade and hot drinks. Reenactors setting up camp tonight or tomorrow morning. Guest speakers perusing notes one more time. Eleven ladies rolling out pie crust tonight and baking those luscious pies mentioned above. Tomorrow’s the big day!
A MUCH MORE IMPORTANT EVENT
According to God’s holy word, the rapture will come without warning. Are we ready? Are we anticipating the event and the thought of being with Jesus for all eternity? Do we have concern for the souls who will not be going to the same place? When they look at us, do they see a reflection of Jesus? Do words of His love issue forth from our lips? Do we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds? Are we ready?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
1 Corinthians 15:52 & 1 Thessalonians 4:16 & 17 reveal, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord;
loving others
"SPECIAL" PEOPLE 8/29/2025
On Tuesday, I attended the calling hours for a dear friend, Anita, who had lived in the same nursing facility where I last worked. Being born with special needs, she was reliant on others to manage her care. She loved listening to Elvis and Pat Boone on her phonograph. She adored roomy, red purses for storing her favorite things, such as pens, paper, cards, envelopes, and money to buy more pens, paper, cards and envelopes. Her lovely smile warmed all of our hearts, but it took a while for her to warm up to new employees. Like me, for instance, when I replaced a good friend of hers who had retired. She probably wondered if I’d be patient and kind? Could she trust me? Those concerns and a wary look were one day replaced with a smile of acceptance. I am grateful for having had her as a friend!
A SERVANT’S HEART
My friend’s mother sold her home, and I offered to help with moving. My first task was to remove family photos from one type of storage container (multiple totes, actually) to replace them with more suitable ones. With great difficulty, I refrained from looking at every picture until I noticed a single-spaced typewritten page, a love story of sorts about a grandniece’s affection toward her Father’s sister, Neva. Now, Neva never knew about deadlines or worried about what to prepare for dinner or how to pay the bills. But in her innocence, she gave a young girl a desire to love and help those who could not help themselves. This special tribute to her aunt was written 20 years ago on the day before she graduated from college with a master’s degree in Special Education. Currently, she teaches young children at a special needs school.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
John 13:4&5 shows us, He (Jesus) riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments, and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. John 13:12-14 adds, So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was (seated) again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
BLESSINGS
IN AWE OF HIM 7/11/2025
These days, I am overwhelmed by the blessings our great God has showered upon those who love Him, including me! He welcomes us without reserve, then woos us into a sweet fellowship which is more fulfilling than any other we will ever know. His word is all-powerful, and it clearly outlines what He expects of believers and how we are to be witnesses to those who are not. He is so good to us that we can see Him working in and through our lives every single day, including Wednesday of last week, when Jul and I witnessed a miracle.
THAT PESKY CRITTER!
My granddaughter successfully turned the key to unlock the side door of the garage, but even so, the door wouldn’t budge. After a few tries, she enlisted my aid. We guessed correctly that our “culprit” was a groundhog that had taken up residence in the garage, which lacks a cement floor. The critter dug a tunnel on the other side of the door under the hinges, and loose dirt caused the bottom hinge to spread somewhat. After ramming the door a few times with her hip or mine (we looked ridiculous), we discussed our options. The two garage doors were bolted shut on the inside. We had no options. I finally decided to pray. Immediately after, Jul placed her hand on the door, but before she pushed, the door fell open! We looked at each other incredulously. But we shouldn’t have.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Luke 18:1, Jesus says, And He spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. This verse and a few that follow are about retribution for a persistent widow by a nonbelieving judge, and the passage goes on to say our awesome God will surely avenge the elect because of their persistent prayers. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to, Pray without ceasing.
NEW GOALS
"YOU HAVE TO CHANGE" 1/3/2025
Right or wrong, we are alwaysresponsible for reacting in a Christian manner, no matter what. God holds us accountable to a high standard – the life lived by our dear Savior. A long time ago, at the insistence of a close friend, I had to face the facts. Hubby and I were not getting along and if nothing changed, we would remain unhappy forever. I prayed earnestly for a long time until one evening on my way home from work I implored God one more time to intervene. Then something miraculous happened! In an audible man’s soft voice from the direction of the empty seat beside me, I heard the words, “You have to change.” “What do you mean, I have to change?” I retorted with irritation, listing a couple of Hubby’s faults for good measure. When I paused, the voice restated what it said before, “You have to change.” My thoughts? This is either an angel or the Son of God speaking to me! Pay attention! Suddenly I recalled a kind act Hubby did for me every morning and an uncharacteristic softness stole into my heart. Thirty years later, it is still there.
GREAT ADVICE
Today the memory of that night came to light when I considered the three goals I made for myself for the new year: to be less critical, be a better wife, and humble myself before the Lord. “You have to change.” The words once turned my life around, and if I apply them to other circumstances today, who knows what will be the outcome? After all, I can use some tweaking!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY? I always believed those words would not be audible to anyone else in the car, had I not been alone. In Acts 22:7-9 we read in part about Paul’s conversion. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, “Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?” And I answered, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And he said unto me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.” And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spoke to me.
DESPAIR
PART TWO OF "YOU HAVE TO CHANGE" 1/10/2025
Last week I shared a personal story about how the Lord miraculously intervened to heal my broken marriage. He could have chosen a different method, like conviction through His powerful word or directing us to the right godly counsellor. Why a miracle? I don’t know. It was His choice. A valuable lesson I learned that night is that I am not responsible for the behavior of others, only my own. In short, we can’t fix them we can only fix us. But the good news is, when we change, they change too.
SPECIAL MUSIC
My favorite place to practice singing is in the basement. I set my CD player on the chest freezer, like it’s my desk, and plug in the cord before setting CDs in an array in front of me. (CD’s? I know. I’m old school.) I start by singing with the artist until I can remember the prompts and go it alone. This reminds me not to handle anything alone without first seeking the original Artist’s help. I love these lines from Lauren Daigle’s song, Trust in You. “I’ve tried to win this war I confess, My hands are weary I need your rest, Mighty Warrior King of the fight, No matter what I face You’re by my side.”
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Psalms 145:18&19 tells us, The LORD is near unto all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
MARRIAGE
PART THREE OF "YOU HAVE TO CHANGE" 3/14/2025
Someday I planned to write about the miracle God used to heal my marriage, but the truth was, I didn’t want to hurt or embarrass the other person involved, John. But God. God knew how badly I wanted to share my husband’s and my story, so on the second Friday in January, when I settled down to write this weekly blog, out of the blue, a strong impression changed my mind about the subject matter I planned to use. Now, I must add that at this time I had no idea my husband would be passing away in less than a week! There were no signs of decline – although he was a bit depressed about leaving the Cardiac Therapy class he attended for a few weeks. What we hoped would strengthen his heart had to be discontinued because his blood pressure wouldn’t cooperate. Once I finished writing the blog I asked John to read it and to give me his honest opinion. His face showed no expression until the very end when he smiled, and advised, “Yes. Go ahead and use it.”
A NIGHT OUT
Twenty-seven years earlier, two months after the marriage miracle, we were returning home from a “date night.” Sitting as close to each other as humanly possible, we were sublimely happy. However, John knew nothing about the miracle as yet. I asked, “Have you noticed a difference in our relationship?” “You bet I have! What happened?” My reply? “God gave me the kind of love for you, that I should have already had.” I filled him in on all the details (a few I did not share here). When I finished, he cried. He knew everything I said was true because of the change in me.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
Genesis 2:24 says, Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. (Like being glued together). Ephesians 5:33 adds, Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife, see that she reverence her husband.
GRIEVING
WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE? 2/28/2025
Will we sit at the feet of Jesus, see his nail-pierced hands and feet, and watch His shining face when He speaks of the kingdom to come? Do we eat food because we want to and not because we have to? Do we need any sleep at all? Will the angels sing? Will we?
GRIEF IS A PROCESS
Looking back these six weeks to the days when l first lost John, I must admit, after the shock of his passing, my thoughts raced to list all the things we could no longer do together, like plant a garden, work in the yard, watch movies, go thrifting or out to eat or hang out with family and friends. Poor, pitiful me, I thought, the one left behind picks up the pieces, alone. After these self-centered moments passed, I stared at the places in the house where he normally could be found. Although he wasn’t present anymore, I could conjure up a mental picture of him at the drop of a hat, and I did. I wanted to share my thoughts with him about this or that and found myself doing so, often. Most recently though, I am finally connecting the dots, considering his lengthy hospital stays (which he hated) and the painful issues he suffered in between. It’s over now, dear one. Rest easy.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
In I Thessalonians 5:17&18, Paul advises, Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. In EVERYTHING give thanks. Even while grieving.
faith
NEVER FEAR, ONLY TRUST AND OBEY 4/23/2021
Our 3 year old great-granddaughter, Oaklynn, and my husband share a special bond they developed when he babysat her as an infant and toddler while Mommy worked. This bit of information will be detrimental as you continue reading, so please keep it in mind.
TOOTHPASTE DILEMMA
While Oakey and I were brushing our teeth, somehow or another, toothpaste got into her eye. Oh - how she wailed! It would be futile to try to rinse the offending goo out with water, so I grabbed the Visine out of the medicine cabinet. "These drops will help." "No-o-o!" she wailed on. John's voice came to us in a clear and unworried tone. "Why don't you come here and let my magic hanky take care of it?" (His what?!) She rushed to his side, weeping less, as he explained calmly how the magic hanky would immediately draw out the pain. She laid down, and he covered her eye with the cloth but a moment, pulled it away with a flourish, and asked, "Does it hurt anymore?" Joyfully she replied, "No!" Although he never tried this before, Oakey trusted him so completely, the ruse worked! A verse from an old hymn reminds me about this kind of devotion.
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY?
If we trust in God the way Oakey trusts in Grandpa, the peace mentioned in Philippians 4:1-7 will be ours! In Psalms 37:3-5 we see how this actually transpires.
1st, TRUST in the Lord and do good, so shall thou live in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 2nd, DELIGHT thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
3rd, COMMIT thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.