Family and Home – Long walks and dark chocolate

More water, please

August 18, 2026 4 Comments

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” – John 4:13–14 NKJV

We have had a very warm August in East Tennessee. Today I stepped outside and felt the intensity of the sun burning down on my T-shirt-clad shoulders. The only sounds were a few cicadas with enough energy left to call for a mate and one lone caw from a passing crow.

For a minute, I envisioned one of those scenes from an old Western movie. You know, the ones where a cowboy, out of water and staggering from the heat, sees a mirage in the distance.

It’s unbearably hot, and I can say that as someone who hails from Southwest Florida. My gigantic cup beckons me to have another drink. As I take a swig of water, I’m mentally calculating how much more I should drink. Day after day, I drink and count, count and drink. It never ends.

Chilled lime drink with ice on a wooden garden table

My imagination then carries me to the well in Sychar, where Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman who had come to draw water. She would drink that water and eventually need more, just as I do. She would return to the well again and again because physical thirst is never satisfied for long.

But Jesus offered her something different—water that would satisfy forever.

As I take another drink from my cup, I smile at the contrast. Tomorrow I’ll fill it again. And probably again after that. As long as I live in this body, there will always be another thirst to quench.

But the deepest thirst of my soul has already been satisfied.

Jesus offers living water, a spring within me that will never run dry. I don’t have to ration it, measure it, or wonder if I’ve had enough.

My body may keep saying, “More water, please.”

But my soul has found the Well.

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: Bible, Christian Devotional, faith, God, Jesus, Living Water, Spiritual Thirst, Woman at the Well

Minor Details

August 12, 2026 5 Comments

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

This morning I woke up with a few things on my mind. There are several moving pieces regarding our property. There were questions about permits, electrical inspections, a 911 address, and other things I can’t control. I never like being in that place where I don’t know the exact timeline or outcome.

On top of that, I needed to call several printing shops to find a way to help my husband get a piece of his artwork printed. The canvas material we had purchased wasn’t compatible with our printer, and we had a shipping deadline. This had to be resolved today.

My husband and I did our morning devotions, reading from the Old and New Testaments and spending some time in prayer, and then he headed off to work. As I continued to pray, I found my mind constantly wandering back to all those details.

I opened my Bible app to see the verse of the day, and lo and behold, there it was:

“But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:41–42, NLT

Immediately, my mouth broke into a grin. I think I even chuckled out loud. This type of thing happens often.

The Lord and His guidance never cease to amaze me. That verse meant more to me sitting on the couch, anxious and distracted, than I think it ever had before. It was personal. It was relevant. And its truth dug into my very soul.

I’m so grateful for the Word of God. It is indeed living and powerful. It pierces through the noise and exposes the thoughts and intentions of my heart.

The things requiring my attention that morning were real. They still needed phone calls, decisions, and follow-up. But somewhere along the way, I had allowed details that needed my attention to become details that consumed my attention.

Jesus reminded me what mattered most.

Permits would get handled. Phone calls would be made. The printing problem would eventually be solved. Some things would happen on my timeline, and others wouldn’t.

But none of those details deserved the place in my heart that belongs to Him.

Reflection: What details are consuming my attention today? Have I allowed something that needs my attention to take my attention away from the Lord?

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Everyday faith, faith, God, God's Word, home building, Jesus, Life Lessons, Minor Details, Prayer, Trusting God

Sourdough and Jesus

July 18, 2026 3 Comments

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” – John 6:35

Today, before I ate my breakfast; organic, free-range eggs, and sourdough bread with real butter, I prayed over my food that I was doing and would continue to do what I can to take care of my temple.

Steaming sourdough bread on wire rack with cast iron pot and oven mitt in background

The bread has always been, and likely always will be, my favorite part. We order ours from a company that uses fresh ingredients and ships frozen. All I have to do is preheat the oven, pop it on the rack for 18 to 20 minutes and enjoy.

I can never wait to cut that first slice, the loaf is warm, its crust a deep crackled gold that shatters under the knife with a satisfying crunch. A thin ribbon of steam escapes, carrying that unmistakable sourdough perfume.

The butter I generously apply melts quickly into the tender interior. That first bite gives a nice crunch, and my taste buds are not satisfied with the mere nibble.

The flavor deepens as I eat; nutty, faintly sweet, and with that signature sourdough flavor. A fresh slice isn’t just food; it’s a perfect moment of warmth and indulgence to me.

You may already know where I’m going with this.

Jesus called himself the bread of life. He isn’t ordinary bread that leaves you hungry again, but the kind that nourishes to the very marrow.

My sourdough warm from the oven and glistening with butter is a fleeting beautiful shadow of that greater reality; daily bread made holy by gratitude, by presence, and by willingness to tear and share.

So, I eat. Slowly and reverently.

And for a moment, my kitchen table feels like holy ground. The loaf is a quiet reminder that life is given, broken, and received with open hands.

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: Bible, bread of life, Christian Living, Daily Bread, Devotional, faith, God, Gratitude, Jesus, John 6:35, sourdough, Spiritual growth

Looking Up

May 20, 2026 2 Comments

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2

My husband loves to fish. He enjoys fishing from the shore, and here in Tennessee that often means navigating large rocks, boulders, and steep inclines just to reach the sweet spot.

The other day, while telling me about one of his latest adventures, he said, “I was looking down and lost my balance for a minute, but when I looked up, I found it again.”

Immediately, I could picture it — his footing becoming uncertain, the awareness that one wrong step could lead to a painful fall, and then the simple act of lifting his head. Somehow, looking up helped steady him again.

As soon as I heard it, I thought about how often the same thing happens spiritually.

Life can feel unsteady, uncertain, and unsafe. When my focus stays fixed on the obstacles beneath me, fear has a way of creeping in. But when I lift my eyes to Jesus, I find my footing again.

He steadies what feels shaky.

He quiets my fear.

He reminds me that I was never meant to navigate life alone.

(From a new project I’ve been quietly working on lately.)

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: Christian Living, encouragement, Everyday faith, faith, Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus, hope, Life Lessons, Spiritual Reflection, Trusting God

Who Do You Look Like?

May 8, 2026 2 Comments

My cousin has an adorable little boy, Bennett, who looks just like his dad. Not long ago, at a family gathering, I overheard several people say things like, “He is the spitting image of his dad,” and “He sure does favor him.” We hear phrases like that often when a child strongly resembles a parent.

Other times, a baby may not seem to look much like either parent at all, and someone inevitably asks, “Who do you think the baby looks like?” You can almost sense the hope behind the question. Most parents long to see some part of themselves reflected in their child.

We use all kinds of phrases to describe resemblance:
“takes after,” “mini-me,” “chip off the old block,” or “favoring” someone in the family.

Adult and child walking on coastal path with ocean and cliffs in background

Children resemble their parents largely because of genetics, but as they grow, they often begin to reflect more than appearance. Mannerisms, expressions, habits, and even responses are learned through time spent together.

I found myself thinking about that this morning.

The other day, I was in a situation where I could feel my own moodiness and frustration rising. As I spoke within the group I was with, I knew my words were not coming from a place of kindness, patience, or grace.

Although my husband and I faithfully read Scripture, pray, and do devotionals together each morning, I realized I had neglected my own quiet time alone with God. Usually, after my husband leaves, I spend additional time praying, reflecting, meditating on His Word, and simply being still before Him.

And I can tell the difference when I don’t.

There are days when I feel I reflect Jesus far more clearly than others. As His follower, it is my responsibility to recognize when my heart is drifting and return to the only place where true transformation happens: His presence.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after spending time with God, his face literally shone. The change was so visible that he wore a veil before the people (see Exodus 34:29–35).

And in 2 Corinthians 3:18, we are reminded that we are being:

“changed into the same image from glory to glory.”

The more time we spend with Him, the more we should begin to resemble Him:

in character,
in holiness,
in peace,
in love,
and in the way we respond to the world around us.

Perhaps the real question is not simply who we resemble outwardly, but:
Who do we reflect most clearly with our lives?

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” – Romans 8:29

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: 2 Corinthians 3, Becoming like Christ, Bible, Christian encouragement, Devotional, Discipleship, faith, faith journey, Following Jesus, God, God’s presence, Jesus, love, Prayer, quiet time, reflection, Relationship with God, Scripture reflection, Spiritual growth, Time with God, Transformation

Pointing Others to Joy

May 1, 2026 3 Comments

“Don’t point.”

We were taught this as children, and many of us have taught it to our own.

I remember those tiny fingers and the excited, “Look, Mommy!” and the quiet hope that what they had spotted was a butterfly, a bird, or even the candy counter at the grocery store. Please, not another person.

Children learn quickly that pointing at others can embarrass and can wound. In their innocence and honesty, they don’t yet understand the weight their words and actions can carry.

And yet, pointing does have its place.

It can be helpful, even necessary, when showing someone the way.

The other day, while walking with my husband, he spotted a deer I couldn’t see. “Look, honey… no, over here. If you stand there and look between that tulip poplar and the maple—you’ll see a twisted branch. Look right under that. Yes, right there.”

He stood near my line of vision and gently pointed me toward something beautiful I would have otherwise missed.

That stayed with me.

Curved road through green fields and flowering trees with hills in the background

This morning, during my time with God, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude for all He has done for me, and for how much lighter life feels when it is fully surrendered to Him.

And I do mean fully.

Because when surrender is partial, when we hold tightly to the very things He is asking us to release, life remains heavier than it needs to be.

Let me be clear: life is difficult. We live in a fallen world, and following Christ does not remove that reality.

But it does change how we walk through it.

We are given a peace that passes understanding.
We are given Someone to run to—Someone who hears us, holds us, and understands us.

Jesus Himself walked this earth. He was mocked, betrayed, and ultimately crucified. He knows what it is to be rejected, to grieve, to watch others choose sin over life.

He understands.

And because of that, I’ve come to see that the only way for me to walk this life with joy is through complete surrender.

Which brings me back to pointing.

At this stage of life, what I long for most is not to point out flaws or differences, but to point others to Him.

To gently guide, as my husband did, toward something they might not yet see.

To point out His radiance, His beauty, His creativity, and His forgiveness.

To help others find what is already there, waiting to be seen.

I want to point people to Him,
fully, completely, and faithfully.

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Everyday faith, Everyday reflections, faith, Faith in action, faith journey, God, Guiding others, influence, Jesus, Life reflections, love, pointing others to Christ, Spiritual growth, surrender, Trusting God, Walking with God

It’s Finished Again

March 29, 2026 6 Comments

There is something both familiar and entirely new about finishing a book.

I remember the first time, the mix of excitement, uncertainty, and the quiet question in the back of my mind: Will this matter to anyone else the way it matters to me? And now, here I am again, holding something that began as scattered thoughts, quiet reflections, and moments I didn’t want to forget.

Seasons of Grace is my second book, but in many ways, it feels like the continuation of something I have been writing all along..

If you’ve spent any time here with me, you’ve already seen pieces of it.

This book is made up of those same kinds of moments; the ordinary days, the lessons learned slowly, the reminders that seem to come just when I need them most. It’s about faith, family, growing older, letting go, holding on, and learning to recognize that even the quiet seasons are full of purpose.

Some of these pages were written years ago. Others came together more recently. All of them carry something I have needed to be reminded of — that God is present in every season, even the ones we wouldn’t have chosen.

Finishing this book has felt less like reaching an end and more like gently gathering pieces of a journey and placing them together in one place.

And if I’ve learned anything through both books, it’s this:

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply finish what has been placed on our hearts.

If you choose to read Seasons of Grace, I hope you find something that meets you right where you are. Something that encourages you to slow down, to notice, and to trust that even now, something meaningful is still growing.

Thank you for being here — for reading, for encouraging, and for walking alongside me in this space for so long.

With gratitude,
Lisa

PS It’s available on Amazon in Kindle version; soft and hard cover coming soon!

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational, Poetry Tagged With: Author page, Christian Living, Christianity, Devotional, encouragement, faith, Family, God, growth, Inspirational Writing, Kindle Book, life, love, Mental health, Mothers, New book, new season, Seasons of Grace, Seasons of Growth, Women, writing, Writing Journey

A Tranquil and Quiet Start

November 15, 2025 1 Comment

On this beautiful fall Saturday morning, I’m grateful. Looking out my window, the leaves are fluttering on the trees, and some are giving up their lifelong perch and floating gently down to a ground already covered with their neighbors. The sky is blue with a wisp of white here and there, and the app on my phone promises a high of 71. The perfect autumn day! It inspired me to create a quick poem 🙂

Looking out my window, here, I feel such gladness, joy and cheer.

Leaves are falling gently down, they reach with silence, the covered ground.

Winds blow softly through the trees and dismantle the ones that are left, with ease.

A sky of open, endless blue, touched softly by a faint white hue.

A morning crisp with lingering chill yet whispering warmth that soon will fill.

Inside we are blessed with a tranquil start, the result of quiet and peaceful hearts.

A day began with prayer and the Word and assurance that our prayers are heard.

Leftover coffee, some still in the pot, smells awfully delicious, though none of its hot.

In the background, Christmas carols play, Their echo weaving through the gray.

Stirring the heart in a tender way,as autumn quietly slips away.

This day will pass as quickly as ever, no matter how slowly you choose to endeavor.

So, take a breath, take a pause, and savor all the joy it draws.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” – Psalm 118:24

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational, Photography Tagged With: Autumn, blue sky, fall, Family, God, joy, leaves, love, peace, thankfulness, tranquility

Mid-Winter Musings

January 27, 2019 5 Comments

It’s that time of year when many of the trees are bare except for a few stragglers; dried out crunchy leaves that shiver in the wind but seem to cling ever so tightly to the only home they have ever known.

The days can get overcast, over-long and over-dreary if you let them. The beautiful colors of fall have disappeared and at first glance, we are left with a monotonous, almost colorless picture.

Oh, but if we look a little deeper, we may catch the flamboyant male cardinal, a mighty splash of red against a mass of drab, dry branches. Or, we could admire the gentle descent of a pristine snowflake, falling, falling, falling.

One of the things that I find to love about winter is knowing that it’s hiding something beautiful in it’s depths.

Inside the sturdy tree bark, underneath the frozen ground, change is lurking. Just when it looks like all is dead and cold, the chilly curtain of winter will close and colorful spring will arrive dancing, with all of it’s change and hustle and bustle.

I always say that God used seasons because we are such fickle creatures. We get bored entirely too quickly. As soon as spring arrives, we will pine for summer.

If you know me at all, you know that glorious fall is my favorite season of all, but I continue to enjoy the beauty in all of them.

Such is life…We have to learn to find the beauty in the seasons of our lives as well. Hold fast, spring is coming!

While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: God, life, seasons, spring, winter

Restful Saturday at home

December 1, 2018 2 Comments

tree There is something so deliciously satisfying about an afternoon nap; joyous partly due to the sheer infrequency you get to enjoy the pleasure. There you are, adrift on the ocean of peaceful slumber so sweet, languidly waking, body warm beneath a cozy blanket. Equally wonderful is slowly coming alive to the sounds of a fire and family; book pages turning, quiet conversation, a soft snore from someone enjoying the same wondrous pleasure;

Lazily peering over your publication of choice, admiring those whom you love, the scent of holiday baking and lunch left overs hovering in the air. Relishing these all too rare moments, living in them, appreciating them. Thankful that in this moment, there is no rush, no deadline and nothing on social media worthy of stealing this time of hushed leisure.

Time is ticking, hurriedly rushing forward to the next hour. May we cherish restful times like these and the cherished ones we share them with. It’s too easy to squander our time with loved ones during the holidays as we get caught up in the hustle and bustle. We should strive to truly “be there” in every shared moment.

Happy December 1st,
Blessings,

Lisa