Purest Fiction: Morning Coffee
A semi-tractor in the street released its brakes.
The frantic author shoved at the scratchy wool blanket, then sat, bewildered.
Because the windows had no shades, she hustled into the tiny bathroom. It was unsatisfactory to scrub at the chipped sink, and she longed for her deep tub.
Giving thanks for self-control, even when it feels forced and obligatory, is accomplishing two mundane and obvious things tonight. First, it means I’m keeping my vow to be a thankful person, and not one who whines. Thanksgiving for other things is easier, and happier, but for now, this will do. The second obvious and mundane
The Holy Spirit’s ninth gift is self-control, and if ever there was a gift most people would rather re-gift, this could be it. Webster’s Dictionary defines it as: restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires. Television talk shows, news videos and social media posts give ample evidence of how much more most of
Purest Fiction: Offensive Apostrophe
When she walked back to the bureau and delved in the suitcase for her bag of pens and pencils, she scraped her knuckles on her “souvenirs.” Despite what she’d told Ed O’Connor, there were rocks in her luggage. A palm-sized lump of pink and gray granite came from the Continental Divide.
One dark jaggedly fractured chunk of stone commemorated a trip to an island in Lake Huron. When she pulled out the flattest fragment, picked up on Mount Washington, mica glared in the harsh light. Would she add Pennsylvania bluestone?
BeThankful for God’s Gentleness Today let’s take time to be thankful for gentleness, specifically God’s gentleness. After Elijah defeated Jezebel’s Baal prophets and priests at Mt. Carmel, he fled her wrathful threats to murder him. His fear took over, and he experienced depression, and something similar to burnout. We aren’t usually fleeing death threats, but
The Holy Spirit’s eighth gift is gentleness. In English, gentleness is the noun form of the adjective gentle. It’s defined as the quality or state of being gentle; especially displaying mildness of manner or disposition. At first glance that probably doesn’t look too appealing or effective in today’s culture. It seems the only way to
Purest Fiction: She Could Write Here
When the doors closed at ten, the refugee writer had no appetite.
The waste of food appalled her. The slop bin on her cart swam with flat soda, cold coffee, strands of spaghetti, and cigarette ashes. So many customers chose the triple bacon cheeseburger the author was sure the odor in the apartment stairwell would be a living, breathing thing.
“Hey, bus girl, ya did a good job tonight.” Mavis nodded as she swiped the day’s entries from the chalkboard. “I never did hear your name. Did Bill give you your share of his tips?”
Let’s take some of our time today to be thankful for God’s faithfulness. It is so much a part of God’s character that when speaking to Moses, God defines himself by it. “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and
The Holy Spirit’s seventh gift is faithfulness. Scripture frequently pairs it with Love, which makes sense to those of you reading this who have or have had strong marriages. The definitions Websters Dictionary gives faithfulness mix qualities that might be divided between God, and people. The dictionary classifies its first definition, full of faith, as
Video Link This is a rare vlog appearance with Meshea Crysup, the woman who got me back into writing after I graduated from Calvin College, now Calvin University. We reminisce a bit, and chat about a new anthology, Heartland Treasures, to which I am a contributor. You’ll find a link to purchase Heartland Treasures on