Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
– Proverbs 18:24 The Message
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
– Proverbs 18:24 New King James Version
In When Rain Falls, Candace lost two best friends. Two years ago it was her husband and now she has lost a friend she has known since junior high school. Both of these people died tragically. Could you blame her for asking the question. “Why does God keep taking away the people I love?” Have you ever asked a similar question to what Candace has asked? The scene below is an excerpt from what I call the “funeral” chapter. read more
Devotions•
on December 18th, 2011•
This devotion was originally written in 2006.
It’s time to find the perfect gift! Some people actually live for this time of year when the crowds are out in massive numbers and available parking seems to be miles away. I prefer to do my shopping early, but as usual I have managed to get behind. A long time ago I learned to budget, use the debit card and leave the credit cards alone. Nothing is more depressing than having more bills than you can afford to pay in January.
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Devotions•
on October 9th, 2011•
It’s been yet another year of transitions. I don’t think you can expect to NOT have some significant changes in a year. 365 days is a long time. Still, the last two-three years, change has come hard and fast. Some days, I’m still reeling as I continue to stick with my motto, “Keep it Movin’.” During the seasons of what appear to be rapid changes, I like to mediate on Psalm 1.
… like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3 NIV
September 23 marked another change in season during the year. The slightly cooler weather is a relief from the hot, scorching days of summer. In a couple of weeks, the most noticeable changes will occur in the trees. The leaves seem to almost magically transform to orange, yellow, and red. One day you may be driving or walking and all of a sudden you’ll notice the colorful array of trees along the road, in the park or around your house. Gradually one by one each leaf will make it’s way to the ground and some of us will have to dig out the rake from the back of the garage. read more
Devotions•
on February 13th, 2011•
This devotion was originally written in 2005.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:12 NIV
Without fail, this event happens every year without me noticing the subtle changes taking place around my front door. Getting up in the morning can be a little troublesome, especially on cold mornings. By the time I get myself together, I’m making a mad dash out the door towards the car that needs to be warmed up. In the evening, I’m just happy to see my front door after surviving my forty-five minute commute from work. All the while something is brewing around my front door.
Interestingly enough on one of my non-rush days (Sunday) something stops me in my tracks. Something is different! Up until this point all has been quiet in my little front yard garden. But now there was some life! Even though this happens every year, it always amazes me to see these pretty, buttery yellow flowers – known as daffodils.
Years ago when I first moved into my house, I had no clue what they were, I just knew they were pretty and kind of unexpected. Keep in mind it is not spring yet and the temperature is still in the 30′s at night. It struck me as odd to see these flowers push their way up into the cold air. I have since learned to appreciate them while they bloom, because sure enough in a few weeks nature seems to come alive all at once. My rose bush suddenly begins to form little leaves on them. The trees in the front and back yard have tiny buds on them. The grass is starting to get some green back to it. Even the weeds are making there way into the world. Spring is definitely on its way!
If I had to pick my favorite season, I would have to say it is Spring! I have grown to love digging in dirt whether it is the ground or in a flower pot. At one time I could not keep a house plant alive for more than a few months. Sometimes I still have a little trouble with my house plants, but that is another story to tell. Since living in our house, my husband and I take particular care with the yard. He mows the grass, while I tend to make things pretty with flowers.
One trick I have learned from more experienced gardeners is the art of planting annuals – flowers that grow back every year. Fortunately the past owners of our house planted bulbs and apparently a lot of bulbs. I came across some of these bulbs a few years ago as I reorganized the front yard in a way that I could maintain it. Bulbs are not the prettiest looking things, but the daffodil bulbs without fail do what they were designed to do. … the results are beautiful!
Now as I head out in the morning and come back in the evening, the daffodils capture my attention. As I anticipate seeing some of my other flowers return, I will enjoy them until they fade away. It is March and the daffodils seem to dance with joy as they are rocked by the wind. If they could be personified even more, as the sun’s rays magnifies the buttery yellow texture, they seem to SHOUT for joy. Despite the cool temperatures still ahead, the flowers radiate and represent warmth. They remind me to keep my JOY in spite of the seemingly winter like conditions that are taking place in certain areas of my life. God is working quietly in the spiritual realm (the bulb) and the process will transform me. Hallelujah!
Shout for joy to the LORD , all the earth. Psalm 100:1 NIV
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed. Psalm 71:23 NIV
Copyright 2005 Tyora M . Moody
Devotions, Musings•
on December 31st, 2009•
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8 (New Living Translation)
The verse above arrived via a devotion in my email last week. It struck me hard. I couldn’t tell you how many times I read it, but I drew comfort from the verse each time. 2009 was a mixed bag. It’s a little over an hour before 2010 rolls in as I write this post.
I could take the time to beat myself up over not meeting a couple of goals, but I’ve had quite the year, some good and some not-so-good surprises. Some gains and major losses. Every year has its moments, but 2009 will definitely be a year I won’t forget. Especially since I ended the decade so much differently than I entered the decade.
I’m grateful to God for carrying me through even when I wasn’t as trusting as I should be. I’m most grateful for the times I broke down in tears that He saw every tear. When no one else really saw my pain, I know He did. I’m not one for pity parties, so I’m officially bottling up the disappointment of this year and not looking back.
I have a few goals (not resolutions) for this year.
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Devotions, The Playlist•
on September 27th, 2009•
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. — John 4:24
I had a BLESSED weekend. I’m not a praise dancer, but a friend who is, invited me to a praise dance conference. She coordinated the conference and wanted me to design the prayer room. I wasn’t really planning to check out the conference, but stuck around and all I can say is “God is so good.” He will show up and meet you wherever you are, pursuing you like the Lover of your Soul that He is.
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Devotions•
on February 25th, 2009•
Before I began my fifth grade year, my parents made the decision to take me out of the New York public school system. Fourth grade had not been a very good year for me, so I think my parents thought I needed a change. The change proved to be one of the highlights of my childhood … four years at Catholic school. To this day, while I’m a Protestant, Catholicism still fascinates me. I can still remember the Wednesday of each school year when the priest would stick his thumb in a bowl of ashes and make a cross on everyone’s head. At that time, I didn’t quite get the reasoning behind the smudge on my forehead.
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Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
