Clean, Cool and Composed

We went to Busch Gardens while my family was in town. My daughter-in-love took these wonderful pictures of a tiger. He's beautiful, right?



He's clean, tended, fed and has everything but his freedom. How do you all feel about zoos and places like this?


My feelings are mixed. For the big animals, I'm kind'a sad. They can't run and fulfill their role in the wild. But for the little animals, or endangered ones, it might be a good thing.


"I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." Psalm 119:32


As a follower of Christ, do I sit in my cool, clean tended house built by my mind and selfishness? Am I beautiful to me, but not fulfilling my purpose to others in the world? Do I watch the world pass me by, knowing I'm taken care of, but not caring for them? If so, my heart is not free, and I'm not following His path.


May I not be afraid to get sweaty, dirty and lean.


Photos: Melissa Evans

Run for Joy-Children Christmas Truth

Running with excitement on Christmas morn. What makes these pictures so endearing to me and makes me smile with my heart? Well, it sure isn't my curly-perm hair-do that was popular then...

Is it waiting to see if my children liked what was brought by Santa Claus? All the work my hubbie and I did to gather their special requests, and sometimes work to put together those "easy to assemble" items? No....

For me, the gifts didn't matter. It's watching the undisguised joy in seeing what they dreamed for come true.

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:2

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel...and he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus...he took Him into his arms, and blessed God." Luke 2:25, 27-28

"And there was a prophetess, Anna...and at that very moment, she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36, 38

All of these waited and hoped to see the miracle of the Messiah. God granted them their dream and filled them with joy.

I wonder if the Lord smiles in His heart when we run to see Him, or when we find what we've longed and hoped for? I think He does. (He probably laughed at my hair-do, too.)

Keep me running Lord, filled with the expectation of seeing You.