Power in the Storm
For Unto Us a Child is Born
Growing up as an only child, I always talked to myself. Yes, even answered myself! I have always been a deep thinker and so I had to process somehow. I remember just mumbling my thoughts aloud, trying to make since of life. I realized the battles of right and wrong, of good and evil. I remember feeling almost schizophrenic for I could play out two scenarios in my head. I knew how I should respond, but something in me wanted to know what would happen if I, instead, responded how I shouldn’t.
Dear Mom
It’s Christmas time! In other words, that means, parties, tinsel, cooking, decorating, friends, laughter, candles, “sleigh rides”, and caroling. Which then leads to, sleep deprivation, traveling, piled up laundry, extra dishes, schedule crunching, rushing here, line waiting, online shopping, stressing out, credit card charging, expensive, how-much-can-I-cram-into-one-day…..UGH! But smile for the camera, we have so much to be thankful for, besides, it’s the HOLIDAYS! Continue reading
Welcome to the Steck Family Store!!!
Recipe of the Week!!
It’s time to crank up the Christmas music and pull out the decorations!! And what better way to season the air than to cook up a steaming hot pot of…no not coffee…not tea…how about….yes, Wassail!!! Mmmm, I can smell it now! Perfect treat for the mid-decorating slump. Here ya go…. enjoy!! We sure do!
True Gift
It started like it does every year. That looming feeling that I *need* to prepare some major, cutsie, crafty advent devotion to begin with my family starting Dec. 1. This idea of advent excites me. I’ve started many…and quit many.
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Come as you are
The words “Come as you are,” washed over me as I ran down the road, stirring up the leaves as I passed by. I thought of the changing seasons and how that parallels to so much of life. What if the trees stubbornly resisted the impending dropping of leaves? Or decided they would not grow new ones this year because they love the winter too much? Sometimes, honestly, that’s how I feel. I don’t want to grow, it’s hard. I don’t want to change seasons, for that requires changing out clothes and I just got used to everything. Why can’t things just stay the way they are?! But if the leaves don’t drop in fall, the tree would die in winter for lack of food. If no bud of leaves appear in Spring, that tree is future firewood. Change is ordained by God and good for us that we may grow and thrive.
Dear Elijah,
I just finished reading your story in the book of 1 Kings, chapters 17-19. I imagine you standing at the entrance of the cave in Horeb watching the LORD pass by. What was that like?!
Your story has me reflecting…






