Who am I? So many labels can be applied to any of our lives. I'm a born-again follower of Jesus Christ, a pastor's wife, an author, mother, grandmother, musician, and blogger, and podcaster. "Beyond Common Sense" is a place where I share "Lessons Learned While Walking with Jesus." I have found that not only is God everywhere, but He teaches us through our experiences and common, ordinary examples from His world. From the inchworm to the tragedy of my husband's fall, all of these hold timeless truths handed to us by our heavenly Father to draw us closer to Him. How wonderful! What a privilege to share some of those lessons... with you!
Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I … More Not Me!
Rip! Tear! Snap! What was that? Oh, it was just my heart, breaking in two! What are you facing, dear reader? For me, it was saying goodbye to my son, daughter-by-choice, and three grandchildren: ages one, three, and five. It’s breaking my heart! For eight years, my son and his family have lived close … More When your heart is breaking
This might sound like an oxymoronic statement, but let me explain. Think about JFK. What do you picture? A man in his eighties or a man in his prime? That youthful face will always be remembered because of his untimely death. Even our Savior is never pictured as an older man because His substitutionary death took … More Death—the great preserver!
Well, how did you make out yesterday: Sunday? Did you make it to church, Sunday School, PM service? Life is full of choices, and those choices shape who we are and what we believe about ourselves, others, and God. Choices: I went to church vs. I did not go to church That decision may have … More Why Go to Church…
I first encountered a church refrigerator while teaching Kindergarten with a wonderful group of people known as Emmanuel Baptist Church of West Shore. I remember one of the teachers getting frustrated about all the “stuff” which was left in the fridge. Churches are communal property; therefore, rights and responsibilities are sometimes nebulous. For example, who … More Ask not what your church can do for you … OR … Lessons from the Church Refrigerator
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life .Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred: late, delayed, postponed, tardy, overdue. What do we do when our hope is delayed, postponed, or overdue? My last post was written with joy and anticipation because my newest grandson was on his way … More When Hope Doesn’t Come
Today!! He is coming today! Today, I will see him. TODAY, I will hold him! This is the day that I’ve been waiting for for forty-one days, or nine hundred eighty-four hours, or fifty-nine thousand forty minutes. Count it anyway you wish, but today is the day! Today, I meet Caleb Thomas MacAvoy, face to … More He IS Coming!!!!
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 1 Corinthians 3:2 Milk and meat—Paul uses these two food groups to describe different levels of Biblical learning: milk represents the baby steps and meat, the larger lessons which require … More Don’t Forget the Milk!
This month, we recognize two very sad days in America’s history. On January 22, 1973, our supreme court made its landmark decision promoting abortion. Since then, in the United States alone, 16,000,000 children have died because we gave their mothers choice to have it be so. On January 27th, we remember the eleven million people … More Pro-Choice
Several years ago, there was a pastor who was having difficulties in his ministry—so much so, that he was moving to another ministry. At that particular time, we were at a highpoint in our ministry. I remember one of our children saying, “How can they be so excited about leaving? I’d die if we had … More Ready to Die? Really?
