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!
Although Esther Ruth Raul, the main character is a fictional character, several other names are not: in particular, Oskar Schindler and Kurt Gerstein. The combined actions of these two men are instrumental in saving Esther’s life: Kurt Gerstein, an SS Officer for the Third Reich, is disillusioned with Hitler’s “Final Solution” as he calls it, … More Twelve Smooth Stones – a Christian Historical Fiction
At this week’s teen meeting, we started with a challenge about devotions by asking the teens how many days this week they had read their Bibles. Sad to say, only one had read his Bible once; the rest hadn’t read at all. You know the saying: Seven days without the Bible, makes one weak! Two … More Thanks, Walmart!
Last night was my first speaking engagement for Twelve Smooth Stones at our local library. Several commented that after hearing what I said, it made them want to read my book! So… I thought I’d try to tantalize some of you as well! I’d like to give you three different perspectives about the book; but … More Twelve Smooth Stones – a modern-day Esther story
Freedom – isn’t that what today is all about? Yesterday, during the morning worship service, we mentioned the names of those who had died in service to our country. There were only a few, but each name represented a life, a loved one lost in the fight for freedom – if not ours, then someone … More Free as a bird!
Our local school district has been in the throes of the difficult decision of closing a school. Although we are a small district in population, we are large in acreage and local pride. At present, there are three high schools and three elementary schools: two sets are located in the northern, more populated area of … More God of the Impossible
What a beautiful sight! That, my friends, is my garden; and those lovely dark clumps are manure!!! It sure doesn’t smell very nice, but I’m ready to see more fruit from my labors this year! Like any task, there is a cost involved. Now I didn’t pay anything for my beautiful manure, but it did cost time … More Oh, that stinky stuff!!!
It is the prayer of a mother that makes this country strong. For through a mother’s prayers, her children come to God. On bended knee prays the mother, and the Lord will use her son; Christian beauty springs forth in her daughter – Because of prayer, a soul is won. May our land be filled … More A Mother’s Prayer
I recently had a piano student prepare a beautiful hymn arrangement, and I asked her to play it for an offertory at church. I was surprised to hear her say that my daughter had recently played the same piece, and a lesson came to mind: We all have the same story to tell: Jesus Saves! … More Our Song of Victory!
For those of you who know the workings of a piano, you understand that the damper pedal moves the felt dampers off of the strings so that they will ring or vibrate when other strings are being struck by hammers as the pianist plays. The affect is beautiful; in fact, even the average listener would … More A Lesson From the Piano Strings
The law says, This do and you will live. The gospel says, Live, and then you will do. The law says, Pay me what you owe me. The gospel says,I freely forgive you everything. The law says, Make yourself a new heart and new spirit. The gospel says, A new heart will I gave you, … More Wooing Not Demanding
