Cathy's Heart

I should be packing because next week we are moving. But I don't feel like packing, I need to write! Writing clears the cobwebs in my head and lifts the burdens from my soul. Lately, the Lord has been revealing areas of my life that need His transforming touch. I thought I'd share one with you. Maybe you can relate. Yesterday was my birthday. We just returned from an emotion packed trip to visit a sick family member, so I was weary. Part of my morning routine is to check facebook. One of my favorite features about facebook is how it alerts you of a friend's birthday. I love to send birthday wishes as well as read the wishes that others sent to my friends. So, I confess, I was looking forward to reading the birthday greetings that had been sent to me. Only when I opened my page, there were none! Even my dad, whose birthday I share, already had birthday messsages posted early that morning. Right away, I had several reactions. The first was disappointment and doubt. "Does...

Have you ever been transported back in time by a certain taste, touch, sound, sight or smell? I have heard that smell is the strongest sense to trigger a memory. Not for me. My most powerful trigger is music. Recently, while listening to the radio on a weekend get-a-way, I found myself instantly transported back to the 70's, to a time I call my in between years. These were the years after I was introduced to Jesus as my Savior but before I surrendered my life to Him, asking Him to be my Lord. During those years, I was not living out my new found Christian faith, in fact I was running hard and fast away from God. As the song continued, I considered changing the radio station. The lyrics were awful and the memories it stirred up were not edifying. But I liked the beat and to be honest, for a little while, I liked the memories. As the song ended, I no longer felt good but pained by the memories it produced. As a new song started, I quietly asked the Lord's forgiveness for listenin...

Last summer, I began this blog with good intentions. My hope was and is to encourage women as they grow in their walk with the Lord. My goal was to publish a post at least once a month. Three posts in one year falls far short of my goal. It would be easy to blame this failed endeavor on several unexpected turn of events. However, this would be an excuse to cover up the real reason why there are three and not twelve posts on my well-intentioned blog. Truth be told, the reason my blog lies dormant is doubt, fear and insecurity. As I composed the beginning of several ideas for posts doubt crept into my thoughts, "who are you to think that you have anything to say?" Fear jumped in next taunting, "you don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said before." And finally insecurity, the loudest voice of all, accuses me, "what if it's not perfect?" To my surprise, today, I received a second request asking to follow my elusive blog. So here is ...

Daniel 5:23 says,   "honor the God who holds in His hand your life and all of your ways."  I hold on to this promise in the Bible and others like it when I am afraid or when life feels out of my control. Like Saturday, when my flight was delayed from taking off because of possible engine trouble. I have always loved to fly. Growing up, my dad worked for the airlines. So, flying in an airplane is familiar to me. In fact, my husband teases that I have jet fuel in my veins. Still, take-offs, landings and turbulence always rattle my nerves! So when the captain announced the potential engine problem, part of me wanted to get off that plane and run. Instead, fastened securely in my emergency row exit seat, I turned my heart to prayer and my thoughts to what I believe to be true: that indeed He holds my life and all of my ways in His faithful and powerful hand! And when our plane was finally cleared for take-off, as we taxied down the runway then lifted off for our destination, I re...

Today I went to see Julie & Julia for the second time. Last week I saw it with my mother-in-law and this afternoon I watched it alone. During my first viewing, I hoped to find the inspiration to cook. Unfortunately that did not happen. This afternoon, my first time alone in a movie theater, I watched the movie again for what it did inspire me to do---write! Julie and Julia found fulfillment and meaning in food---cooking it and writing about it. I cried, yes cried, through the whole movie. Because I too have found fulfillment and meaning in food and I too desire to write about it! The food I want to write about is not French cuisine----rich sauces, fancy dishes and luscious desserts. No, the food I found myself weeping to write about is living food---the very word of God. Isaiah 55:2b-3 says , Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. As I launch this blog, I pray it will ...

This week I celebrated my 50th birthday. As I reflect upon my first half a century, I realize I am at peace in this place. Growing up all I ever wanted to be was a mommy. And here, at age 50, I thank God for the privilege and joy of raising four amazing children. As a young mom, I was surprised to discover a new dream brewing. It was an intense longing to teach women about the Lord, about His Word and about His ways. I wanted to see women come into the fullness of all God has for them. Over the years this desire has grown, finding it's fulfillment in various roles and responsibilities in women's ministry. Now here I am at fifty. My first twenty five years, I was growing up. The next twenty five years, my children were growing up. Now they are grown and gone, and I find myself asking "how will I spend the next twenty five years?" It occured to me that I want to spend them helping God's women to grow up in their faith! This blog is a step in that direction. My praye...