Cathy's Heart

When God Brings Us Through Seasons of Winter I love vineyards and the imagery Jesus uses in John 15, when He declares,  "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit..."  More than anything, I want my life to be abundantly fruitful from an abiding relationship with Jesus.   My heart was first captivated by the beauty of vineyards on train rides up the central coast of California to visit my oldest son at college. During those long trips, I began to ponder the passages in John's gospel more deeply...  "for apart from Me you can do nothing."   My window-seat view from the train was as close as I came to vineyards, until my husband and I attended a legal conference at a luxurious winery. The only problem, it was January. So, instead of rows and rows of lush, lovely vineyards, we were surrounded by brown, barren and knotted stumps. No grapes. No green leaves. No branches. There were just vines, pruned ba...

Let Your "Yes" Be Yes, and Your "No" No There are two times a year, I am faithful to post here. In January, to help kickstart the new year. Then again, towards the end of August, which is the anniversary of launching this blog on my 50th birthday, 7 years ago. (2016 has been a crazy year, so January was my last post. However, in the craziness that is my life, it has been my desire and goal to write my annual blog-anniversary/birthday post. So, here it is!)      I'm usually excited about the topics I share. However, when I prayed about what to write, God put on my heart to share a lesson He is teaching me now. In fact, if i'm honest with you (insert long sigh), it's a lesson the Lord has been working on in my life for over 35 years.     It all started in the wee hours of January 1,1980. I was 19, and had just attended a midnight, New Year's Eve church service, where I finally, totally, surrendered all of my messy, mixed-up life to Jesus!   That night,...

What We Learn When We Really Listen " The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart ." Helen Keller       I hadn't heard it's cry in a long time.    Or perhaps, I had not really listened.    Either way, I heard it's message several times this week:      In a mother's ache for more time with her daughter.             In a father's joy to see his "little girl" again.                In a young lady's relief to find a kindred spirit.                       In a woman's delight with an overdo visit from a beloved friend.                           In a new friend's deep need for the Shepherd's touch.    The messenger's voice is almost imperceptible. It comes as you reach to give a ...

Turning 56 Welcome to my frivolous, self-indulgent, but, hopefully, fun annual birthday post. This week I turn 56. Which, also, happens to be the anniversary week of this blog. Thank you for allowing me to share my heart with you here the past 6 years!    This is a strange year. It's as if some mysterious shift occurred, and I have passed from junior status to senior (and not just in the eyes of McDonald's or Denny's). I feel like I have moved from getting older to growing old. From being careful in sharing wisdom gained through years of experience to a new kind of desperation to pass that wisdom on to others, especially those on the precipice of failing or falling!    After 56 years, I feel I'm far enough along in life to share with you what I miss about the "olden days." Yet, before I do, be assured there is so much I love and appreciate about the days in which I now live. So, here goes:    One of the things I miss most from my childhood days is the ...

The Hardest Part About Being A Christian What is the hardest part about being a Christian? For me, it is the necessary daily dying. The putting to death of sin and self. A laying down of my life - my own plans, my own timeline, and, occasionally, even my own dreams.   At times, God’s call to lay down my life seems more severe than others. Presently, I find myself in one of those hard seasons. However, as I cry out to the Lord, He keeps reminding me that without death there is no resurrection. Without pruning there is no abundant harvest.   This particular call to lay down my life began while my husband and I eagerly awaited the arrival of our ninth grandchild. We LOVE being grandparents! So, we couldn't wait to welcome our newest granddaughter into our lives.   As we waited, a gentle whisper echoed in my heart.   Will you watch her?                                 “But Lord, what about my...

A Case for Love and Grace I am not a political person. This is not a political post!    I hate conflict, quarreling, and controversy. This is not a invitation to fight!    This post is way outside my comfort zone, especially in light of current events.    However, as a Christian woman who appreciates and has a presence (albeit small) on social media, when I prayed about how to respond to the SCOTUS Same-Sex Marriage Ruling, the Lord reminded me of the people He has brought into my life who are gay. People who I love and care about deeply.    Those precious friendships, I can write about. Their stories, I can tell.   Allow me to start at the beginning. I was eleven. Halfway through sixth grade, I found myself uprooted from the shelter of a small town elementary school and thrust into the reality of a big city junior high. Thankfully, I found myself fast friends with a neighbor girl, my age and grade in school. She taught me the ropes of changi...