Mary's Heartbeats

The royal party was quickly squelched with the appearance of the writing on the wall. The King was white with fear and panic until the Queen Mother reminded him of one who could certainly help. She told him not to worry because there is this man in his kingdom who has the spirit of the Most High in him. He is able to share understanding and enlightenment, as well as being most knowledgeable in solving impossible problems, even interpreting dreams, plus he possesses the greatest wisdom. He has done this all before, years ago when King Nebuchadnezzar was so perplexed. Now "go get Daniel," she says. The King responds and reminds Daniel that he has heard personally of his gift of wisdom. He places full confidence in him as the one who is able. His reputation precedes him . . . My reputation precedes me as I start out today. The choices that I've made, the way I have lived, the words I use to answer all are aspects of my reputation. My reputati...

At least seventy years had passed and a new King Belshazzar reigned. He was having a grand celebration with feast and festive drinking, when to his astonishment a hand appeared and wrote a message on the plaster of the candlelit wall. What on earth could that mean? His heart was faint, his knees and body trembled in utter fear, "get me the wisest of the wise men now!" But all those great minds could not decipher what it said or what it meant. The King's face grew paler and his heart now beat in panic, fear was all he felt. . . Fear is basic to being human or being the created. Fear is universal and is found in every culture. It binds us together, sometimes keeping us stuck in unhealthy situations. It can inhibit and guard us from taking risks. Fear can become our excuse when we are unsure of change, failure or success. I have found to get past fear I have to look beyond, I have to see myself doing what I've feared the most, be it blogging, or st...

I started out my walk bundled with a heavy heart. The clouds hung like sheer gray drapes over the mountain peaks, and the cool breeze matched my deary mood. I walked on in step with Goldyn at my side. But along our morning trek, we were met with cheery colors of blooming pansies, snapdragons, tulips and buttercup daffodils. We even brushed against red bushes bursting with clusters of berries. In fact, the colors were so vivid and vibrant against the darkened sky, that all I could do was smile. Isn't that just like our Creator to give us bouquets beneath the clouds to remind us that He cares and always loves us?

More bad dreams, the King continued to lay upon his bed and suffer such peculiar visions. What did all of it mean? Once again he called for his wisest of the wise men and found that they were just as stumped as he. But Daniel finally came, and with him came relief. The King remembered that this one was able, this one had done the impossible task before, even retelling his dream and revealing the meaning. The King's confidence soared, "you are able. . . " It's a simple phrase that says so much. It seems to empower the weakest in the moment of need, at always just the right time. I watched that as the Olympic downhill skier prepared herself for the pending race. The TV camera caught her going through the motions of skiing down the hill, her arms and body all in sync as she visualized her moves. No doubt that has to be terrifying to stare down that steep mount and realize you have a faster time to beat, and the course has had its hazards as those...

Driving down the breezy boulevard, a sign posted on the office front caught my attention. Big black letters read "Ethical Home Health Care." I thought to myself, that though it boasted of being ethical and was making a point to advertise that way, it made me suspect that it could be completely false. I have grown skeptical of labels, particularly of individuals or groups that seem to emphasize how good or right they are. It's so very easy to verbalize that we are upright, ethical, always doing the right thing; but it seems too difficult to live that out. It seems the louder or bolder we proclaim our goodness, the worse our behavior becomes. It seems that we live in a day, when it is easier to say than to be. . . So today, I want to be what I say, I want my words to match my actions. Perhaps, I can start by not broadcasting all my selfish gains. I can start by being humble, admitting that I too can do the worst. It's only by the grace of God that I ca...

Lord, sometimes I wonder if my praying is enough. There are times I am completely overwhelmed with life and its demands. There are days of unexpected news that can shatter future plans. I wonder why it seems there are no easy answers, no instant relief from pressing problems, so much of life is just unknown. I feel exactly like my golf game, just driving the ball into the trees, only able to get next into a bunker, and then to land deeply in the sand, all so far from the target green . . . Lord, I wonder is my praying enough? Yes, truth be told, my praying probably isn't enough. But You, O Lord, always bring me back to this, You are enough to see me through each day. You intercede when I have no words to even pray, you know my thoughts, you know what I will have to face today. You intervene even when things remain the same, Your presence never leaves me. And even if I face a fiery furnace, at least I know You are there beside me, and You will keep me, even if it seems...

They were exiles, a captured people of the mighty Babylonian empire. Yet, these three intelligent young men became leaders in their captive land and were entrusted to govern and serve King Nebuchadnezzar. They had won his personal favor, and through their ability and honest integrity, they were found to be trustworthy of all the empire had to give. But one day they had an opportunity to compromise their values, to just give into the majority rule, to swear allegiance and throw their trust into a golden image. So they were brought before the King, now completely mad and angry, "Do it or die! I'll throw you in the burning furnace!" But they remained unnerved and calm. They just repeated their former stance, and concluded that even if their God would let them die a fiery death, that would be okay, just as it would be if they would come out alive. They had faith that even in the worst of days, even with a tragic, senseless death to face, it would be okay. . . Is it ...