It Really was A Miracle Dorothy!
He alone is your God, the only One Who is worthy of your praise, the One Who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes
(Deuteronomy 10:21).
You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our Savior.
You are the Hope of everyone on earth...
Psalm 65:5
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, for You have been my Refuge, a Strong Tower against the enemy.
What happened was just this:
"The wind began to switch our house, to pitch, and suddenly the hinges started to unhitch. But, oh, what happened to us next was rich!”
​
Like the twister that hit Kansas and sent Dorothy and Toto soaring, my excitement swirls as I share our family's story in my book, "Released, There Is Hope."
​
What happened in our family's story is nothing short of a miracle!
​
-Do you need a miracle today?
​
-Are you in a situation that seems hopeless?
-Does the thought, "it is what it is," ever cross your mind?
​
-Have you settled for the notion that this is your new norm, even though you know it is far from "normal"?
I understand; I've been there.
But I have great news for you!
No matter what you are facing or what you have been through, or even what's up ahead, there is hope, living hope, and His name is Jesus Christ.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...1 Peter 1:3.
Sacred, authentic, and painfully raw, our story reveals the struggle with our son, who was plagued with panic and paralyzed by fear.
But that's not how our story ends. Instead, there's a happy for ever ending —it was a consummate moment where the King of kings, crowned in all His glory, lifted His scepter and said, "let him go"! The lies lost their power, the chains of anxiety were broken, and the demons fled!
​
The anticipation of sharing our God story with you thrusts me forward like the gale that chased Dorothy Gale plum out of Kansas!
But first, I need to slow down, locate that elusive yellow brick road, grab a munchkin or two, a cup of hot coffee, and catch my breath.
We Will Not Forget
Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means "the stone of help"), for he said, "Up to this point the LORD has helped us" (1Samuel 7:12 ).
In 1 Samuel 7:12, Samuel found the biggest rock he could carry and set it up as a monument to the Lord, calling it Ebenezer. He wanted to memorialize the time and place when God miraculously intervened on their behalf. This wasn't the first time God fought for them; it certainly would not be the last. But Sam knew the nation of Israel needed a reminder, a visual and tangible, "this is where God worked so mightily on our behalf," reminder.
"Up to this point, the Lord has helped us"... In effect, Sam was saying, despite our unfaithfulness, the Lord remains faithful, and we will not forget. We will not remember His Presence, power, protection, and providential care. We will remember His love, help, hope, and deliverance.
We will remember we've made it this far and can keep going.
So my question for you is this, do you know your Ebenezer?
If not, ask the Lord, and He will show you. He loves to disclose Himself to His children.
​
Ruby Pips
This is my summer buddy Ruby Pips, a Ruby-throated hummingbird. It took her a few weeks to get comfortable eating out of my hand, but now she trusts me. I love how she pips when she comes to sip.
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
This is a Polyphemus Moth, one of the largest species of moths in existence. The wingspan of this magnificent creature is stellar! She was resting on a dead log when I unearthed this hidden beauty. Her wings were tucked tightly to her tagma. I waved my hand over her to see if she was alive. Imagine my surprise when she opened and fluttered her meticulously designed and silky wings! Look how she blends in so perfectly with her surroundings. She was so beautifully detailed and distinct looking I told my husband that she looked as if God had hand-painted her.
O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Ebenezer Wall
God's creation moves me to pen His Majesty
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds You. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them (Psalm 89:8-9).
He stood perfectly still, beautifully balanced, unmoved by the ocean wind whipping at his wings. I was mesmerized by this lovely creature. Assured of his stance, erect in his stature and seemingly removed from his encumbrance, I watched. But, I wondered, was his plight the result of some dreadful mishap, or, dare I ask, was it by divine design? My musings did not linger with the questions of how or why but rested on the beauty that lay before me. The stark verity deafened any thought that may have pressed for an answer to the obvious; this beautiful bird was handcrafted by the Creator of the universe, a masterpiece pointing to his Master. Handicap? Hardship? His poised prowess on the sand shouts no!
​
A Mourning Dove nestling close to his little brood was kind enough to let me snap a few pictures. The pinkish hue of his downy feathers is so elegant against the backdrop of mingled tree twigs. "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart" (Psalm 91:4).
...They do not sow or reap or gather into barns-and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they (Matthew 6:26)?
While visiting my folks last summer, my dad captured this Praying Mantis to give me an up close and personal view. I intended to get a snapshot of the creature, but later, I decided that the real beauty was the image of my daddy’s hands. He is the inspiration behind this poem.
Daddy's Hands
His hands, rugged, capable
calloused and worn,
fashioned from dust, to tend, till and toil,
found faithful to their calling of working the sod from whence they came,
thus yielding the bountiful fruit of their labor.
Seldom they rest, ever teeming, creative, inventive.
The clutch of a tool, his Bible the same,
fitted for the task, sturdy, tough, yet gentle and kind.
Never grasping for worldly gain,
ever generous, humble their glove.
Years of diligence, their contours show,
rarely seen idle,
save for embracing his bride, interlocking the two,
or clasping his once young, keeping them safe and secure.
Their constancy and resolve are rare, their harvest invaluable,
lifted high to the One Who designed them to praise Him,
their imprint on me, indelible.
​
Pretty Pink Chiffon
Mom's gifted hands would fashion a dress for me to wear,
A pretty pink chiffon stitched with love and care.
I wore it ever so proudly that day so long ago,
I knew that I looked beautiful because my daddy told me so.
My brother was my escort on homecoming day;
he wore pads, cleats, and a helmet,
I wore pretty pink chiffon and carried a bouquet.
Many years have passed,
and memories of way back when,
but my pretty pink chiffon remains as lovely as it did back then.
So now I place it on my daughter and share the story of my pretty pink chiffon,
of how it was preserved and kept for her,
a heritage of love and beauty to pass on.
​
Sherri Rhea Ownby 1973
Chloe Denise Ownby 2011
Precious Little Feet
Precious little feet, where are you going? Precious little feet don’t go too far, Mommy longs to keep you right where you are.Time passes swiftly, minutes pass by, hours turn to days, and days let go and say goodbye. With every tiny footstep, you move further away, the ground gives way to freedom, but my heart longs for you to stay.The closer I pull you to me, the harder it is to let go, I must allow my heartstrings to untie what binds you to me so.You are a part of me, an extension of who I am, but setting you free is part of His great plan.God's love for you is strong, so I trust His sovereignty and grace to guide you all along. I must begin letting you goto be all He has planned for you to be; indeed, this cup that I must drink proves to be bittersweet. So precious little feet, watch where you are going. Precious little feet, please don’t go too far;keep your way on the narrow path,with your eyes on the Master, no matter where you are.I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the Truth (3 Jo 5:4).
RELEASED Book Launch 2017
A time of celebrating GOD'S goodness and faithfulness
An inspiring encounter...
A friend gifted me with Stormie Omartian's, The Power Of A Praying Wife. Now, years later, the frayed, dog-eared pages speak for themselves. Her book attests to the necessity of and power in prayer. I have also found praying Scripture for others to be the most powerful and effective tool. My precious friend Carolyn and I had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Omartian at one of her book signings. Her writing glorifies the One for Whom she writes and inspires many. It was an honor and joy to meet her.
