Shout-outs today to a few of the folks who for various reasons, made my heart happy in Oklahoma.
- My husband! I don’t get to travel with him to lots of events.
We are mostly crossing paths on the weekends. But this time, this great church invited him to come, since I was there anyway, for a ladies’ day. He did a men’s day and a preacher’s meeting and preached all day on Sunday. He, as usual, worked harder than I did. It was a bonus blessing to have him there! - The Whinerys!
We got to stay in the renowned Whinery B and B and it lives up to every ounce of renown. We love these people and what is not to love?! We’ve been twice around the world with them and we’d love to get to do it again one day! - This troop from Tipton Children’s home. This sweet, sweet house parent, Sarah, has been my friend since she was about 14 and I
got to be in her house and do a ladies day in her congregation in Sabetha, Kansas. I was beyond excited to see her standing there beside me with all of her little brood. What a great blessing! I love her. The youngest two are her own and how blessed are all these girls! They listened and learned and I hope I see them one day leading the women in their congregations. I’m going to start praying for that! - Carissa! I love her from a way-down-deep place and I am so thankful we got bonus time with her. We go way back to early PTPs and a trip to Israel and sharing a suite in her parents’ Hot Springs house before she married. I thank Him for a couple of hours of catching up. She blessed us!
- The sweet Carters. Rose was about three last time I got to visit with her and look at her now! She decorated the tables for the ladies day! And they were exquisitely done.
- The girls I got to teach in the teen class this morning. When ever does a teen girl come up and actually request a lesson on modesty? What a sweet blessing!
I loved every thing about it. People graciously offered to stay in prayer for my family. People bought lunches and suppers. People…God’s people are generous and good and I love His family!
Oklahoma…where the wind comes sweeping down the plain. I did think we were going to blow away, but the pink moon rose on Saturday night over those beautiful cow pastures and the sunsets were signature by my Father! He is so good!
I really hope you are coming along for the Dig that starts in September. There are lots of great ways to grow in Him, but Digging Deep is surely one. I wish you could be as encouraged as I am. I routinely see groups spawning more groups and I hear words like “life-changing” often. None of this is me, though. The Word is just that: life-changing! We are transformed by it in the renewing of our minds. I read that in a Book, somewhere! Make up your renewing mind and come on along!
Writing this early morning about David, particularly about the darkest months of His life, I decided to go open the window of my room. In some years on writing week, I’ve been able to look out the window at a huge American flag, a lush green meadow or a serene, but beautiful, cemetery. This week, I’m up high, and when I pull up the shade, I am looking down at the back of a gas station. No great writing vibes are making their way up here from Fuel City, Shell, or Chevron…all within view when I draw up that shade. SO I have been looking lots in the Word and not much out the window.
I had to go ahead and talk to Him. I said, “Oh my God. You are wonderful and worthy and you do amazing things in the darkest of times. Help me to love you more!” He not only made that big ball of fire that just moved out of the darkness and illuminated my world, but He IS the light that comes out of life’s darkest clouds of sorrow for His people. As the Psalm that I’m studying this morning says, “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
It’s writing week again and there is not a moment to spare! But here’s a blurb from this morning’s study. I want you to be excited with me. Last weekend, I was in Branson, Missouri, with a group of God’s women at a retreat. There were 165 women there and there were very few of them who had ever heard of Digging Deep. There were about three who had ever heard of Polishing the Pulpit. This made me excited. Why? Because Digging Deep and PTP has not finished growing. 
At the end of the day, there were at least twenty new women in the group and lots of past studies had found their way into homes in Springfield, Missouri. Once more, let me emphasize: You do not have to do Digging Deep or attend Polishing the Pulpit to dig deep and attend heaven! But how exciting it is when we can put tools in hands and hearts for eternity. Here’s a tiny blurb:
Lily Annette Colley weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces at birth. Lucky Jody Trone guessed that she would weigh 7 pounds, 11 5/8 ounces. She only missed it by 3/8 of an ounce. That’s less than a half-cup of water weighs . Pretty close! She says she submitted the birth weight of her third child, so I guess she’ll have to split the prize with that third child!
The podcast is tonight. Hope you can join us! Those three shunned women teach us some very pertinent 2025 lessons. We need your comments, too, for the maximum podcast potential. Get in the word with us! You can watch on the Digging Deep facebook page or at 
It’s that quiet moment when I know you are here…I mean, you have been born, but there are really just a few of us who know. I’ve seen beautiful footage of you sucking your fingers. (Click here for that: 