A story is told about a king who went into his royal garden one morning, only to find every tree and plant withering and dying. He approached the oak tree and asked what its trouble was. The oak tree said it was tired of life and decided it wanted to die, since it could never be as tall as the pine tree. The pine tree felt discouraged and withered because it could never bear fruit like the grapevine. The grapevine was determined to die because it could never stand tall and bear large fruit like Continue Reading
All Articles by Patricia Holbrook
Grace is amazing. Breathtaking… Empowering… Everlasting… All-surviving… Grace makes you soar.
And as you browse through my messages,
Come Soar with me!
Want to Change Others? It May Be Simpler than You Thought {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
“Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing Himself.” Leo Tolstoy. There hardly is anything more challenging for human beings than committing to change. Whether it is changing how we think or act; overcoming weaknesses or implementing new habits, the old maxim “you cannot teach an old dog new tricks” is indeed, to many of us, as true as it is sad. I thought about that as I talked to someone this past week. Once again, this person reacted to a situation in a way that Continue Reading
This Too Shall Pass
"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven (...)" Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 The brisk autumn air hit my face as I sped down the last hill. Used to walk until the end of the road and turn around, I glanced to the right, and my heart leaped for joy. “Finally!” I said to myself. My feet rushed across the street. My morning walk would take a much-anticipated turn towards the lake in front of my subdivision, where fiery red trees shouted an invitation Continue Reading
Stop Allowing Your Past to Define Your Present {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
I spotted her on the first row, eyes filled with tears as I spoke about God’s healing of emotional wounds. Once the assembly dismissed, she was the first to come to my table, where she started sharing her burdens. She struggled with insecurities, addictions and broken relationships. She nodded in agreement as I spoke of God’s faithfulness and unconditional love. And yes, she agreed that he has the power to set anyone free. But when I started talking about freedom from past experiences, she Continue Reading
Trying Too Hard {In Jesus’ Name}
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 My husband and I were watching one of the Gaither Homecomings one night, when the show paused for an interview with Vestal Goodman. The late singer was asked what advice she would give any Continue Reading
Unity: A Challenge to the Christian Church {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
On Sept. 6, 2005, our family drove to the local immigration office for my citizenship ceremony. After almost six years of extensive paperwork and considerable costs, I finally held the green certificate that attested that I was an American citizen. I remember the excitement of pledging allegiance to the American flag as a citizen for the first time. I would not need a “green card” or an “alien card” to be accepted for employment, to leave the country and — best of all, I would finally be able Continue Reading
