Susandoodles

Susandoodles

Love God, love life, love one another.

Susan is trained in journalism, teaching and ministry;
now retired, the blog provides a means to continue sharing thoughts.

Category: Lifestyle

  • ‘Doodling along’ much like literary stream of conscience

    I like color and design.  I am not particularly good at it, but I like it.  There is something pleasing about seeing a design come together and then adding in the color. Growing up, I used to draw these random patterns and then color them. And for some reason I really liked colored…

  • Jumbled thoughts . . .

    I finished reading C. S. Lewis’s book, Mere Christianity.  Maybe that is why I am struggling with jumbled thoughts.  I know it was a good thing to have read the book, but I am simply can’t seem to find the words to speak about it. Of course, I am continuing to read the…

  • Time to study and for life, too

    Making the commitment to read the entire Bible in the year was a goal I had long put off doing.  I have read and studied the Bible, but to follow a specific published reading plan and stick to it! Well, here fall is upon us and I am still on schedule.  I…

  • Praying the Psalms VII + final: Throughout it all, praise the Lord

    The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and what echoes in my ears:      This is the day that the Lord has made;         let us rejoice and be glad in it. (NRSV) These words come from Psalm 118:24 and have been part of my life as long as I can…

  • Praying the Psalms VI: Remember those camp songs?

    Growing up I was in 4-H and UMYF.  In both of these groups, we learned camp songs.  Interestingly these songs were basically the same.   You may remember them:   John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, Tell Me Why Row, Row, Row Your Boat Kookaburra He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands Kumbaya And I…

  • Praying the Psalms V: Pleas and Praise apply today

    Life just keeps us hopping, doesn’t it?  Even though we can establish a daily routine and settle into a comfortable pace, surprises develop. Certainly the wreck, now over four weeks ago, was a surprise and life suddenly forced a change to daily routines.  But, the days keep moving forward and new routines…

  • Praying the psalms III: . . . no such thing as a coincidence

    Mom said, “There is no such thing as a coincidence, it is a Godincidence.” Sadly today, I do not remember the exact circumstance when my mom told me this, but these words have echoed in my mind time and time again. These words have guided me in times that others would just…

  • Words do hurt! Words mirror hearts.

    One week off from writing, and I struggle to focus on what words I should share.  Words are powerful tools and they can also be powerful weapons.  I pray that my words are tools for positive change in one’s life, not a weapon or hurtful to those who read/hear them. Not only…

  • A few personal notes in lieu of holiday-focused rhetoric

    Plowing on through the year-long Bible study, I am now into Deuteronomy and Acts.  I am struggling with remaining open-minded enough not to get bogged down by the minutia of the Old Testament laws. But I also admit that I am doing everything I can not to frame the current national…

  • Let’s talk about one vs ten; Life is easier with just one.

    Sunday’s sermon was about sin.  I know, that seems almost blasé doesn’t it.  But let me be honest, sin makes me uncomfortable. Now, I probably need to explain that statement. Sin in my mind is something one consciously does that is against one of the Ten Com- mandments.  And I have long struggled with…