“If it was a snake, it would've bit you.”  That's what my mother used to say after I found something that was lost.
I can't even count how many times it happened where I ran around frantically trying to find something only to discover it was right in front of me all along.   For instance, I'm running around looking for my glasses and they're on my head or, this is really bad, I was talking to a friend and looking for my cell phone only to realize  I was talking on it!   I can't believe I admitted that.
What I'm trying to say is that we can get so distracted by what's going on in life that we can't see what's right in front of us.
I know a couple who were terribly hurt by their church, the pastor in particular.  The couple were faithful servants and went the extra mile constantly to help out.   A situation arose where the couple was falsely accused and their character attacked.   The pastor believed a lie over the truth.   The couple was devastated.  As a result, they left the church.   Their hearts were broken 
To many of us, the church represents God but we forget the church is run by men and women who are fallible.   God is the only one who is perfect.  When the couple left the church, their faith was shaken.   It left a big hole inside of them.
More than 10 years went by.  They were getting older and decided to move closer to their daughter.   Covid was still rearing its ugly head and the real estate market was out of control.   Even so, they won a bid on a beautiful home near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. 
I visited there last year for the first time.   When I stepped out onto their back deck, I was amazed by what I saw.    There before me was a breathtaking view.  There were acres of prairie with Pikes Peak standing majestically in the background.  I could hardly take it all in.   
Out of all that beauty, there was something that caught my eye. On the other side of their fence I saw a building and three crosses on a hillside.  The building was a church.
I knew immediately this was no coincidence.   With God, there is no such thing.   God hadn't forgotten about them.  He never stopped loving them.  I watched as He drew them until one day my friend asked me if I would go to church with her.  Her husband wasn't ready.  We went that Sunday and the next.   We came home to find her husband watching the service live online.   It took another few months and her husband went with her.   Since then they've attended faithfully, gotten involved and made some new friends but most of all, they dared to trust God.   What once was lost is now found.
The moral of the story is that God never gives up on us no matter how far we wander. We may feel lost but He knows exactly where we are.   Nothing is beyond the scope of His love for us, not even putting a church in our own backyard.   If it were a snake…

It's Not The End

By Eileen Glotfelty • May 23, 2026
Are you one of those people who like to read the end of the story before finishing the book? This morning I've been sitting here feeling overwhelmed by life. There are things that are out of my control and a lot of uncertainty. For someone who likes to have a plan, it's my worst nightmare. God's word says that He finishes what He starts and He will complete the good work in me (Philippians 1:6 NIV). I struggle with that when I can't see the finish line. God's word also says He's the Alpha and the Omega which means He is the beginning and the end (Rev 22:13 NIV). To me, that means that He sees it all. He knew where I would be on any given day. He knew my circumstances before I did, but unlike me, He's not worrying and overcome with anxiety because He sees the end. So, once again, I have a choice to make. I can sit here overwhelmed because I can't see the way out, or, I can trust the One who can. Will I choose hope or despair? This leads me to faith which is choosing to believe even though we can't see the outcome. I had to ask myself where I was putting my faith. Hope and faith work together. No amount of striving can earn them. Each one of us has access to them. All we have to do is ask the One who freely gives. Jesus, I know you've written my story and You know how it ends. Everything in this life is temporary. Even though I can't see the end, help me to rest in the fact that You do and I can trust You with my life.

The Lost Sheep

By Eileen Glotfelty • May 11, 2026
A few weeks ago I shared about my estranged child. Mother's Day came and went without a word. I spent the day wondering/hoping I would hear something. I didn't expect a phone call but maybe a text. I told myself not to have any expectations, but I still did. I was almost angry at myself for thinking maybe this year would be different. This morning I sat here talking to the Lord. He wants me to be honest with Him so I didn't try to hide the sorrow and the rejection. I told Him I was hurt and I had to forgive my child once again. He reminded me that I had three other children who hadn't forgotten me and made me feel loved and honored, so why was the rejection of one so painful? It was then I remembered the story of the lost sheep. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it's about a shepherd who has a flock of a hundred sheep. One of them goes astray and the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to go find it. It was a gentle reminder that He will never give up on my child and He loves Him more than I could imagine. In the same way, God will never give up on any of us. No matter how much we run or push Him away, He will never leave us. I needed that encouragement, maybe you do too.

The Prodigal

By Eileen Glotfelty • April 19, 2026
For those of you who have a prodigal child, you're not alone. What I mean by prodigal is a child who has turned their back on you and put up walls of defense. It came as a surprise, a shock actually. I should've seen it coming but after years of butting heads, I truly thought we were in a better place. The revelation came in a letter where thoughts and feelings were shared. I felt my spirit being crushed as I read it and my heart broke. I know I wasn't the perfect mother. I had struggles and behaviors that had followed me since childhood. I had resolved never to treat my children the way I was treated, but how many of us know that sadly it still happens, but in a different way. When you have a prodigal, it's not about forgiveness and reconciliation, it's about the pain they feel we've inflicted and they can't let go of it. I keep hoping that some day, things will change but there's no guarantee as it takes two surrendered hearts that are open to be healed. It's been four years now since I received that letter. I have grieved in a way I never have before and there were times I didn't think I would make it through. It's a different kind of grief because you know it can change but it's out of your control. It's been a process and I've experienced rejection, abandonment, guilt and shame but it brought me to a place where I knew it was going to keep me in a prison of pain if I didn't surrender it to God so He could heal my heart. The Bible has a story about a prodigal son. Even though the son went his own way and abandoned his father, his father never gave up hope. When the son had an “aha” moment and realized how foolish he had been, he humbled himself and returned home. This is my favorite of the story: “So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 NIV” This is how God greets everyone who returns to Him, no matter what they've done. I pray I would react the same way with my son. If you have a prodigal, my heart goes out to you, but just know that God sees you and your child. He is working behind the scenes as He is a God of redemption and reconciliation. He will heal your broken heart and give you the strength to hold on.