The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Portales, it's my kind of town. It is not just because of all the children I have taught who have blessed my life so much. It is not because Portales is a wonderful place for our own children to grow up in. It is not because my... Full story

The tenderness of Jesus toward his mother touches my heart. As the mother of three sons, I feel the bond and depth of love in a mother and son relationship. There is something about a family. It's a unique way of expressing love, e...

In a world that would ignore God, we often feel like aliens on a different planet. Daily you and I are bombarded by ungodliness. Our culture seems to be on a downhill side. Children are murdered. Corporations are crumbling because...

Fear is an evil, negative force that destructs faith. It cripples paralyzes, torments and promotes doubts and non-believers. Fear removes peace and tantalizes. Fear is from the enemy and comes from the pit! Fear is a faith stealer...

Many biblical characters cried tears of love. Joseph wept loudly before he made himself known to his brothers. (Genesis 45:1-3) In Psalm 18:6, David said, "But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for...

Hasn't it been yesterday that our three little boys had their skate board, their basketball and their dogs? Wasn't it Lance that decided he was going to go away and we found him hiding behind the butane tank and wasn't it him that...

"Oh Mommy, can we keep him? He can be our Valentine!" I thought to myself, this kitten is only going to be here temporarily. Tom stayed "temporarily" for 15 years. He thought of himself as a special member of the family, and he tur...

I can almost hear our founding fathers echo this call: "America, Return to God!" Does America need prayer? Look around. Television is filled with violence of every sort. Morals have gone. Sin seems to be accepted everywhere....

Life is full of wonderful treasures. God blesses in so many ways but lets be reminded that these are temporary blessings to be enjoyed during our earthly travels. Our real treasures are stored in heaven. Things can be enjoyable...

How is your thought life? Do you make a definitive decision to stop negative thoughts? Or do you allow them to run over you until you're totally depressed unaware of the progression of the attacks of the enemy? A perfectly good...

Friends bring sunshine and sparkle into our lives. Friends stick by us through "thick and thin." It has been said that friends are like postage stamps. They "see us through, even if they have to take a licking." Let's make one of... Full story

We have a brand New Year before us. 2013 comes just waiting to be lived. Living it with hope and promise makes it all the more exciting. Let me encourage you to "happen to life" this year. Refuse to let "life happen to you." Maybe...

The gift of love is available to all of us and there is no finer gift! For many years the approaching holiday seasons for me turned into "tis the season to be stressful." Cleaning, baking and shopping brought exhaustion. By the... Full story

Look at those you love. Look at the friends you have. I'm so glad God made people. Aren't you grateful for them? We would freeze in the winter and get hot in our house if we didn't have an electrician. What if we didn't have a...

I can't help but notice that a crisis brings about prayer regardless of a catastrophe. I heard no complaints about praying in public when 9/11 happened. I think prayer is vital to us any time. In the tumultuous times of adversity,... Full story

Let's be thankful and have Thanksgiving every day. I don't mean turkey and dressing. I call it "Count Your Blessings." Of all the millions and millions of people who have lived, God chose you and me and he has plans for our lives....

Sunday is Veterans Day. Let us never take the military for granted. I honor the soldiers who are the greatest on the planet. It is called "America, the Beautiful." Yes we have enemies without and within but truly red-blooded...

A cross without a crown, a victory without a battle and a testimony without a test and we have nothing to overcome. The struggle in the cocoon finally emerges. In God's timing it bursts into the light with beauty and soars on...

In the Old Testament God's people had every reason to be stressed, big time. Enemies were everywhere but his people had a deep trust and respect for their God. I think we should have that too. When I get stressed I think about the...

Does life ever seem to be one battle after another? Do you manage to survive one hurdle only to be confronted by another one? Well, I have good news! What about the eagles? They spread their wings while the wind and storms carry... Full story

One of our fondest memories is that of our youngest son playing his trumpet in the Portales High School marching band. When the band played "Rambo" everyone became excited especially me. All I wanted to hear was the trumpets. I... Full story

Very soon we will have an opportunity to vote for a man who will hold the highest office in the land. This man controls not only our future, but also the destiny of our children and grandchildren. To some degree our country and...

One of the highest compliments I have ever received was from an 8-year-old. She was one of my students from the year before. As I walked down the hall one day, I heard her say to her new teacher, "That's my teacher from last year.... Full story

I think fall is my favorite time of the year. God paints fall with strokes of flaming gold, hues of copper, brilliant orange and scarlet red. Green leaves of summer are now becoming sparkling jewels escaping from God's treasure...

My understanding of football is not the greatest. I really show my ignorance of the game but I'm trying to become more knowledgeable. My husband is patient explaining each play until about the halftime. Then it's one grunt means...