Keep On Going!

Yesterday I walked out of the doctor's office feeling like a new person. I had been nervous about this appointment. After the exam, the doctor said, "Everything looks great."

Whew! Relief. Joy. And much gratitude! 

Good news makes me feel energized. I wanted to celebrate. When I returned home, I decided to go for a run.

It was about 46 degrees, cloudy and very windy. "I'll just do one mile," I said to my husband as I was headed out the door.

(If you read the previous post Cool Running, you know I'm not as fit as I'd like to be.)

It was not an easy run. Before completing that one mile, I wanted to stop and walk and catch my breath, but the desire to reach my goal was stronger than that desire to quit. I was determined, one step at a time.

For me to run is a celebration. I do it simply because I can, and out of gratitude for good health. And I will persevere for as long as I am able.

"Alive and Breathing" is a song I love. It's another Matt Maher song, but his lyrics really speak to me and I am pleased to share it. Happy to be alive and breathing!

Jesus is the Way and He is the Destination. To follow Him is challenging - not always easy - but the joy of journeying with Him, wherever He takes us, is truly awesome, beyond description.

It's Almost Spring

On my walk the other day, I stopped by a nearby brook. It was flowing powerfully after the snow melt.

Today I thought about that brook as I read, "Grace is flowing in my direction, and I yield myself to its powerful current that's taking me places beyond my wildest imaginations." Brian Orme

Today "grace is flowing in my direction."
Grace is God's love coming after me.
His love is coming after me in whatever circumstances I find myself.
His love is coming after each and every detail of my life.
He never gives up seeking me - longing for a real personal

relationship with me.
He doesn't want us just to be acquaintances, but the closest of friends, of family.

I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. John 15:15.

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9.

Today I take the time to be still before Him and let His love

flow in my direction. As in a strong current, I'll let myself be swept off my feet and be carried along in His grace "taking me to places beyond my wildest imaginations."

It's almost Spring.
Come, Holy Spirit of God's love, come!

Lesson from the Fig Tree

I never liked figs. Fig Newtons - ugh! A few months
ago, I mistakenly bought a big bag of dried figs,
thinking they were dates. I didn't read the label.

Fig trees were very common in Biblical times.They
lined the roads leading to Jerusalem. Even today,
figs are abundant in the Middle East.

There's an account in the Bible about Jesus actually 
cursing a fig tree. It happened in the Spring of the
year as he was heading to Jerusalem with his disciples. 
Jesus was hungry and he saw a fig tree in the distance.
There were leaves on the tree, but it was not yet
the season for ripe fruit. He went up to it looking
for figs. There were none. He must've been very
disappointed. He said to the tree, "May no one eat
fruit from you again." Matthew 11:14. The fig tree
withered.

The lesson I take away from this is that the Lord
expects "good fruit" from me at all times. It may
be the kindness I extend to others, generosity,
helpfulness to those in need, prayers, etc. I sometimes
say, "This isn't the right time." Or, "the circumstances
aren't quite right." Or, "I'll do this at a more convenient
time." I often want to wait for the "perfect time" to 
get things done.

Scripture also says, "preach the word; be prepared in
season and out of season..." 2 Timothy 4:2. So when
I am inspired to share an encouraging word or make
the effort to do something good for others, even
though the time doesn't seem quite right - and I
question myself - I need to just do it. Otherwise it
may never get done. 

About that bag of figs, I ate them even though I 
didn't like them. By the time I got to the last of the
figs, I discovered I actually developed a taste for
them. I no longer dislike them.

Maybe that's something else I now have in common
with Jesus. We both like figs. 😊

Let the Children Come

We had a great visit with the grandkids. They are healthy, happy, energetic, loving, and so much fun. After coming home, I missed the excitement of being with them.

Then I turn on the TV and see images of Ukrainian children who are like our grandkids, who are walking long distances and some being carried, many crowded into busses - all leaving behind the security they have known. Leaving behind toys and friends and routines, their homes, and even their Dads. Children and babies clutched by anxious mothers who are fleeing terror into an unknown future. Then there are the orphans who have no relatives to care for them. They are all refugees. As I am writing this I see video of a maternity and children's hospital that's been bombed by a massive explosive. 

What is happening to Ukraine is evil. More than a million children are displaced from their homes and millions more may follow. Even millions more will be left behind, unable to get out of a country under military attack. Many will die.

Last night I listened to this seven minute Meditation on Ukraine of a personal account of how children are being received in Poland. It ends with a way we can respond in a spiritual way to support the children. I am taking up the challenge and also doing what I can, even in a small way, to financially support humanitarian efforts.

Jesus said, let the children come to me, and do not prevent them. Matthew 19:14. I can imagine Jesus gathering the children to himself, smiling and laughing with them, placing his hands on them to bless them.

I am grateful for all the children in my life and I thank the Lord for each one. May Our Lord bless the Ukranian children and make a way for them that they may have a future full of hope and peace.

Keep Leaning

So worth seeing, praying, meditating on again, and again.

Especially when we feel we can't stand on our own, when we feel helpless - even in seeing senseless evil destruction sadly happening in the Ukraine.

Be inspired. Have hope. Keep trusting. Keep leaning on the One who saves.

S-T-R-E-T-C-H

On this the second day of Lent, I asked the Lord, "What are the 'nets' that I should leave behind?" (If you missed it, please see the post from May 2, 2022: Resolutions: Now is the Time .)

The words that came to me were: "Be flexible." So I admit that I can be stubborn at times, wanting my will to prevail. Stubbornness is something I need to leave behind.

One of the prayers of the church today is, "Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray O Lord, and further them with your constant help that all we do may always begin from you..."

My resolution today is to be flexible and to respond promptly to the needs I discern, to be open to the fresh and ever new blessings of the Lord and to the unexpected ways he may want me to show his love.

Just as I exercise by stretching to maintain and increase flexibility, I need to stretch spiritually, and by Holy Spirit's inspiration, to reach out to meet needs, even those that seem beyond me. Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Free image from Unsplash, courtesy of Rowan Chestnut

Now is the Time

Sometimes I find myself wishing for a do-over. Regrets. If onlys.

"If only I had not said that."
"If only I had listened."
"If only I hadn't done that."
"If only I had taken the time."
"If only I weren't so..."
"If only things were different."

We are now beginning a season of Lent that gives us dedicated time to change for the better, for a real transformation. Change, however, is not always easy. That's the suffering part.

From grade school on, I remember being reminded to give things up for Lent. Usually it would be candy. Or maybe a favorite TV show. One year I gave up coffee. (That was tough.) Some years it would be more about being generous, like what can I give rather than what can I give up. It has always involved some sacrifice.

This year the Scripture verse keep coming to me, the disciples "left their nets and followed him (Jesus)." Matthew 4:20. The first disciples left behind a most familiar life, that of fishing. Fishing was something good. But they left it behind for the possibility of something so much better. They were drawn to a person. They were drawn into a new life. It was far beyond what they ever could've imagined.

So I'm thinking, what are the "nets" in my life? What are some of the good things I could leave behind for the sake of something better. What do I not want to give up that keeps me at a distance from that intimate relationship with Jesus? 

What are the opinions I hang onto that keep me from listening?
What are the activities I engage in that keep me from being available?
What possessions do I cling to that keep me from being free?
What are the "nets" that occupy so much of my time?
Can I let them go? 
Can I leave them behind without turning back?

Why would I? Only for the possibility of something so much better, out of love for the sake of another, to follow Him, for a truly new and transformed life, one far beyond what I could possibly imagine.

And so I will be asking Holy Spirit to show me what I need to give up to leave my "nets" behind me on this Lenten journey. Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Behold, I make all things new. Revelations 21:5.

God, I am Yours and You are Mine

I found this on youtube and a "share" option was provided, and so I share it here:

  

Matt Maher is one of my favorites for worship music. I listen to his music often.

Let this song be my prayer this evening. Jesus, be the Lord of my life!

How Am I Going To Get Through This?

All of us face situations at one time or another and we ask ourselves, "How am I ever going to get through this?"

Maybe it's the loss of someone we love, or it could be a diagnosis of a really serious illness. It could be any challenging, difficult time we are living through. "Am I going to make it? How will I make it?"

Just this morning I saw a video posted by Matt Maher (who happens to be one of my favorite musicians) who raises these questions and he offers his response. (The video is a trailer of what is coming.)

Nightebirde - Look Lower

Nightebirde, Jane Marczewski, is famously known for her amazing performance on "America's Got Talent" TV show. She wowed the audience and the judges with her music and her presence. She left the show while battling stage 4 cancer and, just a few days ago, passed into her new eternal life.

Her reflections on life and her quotes are striking. One of them about her experience with God is: "If you can't see him, look lower. God is on the bathroom floor."  This is from Nightbirde's blog, dated March 9, 2021.

We tend to think that we need to reach up to God, and He seems so very far beyond us. Nightebirde found Him by going lower. She found Him when she was at her very lowest.

When was I at my lowest?? For me it was also with a cancer diagnosis. Was God there?

I remember the feelings of shock and disbelief. "This can't be happening. What will the future be like?" and imagining the worst. I felt trapped with no way out. I went into my closet and sobbed. I cried out to God.

Soon afterwards I came across Psalm 84:6 that I read: "They shall go through the Bitter Valley and make it a place of springs." What I was going through was my bitter valley, and I became determined to make it a "place of springs."

I knew that at my lowest point, I was not abandoned. There was a way out.

What are the low points in my life today? Someone once said that God can be found in the midst of our problems. "Here's the situation, Lord. What can we do about it?" Listen for His answer.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day..." Psalm 139: 7-12.

Mercy, Peace, and Love be Yours

Here's a favorite photo of a favorite place, the shores of Lake Champlain in St. Albans, Vermont. Having grown up near Lake Michigan, I always feel most at home near a lake. I am grateful that Lake Champlain is just a short drive away.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. Jude 1:2

Who Do You Trust?

Today I opened a new book written by my friend Mark, My Questions God Answers. Chapter 1, page 1: "Is God Safe? Can I Trust Him?"

I paused to reflect. Was there ever a time when I trusted someone and that person betrayed my trust? Have I ever been let down by someone? How did that affect our relationship? Have I ever been disappointed by an organization or institution that I was part of? Have I ever felt disillusioned by the church? By church leaders?

Who is it I trust the most? What is the difference this makes in my life? Who is the first person I ever trusted? 

For me the first person was my Dad. He took me by the hand and led me out into the world. The "world" was the barber shop where he got his hair cut and winked at me from the chair. It was the bakery where he let me pick out any cookie I'd want (a sugar cookie!). It was the restaurant where we'd meet my mom who was a waitress and short order cook. I'd go anywhere with him.

Back to Mark's book. Is God safe? Can I trust Him?

The only way to really know is to give Him the opportunity to demonstrate how trustworthy He is.

Just as I trusted my Dad when I placed my hand in his, I will trust even more for Father-God to lead me. And so I begin again to lean on Him. Maybe a place to start is to let Him know (well, He already knows, but I need to tell Him) about the times I've felt disappointed, betrayed, disillusioned. What will happen when I bring to Him the hurts I've experienced, even things I wouldn't want to share with anyone else? Can I trust Him to "catch" me when I "let go?" What will happen? What difference could this make? I can only know when I dare to try.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,
'plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Lesson from a Lemon

I bought a large bag of lemons. I was attracted by their bright lemony yellow color. When I came home, I looked up lemon recipes. I found one for a lemon cake.

The recipe called for grating, then juicing the lemon. So I am vigorously grating away and saying to myself, "Poor lemon." That's a lot of abrasive action against that beautiful peel! Then I sliced it and pressed it against the juicer. I noticed the wonderful lemon aroma. I then added the zest and the juice to the other ingredients for the cake.

There's a lesson here, I'm thinking. Even from a lemon. To be useful for the recipe, it had to undergo change. The outer layer was scraped off for the zest and it was pressed for the juice.

There are experiences that I come up against that are grating, abrasive. When I am in the midst of these situations, there is no avoiding them. They are unpleasant. But these are the situations that can release beneficial inner qualities, like forgiveness, kindness, generosity, perseverance, etc. Like the lemon that undergoes change to fulfill a purpose, I also can fulfill a rightful purpose in trying circumstances. Hopefully, abrasive situations will bring out the best in me.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Let's eat cake!

Cool Running

I'll admit it - I've been a "couch potato" for the last few months. Blame Covid, blame the cold weather. I haven't been to the gym. I haven't been running outside. And I've been feeling sluggish.

Yesterday was a brilliantly sunny day. The temperature was 38 degrees. (That's above freezing, right?) So I dug into my closet to find my sneakers and layers of clothing I could wear. (I wanted to be warm, but still look the part of "a runner.")

I started with a brisk walk from our house and headed toward the rec path. I decided no goals. No time, no distance, no pace, no intervals. I'd be out here just to have fun. I brought my phone camera with me.

Once I started jogging, it was even better than I had expected. Sure, I'm out of shape, but I was doing it. Honestly, it was exhilarating. I recalled the many times I've been out here in warmer weather - yes, even in hot weather. This felt refreshing, although challenging. I watched my step so as not to slip on ice. Even though above freezing, the air was bracing.

I stopped to take photos. I loved seeing the blue tones of the shadows on the whiteness of the snow. I loved seeing the paw prints of dogs and of other animals I could not identify. I loved looking up and seeing the patterns of the white clouds in the blue sky. I truly loved being in a familiar place that did not look as familiar. And I loved greeting people I passed along the way.

 

I don't think I will ever become a cold weather runner, but when the day invites me, I will do it again. I'll not put off the opportunity. Covid and cold weather shall no longer be my excuses.  

Frost and chill, bless the Lord; 

praise and exalt him above all forever.

Daniel 3:69 (New American Bible)

"Are you coming with me?"

When I take our dog for a walk, she often likes to pause and sniff her surroundings, or she likes to walk slowly when I want to pick up the pace. I turn around and say to her, "Are you coming?" and I might give a gentle tug on the leash to keep her moving.

I thought about this as I was reflecting on what it means to follow the Lord. Ideally, I want to be right behind Him. However, sometimes I am distracted by my surroundings, or I am off on tangents that I have to admit are a waste of time. Or sometimes I procrastinate and the moment passes (like the phone call I neglected to make to a friend, and later learning that he had recently died). In these situations, I can envision the Lord turning around and saying to me, "Are you coming?"

So I look up to Him. At times He is so far ahead that I can hardly see Him. With just a desire, I again can be following closely in His footsteps as He makes a way for me where I've never been before.

Or is He the one who comes back to me, exactly where I am, to continue our walk?

If I don't follow Jesus, I have no idea what my destination is or how to get there. If I'm lost, He is the one who finds me. He calls me out of my distractions. "Are you coming?" 

And for this I give thanks.

The Best Gift of All

My cousin posted a photo yesterday of her son about to open a present he received for his 7th birthday. I felt somewhat mesmerized by that photo. The present was large and it was just about to be opened. The little boy's eyes were wide with anticipation. What would be inside the box under all that wrapping? What was the gift chosen specially for him?

I imagined his parents intently watching him open this present. How would he like it? What joy would be his - would be theirs - when he saw what was inside!

I began to wonder about the very best gifts I have ever received, the ones for which I am still grateful. Mostly, they were the ones that were unexpected:

- The warm homemade cinnamon rolls our neighbor brought over when I was exhausted from cleaning up our flooded basement;

- The silly pear-shaped toy our daughter sent me when I was undergoing chemo;

- The cup of hot coffee and chocolate chip cookies the nurse brought me when I was receiving yet another infusion.

These were simple gifts that came to me when I felt at a low point, and they truly lifted my spirits. Joy! With these simple gifts I felt loved and cared for.

"No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:12.

God is the best gift we can ever receive.

The Real Me

I picked up a used jigsaw puzzle. It looks like new. The picture on the box is attractive and I thought I'd like to spend some time relaxing and putting this puzzle together.

When I opened it, I was actually shocked to see that the pieces in the box in no way matched the picture. "This can't be," I thought. Did someone do this deliberately? Or did they put the puzzle pieces in the box and mistakenly put the wrong cover on it? This puzzle is not what it seems to be. I was disappointed.

When I read Proverbs this morning, verse 13 of chapter 14 jumped out at me: "Even in laughter the heart may be sad..." I thought about people who seem to be so very happy and accomplished, who seem to have everything going for them, but they may have an inner sadness that they do not show.

People tend to think - I tend to think, "If people really knew me, would they accept me as I am?" 

I thought again about the puzzle and whether there might be a lesson here. When do I pretend to be someone I am not? Am I authentic? By my actions and demeanor, do I show people who I really am? Or do I try to project a false image of myself, of what I would want people to think of me?

It is a liberating, healing experience when we are loved and accepted exactly as we are. It's like the puzzle pieces of our life that we feel don't belong, come together and are truly appreciated and valued.

I pray for the trust to be vulnerable and to let my guard down, to be an authentic me. And may I be trustworthy to allow others to do the same. No pretenses. No false images. Just to live and walk in truth in the image of our Creator God. (Genesis 1:27)

Faith and Football

For years I've enjoyed watching NFL football, especially the Packers. This season I've been doing so with even more attention. When I learned that Derek Carr, the star quarterback of the Raiders, is also an evangelist, and that there are videos of him sharing about his faith, I definitely wanted to hear what he had to say. I watched one of him being interviewed a few days ago by Pedro Adao.

Even though Derek has a passion for football, and he has attained the fame and wealth of being an outstanding quarterback, he says, "In my heart I am an evangelist."

He spoke about a time he was in a Chipotle restaurant and a young woman came up to him asking for a picture. His immediate thought was to tell the woman, "Jesus loves you." He said that he didn't want to do it, that he would feel super awkward saying this. More than that, however, he knew that he wanted to be obedient to that inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He simply said, "Jesus loves you," and the woman was touched by his words. Tears began to flow and, Derek said, she accepted Christ.

In the video Derek also said that one of the very first things he does when he wakes up each morning is to reach for his Bible. He asks, "Lord, what do you have for me today?" "Where do you want me to go?" "Show me the conversations you want me to have." He looks to the word of God for wisdom to give him direction and strategies.

As a quarterback he is leader of his team the Raiders. The wisdom he gains by his daily reading of the Scriptures is applicable in the locker room and on the field. He says that, with so much on the line, and with aggresive competition, anger easily builds up among the players. One of his gifts is that he can bring a sense of calm to heated situations.

I will keep my eye on Derek Carr and his career. Now I will watch his games, keeping in mind that how he plays and how he conducts himself, is from his strong foundation of his relationship with Jesus.

                          derek-carr-1080p-hd-wallpapers

I am very inspired by his humility and his faith. 

Where's the Kale?

I haven't posted for a few days, not sure what I wanted to share.

It's frigid-cold outside. I'm inside, looking out from my window. The yard is covered with snow. The trees are bare. It looks bleak. The wind is blowing, making it seem colder than the actual temperature. Nothing much is happening, except...

there are animal tracks in the snow in all directions. I see exactly where the rabbits and squirrels were scampering. There's been a lot of action under the bird feeder. Just now, one large bird flew overhead; I didn't see the bird, but I saw its shadow flying across the snow.

If there are favorite moments of a winter day, they are usually at night when I take our dog out, and the darkness is brightened by the whiteness of the snow, the air is sharply brisk, and there is a hush over everything that is not as evident in other seasons. Those are quiet precious moments.

I've slowed up a lot during the past month. I've been spending many more days at home because of Covid precautions, because of the cold, because of a painful ankle. It seems like not much has been happening. I know otherwise.

Some thoughts I become aware of only in stillness. Some things I see only by the loving imprints left on my heart. I hear the whisperings of the wind when all other sounds are silent. I know the bird is there because I see its shadow.

Winter may often seem long, bleak, and dreary, however the season is very much bright and alive when I pause to notice. The signs are there. This gives me hope, and hope motivates me.

So now I'm looking out toward the garden. Where's the kale?? The rabbits got to it. I see their tracks in the snow where I had planted kale last spring. What I did not harvest in the fall, I just left there where it froze. The rabbits have had a feast on what I planted many months ago. I wish I could've seen them. Even though I didn't see them, I do know they were there.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Pressing On

I'm a Packers fan. This season's playoff loss was stunning and devastating. Devastating for fans, devastating for the team. Devastating because this really seemed to be the year for the Superbowl.

How to deal with defeat? Fall back? Or rise from it?

I began considering when in my life I experienced personal defeat. Well, actually - it's now.

It was after a cancer diagnosis, chemo, and oncology rehab that I began running. Never did I honestly think that as an adult I could ever run a mile, much less a 5K. But I did it. And I was surprised how much I enjoy running.

I used to think that running was for other more athletic people. I never even considered it because of a ski accident long ago causing a broken ankle. The foot has had limited flexibility since then. So I was amazed when I began running short distances. I didn't know I could do it until I tried. And I learned we can do so much more than we think we can.

The past few days the ankle has been painful, even when walking around the house. No doubt it is arthritis that set in. It's been painful before, but I've always recovered. This feels different. This feels defeating.

Today I watched Green Bay Packer Running Back AJ Dillon give an interview after last night's loss. He described it as "heart-breaking." As to how he picks himself up from this defeat, he says, "always look to how to get better." He is not dwelling in defeat. As to a future Superbowl, he says, "I'm going to do everything in my power to get that done, however we got to do it, whatever it takes...I don't know how we're going to get there - it's going to happen."

AJ Dillon has unshakeable confidence. Experiencing defeat is not going to deter him from his goal.

So I am not giving up on running. I will continue to do whatever it takes. Ice, heat, massage, gentle exercises. "Always look to how to get better." This is the hopeful response.

One of my fav Scripture verses: ...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 13-14.

Pressing on. Forward and upward. Rising from defeat.

It's going to happen.

Hospitality

"Don't settle for good when amazing is available." Brian Orme.

Last night I watched a video of a woman who was describing what it was like for her when she and her husband were invited for dinner at the home of someone she very greatly admired. She was happy for the invitation. She and her husband would be the only guests.

When they arrived, she was amazed at how very beautiful the table was  - it was excellently set. (I imagined a lovely tablecloth, the best place settings, maybe even flowers and candles.) The woman said that her friend "set the atmosphere" in the home.

When they sat down to eat, it was not a simple meal, but six courses of food were served, and I believe she said they were prepared from family recipes.

As the woman was recounting this, tears came to her eyes. She was still so very moved by the hospitality that was offered to her and her husband. In a way, she felt unworthy to be served in such an extravagant way. They were truly made to feel like honored guests.

Today I read a short passage written by Ven. Thomas A Kempis. I stopped and re-read this sentence: "He who at table places the best portion before his brother rather than himself places before Jesus a feast and a honeycomb of charity."

I plead guilty to sometimes dividing up the dessert to be served and wanting to keep the largest portion for myself. (I mean, who would know?) Or serving a meal hastily put together just to get it to the table so everyone is satisfied, but not really "honored." I do need to take it up a notch when it comes to hospitality, even for those I live with. They deserve it.

"Don't settle for good when amazing is available." Brian Orme.

Value Values

What do we value in life? Where do we tend to invest our time and our energy? Is it by default - whatever we fall back on? Or is it by deliberate choice?

I recently heard a man say that he wrote down everything he could imagine of what was important to him. He came up with a list of about 100 items. Then he circled the 60 that he valued more than the others. From there he crossed out those of lesser importance so he had a list of 30. He continued from there until he finally decided on the three very most important values in his life. That's where he was going to invest his talents, skills, and resources. He would value his values.

I came up with a list of 4. I've written them down and I've been looking at them each morning. It helps me focus on what I truly value. I want to make decisions and direct my activities in ways that invest in what is most important to me. This will often call me to "sacrifice the less for the more." "The more" is what I truly treasure.

For where your treasure is, your heart will be there also. Matthew 6:21.

The Living Word of God

When I was in high school, I had a Latin teacher that I truly admired. She was very intelligent and she had a twinkle in her eye, like she was always seeing humor, even in serious situations. On a special occasion she gave me a card. Because it was handwritten, I felt it was a message just for me. It said that she hoped I would read Psalm 119, like a hundred times.

I remember looking at Psalm 119 and feeling disappointed. It wasn't especially inspiring. It was all about the law. I was young and at that time, I was all about freedom.

Today I was looking for a particular verse in the Bible and I turned to Psalm 119. As I began reading, the meaning began exploding to me. I think I could take separate verses and read them over and over, maybe a hundred times, and be inspired by them. What a difference for me today from then.

I've been thinking about the many ways God continually speaks to us. It's what he does. Whether we acknowlege it or not, his presence is everywhere, and he speaks through his presence. When we honor his presence, we are in a position to receive his word to us. And "...my word that goes forth from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will ...achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11. His word contains the power to bring what he speaks to fruition. It could be immediately, in days, weeks, or even years.

When I make a wise decision or do a good deed that accomplishes much, it may well be the fruit of God's word that I received even years ago. Like Psalm 119 that my teacher shared with me - I finally have some understanding so very many years later.

A friend of mine had a huge plant that I admired. She gave me a few cuttings. I was to put them into soil, water them and watch them grow. She said it would take about six months. Time went on and on and I saw nothing happening. She said, "Be patient." It was nearly a year later that I saw some new green growth emerge at the base of one cutting, and new growth appearing at the top of another. Finally! 

A few years later, I now have new plants (one I gave away), and - yes - I am still waiting for new growth from two other cuttings. My friend said, "It might not look like it, but there is a lot happening under the soil." 

This is a lesson for me about God's word planted within us. We need expectant hope. In God's perfect timing, even when it seems to be a long time coming, his word to us will bear fruit.

Endurance

My husband called me to watch a news story on TV. It was about a handsome black dog named Russ. The owner had been hiking on the trails in California with Russ when something "spooked" the dog and he took off. Russ was nowhere to be found.

Months passed. There were extensive wildfires where the dog had been. The owner gave up hope of ever seeing Russ again. Then the winter snows came.

Apparently someone was snowshoeing and spotted something black in the snow. Looking closer, two bright eyes could be seen. It was a dog curled up in the hollow of a tree! Animal rescuers were called in to save the dog. The dog was microchipped, so the owner, a few hundred miles away, was notified. Russ survived the wildfires, he survived the cold snow, and he was reunited with his owner.

What a wonderful story of hope. Even when hope is abandoned in a dire situation, there is still the possibility of good news! The owner had given up hope, but the dog Russ demonstrated hope. He survived against all odds.

"...hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance." Romans 8: 24-25.  

Pray it Forward

I received a message from a friend who was really worried. Her husband had been treated for cancer and now they were waiting for biopsy results to see whether cancer had returned.

That message tugged on my heart. I knew I had to pray. I would pray that the biopsy be benign and that any cancer "be gone!"

I do feel drawn to reach out to people diagnosed with cancer. I've had the experience of being diagnosed with two different kinds of cancer, going through surgical procedures, chemo, radiation, and followed by two years of immunotherapy. More significant than all of that, I truly experienced support of so many people, many I didn't even know. I made strong connections and friendships. Most powerful was prayer support. Today I am no longer being treated; the doctor says, "Clear evidence of remission." I am so very grateful.

That may be why I feel so strongly to reach out to share what I received. I let my friend know that I was praying, and I contacted another who put the word out to several prayer groups to pray for "Jim." And so I was thrilled to hear that the awaited biopsy results were negative. Good news!

I like to think that whenever we are blessed in an area of life, that blessing can be extended to others in similar circumstances. For me, I was blessed with prayer support. Now I have opportunities to "pray it forward."

Praise be to God "who encourages us in all our troubles so that we can encourage those in any trouble with the encouragement we ourselves have received from God." cf. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4.

Pray it forward.

Don't Miss the Waterfall

My husband and I were driving along an unfamiliar rural road. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I had seen a waterfall - not where I would've even expected to see one. "Wait- let's go back. I think I saw a waterfall!" 

We turned around and drove back in the direction from which we had come. "There! That's where I saw it." 

There was a small area where we could park alongside the road. We got out of the car and I opened my phone camera. We walked up as close as we could to see the rushing waters flowing down the rocks. It was beautiful. We paused for a few minutes to enjoy what we were seeing, then we got back into our car and continued on.

In the busyness of our days, we often rush ahead and miss the beauty of the scenery around us. The beauty is there if we just pause and look for it.

My resolution today is to stop, take a beauty-break, and look around me. What do I see? Where is the beauty in this moment? I don't want to pass it by. I want to stop, to enjoy, and say "Thanks, God."

A New Beginning

2022 - A new year and for me a time for new beginnings.

This morning I learned something about the Bible I had not noticed before. The very first book of the Bible - Genesis - begins, "In the beginning...God said..." (verses 1 - 3). AND the beginning of the Gospel of John in the New Testament reads, "In the beginning was the Word..." (verse 1). How cool is that? In fact, the whole Bible is pretty much saturated with beginnings and making all things new.

So I began to think, what am I beginning today? What will be new for me? What is it I will create? 

The Bible begins with an account of God creating by speaking. The New Testament portrays Jesus as being the Living Word of God. "For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, ...all things were created through him and for him." Colossians 2:16.

I don't think it is a stretch to say that, when I am creating, I can be participating in the creative work of God, and that's awesome. May what I do be a benefit for others, and give God the Creator recognition and glory. 

I expect that there will be new discoveries along the way. A creative life is an adventurous one! 

Here I Begin

A new year, and I am inspired to begin a new blog. I've decided not just to think about it, but to do it. My 2022 resolution.

On Twitter yesterday I read someone's question: Is there any life beyond death? I was astonished (I really shouldn't have been) that the overwhelming responses were that our earthly time is all we have - nothing more. Or, if there is more, we return to "energy." Other people posted something like, we live on in the works we have accomplished. Very few mentioned the fact of life eternal.

How could I respond to that question? Simply that if anyone wants to know if there is an eternal life beyond death, the place to begin is knowing Jesus. If anyone would doubt that, just give Him a chance. Start exactly where you are -  in any circumstances of doubt or unbelief. Jesus says He is the Way, and the journey begins with the first step. And for those who know Jesus, there is always more to learn.

"Now this is eternal life, that they should know you the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ." John 17:3.

"He who believes in me will live, even though he dies..." John 11:26.