Them Bones

Ezekiel 37: 1-6
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

And he did.

On one of our walks at the park, I glanced up. Branches of the white birch bark on the bare trees shone against the brilliant blue sky. The white birch branches reminded me of the story in Ezekiel where God sent him to the valley of the bones and asked him to prophesy to the bones. Ezekiel may have wondered why, but he obeyed. God knew in His sovereignty that the bones would rise again in new life. Ezekiel witnessed a miracle.

On days when it’s hard to put one foot in front of the other, I hang on to God’s promises of hope. Some days my fibromyalgia flairs and my body doesn’t want to move. On those days, I feel like the dry bones in the valley. Other days, the fibro stays calm, and you’d never know I had any health issues. Those days I thank God for the breath of life.

When my eyes caught sight of the beautiful bare branches and the blue sky, God reminded me to rest when I need to and engage in life when I can. You see, I still have work to do on this earth. So did Ezekiel. He had a story to tell and bones to raise. On the days I feel like I’m in the valley with the bones, I’m reminded of the breath God breathed into the bones and the breath He breaths into me.

Thank God for all days and know He is with you.

Contemplate

Contemplation.

I wonder what these two ducks are thinking.

How safe is the water to swim in?

The bugs they'll catch and eat.

Where are their friends and family?

Many of us live busy lives, moving from one thing to the next without much thought.

God reminds me to ponder the possibilities before I leap ahead.

I'm not always good at it, but I know in my heart-- 

God wants me to consider everything through His lens.

 

Stand Strong and Courageous

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

I salute the men and women who serve in the military.

My dad served in World War 2. He never talked about his time overseas, much. I know he was stationed in the Philippines and New Guinea for a time. After he had passed away, my sister discovered a letter written to our mom where the commanding officer stated dad had received a Soldier’s Medal for saving the life of a fellow soldier. I’m proud of my dad for having the courage to rescue the man.

I thank the Lord for men and women who choose to stand strong and courageous for our country. So many have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to keep American soil safe. I thank the Lord for the families who stand beside the military folks. The children who miss their parent or both parents, the spouses who hold the home together, the parents of the enlisted all need our prayers.

Moses handed the leadership to Joshua to lead the people into the promised land. They had to be prepared to take the land and win the battle. God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous.

I may not be in the military, but I am in a battle zone. The war between good and evil surrounds me every day. God calls me to be strong—His strength fills me—He calls me to be courageous—To not be discouraged. The best news is—God goes with me wherever I go!

This Veteran’s Day, pray for our military, thank our service people, pray for peace, ask God for strength and courage and fight the spiritual battles with faith and hope. 

A Matter of Perspective

I walked across the living room and caught a glimpse of my lighthouse chimes.

The sun shone through the window and cast a shadow of the wooden piece.

The long skinny lighthouse's shape 

changed into a shorter and wider version of itself.

The perspective changed. 

Had I just seen the shadow, 

I would have assumed the object 

to be very different from the original. 

Isn't that how it is with people sometimes?

We only see a fragment of them

or we assume we see the heart of the person, when we don't.

God sees the real us. He sees beyond the shadows, into our heart.

 

Need Rest?

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." -Anne Shirley

This week the leaves on the deciduous trees burst with color. Autumn shone her glorious scarlets, golds, and ambers. God’s paintbrush kissed the sky with azure blue. What a lovely time.

As I look at the trees and think about their preparation for winter, I know they will rest. Each oak and maple will shed their leaves, and their systems will slow as they slumber through the cold months. Sometimes, I envy the trees. They have a cycle that guarantees time for respite and refreshment.

In the busy world we live in, rest seems like a bad word. Stopping to admire the trees and renew the spirit is often overlooked. Maybe because I’m older now, I value slowing down and sitting with Jesus more than ever.

In Matthew 11, Jesus is speaking to a group of people in Galilee, and I’m guessing He’s also addressing his disciples. The folks He preached to experienced weariness. They were in the midst of the friction between those who believed Jesus was Messiah and those who ridiculed Him. Jesus invited them to come to Him. When he mentions his humble and gentle heart, it feels like a warm hug for my weary soul. Jesus’ yoke is easy, and His burden is light because Jesus shares our needs with God, who hears our prayers.

What a beautiful cycle the trees experience and what an amazing cycle we have when Jesus takes our burdens and carries them to Father God. Our load is eased, and we can rest.

Take your cares to Jesus, find rest in Him, and value the time to slow down.

A Beautiful Moment

About two weeks ago, I plucked the last of the zinnias 

and cosmos and pulled the stems and roots out of the ground. 

I'll miss their bright colors until next summer, 

but their beauty never quite leaves me,

thanks to photos which captured the moment.

I hope you are capturing beautiful moments this week.

 

Place in This World

Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Teach children they have a purpose.

My friend, Bev, and I pulled into the parking lot at Truist Arena on the Northern Kentucky University campus. We looked forward to watching For King and Country perform their songs. As we filed in, and found our seats, I looked around at all the people. Folks united, not just to hear the music, but to worship God.

We were not disappointed. Joel and Luke Smallbone and their band poured all of their energy into leading us in a time of rejoicing. In between the songs, they told their story. Their family had traveled from Australia to America, but when they arrived in Nashville, their father’s job fell through. The children were young. They’d moved to a new country from a beautiful home, and now they had nothing to speak of. No furniture, no car, no job. The beautiful thing about their story is that their parents gathered those youngsters together and asked them to pray. They gave them specific items to pray for, and the kids witnessed answered prayers. They involved them in the work they needed to do to make ends meet. They gave them responsibility.

The Smallbone children grew into adults with purpose. Doors opened for them as they trusted God with their lives. No, we won’t all be in the limelight, but whatever we do for God is important. Know you have purpose in whatever you do. Seek God’s guidance and let the Holy Spirit lead.

Share God with children. Teach them God gives purpose to every person, teach them to pray and trust the Father, then lead by example.

The Joy of Discovery

We followed our nature guide along a trail to the creek.

As I walked behind the fourth graders, I thought about 

how thankful I was that I could still volunteer for field trips.

The joy of discovery on the girls' faces, as they found fossils in the rocks

and interesting plants and fungi, filled my heart with gratitude.

God's creation is incredible. Look up, down, 

and around next time you're outside and experience the joy of discovery.

We're never too old to be blessed by wonder.

 

Book Review: The Blooming of Delphinium

I haven't posted a book review for awhile. I just finished this story and wanted to share.

The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni

I’m not sure where to start with this story. I chose to read and review it because I had read Varni’s first book, On Moonberry Lake and enjoyed it, plus I loved this gorgeous cover. I love books with quirky characters and small communities and these books gave me plenty of those. When I first started reading The Blooming of Delphinium I wasn’t sure I was going to like the book, some strange things occurred and well, I just didn’t know what to think, but then the magic happened and I fell in love with the characters and the beautiful message threaded through the story. You will love Henry and his comrades as much as Delphi does. You’ll root for Elliot, who reminded me of Oliver in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie series. Varni brings to light the much-needed subject of loving on the elderly and respecting their need to matter. Along with that she pens a lovely romance. When I finished this wonderful book, I sat back and considered all it encompassed. It’s a great story and you should read it. I received a free copy and opinions are my own.

The Heavens Declare

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
      the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

The sun’s solar flares project toward the earth, while the earth’s magnetic field protects and sends the flares into the sky.

The northern lights usually dance in the sky at the poles of the earth, but this year, 2024, the flares trended toward epic and have shown off well into the states.

I’ve dreamed of seeing the Aurora Borealis all my life. Now at sixty-seven years old, my dream came true. Tim and I tried to see them in May when they visited Ohio, but they weren’t visible where we were. I also didn’t know I needed to search for them with my phone’s camera. Then, I heard they were back on October 10. Sure enough, in our backyard, the ribbons of color danced across the sky. Just when I thought they had ended, a strip of red appeared over the condo building next to ours and the show continued.

My daughter, Maggie, commented that my grandkids had experienced two solar eclipses and the northern lights. Our youngest grandchild is ten and here I am in my sixties just experiencing these phenomena.

As I stood in wonder of the Aurora Borealis as it shifted and changed, my mind went to the marvel of what heaven would be like. Since God has created such beauty on earth, imagine what our eternal home will be like.

We tend to look at the sky for its beauty. Clouds billow, lightning flashes, stars twinkle, rainbows shine, and the moon waxes and wanes. The heavens do declare the glory of God as He works with His hands to create magnificent sights.

In the storms, troubling times, and everyday life look to the sky and remember who created you and what He has in store in heaven. What a glorious day it will be to step onto the streets of gold.

Aurora Borealis

I missed the Aurora Borealis in May when it visited Ohio. 

On October 10, 2024, I stepped outside 

with the hope of seeing the colors dance in the sky.

As I searched the heavens, my granddaughter, 

Dylan, sent photos of what she saw, so I knew I had a chance.

Sure enough, as I gazed the sky with my phone's camera,

the beautiful colors appeared.

Dylan sent more pics and other posts started showing up on

Facebook of the beauty God painted across the skies.

I love how God's creation brings people together

as it glorifies Him.

 

Little Lamb

Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Matthew 18:12-14
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

I'd find the widest maple tree in the yard and squeeze myself as small as I
could, behind it. The child who was 'it' would call out "Ready or not, here I come" to let us know they were searching for our hiding place. As a kid my neighbors, cousins, and I spent endless hours playing hide-and-go-seek. We especially loved playing from dusk to dark. But in the game of hide-and-go-seek, we didn't want to be caught, or we'd be the 'it' person.

As an adult, I rarely play that old childhood game, unless one of my grandkids talks me into it. Even though I haven’t hidden behind a tree lately, I'm sorry to say there have been times I've played hide-and-go-seek with God. I've buried my head and ignored His wisdom, His call, or His word. Yet, He came after me and sought me out. Why? Because He loves me no matter what. God, who created the universe, called me by name and told me I am His child.

Jesus is often called the Good Shepherd. As a shepherd, He searches for that single sheep that strays away from the flock. He chases that one little lamb who lost his way. He seeks in the shadows, climbs the mountains, tears down the walls to find that one who is lost. Once He finds them, He holds them, loves them and gives hope beyond hope. Jesus said He's happier about finding that one lost sheep than about the ninety-nine who stayed put. Why? Because Jesus wants every child of His to be found, to be saved from the evil in this world. He wants every soul to rest in Him.

In this time of uncertainty and sorrow, seek Jesus' arms. He loves like no other.

Glorious Color

My neighbor grows this beautiful plant in their garden. 

I believe they are sea oats, not common in Ohio. 

The color on the heads reminds me autumn has 

finally tumbled into Ohio, along with cooler weather

and glorious colors from God's paintbrush.

Continue to pray for the folks in North Carolina,

especially the people working to bring sense from the chaos.

These times make me appreciate the ones who

repair and restore electricity and water and those

who are cleaning up.

Blessings!

 

You've Got a Friend in Me

John 11:4-7
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

A friend’s a friend forever... 

Reunion class of 1979

Krista, Debbie, and I drove in the wind and rain to Grayson, Kentucky, to join friends we’d known for forty-plus years. The alumni reunion was taking place over the weekend, and we looked forward to spending time with our forever friends.

Our crew of teenage girls met in 1975, while some of us knew each other before we arrived on the campus of Kentucky Christian College. That year in the girls' dorm, God bound us together. Over the course of time, we went our separate ways. I kept in touch with a couple of the girls through letters and brief visits, but it wasn’t the same, until several of us gathered at Helen’s house (she and Terry stayed in Grayson) several years ago. Through Facebook, we’d found each other again, and when we gathered, it was like we’d never been apart.

Like this year, we sang songs, shared prayer needs, hugged, and loved on each other. My soul needed the restoration of these dear friends.

In John 11, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus needed Jesus. Lazarus was sick to the point he died, but Jesus, in His wisdom and knowledge, knew Lazarus would live. Without the dear friendship with Jesus, Lazarus would have stayed in the tomb. When Jesus arrived, Mary questioned why he took so long. This is the time Jesus wept. The bond between Jesus, Mary, and Martha brought the sister’s comfort, and the love Jesus had for Lazarus raised him from the dead.

Our friendships on earth won’t bring people back to life, but they can restore a hurting heart or a weary soul. Fellowship with my friends, who believe Jesus is Christ and God is our Father, fills my soul with joy. I pray you have friends like mine, but more than anything, I pray you are friends with Jesus.

Seek Jesus and fellowship with believers. Jesus listens and loves.

 

Please, Pray

I don't have anything clever to say today. 

My heart is hurting for all the communities devastated 

by Hurricane Helene. 

With family living in Ashville, NC and Greenville, SC, this hit hard. 

The devastation is horrific--loss of lives, resources, 

belongings, businesses, and more.

From where I am in Ohio, I can't do much to help physically, 

but I can pray and there are places to donate financially. 

The photo of the cross at Pretty Place in Camp Greenville 

(who suffered a lot of damage) reminds me 

to pray for family, friends, and everyone caught in the devastation. 

Please pray with me.

 

Embrace the Little

Luke 12:27-31
“Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

It's the little things.

I miss when I was a child, and I played in the yard among the flowers, soft grass, and trees. For hours, I’d pretend to build houses for fairies and trolls. The days rolled by in simple appreciation of acorns, bark, leaves, and twigs. I never gave thought to how they got there. I just knew discovering a new item for my playtime filled me with joy.

Perhaps that’s why I love walking in the woods, along trails where flowers bloom. And I enjoy nurturing a garden of wildflowers and herbs. Although I appreciate other people’s flowers, the ones planted every year, there’s something magical about the ones which push through the soil every spring on their own, like black-eyed Susan’s, columbines, and daylilies.

When I hike in the park with Tim and Rosie, I adore the changing in flora. Different plants seem to bloom all year. Now with fall in our sights, a sweet little bloom has sprouted. The wild blue aster is no more than a half inch in diameter, yet it is one of the prettiest blossoms on the path. The lavender petals and yellow center add beauty to the woods.

That little flower reminds me “big” things are fine, but the little things often mean the most. By things, I mean moments, delights, hugs, smiles, encouraging words, a butterfly, a child taking my hand, a kiss, a flower, my dog’s faithfulness. So many things seem little, but in reality, they are the big. The blessings bestowed by God. Instead of worrying about the big things, seek God in all things and embrace the blessings.

I’m thankful for every one of you who takes the time to read this blog. That’s a little thing that blesses my heart in a big way.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Sunday marked the beginning of autumn. 

The day came in with ninety-degree temperatures in Ohio.

Even at that, I have the hope the days will cool as the month moves along.

I've watched squirrels gather their stores for the winter,

and talked to folks who have canned their vegetables and fruit.

I prepare by welcoming the season with open arms.

I hope this time of year, whatever it brings, offers you blessing and peace.

 

In Jesus' Name

Matthew 6:7-13
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’”

I went to dinner with my daughter, Sara, and her family one evening. My granddaughter, Ella Cate, offered the prayer for our food. Sara reminded her to address God at the beginning of the prayer, then end the prayer in Jesus’ name. As we ate, Sara and I talked about why she taught Ella Cate to do that.

We address God because He is the creator of all mankind and our Father. We end asking in Jesus’ name because He is the one who restored our relationship with God after Adam and Eve disobeyed.

God made me, He breathed life in me, and He is the one who hears every prayer of every person. The beautiful thing is—He wants to hear from us.

When Adam and Eve failed to listen to God in the garden, they broke our bond with God. But Jesus restored it. He connected us back to the Father through his sacrifice on the cross.

When I pray, I want to address God and seek Him. Then, I want to speak the prayer in Jesus’ name. The Holy Spirit is in this too. The Spirit speaks when I can’t. He carries my prayers to God.

As Jesus teaches in the Lord’s prayer—Speak to God in reverence, seek to be a part of His kingdom. Do the tasks and touch the lives He lays on your heart. Ask for provision and forgive others. Seek protection from the temptations in this world, and be covered with grace, so the devil stays away. All of this in Jesus’ name.

Golden Beauties

Even with the lack of rain in our area, these beauties are blooming in the park.

The showy golden blooms of the helanthus decapetalus (thinleaf sunflower)

brightened the path we walked on. 

I'm always amazed at the variety of flowers in our area, and the glorious colors.

Their golden hue reminds me cooler weather is coming soon.

 

Grant me the Serenity

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” -The Serenity Prayer

This past week, I spent a couple of hours pulling expired black-eyed Susans out of my flower bed. Their brown eyes winked at me and said, “We’re done.” As I popped them out of the ground, I felt the muscles in my legs pull.

As I ripped the stems from the soil, I found room to move one of my lavender plants. I had planted the English lavender too close to the French lavender, and the French version took over the English one. After digging up and dividing the English lavender, it now has plenty of room to grow.

Change isn’t easy, but it needed to happen in the flower bed. The dead plants needed removed and the lavender needed space to flourish.

I’ve never been great with change. As I’ve grown older and hopefully wiser, I’m a little better, but at times uncomfortable and uncertain. The uncertainty is what stirs my anxiety. The not knowing why a change happened, or why I should make a change. I’m sure you get it. I don’t know many people who embrace a shift in life and roll with it, without struggle or question.

In the flower bed, the process gave way to growth. Removing the dead stems and moving the lavender allowed the garden to grow again. Even though my leg muscles ached, the rearrangement of the garden was good. Most of the time, change leads to personal growth, even when I don’t like it.

In life, I’ve had to accept the things I can’t change and place them in God’s hands and trust Him with all my heart. I’ve had to muster the courage to change what I could, still trusting God with the results as I prayed for understanding.

I’m thankful Jesus never changes. He stays the same, no matter what, and I can depend on Him.

Pray about change and trust God.

God's Gifts

The visitors who come to my flowers bring me joy.

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds flit from flower to flower.

They search for the sweet nectar.

Like these creatures, people go from one thing to another 

looking for the next best thing.

That's natural for the bugs and birds, but for people, it's exhausting.

Take time to stop and experience God's gifts.

Seek to be satisfied by His love and grace.

 

Why Worry?

Luke 22:25-26
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Worry is worshipping your problem. Prayer is surrendering your problem.”

I remember the day I walked Sara to the huge yellow school bus at the end of the short driveway and handed her over to ride the bus to school. The next year, I repeated the act with Maggie and a few years later, with Hannah. For a young mom, it wasn’t easy sending my babies to school. I wanted to go with them and watch over them.

Looking back, now that all the girls have made it into their forties, they were prepared for their first steps toward independence. They all succeeded and two of them went on to work in the education field and one in non-profit.

As a young momma, I spent time worrying when I should have been praying. Over the years, those worries did turn into prayers. I still ask God to watch over my kiddos every day. Plus, all the people we’ve added to our family along the way.

Jesus wants me to trust him instead of fretting over something I have no control over. Yes, I prepared my kids for school and moving forward, and that’s all I could do, except pray and be available.

In Luke, Jesus speaks to the people and asks how worry can add a single hour to their life. If anything, worry tears away at us. Worry produces stress, which causes health issues and doesn’t take me anywhere but into a tailspin.

Jesus’ wisdom speaks into my heart as I’m reminded not to worry and instead to pray.

 When worry niggles at you, seek Jesus, pray, and trust Him.

Welcome September

The black-eyed Susans are beginning to fade as September unfolds.

These beauties are my favorite. 

They always show up around my birthday in July.

Sunday, I watched the humming birds enjoy the last of the sweetness.

As summer fades into autumn, I appreciate the season's change. 

I love living where the seasons move in a cycle. 

Cooler weather is around the corner.

And that makes me smile.

 

God's Friend

Isaiah 41:8-9
“But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.

James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet. "Even longer," Pooh
answered. 

I’ve had a few book signings recently. At each one, I’ve met new people, and visited with returning readers and fellow writers. When I went back to my hometown, to the building where my library career started, I had the joy and honor of being in the presence of three of my dear high school friends.

They may cringe when I say this, I might too, but next year marks our fiftieth anniversary for our high school graduation. Time goes too fast.

Even though I moved away from Lynchburg, I’m blessed to have communication with so many I graduated with. Bev, Colleen, Garnet and I reminisced, shared updates on our families, travels, and books we’ve been reading, and simply enjoyed seeing each other.

There’s a song I remember from childhood, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” We may have sung it in girl scouts. I’m not sure, but it still rings true. Those friends from our youth are precious indeed.

One friend I discovered in my youth was Jesus. He’s a friend who sticks closer than a brother. In Isaiah and James, we read of God calling Abraham his friend. How incredible to be known as a friend of the Lord God, who created the world.

Even when I have failed in my friendship with Jesus, he stuck with me. He loved me and called me closer to him. I’m beyond grateful for Jesus’ love and kindness and the sacrifice he gave, so I might be called God’s friend.

Take good care of your friends and seek Jesus, who loves you more than anything.

 

The Beauty of Summer

Using cliches in writing is frowned upon.

So instead of "Stop and smell the roses," 

how about, stop and appreciate the beauty.

Even in the extreme heat that's hit Ohio, 

I can enjoy the beauty of the last flowers of summer.

How about you? What loveliness is around you?

 

When Fear Overwhelms

Luke 8:22-24
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

Lake Erie tossed and turned.

The waves rose and crashed after tornados had attacked the northeastern shores. Tim and I happened to spend a few days at the lake, in Marblehead, after some tough storms went through the area. We watched the water rise and wash the shore like hands reaching to grasp whatever the waves could steal.

The next day, a sailboat ventured onto calmer, yet choppy waters. The boat bobbed up and down and I thought, if I were on it, I might be seasick.

The Sea of Galilee tossed a boat around when Jesus and some of his disciples sailed. Jesus fell asleep and the storm frightened the men. When Jesus woke and settled the waters, he asked, “Where is your faith?”

I may not sail in a boat, but it seems like storms attack our shores too often. A spiritual battle rages around us as good and evil fight for dominance. When fear overwhelms, Jesus asks, “Where is your faith?”

It’s then I understand, this life was not meant to be lived alone. Yes, I’m surrounded by friends and family, but I need more. I need Jesus. I don’t want him to wonder where my faith is. I want him to know my faith remains in him, every day.

When life rocks the boat, and even when it doesn’t cling to Jesus. Have faith in the one who makes a difference.

Shades of the Seasons

The ironweed surrounded by black-eyed Susans 

created a beautiful picture of August.

As we hiked along the path at the park, I noticed several plants

blooming in shades of purple or yellow.

It's interesting to me how the seasons show off their 

various array of colors.

I'm so thankful God created color in this world. 

Some colors offer calm in the chaos, while others 

encourage vibrancy and joy.

Enjoy the many shades of the seasons.

 

All My Hope

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

What do you get when you add three friends, a beautiful day, an outdoor venue, and the Christian musician/singer Crowder?

An amazing night of worship and renewal. 

My friends, Bev and Krista, and I traveled to the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio. White clouds billowed in the blue skies, the temperature hovered around eighty and the place was filled with people ready to worship Jesus.

If you aren’t familiar with David Crowder and his music, he’s a multitalented musician who is one of the most humble and down-to-earth performers I’ve seen. He offers a variety of music that touches the heart. From a few rock/rap songs to gospel to the music I sang with my grammy, no matter what music came from the stage, it all pointed to Jesus.

To be able to sing along and see the open sky filled me with joy and reminded me of the many times I attended church camp and sang outside under the stars. As the words of the songs echoed and we offered a joyful noise, my imagination pictured Jesus returning on the clouds to receive God’s children. What a glorious day that will be.

One song that especially touched my heart, All My Hope, encouraged me. In this broken world, we still have hope.  When nothing else makes sense,  hang on to hope in God and his plan to call his children back to him through Jesus. Even as sin and despair try to separate God’s children from him, Jesus provides the path of grace back to his Father.

Don’t give up. In Jesus, we have hope.

I hope you'll give the song a listen:

Pray for Them All

With August comes the beginning of a new school year.

Let's pray together for-

administrators

teachers

staff

students

parents

homeschoolers

and all involved in educating our children.

Talk to the kiddos going to school about-

being kind

having confidence

showing courtesy

and doing their best.

Pray for the children who need a little extra care, and

the teachers who touch their lives.

Blessings!

 

A Thousand Shards

Psalm 31:12b, 14-18
I have become like broken pottery...

But I trust in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.

Shattered into a thousand shards.

I know what it feels like to have my heart broken like pottery. Don’t you? If you live on this earth long enough, something will most likely shatter your heart and throw you into a tailspin.

Recently, our family endured a difficult situation. Many of us, along with friends and acquaintances, spent the night praying, seeking God’s help when we felt helpless. Thanks be to God, the results were positive and a blessing even in the midst of stress.

My heart still hurts for my family, but I know God’s comforting hand is on us. When someone in my family hurts, I want to take the burden from them and carry it myself, but because I’m not the one who has the strength for such a task, I seek Jesus and ask for his help.

God's servant David struggled and lived a life of turmoil, even in his dedication to God. At times, his heart shattered over the suffering he endured. In the Psalm, he broke down and cried out to his Father to deliver him.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus carries my burdens when I can’t. He takes the exhaustion and worries and lifts them on his shoulders and walks beside me. I am so grateful for his care for myself and my family.

Seek Jesus.