May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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.
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.
John 14:5-7
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can
we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If
you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you
do know him and have seen him.”
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You
believe in God; believe also in me.”-Jesus
My dad worked with his hands. As a welder, he could fix anything made of metal. He repaired cars, faucets, bicycles, and about anything we broke. When I was an adult, I still called on him to fix things.
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We saw him for the work of his hands, but as I’ve aged and
gained some wisdom, I’ve realized how much dad worked with his brain. His hands
didn’t just magically fix things; no, he reasoned out what needed to be done.
He had the intelligence and thought process of an engineer and even more—he cared. He loved Jesus
and adored his family, especially his grandkids. If you knew my dad, you most
likely knew his family.
When Jesus talked to the disciples about his future on earth,
he reminded them that he needed to go about his Father’s business. Thomas didn’t
understand where Jesus was going, and Jesus assured him if he knew God, he also
knew him.
The only way to be reconciled with God is through his son, Jesus. They are one with each other and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He connects me to God and fills me with
hope every single day. I thank Jesus for his sacrifice and taking on the sins
of people like me. He didn’t have to obey his Father, and die on the cross, but
he did.
My prayer is for everyone to choose to have their
relationship restored with God through Jesus.
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do
not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we
understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is
seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrews 11:39-40
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what
had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that
only together with us would they be made perfect.
I’d wanted to see the northern lights/aroura borealis, but I
missed it. Sara had posted her photos from her yard and said, “Go outside.” So,
we did. We drove out to an area with fewer lights to see if we could see it,
but they never materialized. If we’d driven farther east, we may have had a
chance, but we were both tired and decided to go home. We tried again the next
night, but nothing materialized. But that’s okay. I enjoyed all the photos of
our grandkids seeing them and all the Facebook posts.
A week later, Tim and I stopped at the local Dollar General and when we went outside, the sunset was stunning. Orange, lavender, and purple painted the sky. God put on a beautiful show of color. The amazing sky reminded me of a truth our pastor spoke of recently.
God has a better plan. I might be disappointed or devastated
because my plans didn’t work out. But God had something better for me. I may
not have gotten the writing opportunity I wanted, but God had a greater plan
for my work.
I didn’t see the northern lights, but I did witness a
glorious sunset that reminded me God is with me.
No matter the circumstances, God is faithful, and Jesus loves
you. He’s always with us if we invite Him on our journey.
Ask Jesus to join you on your everyday walk.
1 John 1: 5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is
light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have
fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live
out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us
from all sin.
My husband, Tim, said to me, “A good shoe is a shoe you don’t notice.”
I have a hard time buying comfortable shoes. My feet have
not aged well, and I can no longer wear heels (not that I wore them much
anyway) and I need a wide footbed. My go-to brands have become Topo for tennis
shoes and Earth shoes for “dress” shoes. Fortunately, once I figure out what
size I need, they usually fit me when I order them online.
One day, Tim, Rosie May, and I walked around the path at the
park. I had on my newest pair of Topos and Tim asked me how they felt. I told
him I didn’t notice any pain, as a matter of fact, I didn’t notice them at all.
That’s when he said they must be a good shoe. Without any tingles, aches, stones
poking through, or pain the shoes marched along content to do their job.
As we continued to chat, the conversation turned to life and
how if we are on the best path, doing the right things—following God’s lead—it’s
kind of like a pair of well-fitting shoes. Guilt isn't poking my conscience because I'm making choices according to God's guidance. I’m
not stumbling over something I shouldn’t have said. My soul is not aching from
misguided intentions, because I’m following the Master’s guidance and walking with Him.
When I take my eyes off of Jesus, I stumble and feel the
pain of my ill-chosen choices, just like I feel the pain from ill-fitted
shoes.
Take the time to listen to God’s lead, seek His wisdom, and walk by His side.
Psalm 59:16-17
But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.
Our neighbor knocked on the door the other evening. He stopped by to share the news we had a nest of baby bunnies in my flower bed. Since we both have dogs, he wanted us to be aware, so Rosie wouldn’t bother it.
Tim and I took a peek and saw the little babies nestled
inside under a tumble of gray fur and grass. The next morning, we went to check
on them, and one of them hopped out. Of course I squealed like a child filled
with joy. The little guy was adorable and big enough to take on the wild world
of nature.
I’m not sure why the momma chose to place her babies in my
flower bed, tucked under the yarrow leaves, but I’m glad she did. Maybe the
soft leaves gave her a feeling of security. Whatever the reason, I’m thankful
we got to witness the beauty of the baby bunny and the joy of new life.
As a momma myself, I wanted to tuck my babies into a secure
place and protect them from the world. Yet, I knew instead I needed to trust
the One who shelters me. As the kids grew up and discovered themselves and secured
a relationship with God, I prayed as I sent them into the world that God would
protect and shield them. Now, our grandchildren have or are leaving the nest,
and I pray over them daily.
God is the refuge in this crazy life.
Seek Him as your shelter.
Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as
crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the
middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the
tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every
month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No
longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be
in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his
face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more
night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for
the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Behold the beauty.
Have you ever seen something so breathtaking you can’t look
away?
On our walk, through Sycamore Park, the Virginia bluebells
are in full bloom. A day after the solar eclipse, we trekked along the paved
trail where there are signs to stay on the path and not walk in the wooded area.
The park personnel are working to restore the flora and fauna. This particular
day, the sky clouded and light rain fell. In that lighting, the blue of the
bluebells shone in gorgeous contrast to the spring green.
All along the path, I couldn’t stop looking at the beautiful
shade of blue that blanketed many areas in the woods. You just don’t see blue
flowers that often and when they’re in clusters, they are simply stunning.
As in awe as I am of floral beauty, I can’t begin to imagine the splendor of heaven. We catch glimpses of what John saw in his vision in Revelation. A river, a tree filled with fruit, eternal light from God himself, oh the glory. The picture painted in Revelation 22 pours hope into my soul. Nature’s beauty in perfect harmony will surround us in heaven.
I hope as you imagine heaven, you see yourself standing at
the throne and praising God. I want to sit by the river and bask in God’s light
and taste the sweet fruit of His presence.
Take a moment from the chaos of this life, imagine heaven,
and fill up on hope.
Matthew 28:5-10
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are
looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just
as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and
tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into
Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet
filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met
them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and
worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and
tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
I cannot visit the mountains without hiking to a waterfall.
My daughter Maggie and her teenagers let me tag along on a
trip to Greenville, SC to visit my youngest daughter, Hannah. Hannah and
Stephen are blessed to live in the beautiful Appalachian Mountain region of our
country where a trip to the mountains is just a car drive away.
On one of our exploration adventures we hiked in the Dupont
State Forest, southeast of Brevard, NC, to Triple Falls waterfall. I enjoyed
the spring foliage and the new life popping in the forest, but at the end of
the trail, the true gem awaited.
The falls roared over the rock face of the cliff, and I
stood and let the water spray my face. As I reflected on the power of the falls,
I considered how powerful God is and how humble and loving Jesus is. With
Easter Sunday and the celebration of Jesus defeating death, the truth of Jesus’
life struck me. He lived in obedience to his Father. In living, he knew his
death would come and that he’d carry the burden of sin for every person. He
knew, yet he obeyed. Even as Jesus died, God knew the outcome. God’s power defeated
death and he breathed life into his son and sent his angels to roll away the
stone.
Jesus died and rose again from an ugly death. Through God’s
power, he lives and loves and wants every soul to follow him and meet him in
heaven.
I pray you have a blessed Easter and consider Jesus invitation
to be your Savior.
Genesis 1:11-13
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and
trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various
kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed
according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according
to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and
there was morning—the third day.
Spring’s first heartbeat honors winter’s last breath. -Angie Weiland Crosby
Tim and I have been walking Rosie at the local park. As we
hike along the trail, I’ve spotted a variety of flowers blooming. The yellow
celandine blankets the forest floor, Dutchman’s breeches wave their miniature
pantaloon shaped petals, and Virginia bluebell leaves are sprouting. Green has
popped all over and the robins are tweeting a welcome to spring.
When I witness the change from winter to warmer weather and
the brown shifting to shades of green, I’m reminded of the creation story. When
God made the world, He added plants. He knew we’d need not only the produce from
the vegetation, but the beauty of the flowers.
As we walked this morning, I considered the Garden of Eden
and the glorious place it must have been. All the amazing plants in God’s
original creation must have looked and smelled incredible. Imagine the perfection.
I’m thankful He blesses me with the beauty of nature in our
little corner. No, we don’t experience a land without scars or blemishes, but
we do have a hint of the place Adam and Eve left behind. The hint of the
possible beauty of heaven fills my heart with hope. As I spy a hyacinth’s fresh
bloom or the brilliant color of a tulip, I’m reminded of how much God loves me.
He cares for the flowers and loves His people even more.
Enjoy spring and appreciate God’s gift of beauty on earth
and the ultimate glory of heaven.
Song of Solomon 12: 11-12
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
Bright yellow flowers bob their heads among the purple petals.
As much as I love winter, I adore the first blooms of spring. In southern Ohio, the daffodils are popping. Have you noticed seasons have their own array of color? Right now we’re seeing a lot of yellow and purple. Forsythia bushes are waving branches of golden blossoms and vinca vines are displaying their periwinkle buds. Soon, the tulips will open and add reds and pinks to the display.
All of these flowers fill my soul with joy. Their beauty gives
me hope. After the cold, dark season of winter, God graces us with a rainbow of
color and days filled with sunshine.
Have you experienced a dark season? They come and go, don’t
they? When I’ve traveled through a dark tunnel in life, hope shined at the end
of the darkness, because I didn’t journey alone. Jesus walks with me
step-by-step. As a believer in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, I’m in their
company every day, no matter the circumstance. The Holy Spirit dwells in my
soul and guides me on the dark days and the bright days. He’s the reason I
never walk alone. We don’t talk much about the Spirit, which is a shame.
God created me to have a physical body and a spiritual soul.
I’m so thankful for both. Although my body is wearing out with time, the Spirit
brings wisdom to my soul. Jesus’ love and grace pour into me and fill me with peace.
As spring arrives and fills the days with beauty, reflect on
the hope, peace, and joy of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s work in your life.
God bless you!
Hebrews 6:19-20
We have
this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner
sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our
behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of
Melchizedek.
wild wind rips the sky—
elfin daffodil bulbs
anchor underground
Before bed, an alert for a serious weather event broadcast on
our screens, both television and phone. A late February storm threatened the
area. The meteorologists called for a tornado watch in our area from 10pm to
6am and thunderstorms.
I slept through whatever storm blew in and after I awoke and
dressed, I checked outside for damage. The birdhouse in the flowerbed had
fallen over. When I righted it, I spied yellow flowers in the corner of the
flowerbed. Miniature daffodils waved their tiny heads at me as if to say we’re
here—we
weathered the storm.
How often in life do I forget I have an anchor for every
storm? Whether weather related or personal, the storms blow in and Jesus
anchors my soul. The Holy Spirit entwines my roots with the Father’s. Like the
elfin daffodils, I’ve survived life’s storms because my roots are buried in the
One who gives life.
Psalm 62:8 reminds me God is my refuge. He’s there for me
all the time. What a comfort to know God loves me so much. He loves you so
much, too.
Seek the One who anchors your soul in Him.
Ephesians
3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with
power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the
Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is
the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that
you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I taste the
love Jesus bestows on me.
Steam rose
from the toasted English muffin. I popped it onto my plate, then scooped butter
from the plastic tub. As I spread the dairy goodness over the muffin, the
butter melted and oozed into every nook and cranny and soaked deep into the
bread. When I bit into my breakfast, the butter melted into my mouth and filled
me with delight.
The way the
butter melted into every space and filled up all the dips reminded me of the way
Jesus' love pours over me. His compassion drenches my heart, mind, soul, and very
being. He replaces the emptiness in my soul with his power and strength. I wish
I could say everyday life is easy because of Jesus' love, but that would be a
lie. Pain and sin creep in. Despair and stress take over. Paul and Barnabas said
in the book of Acts, “We must go through many hardships to enter the
kingdom of God.” I know living on earth has many difficulties, but I’m thinking of the ones that are difficulties we have as believers. Life differs
around the world, so I can only speak of my experience. In situations where I’ve
been disregarded because of my faith, or belittled, I know God's love keeps me going.
We have the
promise to be filled to fullness, totally saturated with the love and joy of
Jesus. Praise God for his love.