Hope Remains

Psalm 31:24
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

“The hope is in the yes, when times go bad.” -Tim

Tim and I sat in the tour boat waiting for the rain to pass. We’d been in Maine a few days and had planned a trip to see the puffins, a fun little bird with a colorful beak who lives at sea. As the drizzle continued, I wondered if we were going to get to go out to the island they lived on. To see the puffins, we needed to travel by boat about a half-an-hour out into the Atlantic Ocean. The guide warned, due to fog, we might not have the best view. Even with these hindrances, my hope of seeing these adorable birds kept me afloat. Instead of doubting and grumbling, I held on to my dream of watching these birds bob in the water.

In time, the rain stopped, and our tour boat took us into the waters, and we watched the puffins bob up and down, plus an array of other ocean birds on Eastern Egg Rock Island. I’m thankful I didn’t give up and go home, but waited for the yes from the guide to move ahead.

I could have pouted or given up while I sat in the boat and waited. Instead, I hung on to the hope we’d get to go out on the water. When life takes a difficult turn, or circumstances feel unbearable, instead of blaming God, reach out to Him and hope in the yes. Yes—meaning I trust you Lord in all my circumstances. He promises to be with us in all things. 

As long as we turn to God and not away from Him, hope remains.

Be strong, take heart, seek Him, and wait for Him.

New Life Awaits

The hyacinth and tulip leaves have pushed through 

the cold January ground and reminded me of the coming of spring. 

I love that God thought to give us plants, some to eat and some to 

simply enjoy. As I wait through the quiet of winter, I look forward to 

new life in my garden, just as I look forward to heaven.

Enjoy the beauty of the earth until we see the magnificence of heaven.

 Genesis 1:11 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.

He Broke the Record

2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The crowd cheered.

Our grandson, Aiden, a senior on the varsity basketball team, broke his own record. A few weeks previous, he set the record for the most three-point shots in a game at his school. He made eight three-point shots (baskets made beyond the arc.) Impressive. Then a few games later, he hit nine three-point shots and smashed his own record.

How did this young man do it? Practice, self-control, and knowledge of the game played a big part. He stayed after practice and challenged himself to make as many baskets in a row as he could. His perseverance paid off. Even in his excitement to break his record, his ability to be a good teammate shined throughout the game. After the game, his team gathered around him, hugged him, and congratulated him. They showed him how much they valued him.

Peter writes to make every effort to pursue faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, affection, and love. Those are all qualities I strive toward in everything I do. They all help me live a productive life for God. Sometimes it takes more work than others. Self-control is a tricky one for me, especially with sweets, but I continue to try. Jesus set the perfect example as He ministered to everyone who would listen. God asks me to grow in knowledge of Him every day. And I’m so thankful He gave us the Bible to read and study. I strive to be a better person, as I live my life as a believer and follower of Christ.

Seek ways to grow.

Mt Zion Ridge Press Online Conference Coming in May

 I can say from my own writing experience, this is a conference I'll attend every year. I met my publisher and editor through this conference, It's a great place to network and learn from speakers who have been in the field of Christian writing for years, and you can attend in your favorite chair and comfy clothes.  

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Snow like Wool

I can't resist sharing a photo of the snow we got on Sunday.

In Psalm 147, the psalmist mentions that God spreads the snow like wool. 

I can imagine shepherds pulling wool, sheered from their sheep, over them at night to protect themselves from the cold.

Could it be that God covers the land with snow as a reminder of His provision?

It's a comfort to know God is always with us.

He loves us.

 

I Am Not Alone

Matthew 10:16-20

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

God is with me.

A crowd gathered for the varsity boys’ game. On the opposite side of the gym from us, the opposing team’s fans came together. A sea of blue filled the bleachers, except for one lone soul dressed in gold and black (our team colors.) When I noticed the fellow dressed in different colors, my first thought was sympathy. A fan for our team sat amidst the opposing fans, but then I wondered if he wore those colors without thinking about what everyone else was wearing.

I’ll never know the answer, but the visual reminded me of folks who stand alone in their faith or are on their own in their circumstances. Missionaries go to places where they may be the only ones who believe in Jesus, and they are responsible for living a life of faith. Teachers stand before classes and work so hard to instill a love of learning in their students. Ministers sometimes feel alone, even surrounded by many.

I’m sure the apostles felt singled out and on their own many times. Jesus sent them out without earthly possessions and asked them to go to towns less than welcoming. They traveled and taught about Jesus, even though they could be flogged or end up in jail. What did the apostles know that kept them going? God was with them. They were not alone. The Holy Spirit dwelled in their hearts.

Writing is a solitary activity, but I know beyond a doubt, God is beside me as I write. He’s with me when I’m tired, disappointed, excited, happy, broken, or weary. No matter what my circumstances may be, God stands with me, picks me up, heals my heart, and keeps me going. For that, I am so thankful.

God is with His people, even when we feel alone.

From Our Chaos

My daughter, Maggie, made this beautiful piece of embroidered art.

I'm happy we share a love of fiber arts. 

When I create embroidered art, my box of floss has a

chaotic array of tangles, 

but when each strand is threaded through a needle

and applied to the fabric, a work of art emerges.

Art is chaos taking shape, much like life. 

God mends our broken strands, and 

He takes our loose threads and weaves beauty.

From our chaos, He creates a work of art.