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
Acts 1:13-14 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.
Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas
son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along
with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Prayer is not a last resort—it is our most powerful weapon.
A newspaper clipping was making the rounds on Facebook that
asked everyone to stop what they were doing and pray for our country for one
minute. If we as believers, in the power of prayer to our heavenly Father,
asked for deliverance, wisdom, and truth—imagine the outcome.
At times, I've flung up a prayer in desperation, not
realizing the powerful tool I had at my fingertips. Think about it, as a fumbling
human, I have the opportunity to speak directly to the Creator of the universe.
I can call on Him any time, and He hears me. That's incredible!
Not only does He hear me, He cares about whatever I'm
asking.
In Acts chapter one, the apostles and followers of Jesus
found themselves at a loss. Their beloved teacher and friend had died. Yes, he
rose from the grave, but his closest cohorts found themselves without their
friend and leader. They needed to move forward and establish the church but
were perplexed about the situation.
They didn't sit around and grumble—they prayed—and
not just a few words aimed toward God, they talked to Him constantly. The folks
who knew and loved Jesus talked to God all the time, to seek guidance and
direction for their lives and for the church.
These days I find I have much to pray about—folks
who are ill, our military, Christians who are suffering at the hands of evil, the
unrest in our country, my family and friends, my writing, and so much more.
God calls me to pray. To seek Him, to talk to Him about the
concerns of my heart. I won't get a better offer.
Pray constantly to the One who listens.
Matthew West sings the song of my heart, right now. Please,
take a listen.
Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of
God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
It's baseball season.
I had the joy of attending a Cincinnati Reds baseball game
with my granddaughter and her boyfriend. We sat in my husband’s section, where
he ushers. Before the game, I was watching the behind-the-scenes action on the
field. One of the field crew smoothed the dirt with a drag matt he pulled
behind his small tractor. After he finished, a crew brought out a water hose
and doused the dirt. I had watched this process before, at other games, but at
this game it reminded me of how many people it takes to get things ready ahead
of time.
The folks in the concession stand, the ticket takers,
security, ushers and more, get the baseball stadium ready for the fans and
players.
Isaiah prophesied about the preparation for the coming
Messiah. John the Baptist got things ready. He preached of one coming who would
reconcile people with God. He prepared the way for Jesus. Without John, the
listeners may not have believed Jesus was the Son of God.
Jesus lived on this earth, died for our sins, and rose again
in victory over the grave. Now we have one more thing to prepare for. His return.
He’ll come on clouds of glory and welcome God’s children home.
How am I preparing for that? Reading the Bible to better
understand the life God wants me to lead. Praying for my loved ones and folks
in need and talking to God about my own salvation. Attempting to live a life
that reflects the love of Jesus on others. Loving God and loving people.
Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped
praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of
his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so
that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every
way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being
strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you
may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the
Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his
holy people in the kingdom of light.
I eat blueberries every morning.
I’ve spent a week at my daughter’s house to help her after
knee surgery. Hannah and Stephen have three blueberry bushes in their backyard.
In all of my 66 years, I’ve never picked fresh blueberries. The night before
surgery, we went outside in the South Carolina heat and tugged the pretty blueberries
from the bushes and blackberries from an adjacent bush.
I found the colors of the blueberries in their various stages
of growth pleasing as well as the soft shade of green of the leaves. One
morning while I was there, a friend of Hannah’s brought her two small children
to pick some berries. I showed the little boy the difference between the ripe
berries and the small green ones just growing, and the red ones, at the in
between stage. He and his little sister did well differentiating between them.
As we picked, the verses in Colossians came to mind as I
thought about the various stages of development. The little green orbs reminded me to bear
fruit, while the red ones encouraged me to grow in the knowledge and word of
God, and the sweet blue ones gave me hope of being strengthened by God and
filled with joy.
While blueberries offer positive effects like antioxidants and
better heart health, the Holy Spirit dwells with me and gives me endurance and
patience every day, plus the best spiritual heart health, ever.
I’m thankful God created blueberries, and I’m grateful He
sent his Spirit to help me through the everyday challenges of life on earth.
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.
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.
John 7:16-18 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent
me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether
my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on
their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of
the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
The rhythm of the game of baseball relaxes me. The runners
round the bases in order—first, second, third, and home—and the rules make
sense, most of the time.
This summer a grandson is playing the great American game, Tim
is ushering at the Reds, and a granddaughter is playing softball. My family has
a long friendship with the game. Grandpa Griffith hosted baseball games at his
farm in the 1920s and 30s. Mom shared stories of watching the men lift their
bats and run the bases.
As I’ve watch baseball and softball, I see the players
making a lot of decisions. How far to run to field the ball, when to run and
when to stay on base, when to hit and when to wait.
Much like baseball, life is full of choices. Every day I’m
faced with decisions. What to do, how to react, what to say, but I have an
advantage when it comes to the choices I make. I talk to God and seek his wisdom
for what I should do. Like the baseball player looks to the coach, I seek God’s
wisdom. You see, I love God, and I want to glorify him and follow his will.
In my decisions, I seek God’s wisdom and when I forget, I
struggle. God gives free will, and he wants me to choose. So I choose him. I
Praise God for his wisdom and the freedom of being a believer.
Kit and the Missing Notebook is a story about calming anxiety. Kit and her family move to a new town, and Kit can't find her precious notebook where she writes all the things she wants to remember. With the help of her new neighbors, she learns some techniques that help calm her anxiety.
This is a sweet story that's perfect to read aloud to children. The way the authors present the various coping techniques is unique and spot on. The authors also include notes in the back that talk about why they wrote the story and how to use the methods in the book to help a child. Mrs. G's soup recipe is included as well. The illustrations are perfect for the story.
Race to Kindness is about a race where everyone wins by spreading kindness throughout the community. The story, written by Time's 2021 Kid of the Year, is inspired by his desire to collect toys, food, and books for kids in need. It's an inspiration for all readers and a book that needs to be added to all classrooms and libraries.
The illustrations are colorful and fun and include the author as a boy leading the way to kindness.
Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
As I walked along the vegetable aisle at the local grocery
store, I searched for a red pepper. The one I found shone with a healthy red
color and felt firm to the touch. I held it up, and the skin appeared perfect,
not one blemish, and the stem still held its green color.
I’d found the perfect red pepper. After I arrived home, I
set out the vegetables I wanted in my salad. I chopped the broccoli into small
sections, cut up some carrots and celery, and sliced a few olives in half. Then
I prepared to cut into that beautiful pepper.
The knife slid through the skin and pulp and the pepper fell
open. I couldn’t believe what I saw. Rot. The entire inside of the perfect red
pepper was covered in mold. I’m sure you’ve guessed—I threw it in the garbage.
I couldn’t eat a rotten red pepper. Disappointment filled me. I had looked
forward to the flavor it would add to my salad.
The pepper reminded me of social media. We tend to put our
best foot forward, share pictures of what appears to be a somewhat perfect
life, yet in reality, no one has a perfect life. There’s not a thing wrong with
sharing the positive and uplifting days. It’s encouraging, but I have to remember
that everyone else goes through trials and difficulties. I guard against the
envy I might feel for what others have or do by inviting God’s peace and
contentment into my heart.
Instead of projecting a perfect appearance, I try to be
myself. Whether on social media or in person, if you meet me, you’ll likely see
warts and all. I don’t want to be the person who looks perfect on the outside
but is rotting inside. I’d rather be my imperfect self and have the love of
Jesus in my heart and the Holy Spirit in my soul so I might have a peace filled
life.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his
height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things
people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks
at the heart.”
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from
it.
I experienced joy in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Have you ever experienced something or attended a gathering
where you tasted a hint of heaven? That’s what I experienced at the Blue Ridge
Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
I spent a week at the Ridgecrest Conference Center immersed
in fellowship, worship, and education. More than knowledge, wisdom swirled in
those mountains. Every day we spent two sessions listening to encouraging and hope-filled
messages from the keynote speakers. We were led in worship by a young couple
who blessed us with their love of Jesus. We attended classes led by amazing
authors and folks in the publishing industry, and I met fellow writers who,
like me, needed encouragement to stay obedient to the call to write.
The experience as a whole filled me with hope and
anticipation, but I knew when I went home to my family (who I longed to see) and every day life, I’d
need to ease back into life. I say this because I know the Devil and his wily
ways. He can’t wait to suck the joy out of me, but Kia Stephens, the final
keynote speaker, reminded me to guard my heart from the one who wants to
inflict doubt.
God told Samuel He looks at the heart, and Proverbs reminds
me to guard my heart because everything flows from it.
One way to keep my heart safe from attack is to praise God, lift
my face to Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to fill me with peace.
When the devil attacks—fight back—lift your voice and sing. It doesn’t
matter if it’s off key or not, just praise the Father and ask Him to fill your
heart with His hope and peace.
John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it
on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with
the fragrance of the perfume.
The essence of
lavender hung in the air.
I’ve grown lavender in my
flower garden for years. One of the plants I have has moved with me three
times. Usually lavender doesn’t transplant well, but this particular plant has
endured. Many types of lavender don’t like rich loamy soil but want an alkaline
base, instead. When I discovered how well the plant thrived in the dirt at our
condo, I added two more plants, a French lavender and another English lavender.
Both produce lovely purple blooms and a fragrance I love.
As long as I water the
plant (they don’t need an abundance) put it in a sunny spot, and prune it when
it’s time, I enjoy the fragrant smell of it all summer. I can keep the smell
around longer if I gather the stems and blooms and tie them in bundles to dry
for winter. Some people press the blooms and draw out the oil to use in soaps
and other products.
The oil Mary used to anoint
Jesus’ feet may have come from the Nardostachys jatamansi, a flowering plant in
the honeysuckle family. It produces an expensive thick golden oil used sparingly. Mary
understood how precious her friendship with Jesus was, and that His purpose on
earth would change the world. She chose to honor His life as many would honor
His death.
I’ve read that the sense
of smell is the sense that brings back the most memories. The smell of lavender
will always remind me of the peace and calm I feel when I’m working in my
plants. For Mary, I’m sure every time she smelled the fragrance of nard, she
remembered Jesus and His sacrifice.
I’ve been to the church
camp a few times in the last few weeks and the smell of the woods and the dorms
never changes. I’m reminded of some of my best days as a kid, when I learned
how much Jesus loved me.
I hope something reminds
you of Jesus every single day. Whether the smell of a flower, a picture, a
kindness shown to you or that you show to others.
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 Generaland 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.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
It seems like yesterday that we held these babies in our
arms.
Eighteen years ago, between October and March, four babies
were born into our family. My siblings and I each added a new grandbaby to our
bundles. It’s been a joy to watch the four of them grow into themselves. Dylan
(the only girl) Casey, Cody, and Colton played together at family gatherings
and now they all have the honor of being high school graduates.
Cody, Casey, Colton, & Dylan Cousins-photo by Maggie
My heart overflows with joy for them, and I'm curious to see where the future
takes them. Their paths will vary, and their vocations differ, but their hearts
will all show the kindness and caring they’ve learned from their parents.
When young people graduate, they hear lots of advice. I’ve
shared some with my granddaughter, Dylan, and I’m sure the boys have all heard
guidance from their people. When it comes to scripture, the words I want them
to place in their hearts are to trust in God, seek His wisdom, and listen to
His guidance.
I have a t-shirt that says, “God has a plan, so I have a purpose.”
God does have a purpose for each person’s life, sometimes it takes a while to
figure out where He leads, but we can’t go wrong when we trust Jesus with our
life.
I pray over all the graduates as they venture into the world
of adulting. It’s not easy, but it can be blessed with joy and hope when you
follow God’s word and seek His guidance.
I pray for these four as
they step into the next phase of life.
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.
1 Peter 3:15-16 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an
answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear
conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior
in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
The grass is growing.
Not mowing the yard is one of the advantages of living in a
condo. Of course, we pay a fee for others to rev the engines and ride around
our part of the common space, but we don’t miss mowing.
I remember learning from my dad to prime the pump—before I
started the mower. If I didn’t prime the pump, mechanical failure caused the
mower to stop working.
Over the years, when we owned homes with yards, we took
turns mowing, but Tim did most of it. I enjoyed it until my allergies caused me
too much discomfort. No matter how many times we mowed, the pump got primed
when it needed to.
Now, when I think of priming the pump, my mind goes to
spiritual matters. I’ve seen this quote many times: “You do not have a soul. You
are a soul. You have a body.” Some attribute it to CS Lewis, but others
say it’s anonymous. Regardless, I find myself understanding I need to prime my
spiritual pump to take care of my soul.
Every day, I prime my physical pump with coffee to start the
day. Maybe you get your pump going with tea, juice, or a smoothie, but how do I
prepare my soul to face the day?
I try to spend a bit of time in the morning reading scripture
while I sip my coffee. Some verses I read to prime my pump include: Galatians
5:22-23 (The Fruit of the Spirit) Proverbs 3:5-6 (Trust in the Lord) Romans
15:13 (Hope) and 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (How to live my life) and so many more.
The Bible primes my pump and so does Sunday morning worship.
I love the music we sing at church and what I listen to on the Christian radio channel.
It fills my heart with joy. I love learning from the sermons and from sharing
with friends and family about scripture throughout the week.
How do you prime your spiritual pump? Music, scripture, community?
Whatever it is, keep at it.
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.
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each
of you to the interests of the others.
Grandchildren remind me of flowers. Over time, they bloom and
grow into themselves. We are blessed to have wonderful grandchildren who
respect us and help us. I don’t take that for granted. We give credit to their
parents who have raised them to love God and love people.
A few months ago, I mentioned I would need help in my little
flower garden. I like to play in the dirt, but I can’t do what I used to. My granddaughter
Dylan volunteered. April zipped in after the flurry of March, and I stopped in
Lowe’s for some garden soil. Of course, I got distracted by the colorful perennials
and purchased a pink and a purple columbine and a pretty pincushion flower.
I sent Dylan a text that Sunday and she came on Monday. This
young lady knelt in the dirt, planted flowers, dug out others, moved a few, sprinkled seeds and
smiled. When she stood, she was covered in dirt and mulch and she looked lovely,
because she wore humbleness and helpfulness in all its glory.
Dylan graduates high school this year, and I know she’ll
bloom into whoever God intends her to be. She already has a great start, a
wonderful work ethic, and kindness for others.
I’m calling this section of my flower bed, Dilly’s garden,
and I’ll be blessed each time I admire my granddaughter’s work.
If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or any
children you love in your life, show them how to love others without wanting
something in return. Teach them to help others by helping them. Show kindness
and kindness will blossom and show appreciation.
We all have someone in our lives to nurture. The best way is
to share the love of Jesus.
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