Wednesday, April 17, 2024
In the Details
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Breathtaking
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.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
What's in the Woods?
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Through God's Power
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.
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Imagine the Garden
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.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Beauty
Saturday, March 16, 2024
A Joyful Soul
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!
Saturday, March 2, 2024
An Elfin Daffodil
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.
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Saturated With His Love
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.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Love Never Fails
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is
not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not
delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I read a post on Facebook recently, written to teenagers who
were developing crushes. The writer advised the teen to replace the name of the
person they liked for the word love in 1 Corinthians 13. I’ve also heard
pastors encourage their congregation to do the same thing with their own names.
It’s good advice on both counts.
Love is patient. Whoa! One of the most difficult
characteristics to nurture is the very first one Paul, the author of
Corinthians, mentions. I used to cringe at the word patience, because I wanted
more. How ironic is that? Over time, God has helped me grow through circumstances
to gain more patience.
Love is kind. We talk a lot about being kind. My
granddaughter bought me a charm that said, “Kind people are my kind of people.”
I love it, and I pray every day for a kinder world.
Love doesn’t envy, boast, or think more of themselves than
others (pride.) Jesus gave the ultimate example of humility. The Son of God
died for me and you.
Love doesn’t dishonor. I enjoy a good joke, as much as the
next person, but I shouldn't put someone else down to make myself feel good.
Respect others.
Love is not self-seeking. Let’s look out for each other. Time
on earth is short compared to eternity, so why not take care of each other to
make the journey better?
Love is not easily angered. When I was young, I had a
temper, and I spent many hours praying for God to help me control it, and He
did. God hears and helps.
Love keeps no records of wrongs and does not delight in
evil. Start over every day, forgive, and rejoice in truth.
Love always trusts in God, hopes in Jesus, and perseveres
with the Holy Spirit’s help.
Love never fails because God never fails. We can’t do this
alone. We need God and each other.
Love makes a difference.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
And God Inspired Books
In this world of constant attention grabbing and alarm creating social media and news, I am thankful for the solid consistency of books.
When I write books, the words go through a process. The stories are not just thrown together and posted without forethought. Instead, they are vetted by me, my critique partner, my beta reader, and finally my editor.I thank God for books, especially the book He inspired most.
I find myself excited to read the stories in the Bible. David’s Psalms inspire
me and give me hope and confidence in God. Luke’s accounts in the book of Acts
teach me perseverance and inspiration. The gospels teach the truth of Jesus.
God created words for us to communicate truth, to tell
stories, and to learn and share.
Do you have a favorite book? A favorite book of the Bible?
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Rejoice With Singing
Zephania 3:17
“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Music is a piece of art that goes in the ears, straight to the heart. – The Minds Journal
Music played, in the home I grew up in, most of the time. My
mom listened to what is now classic country, Elvis, and gospel along with music
from the forties. I heard rock and roll and fifties classics on my siblings
record players. Of course, I had my own stack of pop—John Denver, James Taylor,
Carole King, and Carley Simon. My forty-fives (remember those?) lived in a
black and white checked case. I’m not sure what happened to them, but I remember
sitting on the floor and sorting them into favorites, which changed every week.
I can’t forget the cassette player and recording songs from the radio. We seventies
teens had our own way of making a playlist.
I mostly listen to contemporary Christian music now and
enjoy the occasional foray back to the seventies. But the best music in my life
doesn’t come from a radio, or Amazon music. I love to hear my children and
grandchildren sing, and I adore the worship service at church when we all raise
our voices together to praise God, as we sing to Him in one voice.
When I read Zephania 3:17, I paused and considered the last
part. God will rejoice over me in singing. What? I thought singing came from
believers to God. What a joy to know God sings over us. As I consider what that
means, my heart rejoices. When I walk outside and hear the wind, the birds, the
rustle of the trees I’m reminded God sings over me—because He loves me. He cares
about my comings and goings. He delights in me as I delight in Him.
When you feel down, stop and listen to God sing over you. He’s there.
Saturday, January 6, 2024
The First Step
Psalm 40:10a
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (NIV)
“Sometimes we have to let go of what we think we know and trust God.”-David Rimarski
Every year, I look forward to January, and if I’m being
honest, I hope for snow. I love the quiet of the winter months and the
peacefulness of snow. I view this time as a period to reset, get back on track,
and rest.
Although I don’t do resolutions, I like to pen a few goals
for the year. Some are things I need to complete, such as the next novel in my
series, while others are items I hope to accomplish. It’s not a long list, but
it’s a jumping off point for the year. The one thing I’ve learned through the
years is to consult God and trust Him to guide me through the year.
I’ve read several blogs that offer advice to Christian
authors and the number one call to action is always—pray. Isn’t prayer the perfect
first step in everything?
No matter what I have in mind as a goal, if I haven’t prayed
over it and offered it to God, I will fall on my face and fail. Seriously, in
my sixty plus years of life, I can attest to this. Sure, I might squeak by, but
I’m missing the amazing blessings and lessons from God.
I bought a journal this year that has Be Still & Know
embossed on the cover. I like this reminder of the providence of God and His
love for me. As our student minister spoke Sunday, I have to let go of what I
think I know and trust God with everything.
He has a plan and purpose for each of us. Pray over your desires
and goals and allow yourself to be blessed with His guidance. Be still and
know.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Streets of Gold
Saturday, November 4, 2023
A Reminder
2
Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The other
day, I walked Rosie on the little hill behind our condo. Vibrant, red leaves
tumbled to the ground from the maple tree. I’m not sure why my mind works the
way it does, but I stopped and grouped three of the beautiful red leaves
together to take a photo. They reminded me of the trinity—God, the father—Jesus, the son—and the Holy Spirit.
I imagine
God knew I could use a reminder of who He is, for He is not a God of
randomness. He’s a God of order and plans. There is no such thing as
coincidence with Him.
He has
mapped out what I would need in this fallen, broken world. First, I need God.
He’s the love and hope of life. The one who protects and guards my heart. Second,
I need Jesus. He’s grace. The One who covers my sins with His blood. He’s the
son of God who took the sorrow and sadness of the world on His shoulders. Third,
I need the Holy Spirit, the one who fellowships with me. He hangs out with me
on a daily basis. He communicates with God when I can’t and guides me as I seek
help.
I love God,
Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and thank the Lord for His work in my life. I can’t
think of a better way to begin November than with a grateful heart for the One
who created me, redeemed me, and fills me with His joy and peace.
Let’s spend
this month thanking and praising the One who loves us more than we understand.
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Don't Navigate the Hard Days Alone
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is
my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold.
2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,
but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Don't let the hard days win.
I'm in the middle of cataract removal surgeries. About a
week ago, the eye surgeon sucked the cloudy lens out of my right eye. Then he
placed a new artificial lens in so my vision would improve. The left eye will
be corrected soon, but in the meantime, I'm in limbo. The right eye has an
astigmatism. Which means, my eyeball is shaped like a football instead of a volleyball.
Most of the time, people who have lenses replaced for cataracts have clearer
vision in about two days. Not me. Nope. My football shaped eye is better—I
can see clear colors instead of a yellowish cast, but I can't see as well as I
can out of my left eye that still has a cataract. The eye doctor did his job,
but my eye didn't cooperate. So between now and the time my left eye is fixed,
the one shaped like a volleyball, I can't wear my glasses. Once my eyes work
together again, I'll get a new prescription.
I've adapted by using readers and thankfully my left eye can
see distance, but working on the computer and reading are hard. My eyes hurt by
evening and I often have a headache. I'm managing, but I could throw up my
hands and quit until the left eye is corrected. Instead, I'm leaning into God
to help me through this trying time.
Of course, my situation isn't the end of the world, and it
should be better by November, but there have been dark times in my life when I
couldn't see the end. I felt helpless and disheartened, but you know what? God stood
by me and protected me. He always does. God has gifted His people with the Holy
Spirit, who gives us power, love, and self-disciple. Those are the things that
have helped me through dark days, along with my family and friends.
Don't let the hard days win and don't try to navigate them alone. Give them to Jesus and trust Him to send help.
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Relentless
Matthew 4:8-11
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he
said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from
me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him
only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Be prepared.
Sara, James, Ella Cate, and I arrived at Ohio University on
Saturday morning to watch and listen to my grandson, Eli, play trumpet with his
marching band, along with several high school bands and the Ohio University 110
at their football game. The 110 is one of the best college marching bands in
the country. Once we were parked and made our way to the stadium, we met
Maggie, Michael, and Zeke, then found our seats on the metal bleachers. Even
though the temperature sat in the 80s, the relentless blaze of the sun and the
reflection off the bleachers made for an uncomfortable experience.
We watched the pregame performance, which was great, ate
sandwiches and watched some of the football game, then James, Ella Cate, and I headed
to a shady area. The shade from the bleachers provided a respite from the heat.
Just before half-time, we all headed to the end of the field to get a better
view of Eli's band. Somewhere along the way, my body started reacting to the
heat. As the band took the field, my stomach rolled, and I felt faint. After
the performance, James, Sara, Ella Cate and I went to leave. As we rounded a
corner, I grabbed Sara's arm and told her I was going to faint. She calmed my
panic and walked me to the first-aid tent. The wonderful people there gave me
ice, cold-packs, and water and helped me cool. In about thirty minutes, I felt
like myself again. In hind sight, I realize I hadn't prepared for the weather.
I should have worn a hat and used my cooling towel (made for hot weather
events.)
The sun's relentlessness reminds me of Satan. Not just
because of the heat, but because, like the blazing sun, he permeates into every possible space. He
pokes and prods in whatever way he can to get my attention away from Jesus. If
I'm not prepared, or prayed up, as Grammy used to say, I won't be ready for the
fight. Whether I want to think about it or not, I fight a spiritual battle
every day. I choose my weapons—the presence of God in my life, my
dependence on God and obedience to Him, prayer, and the wisdom of the Bible to
wage war on the devil. As believers, we need to be ready to resist the
relentless pestering and not succumb to him.
Seek Jesus and be prepared for the battle.
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Dance With God
Genesis 1:3-5
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that
the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God
called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there
was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Glory filled the sky.
The best thing I can say about my week at Goodlit Writers
Retreat is—God
blessed me with a gift. An unexpected—I can't believe I'm here gift. Surrounded
by other people who strive to write for God, I witnessed the beauty of minds
and hearts opening up and pouring out. Folks from all over the country met in
the quintessential small town of Stanford, Kentucky, to better understand the
purpose of God's calling to write.
The different backgrounds and experiences meshed together to
form a group who, like me, wanted to obey and follow the journey God is leading
us on.
On Tuesday evening, Angela and Jess, hosts for the week,
invited us to their beautiful farm. For me, a country girl at heart, the trip
filled me with joy. After a delicious Kentucky dinner, Jess drove the tractor and
pulled us on a wagon (with upholstered seats) to the top of a grass-covered
hill and we watched the sunset. As the light and coming darkness played
together, the pinks and pale blues turned to glorious red and deep navy. Just
before night fell, the sky reminded me how when people come together to create
or work, or live as a family, God can bring harmony to the dance.
In whatever I do, I pray God joins me as I pursue my dreams.
He's the one who placed them on my heart and poured the talent and skills into
me. Angela owns a beautiful soap store in town, Kentucky Soaps and Such. When we
toured the production area, this quote was painted on the wall. "Lord, let
our workspace, whatever that looks like, be our worship place." When we bring the work we do before
the Lord and ask Him to partner with us, we couple with Him and bring Him
glory.
Watch a sunset and let the beauty fill you with joy and a desire
to dance with God.
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Masterpiece
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Are You a Lifelong Learner?
Matthew 11:29
“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."
It's that time of year again.
On Wednesday, the first day of the 2023-24 school
year, I spent the day in Sara's first grade class. Those bright little students
took in a lot of information. They got refreshers on how to go through the
lunch line, play at recess, organize their desks, and they got to pick out
books from the Grammy Penny crates. Sara had them do a drawing activity, that
they'll write about this week, and a fun marshmallow story that showed them how
to be quiet and respectful in the hallway. All-in-all they had a wonderful
first day.
Whether public school, homeschool, private
school, college, trade school, or any other learning, being a student takes
work and being the teacher takes preparation. Hopefully, when the two meet, a
great learning experience happens.
I've worked in the public library, school library,
and college library. My mom always said I never stopped going to school. In a
way, she was right. I'm a lifelong learner, always seeking to gain knowledge
and wisdom about something. Maybe something as simple as what kind of butterfly
or flower I saw.
The most important learning I have ever
experienced is what I've learned from the Bible. God's word teaches so many
lessons, insights, and ways to live. There is no education more important.
Jesus wants me to listen and apply what I've heard and read. I'm so thankful
God prepared a book I could read and study that teaches life lessons, offers
encouragement, shares so many types of literature, tells remarkable stories,
and leaves me wanting more. Some say the Bible is boring, but I disagree. It's
fascinating.
I choose to read a few verses a day and ponder
and pray over it and discover what God wants me to hear and learn. That way I'm
not overwhelmed, and I remember it better. How do you approach reading the
Bible?
Be a lifelong learner of God's word.