Be Merciful

Luke 6:32-36
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Have you seen the movie Jesus Revolution?

If you haven’t heard of the movie Jesus Revolution, it’s based on a true story of an amazing revival that took place in California in the late 60s and early 70s. In short, a conservative preacher of a small church opened the doors and welcomed in hippies who were seeking truth.

I would have been 11-14 years old at the time and remember hearing the stories and reading the Time magazine article. Even in Ohio the effects of the Jesus Revolution reverberated. A hand with the index finger pointing upward and a cross beside it became the symbol for young Christians across the country. Our church had a vibrant youth group, and it was a time of living on fire for Jesus.

When I walked out of the movie with James, Sara, and Eli my heart overflowed with gratitude to the Californian preacher who saw those who were different, the hippies, as people whom God loved. Then I wondered how often I overlook people because they are different from me.

Did you know the flower of Scotland is a thistle? In our country the thistle is considered a weed. Am I seeing weeds where God sees flowers?

In Luke 6, Jesus minced no words about who Christians should help and care for. He says to love our enemies. I’m guessing the preacher in California looked on the hippies as enemies or at least outcasts, but Jesus opened his heart.

Is it easy to love the unlovable? No. Yet, Jesus is specific. Be kind to everyone.

A Bright Yellow Spot on a Dreary Day

In a large field next to our church, I spotted this daffodil. 

The saying I've heard so many times popped in my head.

"Bloom where you are planted."

This lovely drop of yellow amidst the snow covered winter grass 

filled my heart with joy.

It bloomed in the midst of a field with no other flowers.

God places me in situations sometimes where I'm uncomfortable, 

but I've learned to ask Him to help me grow and serve in that exact spot.

Are you in an uncomfortable place? Seek His help and bloom!

 

The Bridge of Trust

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Cincinnati has several bridges that cross over the Ohio River and connect the city to northern Kentucky. The Roebling bridge was built in 1866 and at that time was the longest suspension bridge. The bridge itself is a beautiful structure with the arched trusses and light blue paint. Although the bridge has been under repair from time to time, thousands of folks have driven back and forth into downtown Cincy or Covington.

The people who travel across the bridge, John A. Roebling designed and built, trust the structure to carry them across and keep them safe. Much like any bridge or highway, we believe the engineers did their job and created a safe means of transportation.

I remember crossing a causeway in Georgia when I drove down to visit my brother on St. Simon’s Island. Being from Ohio, I’d not encountered such a structure. As it rose into the air, even though it was not as high as I imagined, my anxiety rose a bit too. But I had to trust it to take us to the island.

I tend to trust whatever works consistently. So why is it so hard sometimes to trust the One being who is always the same? God never changes. He’s present in my every day life and has never given me a reason to doubt Him. As I’ve grown older and hopefully wiser, I tend to place my life in His hands more and more. As the psalmist says, “my heart trusts Him.” I’m so thankful God remains the same no matter the circumstances and He helps me as I navigate life. I praise Him for His ongoing presence and reliability.

Trust God with everything. He has our best interest at heart.

Come to the Fair!

 You don't want to miss this!

Artists, crafters, and the debut of Home Away from Home!

Come to the Artful Gathering's Artisan Fair.

Jessica Blankenship is the wonderful owner and artist hosting all of us.

There will be food too!

Be Still

Our electric went out for a few hours.

The lack of sound allowed the chimes on our back porch to penetrate the silence.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God" echoed through my mind.

When I think of the words be still, they remind of when I was a child, and 

I was told to keep quiet because we were somewhere where no one wanted to hear my voice.

Now when I think of be still, I know God wants me to dwell with Him and 

He wants to hear my voice through prayer and praise.

Be still and know God is with you.

 

Same God

Psalm 17:6-9
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
    turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show me the wonders of your great love,
    you who save by your right hand
    those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,    
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.

I see the moon and the moon sees me.

The night sky reminds me I see the same moon and stars as my niece in England or my friend in Missouri. That brilliant heavenly body connects me to my family, friends, and folks around the world.

Our youngest daughter and her husband live in South Carolina and it’s a comfort to me we see the same sky. Even though we are not close in proximity, we share a similar view. When our family, who lives close by, sends photos of rainbows or sunsets, and I can see the same ones from where I’m standing, it’s a joy to know we see the same bits of creation. They join us with each other and with God.

On Sunday, the praise band led us in the song Same God by Elevation Worship. The lyrics reminded me of all the people throughout history who called on the same God I call on today. Moses, Jacob, Mary, and so many more lifted their prayers to the Father, the same One I speak to daily. It kind of blows my mind that I’m talking to the same God Noah prayed to, or Esther. The same One who people around the world take their cares to is the same one who listens and has listened for centuries.

I love what David says in Psalm 17. He calls on God, who answers, turns His ear, and hears our prayers. Then he asks many of the same things I seek for myself and my family and friends: keep me close, protect me, hide me in your wings. Praying to the same God as my ancestors fills my heart with comfort and joy.

Keep praying to the same God who remains steadfast and faithful.

Faith Over Fear

When David faced Goliath, 

he focused on how big God is

not the size of Goliath.

Face giants with faith in the One who overcomes

instead of the fear the enemy dangles in our faces.

 

Just Show Up

Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Have you ever gone somewhere and not known why you were there, but you knew you should be there?

Saturday morning, I maneuvered my Jeep into the church parking lot filled with a lot of cars. I had planned, for the first time, to attend the women’s breakfast. In my retirement, I spend most of my time at home, with Tim, or with my family, but a few weeks ago God nudged me to fellowship with the  women in my church, most of whom I didn’t know.

Blessing #1. When I arrived, my usual anxiety about meeting with a large group of people didn’t exist. I felt safe to go in. At a table, I gave them my name and a young lady, holding her young son, handed a name tag sticker and then guided me to a lovely array of breakfast foods. In line, I chatted with Liz, a young woman I knew through my daughters.

Blessing #2. Once I filled my plate and grabbed a coffee, I wound my way through a few tables and a sweet lady invited me to sit with their group. One of the women at the table had been my neighbor for a few years, and I met several kind-hearted women.

Blessing #3. Three women of various ages talked to us about prayer. How to pray, when to pray, and why pray. The one thing that struck me was the humbleness of every one of them. By the time we finished, I understood why God wanted me there.

Blessing #4. A young lady who used to serve on the church’s worship team, and is now in a different church’s ministry, closed the event with a beautiful song of thanks to God.

God had not asked much of me, except to simply show up and be blessed. I’m thankful I listened and obeyed His nudge. To be blessed means to be happy, and I experienced great happiness and even deeper joy fellowshipping with like-minded women.

Has God asked you to go somewhere? Meet with someone? He has a plan, listen to His call.

My Stronghold

 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. 
-Psalm 18:2

I can't say it better than the Bible. 

God is my rock and refuge. He's the solid foundation of my life.

Throwing the Rug in the Wash

Ephesians 1:7-10
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,  he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

I’d put off cleaning the bathroom.

Confession—I don’t like to clean. Oh, I love the results, a shiny sink, sparkling toilet, and glistening shower, but I need motivation to make it happen.

After I gave Rosie May a bath, and I got as wet as she did, I scrubbed the shower, shined the mirror and overall cleaned the bathroom. We have a beautiful crocheted rug, in a hue of rainbow colors, a friend made for me. I tossed that one and the shower mat in the washer. After everything sparkled, I laid the rugs on the floor. The difference between the dirty rug I washed and the clean rug I pulled out of the dryer was remarkable. The colors shone and brightened the room.

At times in my life, my heart resembled the dirty rug. Muted colors replaced vibrancy. Like the dirt, sin darkened my joy and sucked the life out of me. Then Jesus took my sin, my filth, the garbage in my life, and washed it all away. He carried sin to the cross and died with it there, but the beautiful thing is, He rose on the third day and with open arms offers a way out of negativity, addiction, sorrow, suffering, mistakes—you get the idea. In Jesus, there is hope. Through Jesus, God wants to lavish His grace on us. His grace cleanses the soul and restores vibrancy with joy and hope.

I’m thankful Jesus loves me more than I understand.

Seek Jesus and ask Him to cleanse your soul.

Ah, Kindness

Everyone struggles with something-- 

and most likely we don't know what their struggle is

any more than they know ours.

Be kind.

God calls us to love one another 

and that includes kindness, compassion, and understanding.

Love one another as Jesus loves us.

 

Cozy Mystery Review: A Killer Unleashed (book #5 Low Country Dog Walked) by Jackie Layton

What it’s about:

When a client’s dog turns up missing and her husband turns up dead, Low Country dog walker Andi Grace Scott will have to rely on dogged determination to track down a killer . . .

When a frantic client calls, worried about her dog, Andi Grace is happy to drop by the woman’s home and check in on her beloved pet. She’s initially concerned when she discovers the dog’s not in the house, but she’s out-and-out shocked to discover that the woman’s husband is—strangled to death in his office chair. On top of that, she soon finds a ransom note demanding a hefty sum for the dog’s safe return. Andi Grace knows better than to meddle in a murder investigation, but there’s no way she’s going to let a dognapper get away with it.

Unsure of whether the killer took the dog or if they were unrelated crimes, Andi Grace finds herself confounded from the start. More puzzling still is that the dog’s owner seems more upset about her missing pooch than her dead husband. Could the whole thing have been a setup? Did the woman murder her own husband and send Andi Grace to the house under false pretenses to discover the body? As sinister as that possibility may be, the trail of clues leads Andi Grace to uncover an even more nefarious scheme, and she knows she’ll have to tie up all the loose ends fast before the whole case goes to the dogs . . .

My thoughts:

Jackie Layton is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers. I’ve enjoyed all of the Low Country Dog Walker series, but I believe A Killer Unleashed is my favorite one yet. Andi Grace and Marc are trying to plan their wedding, but a murder gets in the way. I was guessing right up to the end who dun it. Oh, and there was a dognapping and a possible hurricane. Andi Grace, with Marc’s help, gathers clues and works with the local police to discover the real killer. I love the setting for the books and the secondary characters who join in to solve the mystery. If you love cozy mysteries and dogs, you’ll want to read this whole entertaining series. I purchased a copy of the book. My opinions are my own.

Historical Fiction set in Ireland: The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

What it’s about:

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so . . . familiar. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she commits to learning its origins, with the help of Michael. What they discover may change everything.

Fan favorite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a budding romance, and a chance at redemption.

My Review:

Jennifer Deibel’s stories are a delight to read. In The Maid of Ballymacool, Brianna works hard every day, but never pleases the head of the school. Even in the most difficult times, she keeps her faith and enjoys the respite of the nearby forest. Michael arrives at Ballymacool with the intent of helping his cousin, then leaving. Then he meets Brianna. Deibel weaves a story of deception, and anger with hope and joy. I love the pictures she paints with her words and the beautiful ending to a fairytale like story. If you haven’t read Jennifer Deibel’s books, I highly recommend them. I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley. My opinions are my own.

Children's Book Review: Odder by Katherine Applegate

This beautiful children’s book, Odder, written in free verse is simply delightful. From beginning to end, Odder is one of those books that feeds the soul with joy.

Here’s a bit about the book:
Meet Odder, the Queen of Play:

Nobody has her moves.
She doesn’t just swim to the bottom, she dive-bombs.
She doesn’t just somersault,
she triple-doughnuts.
She doesn’t just ride the waves,
she makes them.

Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself―and about the humans who hope to save her.

Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, this poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved and charming animals.

As a fan of children’s literature, this is one of the best I’ve read in a while. It’s in a similar vein as another favorite of mine, Love That Dog. Plus, the cover is adorable! 

P.S. Odder is not just for kids. Adults will love this story based on true events.

5 stars.

The Goodness of God

Psalm 23:6
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I’ve been thinking about the word goodness this week. 

Goodness is listed as a fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22. The dictionary tells me goodness is moral excellence, a kindly feeling, generosity, and virtue.

When I think of pure goodness, I remember the sweet faces of my girls as newborns. Looking into their eyes, I saw the purest elements of humankind.

When God created the garden of Eden and all the beautiful natural elements, He said, “It is good.” Everything shone with goodness, before the wretched snake (Satan) slithered in and tempted Adam and Eve. Once they indulged in the fruit of the tree of life, the goodness faded. Sin scarred the purity of the earth and the moral excellence.

Yet God had a plan. He had given the humans the freedom to choose, and He knew they would choose poorly.

When I worked in the elementary school library, I would ask the students about good and bad choices. “Was it a good choice to leave a library book in the rain?” “Should you leave your book where the dog can gnaw on it?” You get the idea.

Years ago, I made the choice to accept Jesus as my Savior—best choice I ever made. With Jesus as my Lord, I have goodness in my life. I’m not perfect, I sin, I make mistakes, but God pours His goodness over me. He keeps showing up. His goodness and love follow me all the days of my life. And I’m so very thankful. With His goodness in my life, I continue to grow as a believer. I have confidence in His salvation, and I have the hope of heaven.

Let God’s goodness pour over you.

I love this song that I heard this week. 
God shows up with His goodness.

An Apt Reply

An apt reply is one that's spoken without hesitation.

In school we were expected to be prepared to give an answer 

when the teacher asked a question.

We had to be ready.

As a follower of Jesus, I need to be ready to speak the truth about Jesus.

By reading the Bible and praying for wisdom, 

I've prepared for the times I'm called to give a prompt response.

Joy fills the soul when we can speak the name of Jesus.

 

This Old House

Proverbs 24:3-4

By wisdom a house is built,
    and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
    with rare and beautiful treasures.

I’ve lived in 14 different homes in my lifetime.

When I was young, my parents sometimes took us for a Sunday drive to look at houses. We rolled along rural roads and through small towns. From that experience, I learned to appreciate the architecture of older homes. Some with fancy ginger breading and others with simple porches attracted my attention. To this day, I enjoy seeing some of the interesting houses in our travels.

Of the 14 different houses I’ve lived in, some of my favorites were the old farmhouses. They have so much character. I loved imagining what stories they could tell. From the farm wife toting in eggs from the chicken coop to the child sitting on her dad’s lap at the end of the day. Life was breathed into the home. Love, laughter, dinner around the kitchen table, cousins piling in, and the dog laying by the hearth. My mind weaves a tale of joy. However, I also know some houses heard the rough voices of arguing and anger. They felt the trembling of fear and sorrow. Those homes break my heart.

I also see the houses, who abandoned over time, have the life sucked out of them. They look tired, run-down, weary, and sad. I wonder at the stories they could tell.

As I compare a house or home to life lived, I see the same thing. Many people are filled with joy, peace, and love. While others may be angry or fearful or live a weary, sad life.

I could have been any of those three. We all could, but when I accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow and love Him, my life found the joy, love, and peace I longed for. Even in times of sadness and difficulty, Jesus’ love carries me. I no longer live as a slave to fear, anger, sadness, and sorrow. Instead, Jesus poured His love and grace into me and loves me more than I could imagine.

I want my home to be a place of love and peace, reflected in Jesus, just as I want my life to shine for the Lord.

Does your home reflect Jesus’ love? Does your life?

Look What's Coming Soon!

 

Allow Color to Bless You

God created the world as a colorful place. 

Look around and see the greens, blues, pinks, and purples. 

Red, yellow and orange, black and white and even brown 

add amazing variety and contrast. 

My favorite color, pink, pours joy into my soul. 

That may sound silly, but I believe God gave us color 

to help us understand and appreciate the world we live in. 

On a gray day, a splash of color adds inspiration.

Take a moment to admire the colors and allow God to bless you.

 

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.