The prediction today is for Ohio to hit 50 degrees. The blanket of snow that has been like a permanent part of the ground since December is disappearing.Here was my backyard a week ago:Here it is today. I think by day’s end, all the snow will be gone from the table.Shhh, can you hear the snow? Like the scene in the Wizard of Oz it screams, “I’m melting…I’m melting.” Yes the EVIL snow is dissolving out of sight. Ding, Dong the witch is dead!!But in reality the snow doesn’t resist how the Lord is changing its texture from a solid into a liquid. Quietly and unseen, the snow yields its present form, allowing God to use it in new ways.Wow, I never thought I would want to be like snow! Yet when I think of how snow yields to its Creator’s ways, the image of melting warms my heart.I hear the Lord whisper in my heart – “Melt into My ways. Yield to where I am calling you.”I look at my backyard garden and see a small hand tool, buried all winter, reappear. The musical drips of water from the … [Read more...]
The Joy in Simple Pleasures
If you visit this blog often, you know I am not a winter person – difficult for someone living in the Midwest. I struggle with finding the beauty in this stark, raw time of year. I have shared some of my discoveries in past posts as I try to appreciate this season in new ways this year. This is the first winter being in my new office in the house and I am blessed with a wonderful window that looks out onto my snow covered garden backyard. The highlight this year though is the bird feeder with its many visitors – sparrows, finches, cardinals, and doves to name a few.I realized this morning how the pleasure of simply watching the birds this winter fills me with joy.· Full of energy and celebrating in the delight of finding seed to eat, they dance on my porch.· They look after one another. Often the female cardinal will come for seed while her bright red companion watches from the bare lilac bush 20 yards away. One sparrow sits on the banister while the rest of the crew … [Read more...]
God’s Text Message – Lectio Divina
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40Let us test.Lord, today’s verse made me smile. When I first read it I thought it said, “Let us text.”Yep, I thought you were finally giving me the go-ahead to add text messaging to my phone.I am so sorry. I am too much of this world and not of Your world.I wonder what else I assume about your living Word, Lord.Clear the mud from my eyes, Lord, to see You better.Help me test my thoughts and my behaviors, and examine my ways more closely.Turn my heart and mind back to You and not the traps of the world or the snares of my ego.And Lord, if you did text me, I think your message would be LOVE. … [Read more...]
God’s Remodeling Project – Quote of the Week by C. S. Lewis
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." C. S. Lewis (Mere Christianity) … [Read more...]
Soul Print by Mark Batterson – Book Review and Reflections
Self-discovery and reflection are surprising spiritual disciplines. But God knows us better than we know ourselves and learning to be our true selves, as God created us, is a lifelong discovery we are all called to do.I recently received Mark Batterson’s new book, Soul Print, as a blogger book reviewer for Multnomah. I enjoy reading this type of book that doesn’t focus on being self centered in our exploring our true identities, but God focused in living lives for Him.“You are unlike anyone who has ever lived. But that uniqueness isn’t a virtue. It’s a responsibility. Uniqueness is God’s gift to you and uniqueness is your gift to God you owe it to yourself to be yourself. But more important, you owe it to the One who designed you and destined you.”This book empowers the reader to look deeper and discover the joy of who you are and the freedom of who you are not. Batterson fills this easy to read book with interesting stories and thought provoking questions. You can tell he loves the … [Read more...]
Lessons from the Road to Emmaus
Do you have a favorite Bible Story? One that draws you back to read and read again?The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after Christ’s crucifixion is one story that I continually discover new insights that touch my heart and feed my soul. Often when I don’t know what to read I meditate on my favorites verses to guide my path.Oswald Chambers used a verse from this passage in My Utmost for His Highest on the February 7 entry:“But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.” Luke 24:21Chambers writes, “Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer…The purpose of prayer is that we get a hold of God, not the answer…If we will only obey and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him.” Chambers asks us what have we been praying for, expecting an answer from God? Is today the ‘third day” and God still has not done … [Read more...]
God Knows our Hearts – Lectio Divina
He knows the secrets of the heart. Psalm 44:21He knows the secrets of the heart.Lord, You know my heart. You see what is deep inside of me. You wired me, You molded me and understand me better than I understand myself.And just think: You still love me.You see every dark nook and cranny. The tiny bits of dust hidden in the corner. The holes I can’t mend and the stains I can’t remove.And You still love me.You are aware of my strengths, that I do try at times to follow only You.You also get my weaknesses, when I wander from your pasture into a dangerous world.Your light penetrates every corner of my being.And You still love me.I slink into my closet, hiding from Your love.I turn my back, close my eyes, and hang up the ‘private” sign on my heart.I tuck away secrets – my dreams, my desires and my lustful ways – into dark pockets.And You still love me.Thank You, Lord. Thank You for taking all of me into Your boundless, loving arms.Thank You for shining Your gentle light and … [Read more...]
Prayer – Thomas A Kempis – Quote of the Week
Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know, to love what I ought to love, to praise what delights you most, to value what is precious in your sight, to hate what is offensive to you. Do not allow me to judge according to the sight of my eyes, nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of my ears; but to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual, and above all things, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of your will.Thomas a Kempis … [Read more...]