Do and Be

"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." ~Paul to Timothy

For the longest time, I've asked the Lord to help turn my heart away from the riches that are transient. I've prayed for him to show me how to lay up my treasure in Heaven. After he straightened out my perception of treasure, the Spirit led me back around to this. This morning, I was given this answer.

Do good. Be rich in good deeds. Be generous and willing to share. The first letter Paul wrote to Timothy held this small capsule of truth. The narrow path lit up!

"Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you." ~Paul to Timothy

Destroying the Fields

We are in the process of preparing a small piece of dirt for our garden. It is by no means big enough to supply our food for a week let alone a year for the two of us. My husband cleared and tilled the plot with a tractor and left me the task of picking out the rocks. I've spent hours picking rocks and tossing them out of a small garden spot in order to till in steer manure and make the rows  prepared for the seeds. To keep the animals away from the vegetables, we stretched a fence around it and made a small gate. It was hard work and I couldn't imagine having to do it without the help of machinery.

While this process was taking place, I couldn't help but think how hard it would be to know that you wouldn't eat if the crops didn't produce and your future depended on saving enough seeds from one year to the next to replant. I thought about the process of breaking fallowed ground by hand and hoping the weather would bring success to the seeds. I thought about Old Testament famines so severe women ate their own children. When I ran across the story of Moab's rebellion and Israel's retaliation, I couldn't help feeling sad for the women and children in their towns but surprisingly, the thing that hit me hardest was the destruction of their fields. It was a horrible scene to me.

"They destroyed the towns, and each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree..."

Free to Be a Kid

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." ~Luke


I was reminded today how grateful I am for the things that God did not include in the Bible. As I watched a little boy gleefully tumble around and seriously hammer molding with his sister's magic wand as a tool; it got me thinking about Jesus' childhood. I'm grateful that his childhood could be free from centuries of scrutiny simply because God wanted it so. I shudder to think of the rules that religions would've gleaned from a description of the childhood of the son of man. His childhood was to be that of a normal human. His mother got to treasure those learning moments in her heart and his father must have had a touch of pride when the little boy picked up a hammer and imitated the man.

"And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." ~Luke

Bird Food

"The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook." ~1Kings 17:6

Reading about Elijah and how the ravens fed him always fascinated me. The picture in my children's Bible that I had growing up depicted his meals as a happy picnic complete with silver plate and napkins. Perfect slices of white bread being munched down by a jolly man dressed in white all the way down to his sandals. I loved the thought of the ravens hopping up and placing their offering on the plate and watching with interest as he ate. When I stumbled across the whole truth in 1 Kings for the first time, my view of Elijah's meals would drastically change! Yuck.

I began to think about being fed by ravens today. What would their offering be? Roadkill? Ketchup packs? Half-eaten hamburgers and cold fries? I kid you not, that's how my mind works... Anyway, I was praying about this on the way into town today when I stopped for a raven hop-flying across the road and in its beak it was barely able to carry an unopened bag of Doritos corn chips! My view of Elijah's meals changed once again. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad being fed by ravens!

"Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" ~Jesus

Future Dreams

"Then Joseph said to them, 'Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.'"


I was struck with the thought that mankind can't predict the future, we can only react to it. If we could predict the future would we want to know? My mind wandered to Joseph. Here he was in charge of the dungeon he'd been thrown in and he asks two of his fellow prisoners why they looked so dejected. Honestly, my first thought was, "maybe because they're in a DUNGEON with no clue what's going to happen to them?!" But no, they both had dreams that were haunting them. Both dreams were predictions of the future. Both dreams came true and three days was the whole future for one of those prisoners. Would you want to know?


I wonder if the doomed baker asked Joseph about this God that interpreted his dream. Would he be inclined to not believe Joseph's testimony? Would he ask questions regarding Joseph's credentials for interpreting dreams? Past references? Would he try to find reconciliation with this God or use all outside influences to try to gain his freedom and thus prove God wrong? Regardless, the next three days must've been stressful for the man!


"Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.'"

Healing Our Land

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." ~The Lord


You want God to heal our land? Here's what we have to do. If you identify with being one of God's people, if you call yourself by his name then here is what we have to do: Humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways.  He's never been shy about judgment. Anyone who has read the first five books of the Bible can tell you that.  


 As one of God's people here in America, I need to humble myself. I can be puffed- up and complacent. Complacent especially in prayer. It's easy for me to pray for the people far away whose pain I'm not affected by and I won't be required to get involved with. But what about my neighbor? What about my community? I don't want the accusation of worshiping God with my lips while my heart is far from him. I began to fervently pray for my neighbors, my neighborhood and my community. Since I started praying, I have seen the Lord's hand in my community and have watched in wonder as properties have been cleaned up and people communicating with each other to work together to better our small town. Even the local tavern is getting a facelift!


Seeking God's face. I've come to the conclusion that this means being face-to- face with my fellow believers. He's our Father and just as a child can physically look like his earthly father, each one of us bears a unique resemblance to our Heavenly Father. We are made in God's image. I was never meant to isolate myself. This is not a solo journey. I seek God's face in God's people. Someday, I will see Jesus face-to-face and I know I will recognize him!


Turning from wicked ways is perhaps the biggest stumbling block. Half the time, I don't want to admit that there is any wicked ways in me! Realizing that I'm saved by grace though humbles me enough to be able to face my sinfulness without shame and allows me to confess and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. I don't want to suppress the truth in any way.


If you truly want t God to heal our land, He's told us what we need to do. Let's do it!


"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them." ~Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus

Following the Leader

"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me." ~David


I've been praying for direction. How does God want me to invest my talents and time to further his Kingdom? I shared this recently and a friend reminded me that everyone wants to know what God's will for their life is. We get the idea that it's this big and fantastic life changing epiphany when in reality it's making the small choices every day to choose that which glorifies the Lord. Whether it's doing dishes, sweeping floors or serving customers it needs to be done with an attitude of gratitude as if you were doing it for the King himself.


"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." ~Paul

Back to Basics

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." ~Jesus


There are times when I have to be reminded to go back to the basics. The past few weeks have been one of those times. I've been struggling with self control again and didn't want to admit it. I've been reminded of how important God's grace is in my life and how he even uses my failures to mold me into the image he has of me. The perfected me. The me that's abiding in eternity. I'm also reminded that I reap what I sow and this past year, I'm ashamed to say, I've been praying a lot for crop failure!


The sad part is that this spiritual lethargy was self inflicted. My sin had separated me from the love that God has for me. I'd spent days focusing on ways to combat desire only to fail again and again before I realized that I had left my first love. Ways to serve others for Jesus hadn't occupied my thoughts at all. My thoughts were monopolized by guilt and anticipated failure. It was time to put the helmet of salvation back on and repent of my stinkin' thinkin'. Time to fall in love with my savior again. I consumed the book of John with an acute sense of God's presence. How could anyone not love this man? *Sigh*... Then on to the "Song of Solomon"!



"Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." ~Jesus

Body Parts

"The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family." ~The Lord (Numbers 2:2)


I was honored to get to be a camp councilor at a winter camp recently and I always come away with so many wonderful spiritual lessons from doing so. This time was no exception. The thing that struck me most about camp this year is the unity of God's people. 


The Israelites in the desert for forty years came to mind as I watched the efficiency in which we set up camp and tore it down. God had given them instructions on how to set up and tear down their camp in an orderly fashion. They moved as a unit; a body. They could mobilize quickly with each individual doing their part. Each person belonged to a family which belonged to a tribe which in turn was part of the nation.


Our little band of believers all belong to each other, a local tribe and part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Through the Holy Spirit, I could almost hear the prayers of my fellow citizens for us all weekend. What a joy to be accepted by God and allowed to be a member of the body of Christ!


"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." ~Paul

First to See

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." ~David


While working hospice, I inevitably had to say goodbye to my friends. As they stepped through the door to heaven, the last thing I told them was that I was a tad jealous. "Barring any accidents, they were going to see Jesus first and could they please give him a hug for me." My comment was usually rewarded with a chuckle and has been the last conversation I've had with many. The Lord turned this around on me a couple months ago.


I had trouble sleeping when my husband was going in for surgery, while he was in surgery and during his recovery. During that time, I met a photographer from New York online. Over four years, we developed a friendship while we were both learning about photography. He prayed for my husband every time he went into surgery and kept the conversations light and fun. He'd post pictures of his family, his boys playing soccer, his marbles, ballerinas and other random shots. I was really looking forward to someday meeting him and his wife. A couple of months ago though, he died of a massive heart attack. I was stunned.


Going to the Lord, I prayed, "Jesus... I'm a tad jealous of you right now. You got to see Timothy first!  Will you please give him a hug for me!" See you later my friend, I miss you.


Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" ~John 11:25

Numbered Days

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" ~Moses


I've always wanted a heart of wisdom so I prayed this song. Teach me to number my days aright, oh Lord! My personality is such that I have no concept of the passing of time. Everything is in the "now" and if not, it must've happened last week. Days flow into months and months into years before I catch up. I must admit when I prayed this prayer, I was totally stumped as to how the Lord was going to get the passing of time through to me. I began to watch for his teaching. As usual, he used something totally unexpected. A bag of goo and two pages of instructions for its care.


I was "blessed" with an Amish Friendship bread start. With two pages of how to care for this obnoxious little blob, I decided to name it. It was obviously a boy so I named it Fred. Fred the Bread. After three days of resting, Fred had to be squeezed every day. On the sixth day, he had to be fed. Back to squeezing until the tenth day when he had to be baked. Since it was a yeast bread that called for sugar, he had to be burped every once in awhile to keep him from exploding. I kid you not. This meant that I have to number the days and have a bake day every ten days. I squirmed under the control. Ten days goes by really fast and what if I didn't want to bake that day or something more fun came along to do? It forced me to plan. Do I have every thing I need to bake that day? When was I going to get what was lacking?


You may laugh but the control that little baggy had over my life became extremely irritating! I started to plot Fred's last bake day. After all, I learned the lesson ... Yeah, yeah... number my days. He'd be gone by Father's Day. Well, long story short: my husband had grown quite attached to Fred. It seems they enjoy second breakfast every day and he didn't want to put an end to that. So, my lesson continues as does the adventures of Fred the Bread. I've resigned myself to the routine of taking care of Fred and realized that numbering my days must be very important to the Lord. So important that he's not going to let me squirm out from under the answer to my prayer. Yes, that bag of goo was and still is an answer to prayer. I just wonder how long I have to keep baking before I get that heart of wisdom!


"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." ~James 

Trashy Neighbors

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." ~Leviticus 19:18


Every time I drive down the roads in my neighborhood, they are strewn with trash. I'm constantly distracted by the espresso cups floating in the frogs pond and the plastic water bottles riding the streams into the creek that the herd of deer drink from. Even the trees seem resolved to have beer can encrusted roots. They droop sadly towards the creek on the hillside while the ferns struggle to push through plastic bags. Nothing irritates me as much as someone who litters. I began to hold a grudge against the people polluting their own neighborhoods. I began to want revenge against those trashy neighbors who could possibly be that selfish. I began to pray for them: Especially the one that drinks Icehouse beer and eats cup-of-noodle soup. Grrrr....


Revelation struck one day as I was driving and grumbling to the Lord about the garbage. The Lord said, "You do it. Love your neighbor as yourself" It was clear that it was a conviction as in "you've littered too" and a command as in, "show me your love for your neighbors. Pick it up". After stalling a few days I grabbed my walking stick and a trash bag and began picking up all those offensive scraps of plastic and foam on the side of the road. I spent the time praying for the families that live in the houses on the other side of the path of trash.  I realized it truly is a tangible way for me to love my neighbors as myself. Now when I drive down the road, I scope out the next stretch that needs to be freed from the rubbish and praise God for how beautiful it will be!


Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself."'

Talk and Walk

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" ~Paul

The Spirit of God keeps drawing me back to these questions of Paul's. My mind brushes on the musings carefully, like fingers on the wing of a butterfly. And just like the butterfly, I get grounded by mere contact. Jesus is trying to teach me something and I know it's something I'm uncomfortable with by the fact that I'm trying to spiritualize it. I've become a silent witness for him.

If people have not heard about Jesus, how can they believe in him? I can spiritualize this all I want and it still won't take away my responsibility to TALK about Jesus. His words should be like fire in my bones that I cannot stop from raging forth into the world. They are the light that draws God's children out of darkness and into peace with our heavenly Father. There is a famine on the earth right now, it's a famine for hearing the word of the Lord. Could it be because I've been duped into believing a lie? The "lie" being that people will "hear" about Jesus with their "spiritual ears" just by watching how I live my life. Or they will see my joy and cross necklace and somehow make the connection, realize they're sinners and repent and be saved? How many times have I heard, "You have to walk the talk"? That's nice but I need to "talk while I walk"!

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." ~God

Why Cry?

The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.


My husband had a knee replaced yesterday. It was during the preparations for the surgery that I realized just how "one flesh" he and I are. I had to laugh when it dawned on me that every time a needle was stuck in his arm, I winced. When the stethoscope was placed on his back, I drew in the deep breaths right along with him. When they wheeled him out of sight, I held back the tears until I was safely in the car on the way home. I felt like I had left the best part of myself entrusted to doctors.


Pouring out my fears to the Lord in a deluge, the Spirit quietly waited for me to finish laying out all my cares before Him. Then He asked, "Why are you crying?" I was taken aback. Why WAS I crying? Immediately, the words from the maskil of the Sons of Korah came singing into my mind. I was not entrusting my man to doctors: I had prayerfully placed him in the capable hands of his creator and savior. My God!


"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my savior and my God." ~Sons of Korah

Ordinary Birth

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." ~Luke


I've been meditating on the birth of Jesus and have come to the conclusion that it was very ordinary. The time came for the baby to be born and just like women for centuries have done, Mary laid down where she could and had him. I used to think that was awful circumstances to give birth until I read accounts of women having their babies in taxis, mud huts, and on the side of the road. Bus drivers, firemen, police officers and strangers have delivered children throughout the centuries. When the time comes, it doesn't matter where you're at or who is there with you, that baby's born!


I'd be willing to bet that Mary was happy to have any sort of shelter but God provided a stable outside an inn. Surrounded by the fresh smell of hay and the musky scent of warm animals, it was the perfect place for the lamb of God to enter the world. Just like babies all over the world, they wrapped him in cloth to keep him warm. The well wishers showed up in the form of shepherds which was only fitting. They brought no gifts but the word of their testimony concerning the child. As far as the people in the inn were concerned, they could've been her family.


His parents treasured his birth in their hearts just as I treasure the births of my children in mine. I often wonder how many times Mary and Joseph looked at Jesus and said, "He must get that from his father!"


"...And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." ~Luke

Messy Hearts

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

I adore sparkly things and I abhor wasting any thing so it came as no surprise to me that glitter glue would be used by God to teach me a valuable lesson this past holiday season.

I attended a birthday party for Jesus last month. A giant birthday card was set up and each person could take a cutout heart and decorate it with stickers, sequins, felt-tip pens and glitter glue in glorious colors! I set about gluing sequins, scoping out the gold glitter glue, and writing my name on my heart for the card. My art zone was infringed upon by a girl of about eight or nine years old. She too was after the various glitter glues. I cringed as she grabbed each tube and squeezed half the glue out onto the little heart and it almost physically hurt when she asked me for help securing the various colors. My eyeballs were twitching after three colors. "What a waste of glitter glue," I mumbled. I confess, I picked up my heart and walked away.

It wasn't long before she was behind me in the line to have our hearts put on the birthday card for Jesus. Her soggy little heart lay across her palms and threatened to tear as she presented it to be hung. She was careful to make sure they knew just where to hang it when it dried and skipped off to play pin the tail on the donkey, oblivious to my pain.

I scurried off to tune my guitar and count books that were to be passed out as party favors. While doing so, the Spirit nudged me and reminded me that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children such as this and asked why glitter glue was so important to me when the little girl was to him. She had answered his invite to his party and he loves her little messy heart.

What a wonderful gift to hear all the children of God at the party sing "Yes, Jesus Loves Me!" after having my heart cleaned up. What fun for me to join in and belt out the song with a new conviction of how true it really is. Messy hearts and all.

"The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown." ~Zechariah  

Renewing Your Mind

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." ~Paul

I revisit this exercise at least once a year because no other verse has given me more peace over the years than this one. I am free to think about anything I want so instead of dwelling on the dark things and circumstances in life, I can choose to see and meditate on the good things. When I stumbled upon this verse in Philippians years ago, I began to apply it to my family.

I wrote down the words; true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy in a notebook. Then, I began by applying the words to myself. What is a true statement about myself? The Holy Spirit whispered, "I love you!" Honestly, I giggled as words Jesus had spoken danced out of my memory and although I was alone, I'm sure I blushed. After each answer, I would thank the Lord for providing the answers and for the answers themselves.

My husband was next and each of my children. By practicing retraining my thought-life on myself, I had begun to think about them through these lenses of peace. I found myself filled with joy and inexplicable wonder. I challenge anyone who reads this to do this exercise this month. May the love and peace of God guard your homes, hearts and minds!

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." ~Paul

Avoiding Woes

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." ~David

Being a believer in Jesus for a long time, I have to remind myself that I can fall into the traps that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees fell into. Every once in awhile I go down the list of "woes-to" that Jesus put forth and search my heart to see if there is any snares I've wander into. I pray the same prayer that David did and then wait and watch for the Holy Spirit to guide me.

I ask myself if I practice what I preach? What do I preach? Good news? Bad news? Do I burden others with my expectation of how they should be but don't lift a finger to help them? What is my motive for doing good things? Is it to be seen by people to get titles of influence?

It's so easy for me to want to be the ruling influence and not the inspired. Do I waylay honest Jesus seekers or go out of my way to gain "Christian" cohorts? Do I value material things above spiritual? Do I neglect the more important matters of the law- justice, mercy and faithfulness? Am I neglecting the giving of tithes?

I'm grateful that God leads me in the everlasting way. The rod of the Shepherd is comforting to me. Sometimes, his sharp reproof is all it takes to cause me to avoid a trap. Other times, it requires woes to pull me out. I'm grateful for those too because it means that my God is watching over me and he will forgive me, cleanse me, and lead me if I allow him to. He loves me enough to do that!

"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." 

Eternal Eyes

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." ~Solomon

Eternity has been set in my heart. I have asked that my eyes be opened to eternity and have been shown by the Holy Spirit that I need look no further than my heart. God has given me a pure heart, clean hands and a right spirit. New eyes to see eternity with. Eyes not of flesh but of spirit. I know He has because I've asked Him to.

God encouraged me to reach out with spiritual fingers of mind and imagination. He gave me his Word as a foundation and framework in which to hang the colorful images of eternity. With them, I have touched the hands of my creator. When I hold hands with my husband, eternity is brought into the present. Jesus was a carpenter. His hands are strong and rough. When I see children, eternity is taken into the future. Eternity has been set in their hearts.

I sang in an old chapel last night. The air churned with eternity. As ancient songs of worship resounded off the walls, ghosts of the past appeared in my mind. I heard eternity in the music, laughter and applause. My spirit was melded with the century of worshippers that answered the sound of the bell. My voice entered the river of eternal praise that flows to the very throne room of God. Someday, I'll be in that room. I'll take that place that has been prepared for me. The eternity that is set in my heart will be home and I'll be hugging Jesus!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." ~Paul

Perfect Fit

"But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."~Paul

It's comforting to me to know that God put me exactly where he wants me. He chose the sperm and egg and womb so that I would be born at the exact time and place that he created me for. In him, I live and move and have my very being. The all-encompassing reality causes my spirit to dance and songs cannot be contained!

Jesus called me to himself at the perfect time and washed this dirty vessel out with blood so that I could be absorbed into eternity like a raindrop in a river. He knew exactly what it would take to knock down the wall of self-sufficiency and cause me to come face-to-face with the living God. I remember the fear I had that day as the realization washed over me that this God was real and I was in big trouble with him. That he would forgive me if I asked seemed too easy but there it was in black and white in the writing in front of me as I read the Bible. How could I have missed this message?  

The inexplicable joy that engulfed me at the revelation of God's love will never leave me either as I asked Jesus to forgive me for what I'd become. He started the beat of a new heart that day as I stepped into the light and became his. Not only do I live and move and have my being in him, he lives and moves through my body like blood and through my life like water. How can I keep from singing?

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." ~Paul