Beautiful Birds

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.   Psalm 108: 5

I woke up to a lovely view outside my kitchen window this morning. This Cardinal and Tufted Titmouse were sitting together peacefully on the tree branch. Aren't they beautiful?

Be Still

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46: 10

A crippling snowstorm arrived this past weekend announcing the arrival of winter with a fury,  right in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. It's almost as if God was saying it was time to be still and focus on the true meaning of the season. As I looked outside wondering how much deeper the snow was going to get, I saw a Tufted Titmouse just sitting on the post. I felt a sense of calmness wash over me as I watched the snow falling. It had been quite some time since I just sat and watched the birds at the feeders. I had become too busy lately to focus on God's beautiful creation.

With Christmas only three days away, I realized I had once again allowed myself to get caught up in the busyness. Each year I think it's going to be different. I'm not going to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. I'm going to take time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and yet every year it happens. Somewhere between my good intentions and Christmas day, I once again get swept away into the vicious cycle of preparing for Christmas. And it's not just me. It seems as if every woman I know has the same problem. Rather than being a time of true celebration, the Christmas season has become of time of stress and exhaustion. It's also the time when what we should be reflecting on the most seems to be what is thought about the least. I was deeply saddened today when I realized Christmas was so close and I have yet to simply be still and reflect on the true meaning of it. How did celebrating the birth of Jesus become such a stressful and busy time?

It seems many have even grown to dislike Christmas. I've heard several women say they can't wait until it's over. Others say how much they dread this time of the year. How sad that the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior has become a time that's dreaded. How things have changed since the time when that sweet baby was placed in a manger! It seems now that Christmas is about bright lights, decorations, cookie baking, and buying gifts we can't afford. We attend church events that do focus on the true meaning of the season, but often we are too tired to enjoy them.  Instead of reflecting on Jesus, we rush right out the church door and off to the next event. How many of us truly keep Jesus at the center of our celebrations? If we figured up how much time we spent focusing on Him and serving him compared to how much time we spend on worldly traditions that have little spiritual significance, I think we would be surprised. 

I'm thankful for the weekend snowstorm and being snowed in for several days. It has forced me to slow down and look at the beauty around me. The beauty that is all too easily taken for granted. In the midst of preparing for Christmas, we need to take time to be still and know Him. We need to rejoice and celebrate the baby who was laid in a manager wrapped in swaddling clothes. May we never forget the most precious and wonderful gift of all, Jesus Christ!

Prelude to Winter

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51: 7

It's been nearly a month since the curtain closed on the spectacular performance of autumn here in the woods, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before frigid temperatures, long dark nights, and bitter winds appeared on the scene.  One gets rather spoiled by the fall season and the colorful show of the leaves as they shower the mountains with extraordinary color. In comparison, winter often can seem drab and dreary, and I have to admit that it is my least favorite time of the year. 

Over the weekend, we woke up to our first snowfall of the season. The drab brown trees were beautifully dressed in coats of sparkling snow, and that which had become barren and lifeless once again became beautiful.  This prelude to the soon coming winter months was a reminder that winter truly does have a beauty of its own. God certainly takes that which is common and turns it into something beautiful!

This made me ponder how we often experience "winter" seasons in our life and how long, depressing, and hopeless they can seem when in the midst of them. The trials we face often seem as daunting as the frigid temperatures and as unwelcome as the howling bitter winds that are part of the winter season. These seasons of difficulty can seem very dark indeed. Yet, it is often during these seasons of "winter" that God makes us more beautiful, as we draw nearer to Him and cling to His promises. 

Like the brilliant snow falling softly over the mountains, God's love and grace falls upon us,  making us beautiful! And just like the once dreary woods draws attention to its beauty when covered with freshly fallen snow, others will see the beauty of Christ in our lives, as we draw closer to Him and are covered abundantly with His grace and love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.Psalm 100: 1-5

Life has been busy here in my mountain nest in recent months. I thought I would have more free time since I became an empty nester this past summer, but the spaces previously filled with motherhood quickly became filled with new adventures that God has placed in my path. God never allows us to sit around twiddling our thumbs wondering what to do, and for that I am so very thankful. Please accept my apology for not spending as much time writing for this blog recently, and I want to thank those of you who sent e-mails. I'm seriously going to try to write for the blog on a regular basis again. I've been co-authoring a book with Nancy, who is a very dear friend of mine, and whom God has brought into my life as an answer to prayer.  God has placed a book and women's ministry on our hearts, and it has become quite time consuming. Prayers would be appreciated as we continue to follow God's leading for our book and ministry:"A New Song in my Heart." We are excited about the things God is revealing to us as we write and where he is leading us with our ministry to women. It truly is God's project, as he has directed it every step of the way and things have fallen into place in His perfect timing.

Today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, I pray we will all take time to stop amidst the busyness and reflect on our blessings. We have so much to be grateful for. God's free gift of salvation is what I am most thankful for. To know that I belong to Him just thrills my heart! And to think that he saved a wretch like me is overwhelming. He is so merciful, and His wonderful gift of salvation is available to all who accept it.  All we need to do is admit we are sinners, believe that He died for our sins, and ask him to come into our hearts. It really is that simple! 

Though we celebrate Thanksgiving only once a year, we should live each day giving thanks for the blessings in our life. Regardless of our circumstances, if we belong to God, we have much to celebrate daily. He is enough. If we have nothing else but Him, we are indeed very blessed. I've seen some miraculous answers to prayer in my own family in recent months, and I'm so thankful that God takes that which seems impossible to us and turns it into a miracle. I've found that when God answers prayers, he never just gives us what we prayed for. He goes all out! He gives us above and beyond what we desired.  Nothing is impossible for God. I pray we will all remember that He is the God who still performs miracles, and that we will ponder his greatness as we celebrate Thanksgiving today with family and friends.


Another one of the blessings I'm thankful for is the wildlife I see on a daily basis here in the mountains.  The two little deer in the photo above were drinking water in the creek by our house. I ran to get my camera. When I came back, they had made their way to the road in front of the house with their backs to me. I figured I had missed out on getting a picture of them, because they scare so easily. I opened the front door and said, "Hello, little deer." I was pleasantly surprised when, instead of running, they stopped and looked straight at me! Isn't God's creation beautiful? 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving day!  

The Blessing of Autumn

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I love fall! It never fails to bring about a "nesting" instinct within me. After enjoying the sultry days of summer and time spent outdoors, autumn brings the refreshing arrival of cooler temperatures. The rapidly falling leaves foretell the near arrival of the next season to come, and remind me to savor the beauty of fall, because it will only be here for a brief time.

Since I was a young child, autumn was always a special time, and I can still vividly recall the scents of the old farmhouse kitchen where I grew up.  It instilled in me a desire to cook and bake at the first sign of changing leaves.  This year I've been blessed by a bounty of apples and pumpkins from the abundant gardens of friends and family. There is applesauce to be made and pumpkins to be pureed and frozen. It's the season of fat juicy apple dumplings, cinnamon laden apple pies, moist pumpkin bread, and spicy sweet pumpkin pies. It's the time of the year when pots of homemade soups show up on the menu more often along with freshly baked loaves of bread or rolls. I had to fire up the old black wood stove a few days ago, and although that is my least favorite thing about fall, I am thankful for a warm home to live in as the crisp fall wind splatters rain against my windows.

It's also the time of the year when I start to think about pulling out my latest quilting project that was sorely neglected over the busy summer months. Darkness settles in a little earlier each day, and longer evenings allow more time for sewing projects.  Fall brings with it a longing to curl up in a cozy blanket with a good book and a steaming mug of hot chocolate or tea.

I've been thinking about how blessed I am to live in an area where we experience a noticeable change of seasons. They each have a unique beauty of their own, and I'm so thankful for the change each one brings with it. Here in the mountains, autumn is indeed a beautiful season, a season filled with the rich abundance of God's blessings!

Lessons From The Leaves

 I was delighted to read this quote in our monthly church newsletter:

"The time of the falling leaves has come again...How beautifully the leaves grow old! How full of light and color are their last days!" ~John Burroughs

In recent days my mountain nest has come alive with new colors, and even on the most dreary and rainy days the woods are illuminated with sun-like splashes of yellow and orange. How beautifully the leaves do grow old! Perhaps we could take some lessons from the leaves.

We live in a culture that is very youth-oriented. Numerous products appear almost daily on the market claiming to make us look younger. Advertisements abound for anti-wrinkle creams, vitamin supplements, and pills that boast about their ability to prevent aging. Lets face it, we are growing older each day. That's a fact of life, and no matter how hard we try to avoid the aging process, it's going to happen. No lotion or cream can stop it. 

What a blessing it is to know God will sustain us even as we age! While our youth-focused culture may look past older people in favor of youth and physical attractiveness, God is always with us even as our gray hairs become more noticeable each day. He sees our inward beauty, not our outward appearance. And unlike the physical aging process, when we age spiritually, we only grow more beautiful in our faith. When we cultivate inward beauty, our faces will glow with the peace and contentment that comes only through having a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. When we adorn ourselves with quiet and gentle spirits, that are of great worth to Him, we will be much more beautiful than any cream or lotion could make us at any season of life, and even more so as we grow older.  

As we enter the fall season of our lives and beyond, our faces will be radiant with His love, and our true beauty will shine as bright as the changing leaves in Autumn. 

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46: 4

The Old Quilt

While going through some things in my parent's old farmhouse last week, we came across this unfinished quilt top. We aren't sure who it belonged to or how old it is. It inspired me to write this poem.

The Old Quilt


As I admire the old quilt top I hold in my hands,

I wonder whose fingers stitched such intricate strands,

did it belong to my mother, grandmother, or to someone else,

this treasure unearthed in the old farmhouse,

These old worn fabrics from days gone by,

cause me to ponder and wonder why…

this quilt was never finished, why it lies undone,

did the cares of life take over the fun,

was this lady like me with projects galore,

too numerous to finish, yet always starting one more,

Was her life fraught with problems that I also share,

like me, did she stitch to forget her cares,

did she quietly reflect upon God’s amazing grace,

as she guided her needle at a steady pace,

Was this quilt pieced together to cover a bed,

or for the couch was it supposed to be a spread,

perhaps it was intended for a brand new bride,

or to keep legs warm on a winter's carriage ride,

Did her hands grow tired and weary with age,

did health issues afflict her and take center stage,

Did her life on earth end while in the midst of the task,

so many questions I wish I could ask…

of this unknown lady of generations past.

In Every Season

I officially became an empty nester last weekend when our youngest daughter got married, and I’m finding it much more difficult than I had anticipated. I feel as if I’ve been dropped in the middle of an island far away; a place where I don’t speak the language and don’t know the culture. An eerie quietness has settled over the house, and I find myself feeling empty and lost at times. Being a mother to four children over the past thirty-two years was my life. It was what took up most of my time and was the only lifestyle I’d known for over three decades.

I find myself wishing this summer could be like previous summers when days spent with my daughter seemed so carefree! Days when we would jump in the car and go to the store together, laugh about everyday things, and look at the fall dance catalog deciding what new dance apparel to order for the upcoming dance year. Now all that seems to lie ahead is loneliness and an empty calender. I find myself praying daily for God’s direction. I keep asking, “What now, Lord?”

As always, God’s perfect word spoke to my heart at just the right time. I was reading scripture this morning and came to this verse about Anna the prophetess:

Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. Luke 2: 36-37

Here was a woman who had been a widow for a very long time. She didn’t allow the circumstances of her life to get her down. She gave her life over to serving God day and night. What a beautiful example for all of us women regardless of the season of life we find ourselves in! We need to praise and worship God, accepting each new season with a heart dedicated to Him. Our life isn’t over just because the last child leaves home or we find ourselves alone. God still has a plan and a purpose for our life. Like Anna, we too can worship God day and night by devoting our lives to His service and joyfully accepting the calling He has for us in every new season.

I pray as I embark on this new season of life that I will have a heart like Anna. A heart fully devoted to worshiping and serving the God I love; the God who sustained me through thirty-two years of motherhood; the God who was there with me as I held each new baby for the first time; the same God who gave me courage to face each sleepless night; the God who sustained my strength through each challenging day while raising toddlers and teenagers; the God who never once failed to provide the strength I needed to carry on.

That same God is right here by my side in the empty nest. I need not fear; for just as He watched over me as a young new mother filled with fears and insecurities over three decades ago, He is watching over me now as a much older woman with new fears and insecurities, as I begin yet another new journey in life. Life is ever changing, but God is never changing! What a blessing it is to know He is by our side in all seasons!

Lessons From Nature

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. Psalm 96: 1-3

The sun peeking through my bedroom window lured me outside early this morning. I quickly got dressed, grabbed a bottle of water, and headed out the door. I made my way over to the pond and sat down on the pier overlooking the water. It was a perfect morning! A gentle breeze caressed my face as I inhaled deeply of the fresh mountain air. A woodpecker could be heard busily drilling away on a tree nearby. Crows seemed to be carrying on a noisy conversation in the distance. The reflection of the trees danced on the surface of the rippling water. The sky was a brilliant deep blue with just a few cotton-like clouds drifting across from time to time. Once again, I was amused by the lessons we learn just by observing the world around us.

As I gazed at the trees towering above me, I was reminded of God’s power and that we never need to fear we will be too weak to accomplish anything when we depend on him to help us. Every ounce of strength we need will be supplied by his hands. As the gentle morning breeze kissed my face, I was reassured that God is with us. Even though we can’t see him, we can feel his presence surrounding us. The reflection of the trees in the rippling water was a reminder that Jesus is to be reflected in our lives, so that others might come to know him. The song of the birds was a reminder that we have a reason to sing, for he died on the cross to set us free! And like the birds, we too must sing our Heavenly Father’s praise boldly, so that those around us will hear the joy resounding through our lives; the joy that comes only from knowing him.

Wedding Preparations

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roaring of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." Revelation 19: 6-8

As my youngest daughter prepares for her wedding next month, I've been reminded of what great detail and planning goes into a wedding. Of course we had to find the most beautiful dress. The flowers for the bouquet have to be exactly right to match the dress. Great care is taken in selecting the music and decorations, and the excitement in the air is contagious. Nothing shines brighter than a young girls eyes when she talks about her fiance, and nothing compares to her excitement as the wedding day approaches. Being a hopeless romantic, I'm enjoying every minute of it! There is just something special about preparing for a wedding that makes the cares of everyday life seem to fade away. When the wedding date is weeks away, nearly everything you think about or do is centered around that much- anticipated event.

While preparing for my daughters wedding day, I've been thinking about what will be the greatest wedding celebration of all time; the day Christ, the bridegroom, comes for the church, his bride. We do not know when that day will come, but it certainly could happen at any time. It will be the ultimate wedding celebration! Scripture tells us to be ready, yet it seems as if few Christians today are even thinking about it.

We must get ready! When the bridegroom arrives for the wedding, what will he find us doing? Will he find us well-prepared and longing for his arrival or will he find us caught up in selfish pursuits scarcely thinking about him at all? Are we beautifully dressed spiritually or is our wedding gown stained with pride, selfishness, and ungratefulness? Can others see the love sparkling in our eyes when we talk about our bridegroom? Are we exuding excitement that is contagious? Are we so focused on our heavenly wedding that our earthly cares and worries just seem to fade away?

Just as my daughter's special day draws near, our heavenly wedding celebration draws nearer and nearer with each passing day. What a glorious day it will be! I want my bridegroom to find me prepared when he arrives. I want to be beautifully dressed in my finest spiritual attire, eyes sparkling with love for him, and my heart longing with anticipation to see his face. I want my excitement to be contagious. It could happen at any moment. It's time for the bride to get ready!

Like the Feet of a Deer

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3: 19

Being a lover of the outdoors and nature, I'm always thrilled when I read scripture. The Bible is rich with details about God's beautiful creation, and it's always exciting to dig deeper into the verses and reflect on them. In Habakkuk 3: 19 we are reminded that God makes our feet like the feet of a deer and enables us to go on the heights. When studying this passage, I learned that the deer referred to here is a female red deer called a hind. This deer is very surefooted. It's hind feet land precisely in the same spot where the front feet stepped. It can run across rocky mountainous terrain with gracefulness and agility. Its powerful legs allow it to ascend steep hills with ease and leap over obstacles in the way. It's able to run securely and not get off track.

Way too often we settle for the lower ground rather than the heights. Our legs and feet feel weak and weary. We become complacent in our spiritual walk, allowing the cares of life to creep in and lure us away to the land of mediocrity. We forget that we have the feet of a deer! We forget that God intended for us to have an abundant life brimming with His blessings! Rather than being surefooted, we stumble along on the pathway of life just going through the motions of daily living.

God has so much more for us than mediocrity and just going through the motions of life. If we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, we have everything we need to be surefooted. He is our strength. He enables us to leap across life's obstacles. He refreshes our weary souls and gives us rest. He fills us with peace in the midst of difficulties. Our hearts overflow with joy in His presence.

Are you ready to ascend to the high places? Then inhale deeply and breathe in the pristine air. Stop and smell the wildflowers on the journey. Bask in the beauty of nature. Life on the heights is breathtaking!

A Writers Prayer

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your masters happiness!' Matthew 25: 21

A Writers Prayer

Lord, I praise you and thank you for blessing me with the gift of writing. I know that in my own strength I can do nothing, but with you all things are possible. It is only by your grace that I am your child, and only by your grace that my writing will ever be used for your glory.

Lord, help me never to forget that I need to make time to sit at your feet daily. At your feet and in your presence is where I will find the greatest inspiration for writing. There is no substitute for studying your word and seeking your truth. While books on writing, writing courses, and classes can be helpful, nothing will ever compare to the time I spend alone with you. In the midst of daily distractions and busy seasons of life, teach me to be still and know you. Only when I spend time in your presence will others be able to see your reflection shining through the words I write.

I pray I will never forget that the ability to write is a gift to be used for your glory, not my own. It is not for the purpose of seeing my name on the cover of a book or listed in a magazine, but for the purpose of seeing you lifted up, exalted, and glorified. Help me never to become prideful or draw attention to myself. I pray that through my writing others will be drawn to you and desire to know you.

Help me to overcome my fears and doubts and to step out of my comfort zone. Remind me that I have nothing to fear and that you already know the plans and the purpose you have for the words I write. I simply need to trust in you, step out in faith, and write. Help me to use this gift of writing wisely. Remind me not to put it off until tomorrow, for I am not guaranteed how long I have here on this earth to do your work.

Help me to take seriously the stewardship of this gift you have entrusted into my care. Remind me that being a writer is a calling and a ministry, and that I need to pursue my calling with diligence. Lord, help me to by your faithful servant; then when my life here on this earth is over and I am welcomed into your presence, I will hear you say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!."

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Little Foxes

I've been recovering from major surgery over the past month. For the first 2 weeks I didn't feel like doing anything, and my daily routine consisted of going from the bed to the couch and watching TV. I'm not a big fan of television and rarely watch it, but following my surgery I was so miserable that watching TV was about the only thing I felt like doing. My morning would start out with the Today Show, which was followed by endless cooking programs on the Food Network. It became a daily ritual for me. Before long, I started to feel far away from God and wondered what had happened to me spiritually. Before my surgery, I had a strong relationship with God and looked forward to my daily quiet time. I couldn't wait to read my Bible each morning and spend time in prayer. I would often journal my prayers or write what God's word revealed to me following my quiet time. Suddenly, I was finding it difficult to pray at all and realized my Bible had scarcely been opened since my surgery. I hated the distance I felt from God and how drab life had become. Depression had set in and I was constantly discouraged about my recovery process, feeling sorry for myself, etc. No matter how hard I tried to feel better about things, I continued to feel down.

One morning, when I woke up, I decided to open my Bible rather than turning on the Today Show. Song of Solomon 2: 15 stood out to me.

Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.

While Song of Solomon was written about a love relationship between a bride and her bridegroom, it is also often thought to represent the relationship between the church (the bride) and Christ (the bridegroom). John 15: 4-5 says:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

It soon became clear to me that I had allowed some little foxes to spoil my connection to the Vine! I had allowed TV to nibble away at my time rather than seeking wisdom and direction from the word of God. No wonder I was feeling so discouraged! Rather than producing spiritual fruit, I was producing the worldly fruits of complaining and whining about everything. While the programs I was watching each day were not bad programs, they nonetheless had consumed my life to the point where I was not taking the time to nurture my relationship with God. I was engrossed in all the cooking shows and learning about preparing gourmet meals while spiritually I was starving to death.

The very first day I opened my Bible rather then reaching for the TV remote, I felt such a difference in my attitude. I was renewed spiritually by the power of God's word, as my thirsty spirit drank deeply of the beautiful message of God's love and mercy. I began to see life in a positive way again rather then dwelling on the negative. I was made aware of how quickly the little foxes can come in without us realizing they are there and destroy our relationship to the Vine.

Little foxes come in many shapes and sizes; excessive TV watching, continual cell phone usage and texting, too much computer time, the desire for material things, busyness, being involved in too many activities, job stress, worry, fear, relationship issues, and a multitude of other everyday things. When we feel distant from God and spiritually weak, it's not because God has moved, it's because we have allowed other things to crowd God out of our life.

One way to see where you are spiritually is to do a fruit inspection. What evidence of spiritual fruit can you see in your life? Galations 5: 22-23 says the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we aren't seeing these fruits in our daily lives, chances are there are some little foxes nibbling away at our relationship to the Vine. Beware of those little foxes!

Happy Mothers Day

Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also and he praises her. Proverbs 31: 28

Aren't They Cute?

Photographed by Heidi Ann Shaffer

I miss being able to walk by the pond or take a stroll through the woods. After having major surgery this month I've been confined to the house, and it hasn't been easy staying inside with signs of Spring popping up everywhere. Each day I wondered if mother goose was still sitting on her eggs, and I would often send my daughter, Heidi, over to check on the latest developments. Today was the big day! Heidi came back to get my camera and was kind enough to take several great photos of mother goose and her five new goslings. I wish I could have gone along to the pond, but I'm thankful for the wonderful pictures Heidi took. Aren't they cute?

He Has Risen!

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know 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. Matthew 28: 5-9

This passage of scripture fills my heart with joy! Imagine being with the women who were the first to arrive at Jesus' tomb, find it empty, be informed that he had risen from the dead, and then meet Jesus face to face after leaving the empty tomb. In the culture at that time, women were often considered second-class citizens, but Jesus never thought of women in that way. He valued women and welcomed their presence as they followed him. Women were the first to appear at the empty tomb and the first to see him after his resurrection.

Many women today struggle with low self-worth. We battle a variety of fears and insecurities. At times we may even feel like second-class citizens, but Jesus loves us. He cares for us and values us. He is right there with us through all of our insecurities and fears. He has risen! If we have accepted him as our Lord and Savior, we can rejoice that death was defeated on the cross and we have eternal life through him.

As we celebrate Easter today, I pray we will rejoice along with the women who found the tomb empty, and that we too would grasp the feet of Jesus and worship him.

A Gentle Spring Rain

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. Psalm 65: 9-10

I woke up this morning to the gentle sound of a soft spring rain falling. There is something gentle and soothing about springtime rain. A peace and calmness enveloped me as I listened to the symphony of the raindrops falling on the blossoming April landscape. We had a rather dry winter in our area and the parched ground seemed to soak up the rain as quickly as it fell. Newly emerging Pansies, Tulips, and Daffodils stretched forth their necks drinking in the welcoming dew.

As I watched the thirsty ground drink in the nourishing rain, I was reminded that we can become spiritually parched and dry, which leads to unfruitful and mediocre living. Only when we allow our spiritual lives to be quenched with the living water of Jesus Christ, will we be able to enjoy fruitful and abundant lives. Way too often Christians settle for drab and boring lives. We go through the motions of daily living, barely existing, just getting by. We go to church on Sunday, barely able to stay awake because we live in the world’s fast lane all week, rushing from one activity to the next. We are worn out and weary from the cares of life. We have forgotten how to be still. There is so much more to the Christian life than just getting by! Jesus came so that we might have life and have it to the full. (John 10: 10)That sure doesn’t sound like a drab and boring life to me. Now this certainly doesn’t mean we won’t have problems and struggles in our lives; life is hard, but when we put Jesus first in our life and seek Him, we can live abundantly regardless of our circumstances.

Are you feeling parched, weary, and dry? Why not take some time to be still before Jesus. Cast your cares upon Him. Open His word and soak up the refreshing truth that will set you free. Bask in His love, and like the parched ground absorbing the gentle spring rain, allow Him to drench your spirit abundantly with His living water.

Matthew 6: 26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Mother Goose

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord. Psalm 105: 2-3

Spring has arrived here in the mountains and I'm loving every minute of it. Delicate flowers are poking out from the barren ground, and the mountain is shedding its brown winter wardrobe and sporting its new Spring-green attire. I see changes daily and new life is bursting forth everywhere. While walking by the pond this afternoon, I stumbled upon a mother goose on her nest. She quickly alerted me that I had invaded her territory! Each year the geese nest by the pond and it's always exciting to see the new babies when they are hatched. What a blessing it is to get up close and personal with God's awesome and amazing creation!

The Heavens Proclaim His Glory

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. Psalm 19: 1-4

Walk By The Pond

I walked by the pond at dawn today,
allowing my cares to drift away.

I felt the caress of Your gentle breeze,
as it tickled the branches of nearby trees.

The warmth of Your sun softly kissed my face,
after Winter's chill, a welcome embrace.

The towering trees and the billowing clouds,
all shouted Your presence clear and loud.

Dandelions peeking out from the barren ground,
even in them Your beauty is found.

The geese honking loudly, "Spring is near!"
Little deer grazing, seeming to have no fear.

All these things do boldly declare,
the glory of Your presence everywhere.