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.

Morning Prayer

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5: 3

Real and Lasting Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for you.
I Peter 1: 3-4

Each day we hear more news about how bad the economy is. We hear about the stock market falling, companies closing down, and unemployment rising. The topic of conversation everywhere we turn seems to revolve around the economic woes. People are fearful about the future and what is going to happen next. The very things they counted on are crumbling before their eyes.

We need to remember that God is our only true and lasting hope. He is the only One we can count on. Banks may fail and companies may close down, but God will still be the same. Sadly, many Christians also have come to trust in things other than God. I think most of us would be lying if we said we haven't. We have spent years living beyond our means, spending money for things we really didn't need, and buying the latest gadgets. We hold onto our earthly treasures as if we can't live without them. We look a lot like the rest of the world in this regard. We don't even have a clue what it means to do without. I was watching the news the other evening and they interviewed an elderly lady who grew up during the depression. Her words hit me square in the stomach: "People don't know what it's like to be poor today. They have never had to do without. They won't give up their cell phones, cable TV, or internet. They won't give up eating out. They have no idea what it means to be so poor that you have to depend on God to supply your next meal." Ouch! She was right. Very few of us today even have a clue what it means to trust in God to supply our needs. We can sit in our comfortable church pews and say we trust in God, but when our world starts to fall apart around us what do our actions say? Do we hurry up and try to fix things our way or do we trust and wait upon God? Are we willing to live without some of our comfort items during these financially difficult times?

As Christian women, we need to be certain of what we truly hope in. If we lost everything, would God still be enough? Do we have enough faith to trust Him with every area of our life? With the economy crumbling around us, we can share the hope we have in God with those who do not know Him. This is a wonderful time to lead others to the hope that lives in us. We can't do that if we are wringing our hands and stressing out over the future. We must be careful about the message we are sending to those around us. We have to set the example. Our actions will always speak louder than our words.

In these uncertain times, can others see our hope in God? God truly is our hope and we can rest assured that He will never change. If we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, our inheritance is secure. It is not dependent upon the rise or fall of the stock market, or what the economy looks like. We can bank on God's eternal promises. What a wonderful inheritance we have in our Heavenly Father!

A Captive Set Free

A Captive Set Free

Securely bound in shackles and chains,
too blind to see beyond the pain,
on sinking sand I chose to stand,
in a prison constructed by my own two hands.

Seeking deliverance through worldly means,
trusting in self-made hopes and dreams,
I lived each day in my comfort zone,
determined to make it on my own.

For way too long I resided there,
with the stench of defeat permeating the air,
feeling only hopeless and beyond repair,
tossed about on a sea of depression and despair.

I often prayed for God to intervene,
and lift me out of that dark ravine,
but I wanted a quick fix, an easy release,
hoping for comfort, longing for peace.

Desperately wanting to be set free,
yet choosing not to surrender or bend my knee,
I continued to dwell in that darkened place,
A land filled with sorrow, pain, and disgrace.

Then one day I could stand the pain no more,
and humbly I fell on my knees to the floor,
I cried out to God, acknowledged my struggles within,
confessed all the turmoil, heartbreak, and sin.

Then He heard my cry, he released the chains!
A captive set free, I praise His name!
Now, He's my hope and my joy, He's my song in the night!
He's my reason for rising at dawn's first light!

Now a bride filled with longing, my eyes fixed above,
I wait for my bridegroom, my only true love.

In Awe of Him

Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. Psalm 33: 8-9

Our Romantic God

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. Song of Songs 2: 5

I used to cringe when Valentines day came each year. Being married to a man who is not into romance made it the most dreaded day of the year. I would smile through clenched teeth as every woman I knew recounted the latest romantic thing her husband or boyfriend did for her on Valentines day. I pretended to be happy for them while underneath I was filled with jealousy and envy. I dreamed of sweet-scented bouquets of flowers, mushy cards, hearts filled with chocolates, and candlelight dinners. Usually, as Valentines day drew to a close, I was once again left disappointed and glad that the day was finally over.

Later, when I became a Christian, I knew I was to trust in God to meet all my needs, but for years I still continued to struggle with the whole romance thing. I believed God would supply all my needs, but I often wondered how in the world He could supply my need for romance! Often I prayed about my need for romance, and while I felt content with my life, I still found myself filled with longing. Why couldn't my husband be more romantic? Why couldn't he be like all those other men?

I was walking through the woods one spring thinking about the lack of romance in my life. I was feeling sorry for myself and feeling unloved and uncared about. I remember praying out loud in desperation, "Lord, how can you ever meet my need for romance? I want to trust in You and serve You, but what about these longings in my heart? How do I deal with them?"

What happened next was one of those moments when you feel as if someone whacks you over the head and wakes you up. I stumbled across a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. Expensive designer perfume couldn't compete with the sweet aroma that filled the air around me. Lovely shades of lavender, yellow, and blue commanded my attention. I found myself laughing out loud filled with joy. As I picked the flowers, I thought, “Wow! God is so romantic!” The beauty of the wildflowers nearly swept me off my feet. Then I looked across the pond below me and the sun glinting off the water looked like millions of diamonds that seemed to shout, “You asked for romance. How is this for romance?” Again, I felt swept away by the beauty of God’s creation. The sweet melody of the finches’ song resounding from the treetops above me became a love song from my Heavenly Father. The original creator of romance opened my eyes to the beauty all around me. I thought of how the Bible is like a beautifully written letter filled with poems of love. I've never been the same since that day! God gave me a new perspective on things and a new attitude about what true romance really is. I had been so busy dwelling on what I didn't have all those years that I missed the romance all around me. I was doing exactly what the old country music song lyrics said, I was looking for love in all the wrong places!

I no longer dread Valentines day. It's a day when I celebrate the ultimate romance! It's a day I reflect a little more on how much my Heavenly Father loves me and how much more I've grown to love Him over the years. I wouldn't trade the intimacy I have with Him for anything, and I'm thrilled with the romance He brings to my life every single day. Reading His word each morning is like opening a personal love letter, and I'm reminded of how much He loves me. Since I'm allowing Him to meet my need for romance, I can with all honesty say I am happy for the women in my life who share with me the romantic things their husbands and boyfriends do for them and I feel it's a wonderful thing. After all, God did create romance. If you have any doubts, just read Song of Songs in your Bible.

Today, as we celebrate Valentines day my mind once again swirls with romantic thoughts. My heart thrills and I'm filled with joy as I recall the miracle of a springtime walk through the woods many years ago; a walk that would forever change my life; a walk where the creator of romance was revealed to my desperate and longing heart.

Winter Sunset

...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. Isaiah 61: 3


Ice storms kept us hunkered down in the nest last week making it difficult to walk outside without falling, but I won't complain since it did make for some ideal birding from my kitchen window. I enjoyed watching the colorful birds as they scurried about on the ice-topped snow.Though winter can be rather drab and dreary at times, it also holds a beauty of its own. While driving back from the grocery store the other evening, I grew distracted by the countryside all dressed up in it's finest snowy attire. I took the scenic route home intent on capturing some great winter photos. I wasn't disappointed, as I was treated to a beautiful winter sunset complete with pink and lavender clouds that were mirrored in the glistening white snow; just one more confirmation of how awesome God's creation truly is.


I'm thankful we live in an area that experiences the changing seasons. While winter is my least favorite season, I know that eventually it will usher in spring with its abundance of colorful flowers and colorful birds. Our spiritual life is often like that. We go through dreary seasons of hardships and difficulties, but eventually a season of renewal and beauty follows. God brings beauty from ashes, just like he frosts the dreary winter landscape with an icy crust of pure white snow and the brilliance of a pink and lavender sunset.

In The Shadow of His Wings

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. Psalms 63: 7

No Excuse

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Romans 1: 12

Be Still and Pray

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1

Over the past several weeks, I've grown discouraged by the limitations brought about by my recent health issues. I feel as if I'm not able to do much of anything, and pain and exhaustion seem to be my constant companions. I don't have the energy to keep up with the things I used to do, and doing the usual household work is a challenge most days. At times I become frustrated and wonder what I can actually do that won't bring on pain and more exhaustion. I watch other grandmothers taking their grandchildren places and spending time with them, and often wonder what is wrong with me. I was beginning to wonder if I was any good for anyone and I started to feel rather worthless.


After having a major pity party for myself the other day, I had a "light bulb" moment that I feel God impressed upon my heart. Though I'm limited physically and I can't do as much with my grandchildren as I would like to or do as much around the house as I once did, I am doing the most important thing of all; I am praying for my children and grandchildren daily, as well as holding other friends and family members up in prayer. Prayer takes time and what a wonderful privilege it is to hold others up in prayer, especially our grandchildren and children. They desperately need our prayers. We live in a time when spiritual warfare is increasing and our families are under incredible attacks from the enemy. As christian women we can impact our families in huge ways by praying for them. I've seen the power of prayer at work in my own family many times and I know it works!


Though physically I can't accomplish a lot, spiritually I can accomplish great things. Prayer is something we can do regardless of our health conditions. Even if we are flat on our backs in bed, we can be prayer warriors for our loved ones. I've heard many accounts of grandmothers and mothers who prayed and made an impact on their families. Some of them didn't even live to see their prayers answered, but the answers did come later on. A speaker I was listening to recently told a story about his praying grandmother. He was always in trouble as a child and everyone had given up on him, but his grandmother always reminded him that she was praying for him. He grew up and was still getting in trouble as a young adult. His grandmother didn't lose heart. She faithfully prayed and let him know she was praying. Years later, after she has passed away, he was driving home one night and couldn't stop thinking about his grandmother and how she always reminded him she was praying for him. He felt led to find a church and start going. Soon after, he dedicated his life to the Lord and later started working in ministry. He said he was so thankful that he had a grandmother who prayed.


I'm slowly learning to accept my physical limitations as blessings. God is showing me repeatedly that this is a season to be still and know Him. It is a season to slow down and focus on that which is most important of all. It's a season that gives me the privilege of holding up before His throne of grace those dearest to me, my children and grandchildren. I have a small photo album that I keep in my quiet time basket. It holds photos of each of my children and grandchildren. I like to spread it out before the Lord as I pray for each one of them daily, just as Hezekiah spread out the letter from the messengers in 2 Kings 19: 14-15.

I've already seen many answers to prayers within my own family in the past. Some remain unanswered and that is okay too. I know in God's perfect timing He will work all things out according to his will. I need not be concerned about when the answers will come. I simply need to keep praying for my loved ones and cherish this new season of life; a season filled with spiritual blessings brought about through the power of prayer.

A View From My Window

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. Psalm 147: 16

Frigid air has settled over my mountain nest and the ground was dusted with a blanket of white when I woke up this morning. It was a day I felt incredibly blessed to be tucked away in my cozy mountain home and for the toasty heat from the old black wood stove. It was the perfect day for indulging in steaming cups of tea, watching the birds outside my window while wrapped up snugly in an old quilt, and pondering the beauty of God's creation.

Quiet Time Basket

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119: 16


Part of the commitment to following the First Place 4 Health program that I've been involved with over the past 7 years is to establish a daily quiet time consisting of prayer, scripture reading, scripture memory, and Bible study. This daily practice has been life changing for me! Before I became involved with First Place, I was mostly a Sunday-only christian. I went to church and prayed during the week, but often did not open my Bible from one Sunday to the next. By doing so I was robbing myself of the blessing of an intimate relationship with Christ.

When I first started having a daily devotional time, I started a "quiet time" basket and placed it in my home office as a visual reminder not to neglect my quiet time each day. I purchased an inexpensive basket at our local craft store. It holds my Bible, Bible study book, a hymnal, journal, a pack of different colored gel pens, highlighters, a small pack of tissues, and a small photo book that I use during my prayer time that contains pictures of my husband, children, their spouses, the grandchildren, and my dad. (I'll share more about this in a future post) It helps to have everything I need in one place, and it serves as a reminder not to neglect my time with God each day. It allows for portability if I decide to have my quiet time downstairs while watching the birds outside or in the summer months when I often have my quiet time outside in the back yard.

My prayer is that all of us will strive to become women of the word and women of prayer. Setting aside time each day for God must become a priority if we are to be women who make a difference in the world to the glory of our Heavenly Father. A daily quiet time is life-changing!

Quilting Therapy

She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Proverbs 31: 22

"Hands to work, hearts to God" was a saying I heard frequently during my childhood. My mom and grandmother also used to say, "Busy hands are happy hands." I never really thought much about those sayings when I was a child, but now that I'm older I can certainly appreciate the meaning of them. Especially, since I've been battling a severe case of "cabin fever" lately; the cold temperatures keeping me housebound more than usual.

My niece, Jessica, called me last night to ask some advice on home decorating fabrics. We were online looking at fabric when I suddenly realized how much I missed sewing! I felt a renewed excitement seeing all the new fabric designs and colors. I realized it had been ages since I worked on any crafts. Sewing was good therapy in the past when I was dealing with "cabin fever," so I figured I could use a little "quilt therapy" and spent time today sifting through my fabric stash and unfinished projects. I was so thankful for Jessica's phone call, because it made me aware of what I've been missing. There's just something soothing about working with fabric to create a beautiful design that is good for whatever ails you!

Winter is far from over, and that is okay. I hope to enjoy many"quilting therapy" sessions in front of the window while I watch the birds flitting about at my feeders outside. With my mind focused on God's rich blessings and my hands busy quilting, I can survive the worst case of "cabin fever. Hands to work, hearts to God.

Winter Beauty

From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen? Job 38: 29-30