The Billowing Clouds

The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet.  (Nahum 1: 3 NLT)

What Really Matters?

 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1 NLT)

It's been a difficult couple of months health wise and emotionally for me, as this marks the fourth year since my husband left. Scripture and time with God have been a tremendous comfort for me, but I still find myself growing discouraged at times when I wake up with one more health issue to deal with. Thankfully, God continues to draw me near to Him through the trials of life.

Living in the mountain is a delicious blessing. I was sitting peacefully in my home office writing this afternoon, when I glanced out my window and saw a doe munching on grass and raspberries. After a heat wave last week, we were treated to cooler temperatures today and abundant sunshine. It's the type of day I normally would spend outside by the pond or walking in the mountain. However, I'm nursing a sprained back and spent the day indoors with heating pads and extra pillows for comfort. I was feeling rather dismayed at being stuck indoors on such a beautiful day. Yet, I was still able to enjoy nature while sitting comfortably in my chair. Thank you, God!

How easy it is to grumble about something so trivial as a sprained back. Though painful, it could be much worse. Recently, several young people died suddenly in our local community. Many of them were healthy with no idea their time here on earth was so short. It made me think about what really matters. Regardless of what life hands us, our time on this earth will eventually end. It doesn't matter if we are young, old, or in between. 

Our world today is busy, fast paced, and filled with the distractions of technology. How quickly we lose site of what is important. When our time here on earth is snuffed out, our relationship with God is the only thing that really makes a difference. Where we spend eternity depends on whether or not we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Nothing else matters at the moment of death. 

Yet, how often we rush about, stressed out, complaining about minor annoyances, striving to get ahead, worrying about tomorrow, feeling distraught over one more disappointment that's been dropped in our lap, acting as if this old sin-filled world is all we have. 

How different our life can be when we long for what really matters--a right relationship with God. My husband deserted me and it's been very hard. But, if I had not gone through this, would I have known what it means to cling to God in the midst of loneliness and heartache?  Would I have such a close relationship with God if things had gone smoothly in my life? Health issues wear me down, but it's been through these times of pain and suffering where I've learned to rely on God's strength, not my own.

If my life ended today, what would matter? Not the fact that I have health problems or that my husband left me for another woman.

In the midst of your busy day, I pray you also will take a few moments and reflect on what really matters. Are you longing for God? Are you seeking a relationship with Him? Nothing is more important.

The Wild Flowers

I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds? Can worry make you live longer? 

Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith? 

Don't worry and ask yourselves, "Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have clothes to wear? Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. You Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. 

 (Matthew 6: 25-34) 

Are we Using our Talents?

  "No one can arrive from being talented alone. God gives talent, work transforms talent into genius." 

Anna Pavlova ~ Russian ballerina

The quote above really is true. We usually know what talents God has blessed us with, but we often fail to follow through and use them. Our God-given talents won't get us very far if we don't put action to them.

This quote made me think about the parable of the talents in Matthew 25: 14-30. The first two servants invested their talents and gained more, but the third servant was afraid and hid his talent in the ground. The last servant was called lazy and wicked for not using what his master had entrusted to his care. 

How often we are like the lazy servant? I wonder how many things never get done for the kingdom of God because of wasted talents. Sometimes it's a matter of just being afraid to step out of our comfort zones and use what God gifted us with. Other times life gets in the way. We get busy and distracted by things that have little eternal value in the big scheme of things. With technology today consuming more and more of our time, I think we often spend hours doing things that really don't matter, such as checking facebook and responding to numerous text messages. While there's nothing wrong or sinful about these things, we need to ask ourselves if they are keeping us from using our time in wiser and more constructive ways.

 God indeed does give us our talent, but we have to move forward and do the work to make those talents accomplish what God desires to do in each of our lives. Being talented truly doesn't get us anywhere if we don't put forth the hard work and effort and use it.

The Hummingbirds are Back!

 O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.  

(Psalm 104: 24)

 

 

Motherhood - The Highest Calling

"I am the Lord's servant, " Mary answered. May it be to me as you have said. (Luke 1: 38)

 

When the angel appeared and announced to Mary that the power of the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and she would conceive a child, Mary willingly accepted the high calling to be a mother. Mary certainly hadn't planned the pregnancy, and the timing surely seemed way off. Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. In biblical times a woman who became pregnant before marriage could be stoned to death. 

Mary wasn't worried about having enough money to start a family. She wasn't concerned with how it might affect her career. She never complained that she wasn't ready to be a mom. She didn't argue that perhaps she was too young or too old to have a baby. She simply accepted the blessing of motherhood as a servant of the Lord. 

It saddens me today how differently some women view motherhood. They see it as a burden rather than a blessing. They don't want to be "tied down" with a baby. Some even head to the nearest abortion clinic to put an end to the life that God is knitting together in their womb. Mothers used to sacrifice their lives for their children. It was just accepted that when you became a mother, you put aside your own selfish pursuits and focused on raising your family. 

My mother and her best friend were the most devoted moms I ever knew. They never went anywhere without their little ones. I never once heard my mother say: "I need a break from these kids!" Mom was happy when we got out of school for the summer, and she was sad when we went back in the fall. She loved us and we knew it. There was never any doubt that she cherished the high calling of being a mother. 

Mom passed away 21 years ago, and I still treasure the memories of her and the wonderful childhood I had. There was never any doubt that she would be there when we needed her. She didn't go out shopping with her friends, go to the gym, or belong to clubs. On rare occasions, when she did go somewhere, she took us with her. Her days consisted of playing with us kids, going for walks, baking treats, and fixing us meals. Her evenings were spent curled up on the couch watching TV with us kids and then tucking us into bed. I was blessed to have her. She was one in a million. 

I share this not to inflict guilt upon anyone. No mother is perfect, and I certainly made enough of my own mistakes. At times I was the mother yelling: "I need a break! These kids are driving me crazy!" There's nothing wrong with taking a break from your children to go shopping, work on a hobby, etc. Life now is different than it was in my mother's generation, and each individual has unique challenges and circumstances to deal with.

I want to encourage every woman who has been given the high calling of motherhood to cherish it, embrace it, enjoy it, and to know that not one minute you spend with those precious babies will ever be regretted. Raising my four children was the greatest thing I ever did. No career will ever compare to the years I spent nurturing little ones. No future pursuit will be more important. 

When the years pass away and you leave this earth, what memories will your children have of you? Will they be sweet memories of time spent together? Will they remember you as a devoted mom who always sacrificed her own needs for their needs? 

We should all be inspired by Mary's response to learning she was about to be a mother. We need to accept it as a gift from God and rejoice that we were chosen to be entrusted with the high calling of motherhood. We are blessed!

Let Me Hear Your Voice

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face lovely. (Song of Songs 2: 14)

Heavenly Father, 

I am awestruck knowing that you desire to have an intimate relationship with me. You know my faults and my weaknesses. You see doubt and worry on my face and hear complaining and grumbling coming from my mouth. You know how often I fail and stumble on my walk of faith. I marvel that in spite of my faltering ways, you still you see my face as lovely and my voice as sweet.

You know the rhythm of my heart. You know my yearning to feel loved, cherished, and cared for in a world that often feels unloving, lonely, and cold. How easy it is to give in to discouragement and depression and listen to the lies of the enemy. Too often, I trade in a glorious encounter with you for a cheap substitute this world offers that only leaves me empty, discontent, and longing for more.

Yet, there you are! So close...wooing and luring me to come away with you. Above the symphony of all you created....the roaring thunder, the waves crashing along the seashore, the howling winds, and the melody of the birds, you still hear my small voice calling out to you, and you answer me. You are always there. I never have to compete for your affection or love. Your love quenches the deepest thirsting of my soul and is eternal.


 

Merry Christmas

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23 

 

Merry Christmas from the mountains of Pennsylvania! The first snowfall of the winter season arrived late yesterday afternoon, just in time for Christmas Eve. We had our family Christmas on Sunday, and it was a wonderful day filled with the children, grandchildren, and family. We all laughed a lot, ate too much, and enjoyed the squeals of excited little ones opening gifts. As I looked around the room at the faces of my loved ones, I felt incredibly blessed to experience another holiday surrounded by my family. 

With the busyness of the season behind me, Christmas Eve and today have been a time of quiet reflection. I've felt such joy over the last several weeks as I prepared for the holiday. I decorated early, and I can't seem to get enough of the Christmas music playing on the local radio station. I'm already planning to keep my decorations up longer. They make the house feel much cozier and warm on cold, dreary winter evenings.

Immanuel, "God with us" is the reason I celebrate Christmas each year. I believe if I truly keep my focus on Him, I will enjoy Christmas, regardless of my circumstances. I rejoiced in the beauty of His creation early this morning as I walked through the snow-covered woods; a perfect Christmas morning, even though things in my life are less than ideal, and I am spending Christmas day alone. This is the third Christmas since my husband left. We still aren't divorced, and I continue to pray for him and for our marriage. It's been a tough year for me financially, health wise, and emotionally, but I've seen God at work in my life in numerous ways as I look back over the last 12 months. Reflecting on the goodness of God allows me to feel peace, joy, and contentment in the midst of the storms of life.

 

As I write this, I'm sitting by the window with a cup of tea watching the colorful birds fluttering around the feeders. It's been ages since I've done this. I have forgotten how relaxing it is just to watch the birds. The beautiful Christmas music is playing, and I'm enjoying a day of rest and being still before God.

 

How refreshing it is to relax and enjoy the simple things in life! It's a rare thing in this technology focused world that's filled with distractions nearly every minute of the day. Could this be what's missing in our world today? Are we so busy and rushing about that we are making ourselves sick? I pray you will find a few minutes today to sit quietly and reflect on the true meaning of the season. 

 

Merry Christmas from my house to yours!

 

Rejoice Journal

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118: 24)

When someone asks how my day is going, I often say, “Oh, the same old routine, nothing new, just another day.” Yet every single day, no matter how mundane it might seem, is filled with God’s beauty and blessings. 

I recently started a Rejoice Journal. I'm learning to look for the extraordinary amidst the ordinary things in everyday life. 

Here’s a recent entry: 

Today, in the wee hours of the morning, as I drove down the mountainside on my way to work, I was blessed by a full moon sprinkling showers of light over the woods. I saw an owl in flight and white tailed deer munching grass by the side of the road. Thousands of stars twinkled in the dark sky, and I was reminded that God knows their names. How amazing is that?

He counts the stars and calls them all by name. (Psalm 147:4)

I passed a small farmhouse with a dim light peeking through the curtains in an upstairs window. I wondered if a mother might be up nursing a baby or soothing a fussy toddler back to sleep. I remembered my life as a young mother...early morning feedings, tiny fingers curled around my thumb, the sweet scent of baby powder, and the contentment of a sleeping baby cradled in my arms. I said a prayer of thanks to God for allowing me to experience motherhood four times. How did my babies grow up so fast?

Looking back through the journal entries encourages me to keep an attitude of rejoicing as I go about the dailiness of work and home life.  Even when circumstances seem dismal, my heart is broken, or it feels as if my dreams have been shattered into a million pieces, there are still moments to celebrate.

Today may seem like just another day, but by unearthing the tiny treasures woven amidst the dull and dreary fabric of life, it can become an extraordinary day.

What will you find to rejoice about today?

My New Visitors

  

Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn? Do you count the months till they bear? Do you know the time they give birth?  They crouch down and bring forth their young; their labor pains are ended. Their young thrive and grow in the wilds; they leave and do not return. (Job 39: 1-4)

I have new visitors!  A doe and her two fawns have been stopping in every afternoon to dine on the raspberries in the backyard. This curious little one doesn't seem to be afraid of people and walks towards me when I'm outside. The mother doe and other fawn shy away and usually run back into the woods when they see me. I look forward to their daily visits and gladly share my raspberries with them. 

I feel so blessed to live in the mountains. It never gets old. Each day brings a new adventure as God's diverse creatures pass through the 8-1/2 acre woods I live in.

Lessons From Ruth

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates me and you. (Ruth 1: 16-17)

I lingered in the book of Ruth this morning during my devotional time for quite awhile, just savoring the choice nuggets of truth. It's a small book of the Bible, consisting of only four chapters, but the message revealed in it speaks volumes. Ruth sets a perfect example for women to emulate today. 

What did Ruth do that makes her character admirable? In the opening chapter of Ruth we see she is a woman who has been thrust into a harsh season of life. Her husband has died. Ruth makes the decision to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, rather than returning to her own people. She takes the hard road rather than the easy one. She makes the unpopular choice, especially since Naomi referred to herself as a bitter woman. Have you ever dealt with someone who was angry at the world and bitter? Not once do we see Ruth complain about her mother-in-law. Ruth was committed to being there for Naomi in her time of need. We don't see a bit of selfishness in Ruth. What we see is a woman who loved unconditionally. 

Ruth was also a very hard worker as she gleaned in the fields to gather food for Naomi and herself. She could have lived out her life as a victim of her bitter circumstances, but instead, once again, she chooses the hard way. She gets busy working instead of complaining or worrying about how they are going to make it in a time when it was extremely hard for women to provide for themselves. Ruth was faithful and trusted in  God's provision and protection. She never complained about how rough her life was. We don't see her throwing any pity parties for herself and the grim situation she was facing each day.

Ruth also listened to Naomi's advice. She knew wisdom came with age, and she didn't ignore the counsel of someone older and wiser. She wasn't quick to do things her way. She willingly accepted Ruth's guidance. The thing that stands out most to me about Ruth was the example she set. She didn't just talk the talk, she truly walked the walk, as we see in the following verses: 

Boaz replied, "Ive been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (Ruth 2: 11-12)

Because of Ruth's faithfulness, her story has a happy ending. Boaz married Ruth, providing her with financial security and a future inheritance. Naomi's sorrow was lifted as she received the blessing of a grandson to fill her aching arms.

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you, and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him." (Ruth 4:13-15)

And that's not the end of the story. Ruth, a foreigner from Moab, became the great-grandmother of the most celebrated king in Israel, King David, an heir to the very throne of God! God can bring astounding conclusions to stories of heartache and suffering. We see this repeatedly throughout the scriptures.

What can we learn from the book of Ruth? We should choose to serve others rather than follow our own selfish desires. We need to commit to being faithful even when it isn't the popular choice. We should be obedient to God and trust Him during the worst of life's circumstances, because we can't see what amazing work He is doing in the midst of our heartache and suffering. We can rest assured that blessings always follow obedience and faithfulness.

Ruth is a perfect example of how God loves to redeem ordinary women for His extraordinary purposes.We can rejoice today because we have a redeemer, Jesus Christ, who will rescue us from every bitter and dismal circumstance we encounter if we trust in Him. Praise His name!