Whatever is Lovely

Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. (Philippians 4:8)

It's discouraging to turn on the news and hear about all the things going wrong in the world every day. Reports of new cases of Ebola, more attacks by terrorist groups, mysterious illnesses, and violence across the world bombard television and radio news broadcasts constantly. 

We can't ignore the fact that these things are happening around us, but we can choose what we think about. If we choose to focus only on the bad stuff, we will miss the lovely things in life. The Bible verse above tells us to think about the things that are praiseworthy and admirable. 

Regardless of the turmoil in the world around us, we are still surrounded by God's amazing creation. We can still count our blessings daily and choose to reflect on God's grace and his gift of salvation to all who call upon his name. The fact that he saves us is praiseworthy enough apart from all the other blessings he provides. 

Fall is the most beautiful time of the year in the mountains. When I look out my window, I'm amazed at the brilliant colors and fall foliage. It's certainly one of the lovely things in my life right now, and I treasure the fact that I live in an area where I get to experience the changing of the seasons. No matter how discouraging life can be at times, pausing to observe the natural world outside is always the perfect remedy. 

Turn off the news, go outside, and inhale deeply of the lovely and beautiful things found in creation... then choose to think about such things. Nature is a great reminder that God is still in control of our world, no matter what happens next on the news.  

The Beauty of Storms

I don't just wish you rain, I wish you the beauty of storms ~John Geddes

I like rain. Some of my most productive days are those days when my office window is open, and I can hear the rhythm of rain falling over the trees outside. It's brings a peaceful feeling and a sense of calm that fuels creativity. 

I can't say I'm a big fan of storms, but they do hold a rare beauty of their own. It may be hard to see, especially if you are afraid of storms, but the beauty is there if you look beyond the dark clouds. One thing that always stood out to me when watching a storm is how powerful they are. We live in a time when technology has made great advances, but has anyone ever been able to stop a storm in its tracks? 

Storms are a reminder of how little control we have over the natural world. Storms should remind us of the power of God and how he is in full control of our universe. 

Natural storms and personal storms are similar

• They can arrive suddenly with little warning
• They bring darkness, uncertainty, and a sense of foreboding disaster
• They do not last forever
• At times they bring destruction and devastation requiring clean up 
• We have no control over them
• Sometimes they are followed by rainbows 

What lessons can we learn from storms? 

Nature's storms are a lot like the storms of life. It may be difficult to see anything but darkness, fear, and a foreboding sense of doom when we are faced with sudden and unexpected circumstances. Broken relationships, a health crisis, unemployment, and financial hardships can strike with no warning. They can leave behind a trail of destruction. Sometimes we have no control over them. Of course, there are exceptions. We can make choices that bring dire consequences, but often we are hit with unexpected things that are not any fault of our own. 


Thankfully, storms pass in time. They don't last forever. Some of the darkest moments of our lives happen just before we experience a breakthrough to better things.  It can be difficult to see any good in our personal storms when we are in the midst of them, but we can find comfort in knowing they will eventually end.  

Even if we are left with a long trail of devastation, requiring massive amounts of clean up, we can find renewed strength as we begin to rebuild our lives. New things begin to develop that would not have been possible previously. We learn and grow as survivors of storms.  

A brilliant "rainbow" may appear to remind us there is beauty to be found, even after the worst of life's storms. Never stop watching for your rainbow. God has a purpose and a plan for all things. Trust Him. 

Summertime Delights

Lisianthus adorned in purple, yellow, and white,
colorfully proclaim summer's delight

Petunias embellished in pink, red, and blue,
proudly display their colorful hues

Cardinals sing a mid-summer tune,
serenading the beauty of flowering blooms

Ruby-throated beauties dressed in hummingbird attire,
dance around the feeders for all to admire

Raspberries appear, a succulent treat,
plump, red, juicy, deliciously sweet

Tart lemonade, sweet glasses of tea,
sipped beneath the shade of a towering tree

I savor each summer memory made,
for soon summertime, into Autumn, will fade

Early Morning Visitor

After working into the wee hours of the morning, I was groggy and didn't feel like moving when I woke up today. I went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, opened the curtains, and was greeted by this handsome young fellow outside my kitchen window. Life in the mountains never gets old! I was wide awake after seeing my special visitor. I'm so thankful for the blessing of nature in my backyard. 

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds; livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. (Genesis 1: 24)

Think about it...

I've always liked this quote. It's a great reminder to take a leap of faith, embrace adventure, and discover something new.

A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.

~Grace Hopper 

God's Plans Will Prevail

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps ~ (Proverbs 16:9)  

Last year at this time, I was working outside my home doing medical transcription. My life was pretty routine, and I had a schedule I was used to. What a difference a year makes! I never imagined I would have an accident, be in a wheelchair for several months, and lose my job and my health insurance due to the length of recovery time my injury required. 

Prior to my injury, I had been praying I would be able to quit my job and work from home full time as a writer. Many times I felt God leading me in that direction, but I was too afraid to get out of my comfort zone. Fear stopped me in my tracks, and I continued to remain in a work environment that suffocated my creativity. My journal entries during that time stated how convicted I felt as I left my mountain home for work each day. The birds would be singing, and I would imagine sitting by the pond with my notebook writing while surrounded by the sounds of nature. I had ideas for books and articles that got pushed aside, because I was too mentally exhausted after typing medical reports all day long to come home and write. 

While I enjoyed medical transcription, writing is what I'm passionate about. Several of my close friends urged me to make the break and go home and write. I was doing freelance writing on the side for nearly two years prior to my injury, but worried it would never work out if I gave up the security of my job and health insurance. 

Last November, when I fell and broke my ankle, I knew I would never be returning to my job again. This was weeks before I found out they would not hold my position until my recovery was complete. It was just a gut feeling I had. Two of my friends said the exact same thing when they heard about my fall: "Joni, I think this is God's way of getting you out of your comfort zone and sending you home to write." I had to agree. My friends can testify to the fact that I had been praying about this for a long time before I fell. I felt a sense of peace about things from the beginning of my accident. 

Around the beginning of January, I realized I was content and happier than I had been in a long time, even though I was housebound in my wheelchair. I was working on some writing projects each day, and found I was having less flare-ups of my chronic health conditions. I believe this was related to the reduction in stress that comes from doing something you love.

A few weeks later, when I found out my company was terminating my position, I once again felt okay about it. I remember getting off of the phone with my boss and picking up my Bible. I said, "Okay, God, show me what to do. It's just us now." A few days prior to learning my job was ending, I had a dream that I was walking hand-in-hand with God through the mountain. I had a sense of pure freedom, and he continued to impress this feeling of total release and freedom on my heart. In this dream flowers were blooming all around, and the scenery was beautiful. I sensed God telling me to write for him and to get all the things he had been placing on my heart for years written. I couldn't shake the feeling of freedom in this dream. It was a feeling of being released from some sort of bondage. Now, whether it was just a dream or a message from God, I can't be certain. However, I felt led to journal every detail of the dream as soon as I woke up, and I did. I've printed a copy out that I carry in my Bible. I read it when I start to feel fear creeping back into my life or when I begin to doubt my ability to make a living with my writing. 

I'm not saying it has been a walk in the park to start writing full time and deal with trying to find good health insurance. You have good and bad days with every line of work. It can be scary financially when you give up the security of a guaranteed paycheck. It can be unsettling to think that your entire livelihood depends on being able to secure enough writing work to pay the bills each month. I finally realized I needed to trust in God to provide my needs. If this is truly his will for me, and I think it is, he will open doors when needed for new writing opportunities, and he has. 

The benefits of working at home doing what I love outweigh the negative stuff. I have not set an alarm clock since last November. I set my own schedule every day. I can take a day off if I need to without getting points against me or an occurrence. I can work at a slower pace or go take a nap when health problems flare up. If the weather is nice, I can choose to work outside by the pond. I can work in the middle of the night if I can't sleep. I dress comfortably, and I enjoy the scent of dinner cooking in the slow cooker while I'm in my home office. I love working outdoors with the birds singing. Early mornings are often spent on the little dock by the pond with my tablet (photo above) jotting down ideas for a chapter in a book or an article I'm working on. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to experience this new adventure God has given me. 

Looking back over my journals, I realize how fearful I was to make the break out of my comfort zone and quit my job. I guess God knew I never would if he left it up to me. Throughout scripture we see God intervening when people needed a shove out of their comfort zones. Jonah is a good example of this. God wanted him to go to Nineveh, but he didn't want to go. Jonah tried to run the other way and ignore what God had told him. He ended up thrown overboard from a ship and spent three days in the belly of a great fish that God sent to swallow him. Later on, Jonah did indeed go to Nineveh when God asked him. Running from God can have uncomfortable consequences. 

Looking back over the journal entry below, I see I was like Jonah, trying to run from what God was telling me to do.  

I realize I'm in my fifties now, and I'm beginning to see just how short life really is. I wonder why I continue to get up at 4:00 each morning and rush off to a stuffy office building to spend eight hours tied to a computer screen typing medical reports. I hate the stress of production, as we have to meet a certain line count every hour. I feel like a bird in a cage. I feel like I am wasting my time. I feel like a robot, just going through the motions each day. And I wonder just how close we are to the end times. According to Bible prophecy, we are close. People need to hear the gospel or be encouraged in their Christian walk, and here I sit typing medical reports. I long to be at home writing for God. So many stories and ideas rush through my mind during the work day. I jot them down in my notebook, always distracted by where my heart is telling me I should be. Yet, I am scared. Afraid of all the "what ifs" that nag at me. Change is a scary thing. I wonder how many people die, secure in their comfort zones, driven by fear, doing jobs they hate. I wonder if I will.

I'm thankful God's plans prevail over our human emotions of fear and insecurity. Had God not intervened, instead of working outdoors by the pond, I would still be stuck in a stuffy office building. Fear is the opposite of faith. When we know God is impressing something on our hearts, but we continue to stay in our comfort zones, we are not trusting God. I truly believe my "accident" was no accident at all. I believe it was a divinely inspired intervention to take me where God wanted me to go. He had given me many warnings and I ignored them all. 

What is God telling you to do? Are you trusting him with your life or running the other way? 

The Legacy of a Godly Mother

Give her the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:31)

As women, the concluding words of Proverbs 31 gives us something to ponder. What does the fruit of our hands look like? Will it bring praise when our time here on this earth is over? Will the legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren, and family be a beautiful legacy of a faithful and fruitful life? 

I often think about the legacy my own dear mother left behind. Her example is still teaching me things 22 years after she left this world. We've all heard the saying, “actions speak louder than words." My mom's life was a perfect example of this. She never preached to us, but her example spoke volumes. 

Mom never had a job outside our home, never pursued a career, or went back to school. She didn’t belong to any clubs or Bible study groups outside the home. She didn’t even attend church on Sunday. Dad did not go to church, and mom did not want to go without him. I found it rather ironic, after mom's death, when a neighbor commented that my mother was more of a Christian than anyone else she had ever known. Several other people in our small town made the same statement in the months following her death - all part of mom’s legacy of faith she left behind. 

Mom’s entire life revolved around her home and family, period. In light of the world’s way of thinking, mom would've been thought of as unsuccessful, wasting her time, not making anything of herself, or perhaps even looked down on as someone without a life. The opposite was true. Mom had something few women, who are considered successful according to the world’s standards today, will ever experience - real happiness and true contentment. 

 The reason mom never pursued activities outside the home was she had no need for them. She was happy and content to accept her calling as wife, mother, and homemaker. Her family and home were enough. We never wondered what place we held in mom’s life, and we never had to compete with a career or outside activities for mom’s affection and attention.

We didn’t have structured family devotions either. She taught us about God as we walked beside her and picked flowers on warm summer days, as we worked beside her in the garden and kitchen, and as we fed newborn calves and helped with farm chores. We learned how to treat neighbors and loved ones, how to have compassion on other people, and even how to love our enemies at mom’s side - all by the example she set. She taught us how to find joy in the simple things in life, and she always found good in every person, even those who at times were difficult and unloving. 

The journals she kept faithfully during her years as a young wife and mother are another reminder of how much she loved her family and home. Beautifully handwritten in dime-store notebooks, they are a joy to read - filled with the wisdom of a Godly woman.

And, it’s not just my mom. I’ve heard other women share similar stories about their mothers and grandmothers. All women who left behind priceless legacies of faithful lives lived out before their children and grandchildren. It makes me wonder what legacy our generation will leave behind.

The amount of discontentment among women today is astounding. It seems we are always busy, seeking more, searching for more things to become involved with, rushing from one place to another, never satisfied, never content. Feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed out have taken up residence where quietness and gentleness were meant to live.

Are we diligently working on our legacy of faith for future generations? Life is short, and we only have a limited amount of time to build our legacy. The choices we make daily will be part of our legacy, whether good or bad. 

When our time on this earth is over, will the fruit of our hands bring us praise, or will our legacy be marred with discontentment and selfishness?

Pictures on the Wall

In honor of Mother's Day, I would like to share a poem I wrote 16 years ago, in 1998, when I was busy being a stay-at-home mom to my four children. Money was tight, and I was stressing about paying bills when I looked at the pictures of my kids hanging on the wall. It helped me to see what was truly important. Never take for granted the amazing blessing of being a mom. There is no other job in the world as rewarding! 

Pictures on the Wall 

At times I feel so very poor,
the moneys just not there, 
and then I look upon the wall, 
and see their faces there. 

Four precious children smile at me, 
oh how the years have flown. 
From dimpled babies through the teens, 
how quickly they have grown. 

Their photos tell a story, 
of childhood days gone by.
It puts things in perspective, 
and makes me wonder why...
 
I find it so easy to complain, to worry, and to fret,.
But Lord, please help me from now on
never to forget...

you blessed me with four children, 
I'm very rich indeed, 
you allowed me to be their mother, 
that's all I'll ever need. 

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.   (Genesis 1:21)