The Path Of Remembrance: His Request

    His Request: The Path of Remembrance

Dear Friends,
    The cold weather is here now and my garden has a light blanket of golden brown leaves that have dropped from the tree.   
     Special times for families and friends get together come along with the cold weather.  Gathering together for meals is as important today as it was many years ago.  We can find a few examples in the Bible of times when Jesus shared meals with friends.  The expression "breaking bread" takes on a special meaning when we look at these examples and remember what He said about it.  Bread itself was an important part of the culture and we can learn so much when we see what He said about bread and what He did with it.
   We could call John chapter 6 "the bread chapter" since bread is mentioned so often.  It begins in the beautiful, grassy hills of Galilee.  A conversation came up between Jesus and Philip concerning the hungry crowd of people who were  following Jesus.  These  people were  hungry for real food as well as for the words of Jesus.  He used  five loaves of bread and two fish from a young boy's lunch to feed the multitude of hungry people.
     The miracle didn't end with the people being fed.  Twelve baskets were  filled with the bread and fish that were left after everyone was finished eating.  Jesus provides more than enough to satisfy us.  This miracle was a way for Him to say with actions that He is the Bread of Life.  
     He reminded  the people that His Father was the one who gave the people bread from heaven while they were in the wilderness.  The manna sustained them during the 40 year journey. 
     At the Last Supper as He broke bread with His apostles He said, "Do this to remember me." 
      I want to encourage you to look to Him for the filling you seek.  When you are in need and the the hunger you feel is more than physical bread can fill, remember His words.  
John 6:35
"Jesus replied, 'I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.  Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'"
John 6:48
"Yes, I am the bread of life!"
John 6:58
"I am the true bread that came down from heaven..."
  

The End of A Season

                               The End Of A Season
Dear Friends,
    I walked in my little cottage garden that is around the house and snipped these last blooms and mixed them with  fragrant basil, feathery fennel fronds and golden oak leaves.  This will be the last bouquet from my garden until spring brings me some new flowers.                   It's a time of mixed emotions.  I tell the perennials to rest well while I stay inside sipping hot coffee and reading things to nourish my soul.  The roots will rest under the ground that will soon be frozen and covered in a blanket of snow.  They will be fed gently and be slowly strengthened so they can grow strong and lovely in the spring.  
    We are told over and over in the Word of God that He is faithful, that He hears our prayers and knows the things deep inside.  We are encouraged to put on the whole armor of God in defense of the things that come our way.  
    As I clean and ready the garden for the cold weather, I remind myself and encourage you with these words.
Psalms 65:11
"You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance."
Psalms 91:4
"He will cover you with His feathers.  He will shelter you with His wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection."
     
     

Mystery In The Deepest Well

           Mystery In The Deepest Well
Dear Friends,
      I remember as a child leaning over the top of a deep well.  My feet were off the ground and I could only see a tiny glimmer of sunlight reflecting off the water.  Fairytale stories of frogs, princes and Snow White's song echoed through my mind.  Wells seemed to be full of mysteries.  Calling into the well and hearing the echo always thrilled me and fed my imagination!  
     A bucket on a rope is dropped into the well and fresh, cold water is brought to the surface.  Can our lives be like a well?  Jesus offered Living Water to a woman who came to a well.  He was a Well full of Living Water.  Wherever He walked, whoever He spoke to and whoever He touched was given Living Water.   He was the Well that had the Holy Spirit alive and working in His life.  When He left the earth the Holy Spirit was sent as the Living Water for us.  This Living Water provides more than a drink for us.  It changes us into a source of strength.  We become a Well, a place where people can receive healing.  He gives us the necessary resources to be able to provide a fresh drink for the thirsty.  This water is a drink of compassion, a thoughtful word, or a listening ear. It's a prayer for the hurting and fearful. 
    My prayer today is that we can be the Well that has life giving water for those who thirst.  May we seek God to fill us so that we overflow.   
John 7:38
" Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!  For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"
John 4:14
"But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.  It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."


    
     
     

    
     

Crisis In The Garden: The Rescue

       Crisis In The Garden: The Rescue

Dear Friends,

     There are songs that are written and sung because the artist had a message from God that needed to be sung.  Some books are written because a fire from God is burning inside the author and the book needs to be written so the message will be read.  God puts His message in hearts of His people.  He wants  songs to be sung and  books to be read to get His message out.  A book that I read with a message from the heart of God is, Rescue Me, by Cindee Martin Morgan.  Cindee wrote this book in time travel style to be a gentle way of teaching about God's view on life before birth. 

     The garden that is in a crisis now is the garden of the womb.  It is a garden that God designed to grow the seeds of human life.  The Bible mentions a tiny mustard seed and how it grows into a giant tree.  People talk about their family trees.  It's a tree drawn with their ancestry making up the many branches as far back in  history that they can find.  This tree had a beginning.  If the first seed hadn't been allowed to grow, if it had been dug up and destroyed each person making up the branches would never have had the chance to exist.  

     A lie has been spread like a wild fire.  The lie is destroying women and men every day.  It's also destroying the most innocent of all life, the life of the unborn.  These are the seeds of family trees that are being destroyed by the lie that they have no right to life.

    God's Word is alive and my prayer is that the message it contains will be a light on this lie.  God's love can bring healing to those who find that they were wrong.  He is ready to forgive and bring new life from this fire of destruction.  A wild fire in a forest does much destruction, but new life will spring up in the ashes.  Jesus holds the key to new life.  I pray for the end of the wild fire that is destroying life, and destroying family trees.

Psalms 127: 3

"Children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb."

Psalm 139: 13

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb."

   

Finding Sea Glass

                        Finding Sea Glass
Dear Friends,
     Today while I was working in the garden and meditating on the words that I had read during my quiet time, a message started to come to me that I want to share with you. 
     Some beaches and hidden coves are treasure troves of gorgeous, sparkling glass that has endured years of being washed against the sand and rocks by powerful waves. Things that had been discarded and broken have become treasure.  This beautiful glass is so sought after that in many places where it had been abundant in the past, it is now rarely found. 
    Each piece of sea glass is unique and beautiful.  When a beach is covered with this treasure it is like a piece of art work made by God.  Dale Chihuly  is a glass artist who has  a work called Persian Ceiling.  The colors he used created a masterpiece like a weaving or painting of  smooth, sparkling glass.  
     Because of Jesus and what He suffered in our place on the Cross we are remade.  Each of us is like a piece of this glass, blue, red, green, golden or orange that has been made into a beautiful and precious jewel for His glory.  
     When the sun shines down on a beach and a piece of smooth, sparkling glass is discovered, the one who is seeking the treasure rejoices.  Jesus rejoices when one of us realizes what He did for us and how much He loves us.
    You are a jewel and precious to Him.  He has called you to be His, a part of His masterpiece.
Romans 1:20
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.  Through everything God made, they can  clearly see His invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature.  So they have no excuse for not knowing God."
Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." 

The Storm and A Broken Pot

                    The Storm and A Broken Pot
Dear Friends,
      The rain was wonderful for the garden but the fierce wind had knocked a pretty painted flower pot off of the patio table.  Although I was a bit disappointed that the pretty pot was broken, I was able to rescue the  plant and put it in another pot and I could use the broken pot as an opportunity to write my blog!
     I am reminded of a well known Winnie the Pooh story that has a lesson for children woven into it.  It was Eeyore's birthday and Pooh had a pot of honey to give him for a gift and Piglet had a big, red balloon to give him.  On the way to Eeyore's house Pooh snacked on all the honey and Piglet tripped and broke the balloon.  Eeyore's response was to turn the empty honey pot into a "useful" pot  to hold his birthday balloon. 
     Disappointments happen to all of us from time to time in different degrees.  People can often disappoint us.  How does God want us to respond to these situations?  
     I want to look in the Word of God and see how Jesus responded to the worst possible of  disappointments.  During the 3 years that Jesus was with the Apostles He spoke with them concerning His coming death and Resurrection.  He wanted them to be prepared.  In John 13 we read about the last Passover meal that Jesus was having with his closest friends.  He goes around the table bathing their feet and drying them with a towel.  This was a deliberate act of love toward them.  In verse 14 He tells them to do the same for each other.  In verse 21 we read, "Now Jesus was deeply troubled."  He knew that one of these friends would betray Him, and that Peter would deny knowing Him 3 times.  He was sitting with them and dipping His bread in the same bowl as Judas was.  Reading on, after Judas had left, in John 14:27 Jesus says, "I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give so don't be troubled or afraid."
    The example of Jesus is to love one another and be a servant to others, giving good gifts even during the most difficult and disappointing times.  
John 15:12
"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you."

A Bouquet For Those Who Grieve

        A Bouquet For Those Who Grieve

Dear Friends,
     I was walking in my garden and when I brushed against the lavender plant the sweet smell filled the air.  My thoughts turned to prayer for all the needs that come to me.  My prayer today is that this letter to you will be a source of comfort if you are in a time of grief.  My heart aches with you.  I hope this letter will be like a bouquet of fragrant blossoms of lavender and lilies to bring calm and rest to your hurting heart. 
    If you know someone who is grieving I pray that this will be an encouragement to you to reach out to the hurting and minister to them.  What can be done to make a difference?  How can we demonstrate sacrificial love to our neighbors?
     When we look in God's Word we see how Jesus responded to tragedies.  Some situations that cause grief in the world happen through natural disasters, others from accidents and also some from the evil that exists in the world.  
     Psalms 34:18 says, " The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed."  Often in these times of tragedy  people are overwhelmed with questions, especially wondering why this happened.  They try to find answers and often feel a need to place blame and guilt someplace.  At times it can appear that an individual is acting as a self proclaimed prophet, bringing hurt to the hurting instead of healing.  
      In Luke 13:1-5 we see how Jesus responded to that line of thinking.  The people were distracted from the real picture.  Some people were suggesting that perhaps the tragedies had happened because of the sinfulness of the victims.  In these verses Jesus answers this question by saying "No!" And then He went on to encourage them to draw close to God.  He saw the greatest tragedy of all as being the death of someone who was not in a right relationship with God.  He wanted them to search their own hearts and repent and draw near to Him. 
     In Mark 16:15 Jesus says, " Go into all the world and preach the Good news to everyone."  In preaching the Good News we remember that we are in need of His grace in our lives.
      Jesus should be our example.  If you know someone who is mourning be a light to them, be kind to them, demonstrate love and compassion.  God can show us practical ways to  be a tool to bring the hurting to a place where they can find healing from Jesus.  
     Jesus has promises for those who are grieving.  1Peter 5:10 says, "...He will place you on a firm foundation." 
John 16:33
" ...Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
Romans 12:15
" Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep."


     
     

The Light Of An Angel: a Tribute to Christina Grimmie

                             The Light Of An Angel:
         A Tribute To Christiana Grimmie
Dear Friends,
     This is a tribute to a young woman who didn't let fame diminish the light of Jesus in her life.  Christina  Grimmie grew in her faith and the Light of Jesus radiated from her not only to the people she met, but to all who heard her voice, read her blog, or had any other contact with her.  I heard that even a momentary contact with her left people with something special that couldn't be forgotten.  Her death at age 22 is tragic to say the least.  
     Christina said that the song "In Christ Alone" was her favorite song.  She overcame her shyness and was bold in her faith.  In the secular music world she was a Light in the darkness.  Christina  had the authentic Jesus.  The Light of Jesus in her drew people to listen.   She had found the unique qualities that God created in her. She used those gifts for His glory. 
    Christina lived up to the meaning of her name; anointed, follower of Christ.  The Light that she had in her life will live on.  
     The lyrics to the song, "Fly" by Celine Dion are very fitting in our thoughts of Christina. 
  Fly, fly little wing

Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love

Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again

Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this

Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this mem'ry bittersweet
Until we meet

Fly, fly do not fear
Don't waste a breath, don't shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don't wait for me

Above the universe you'll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won't forget

Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, find the light

    Christina gave her life for being a follower of Jesus.  The Light from her life will not be hidden.

John 8:12

"Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 'I am the Light of the world.  If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.'"

Matthew 5:14

"You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden."

http://christinagrimmie.com/users/jrraks6z/blogs/6131881

     

When Fireflies Dance

                              When Fireflies Dance
Dear Friends,
      Summer is bringing so many sweet things to my garden. Wrens are singing, bunnies nibbling and hummingbirds are sipping nectar from the flowers.  In the evening when the air is steamy with heat and humidity, I get the hose out to water the flowers.  Fireflies come dancing out of their hiding places beneath the leaves as the mist falls on the plants like a gentle rain.  Things like fireflies bring back childhood memories for many people.  We remember running into the house and asking for a jar for these delightful insects.  Just watching them dance above the spray from the hose brings a smile with the memory.  
    God created us with an ability to remember things.  Many people today write journals, biographies, and autobiographies because they feel a calling to record events that need to be remembered.  These can be important for future generations.  
    His Word is full of precious promises that give us assurance and hope.  Simon Peter was given a message full of promises of hope for us.  Take a few minutes and read 2 Peter chapter 1 and you will see a powerful message that calls us to hold on to His promises and faith that Jesus was the dearly loved Son of God.  Peter passed down these words as reminders for us that this is true, and that he had heard the voice from heaven.
    2 Peter 1:16-17
"For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord jesus Christ.  We saw His majestic splendor with our own eyes when He received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.'"

Hiding Places In a Garden

                        Hiding Places In a Garden
Dear Friends,
     My garden is bursting with colorful blooms.  Pink Missouri primroses look like graceful wisps of clouds flowing throughout the garden.  Heirloom roses tumble over the fence spilling sweet perfume in the warm breeze.  All the plants welcome tiny animals to come for meals.  They find nesting places in shady hideaways.  
    The other day I came out the back door and a new little bunny hopped into a hiding place.  He found safety beneath the boxwood branches. 
    Last night I watched an excellent film called "Run, Boy Run".  It is based on a true story of a young Polish Jewish boy during the Holocaust.  Movies and books like this  help us to realize how fragile life is.  People often question the goodness of God  when they see or experience tragic events.
     At times we become desperate to find a safe place.  The safest place to be is in the hiding place that He provides for us when we turn to Him.   He is always our rock and our fortress.

Psalms 18:19
"He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me."
Job 11:18
"Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety." 
Jeremiah 29:13
"If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." 
     

Thunderstorms and Nature Songs

              Thunderstorms and Nature Songs
Dear Friends,
     In the beautiful hymn This Is My Father's World there is a phrase, "and to my ears all nature sings." Every song is made up of many notes.  Nature has her own kind of songs.  Some of the notes are soft, gentle wind whispers through the tree branches.  Other notes are booming thunder. 
     Today I was in my garden looking to see what new plants I can find.  My garden is like a song.  A sweet and sometimes tangled mixture of notes.   As you can see in this picture some Lily of the Valley has popped up in the midst of Strawberry plants.  Next to these is a Peony bush and  Autumn Joy Sedum.  
    In Jeremiah 51:16 we can see a beautiful song of nature. "When He speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain.  He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses."
     Notes of rain, wind, thunder, gentle breezes and rainbows make up the beautiful nature songs that God gives us.  Let's open our ears and listen to His songs.
Psalms 95:4-5
"He holds in His hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.  The sea belongs to Him, for He made it.  His hands made the dry land too."

Stone Pavement: God's Pathway

              Stone Pavement:   God's Pathway
Dear Friends,
     A tiny scrap of paper with a heartfelt prayer is placed in a crack of the Wall.  This Wall in Jerusalem is a visual reminder of all that God did for His people in ancient days.  Stone upon stone rising up as a beacon for His people to draw close to Him.  Many people come to lift their voices, sing praises and cry tears of brokenness.  Kneeling on the stone pavement in prayer becomes a pathway to God's power.
     I was reading in the book of Joshua the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River that ended the forty years of wandering in the wilderness.  The amazing miracle didn't end that day.  Joshua piled up twelve stones that had been gathered from the middle of the Jordan river to stand as a memorial, a reminder of the greatness of God.  At the end of chapter four it says, "He did this so all nations of the earth might know that the Lord's hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever."
    The Israelites celebrated Passover before the seven day march around the city of Jericho.  Joshua had sent spies into Jericho to check out the situation.  Rahab helped the spies and told them how the whole city of Jericho was terrified of the Israelites.  She hung a red cord from her window that was in the city wall, the window from which she had helped the spies escape by.  The red cord was a visual sign that those inside this house would be spared from the destruction of Jericho.  This was much like when the Israelites put the blood of lambs on their doorposts so that God would pass over them during the last plague.  
     In John 19:14, at another Passover time, Pilate sat on the Stone Pavement which was his judgement seat, he said, "Look, here is your King!"  Then Pilate turned Jesus over to the people.  He was taken on a pathway to the top of a hill called the Place of the Skull to be crucified.  Pilate posted a sign on the cross saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."  Verse 20 says, "... the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, so that many people could read it."  The place of the crucifixion remains today as a visual reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
     Things like the pile of twelve stones, the red cord, the hill that looks like a skull, the sign that Pilate put on the cross, and the Wall in Jerusalem have been used by God as reminders of His greatness so that we won't stop praying.
Psalms 19:14, 19
"You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate Your awesome power among the nations.... your road led through the sea, Your pathway through the mighty waters-- a pathway no one knew as there!"

Golden Bowls of Prayers

Golden Bowls of Prayers

Dear Friends,

     The fresh new blossoms of Magnolia, Hyacinth, and Daffodils, are giving beauty for us to enjoy.  Those early blooms are a preview for what will come soon.  When you look in the window of a coffee shop and see customers enjoying conversation or a good book along with a cup of coffee it's a preview of what you will get when you open the door.  As the bells on the door chime a welcome when you enter, the intoxicating aroma of coffee beans greets you, beckoning you to the counter to order your favorite drink.  

     Some fragrances tend to fill every crevice of a room more than others.  Coffee is one of those.  Burning incense is like that too.  No matter how high the cathedral ceiling is, the sweet, smokey smell fills the room.

    We know that God collects our tears in bottles.  Psalms 56:8, "You keep track of all my sorrows, You have collected all my tears in Your bottle..."   We also see in Revelation 5:8 that our prayers are being caught into golden bowls of incense.   He deeply loves us and each prayer must be a treasure for Him to keep them in golden bowls!  Prayers that are collected include our offerings of gratitude and praise, giving glory to God, along with our requests.  Incense gives us a picture for prayer much like perfume is the breath of a flower.  

     In Exodus 30:34-35 we read where God gave Moses specific instructions for the preparation of the incense.  We also see when we read The Lord's Prayer that there are elements mingled together to produce effective prayer. These include worship, repentance, forgiveness and thanksgiving.  We can come to God with our prayers when they have been purified by Christ's atonement making them acceptable to Him.  The atoning sacrifice of Jesus is the fire that burns the incense blending with our thoughts and words making our prayers rise before God. 

Revelation 8:4

"The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the Angel had 

poured them out."

Fervent Prayer and the Broken Axe

      Fervent Prayer and the Broken Axe


 Dear Friends,
      I have seen the movie "War Room" and I am reading "Fervent" both of which are meant to stir us up to pray.  Maybe by writing this letter I can encourage you also.    
     In our busy lives we tend to forget things and we need reminders.  At least I do.  Last summer my garden was filled with  brilliant flowers of many colors.  Pictures of the flowers  help me to not forget and they give me something to hope for during the winter months and in early spring before the flowers bloom again.
     I also use notes for reminders.  I have notes attached to the refrigerator, notes taped to the bathroom mirror, notes on the calendar, notes in margins of books, and more, all so I don't forget things.  It also helps me to write out or journal my prayers for the simple reason that I don't want to forget.  Writing our prayers, our hopes and God's promises can give us visual reminders.  When these prayers are answered and we make a note of the answered prayer our faith will grow.  We will be encouraged to keep pressing on. 
  We can read in 2 Kings 6: 2-7 about Elisha's servant who was working and the borrowed axe he was using broke.  The axe head sank to the bottom of the Jordan River along with the heart of the servant.  Compassionate Elisha threw a stick in the water and the axe head floated to the surface of the river.  The servant picked it up.  His faith was lifted up and how he must have praised God!  I'm sure he never forgot this miracle gift!  Elisha's passion and his compassionate heart fanned the flame of  the faith of the servant in that moment of need. 
     I'm so thankful that the Word of God is filled with examples of God's miracles and answered prayers.  They are meant to be reminders for us that He knows our needs.  Sharing our prayer needs with friends and sharing testimonies of answered prayers will give glory to God.
Hosea 6:3
"Oh, that we might know the Lord!  Let us press on to know Him.  He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming rains in early spring."
    
  
     

Between the Promise and the Fulfillment

                             Between the Promise
                  and the Fulfillment
Dear Friends,
     Right now a few things are beginning to have new growth in my garden.  A few green stems and leaves are coming up from the cold ground.  Now is the time between when I know the plants exist hidden under the ground and when I see them in full bloom.  
     The freshly sprouted leaves and stems are little messages. Their roots need to be in the earth like our feet need to be on the earth. As you read this do you find your eyes glancing up to the picture of the brilliant Heavenly Blue Morning Glory?  The light that is reflecting off the flower is like the Light of Heaven.  We need to have our feet on this earth but have our eyes and our hope on Heaven.  This is how we live between the promise and the fulfillment of the promise.
    Our feet are on a rugged and unchartered terrain.  Stones and rocks may trip us.  Hardships and grief can overwhelm us.
    2 Timothy 3:1 warns us that, "perilous times" would come.  
    This time of life is between the promise and the fulfillment.  The Light is always there when we look up.  
Matthew 5: 3
"God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

Songs Of Slaves

                    Songs Of Slaves
Dear Friends,
     When slaves labored in the fields of the South their songs echoed throughout the land.  Some of the songs were 'code songs' to send messages guiding people to freedom.  Some of the songs were lullabies for the infants they brought to the fields with them.  Many songs were about Bible stories and others were about the hope of freedom. 
    Paul and Silas must have been an inspiration to them.  In Acts 16:25 it says, "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God: and the prisoners heard them."  Their singing caused an earthquake and the keeper of the prison desired to have faith like they had. 
     Many of the slave songs expressed the emotions they could relate to in the Bible passages about slavery, oppression, poverty and imprisonment.  The Spirituals that they sang became accepted as authentic spiritual utterances much like the Psalms.  Many of these songs were mournful but others were filled with joy.   They could identify with the oppressed and their music was drawn from the depths of their hearts.
     In the 1870's a group of ex-slaves called the Fisk Jubilee Singers traveled the U.S. and Britain, even singing at the White House, to raise awareness and raise funds for colleges for their people.
     Today the Syrian Christians are being killed, persecuted and enslaved.  Pray for our brothers and sisters and look for ways to minister to them.  May they find songs in the depths of their souls that they can use to lift one another up and be a light to those who persecute them.
Psalms 126: 6
"They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."
     

With Wings Like Eagles

                           With Wings Like Eagles
Dear Friends,
     This tiny baby wren had gotten blown from its nest before it could fly.  The fragile wings softly fluttered in the palm of my hand.
     Have you ever been homesick?  If you have ever been in an airport you probably have seen soldiers traveling in uniform.  They carry heavy duffle bags full of gear for extended stays away from home.  They are probably the most homesick of travelers.  They spend months enduring grueling training in preparation for battles.  They are cut off from communication with loved ones and learn how to survive harsh circumstances. 
     Our strength is found while we wait on the Lord.  This waiting is not the comfy, under a warm blanket kind of waiting.  This kind of waiting is like getting water from a well or like training for a battle.  It's an active kind of waiting. 
     Strength is needed to first dig the well.  Genesis 26: 19 says, "And Isaac's servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water."  More strength is needed to remove the stone that covers the mouth of the well.  Genesis 29:2 says, "a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well."
     The bucket next to the deep well is useless without the rope. When we go to Him continually each day our strength is renewed.  His Word is our lifeline.  
     So, like a soldier needs to endure training for battle,  a bucket needs to be lowered into to depths of the well and be lifted up to give refreshment. 
Isaiah 40:31
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Unfinished Work

                                    Unfinished Work  
Dear Friends, 
       I took this picture of an Angel Trumpet tree last fall at a local botanical garden and wanted to share it with you.
      Every year at the end of  the fall I am never quite done with the work of preparing the garden for the coming spring.  When the weather gets warm again I will have to do those unfinished tasks before I can plant anything new in the ground.
     Sometimes people who knew Jesus couldn't see the  possibilities and they mourned needlessly.  If only they had known that Jesus wasn't finished yet. 
      If we look in chapter five of the Gospel of Mark we see a man named Jairus.  His daughter is very sick and he is hurrying to ask Jesus to come to heal her.  Jesus began the walk back to the man's home with him and on the way stopped to heal someone else.  Can you imagine how impatient Jairus could have been?  Then a messenger came to report that the girl had died and that the Master need not come now.   Jairus was devastated!  Jesus continued on with the grieving father to the house where the girl was.   The crowd that had gathered laughed at Jesus when He arrived.  They scorned Him and wanted to hold onto only what they could see, the still form of a breathless girl.
     Jesus took her hand and spoke life to her.  She stood up and walked.  He told them to give her food to eat! 
     Another example is in John chapter 11 when Mary and Martha were grieving the death of their brother Lazarus.  While in the midst of mourners, Jesus spoke life to Lazarus so that not only he would have life, but so those who heard His voice would believe also.  He wanted them to know that He wasn't finished yet!  With God involved there is always a chance for a miracle!
2 Corinthians 4:18a
"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen."


   
         

He Knows Your Name

He Knows Your Name

Dear Friends,

     Sometimes during the cold winter months we are given a few days of respite from the usual freezing weather.  The sun comes out and the snow starts to melt.  You can hear the birds chirping in anticipation of springtime.  If you walk on the garden path on a day like this you will find little gifts that are gently nudging out of the frozen ground.  A lot of gardeners have markers near the plants so that visitors will know the names and also so that they can identify each plant as they start to come up in the spring.

    Like the protective place where an unborn baby grows, plants grow in secret underneath the surface of the earth.  God made sure that everything the plants needed for growth was provided for them. 

     God knows each of us before we are born.  He has a plan.  Our name is important to Him.  You can find many examples in the Bible where God calls a person by their name.  In Exodus 3:4 God called Moses by his name.  He had a plan for Moses beyond the life of a fugitive, working as a shepherd.  Moses responded by saying, "Here am I!"  In Luke 19:5 we read that Jesus called Zacchaeus by name to come down from the sycamore tree.  Zacchaeus  responded by hurrying joyfully to meet with Jesus.  Jesus could see beyond the surface.  He knew the great worth that existed in this little man.

     This plant that is starting to sprout up in my garden has a name. It's a special name.  Autumn Joy lives up to it's name.  It sprouts up early  and continues to stay green throughout the hot, dry summer. The soft, pink flowers bloom in the fall when most other flowers are finished giving joy in the autumn time.

Jeremiah 1:5

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you."

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

    

Blackberry Lilies: Fruit For The Winter

                    Blackberry Lilies: Fruit For the Winter
Dear Friends,
     A couple of years ago the elderly man across the street gave me a couple of dried stems of Blackberry Lilies.  The shiny black seeds are in clusters and look like big  blackberries!  I brought them in the house and put them in a vase along with some dry ornamental grasses and stems from the silver dollar plant.  
     In the spring  I cleaned up the garden. Then I planted some of the seeds in a couple of places.  The plants grew sword  shaped leaves that  look similar to iris leaves.  Delicate-branched stems with six petaled orange blooms that are speckled with crimson give them a lily-like appearance.
     After the flowers finish blooming the interesting seed pods form. The branches get blown by the wind and  the snow falls around them.  The stems with the black  berry-like seeds  are a contrast against the new snow.
     The thing about these flowers that I love is how the beauty continues and changes from season to season.  God gives us so many examples of how His goodness and provision  are constant, always there but  changing.  
     The birds flock around the garden enjoying the seeds that dropped from the stems.  My vase of dried seed pods and grasses is on the table.  All of this came from a dried branch of seeds from a neighbor.  Now I can share some of my blackberry lily seeds with a friend.  The beauty continues. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11
"God has made everything beautiful in His time..."
     
     

A New Day Dawns

                                                  A New Day Dawns
Dear Friends,
     I was awake early in the morning while the house was quiet.  I looked out the front window.  Everything  was still dark except where the sun was coming up beyond the trees.  Brilliant fiery orange light against the blackness of the still dark sky was making the trees into silhouettes against the sunrise!  My eyes filled with tears.
     I am thankful for Jesus who hears and answers our prayers.  He is the message of  hope in the darkness.  A new day is always filled with  fresh beginnings.  Being 'born again' gives us a clean fresh start much like when the sun rises.  God is always ready to forgive and heal.
     Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  In chapter 9  Jesus saw a blind man.  He said, "But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world."  He then made mud and put it on the eyes of the blind man.  Jesus told him to wash in the pool of Siloam.  When the man washed he was healed. 
      More beautiful than the physical healing was the opening of the man's eyes to the truth of who Jesus was.  He had been a blind beggar.  Now he could see that Jesus was the Savior.  He was so changed that  his neighbors didn't recognize him. 
    Jesus came to set the captives free, to break the chains that keep us from experiencing all that He has planned for us.  He is the light shining through all darkness.
2 Corinthians 4:6
"For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ."

Ravens, Lilies and the Window of Our Minds

             Ravens, Lilies and the Window of Our Minds

Dear Friends,
     My devotions and meditations this morning led to thoughts on God's infinite goodness.  He has an eternally giving heart blessing us with forgiveness and endless love.  When we draw near to Him He is always there.  He has never left our side.  
     Psalm 145:8-9 reads "The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  The Lord is good to everyone.  He showers compassion on all His creation."  
     We read in Job 42:5 when he had been at his lowest point "I had only heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes."  Job then repented for he had been listening to negative words from friends.  After he repented it says that he prayed for his friends and the Lord restored his fortunes. 
     Job 42:17 reads, "Then he died, an old man who had lived a long full life."
    We all have the freedom to choose to run to God, and the freedom to think on good things, even in the midst of trials.  Our emotions are many times controlled by our minds and what we dwell on.  
    A gratitude journal can be a tool to draw our thoughts toward good things.  Looking around us and focusing on positive things will help to open the "window of our mind" to the Light.  
Psalm 147:8-9
"He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.  He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry."
Luke 12:24
"Look at the ravens. ....you are far more valuable to Him than any birds."

Born Of The Fire

                           Born Of The Fire
Dear Friends,
     The light and warmth of a fire can be comforting during chilly weather.  The logs that are burning are surrounded by a boundary of stones.  Sit near this fire with me, a mug with a hot drink is on the log next to you.  Imagine holding a stick with marshmallows near the fire until the marshmallows are toasty brown on the outside and yummy, sticky on the inside.  Sit near and stay warm and safe and listen to the fire crackle.
     Fire can be a friend or a foe or a mixture of both depending on the circumstances.  A forest fire is often destructive but can also be viewed as necessary in nature.  Fire changes a log to ash which contains life giving nutrients necessary for plant growth.  Trees that survive fire become stronger to be able to face future fires. The plants that survive receive more light because of the plants that were destroyed.  The extreme heat of a forest fire opens the cones of a sand pine so that the forest is reseeded.  These are the trees "born of the fire". 
     When we have faith that has withstood fire or difficulties we can grow in our faith like the trees "born of the fire".  The  searing heat and the flames that could cause harm can be used by God for our good.  There are so many lessons in the world God created for us.  My prayer is that we can see these lessons to be able to be a light to those around us.
1 Peter 1: 6-7
"So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."