Butterflies, Colorful Leaves and Snowflakes

        Butterflies, Colorful Leaves and Snowflakes

Dear Friends,
     I have started to write a letter to you a few times and it didn't go as I wanted.  Since I could wait and start over, that is what I have done again in hopes that the words flow and can reach where someone needs them. 
     The snow and cold has already been happening here in the midwest.  It's a little early for that as it usually waits until after Thanksgiving.  
     The other day, out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a butterfly fly past the window.  I took a closer look and realized that  it must have been leaves being blown off the tree.  I kept looking and realized that it was snowing, huge, fluffy flakes!  It took me by surprise!  Life does that sometimes.  Sometimes a surprise is happy and sometimes they bring us to a stand still.
      I have had to pause again and now it is past Thanksgiving and more snow is falling, like tears that fall as you cry out in prayers for a loved one.   It’s a very heavy snow.  
     Praying and giving thanks are linked together like the links of a paper chain made with glue and glitter.  I’m praying for a very special friend who has been sick.   I'm so thankful for the blessing of a special friendship.  Friendship includes going through valleys with each other.  Jesus had a special friendship with Lazarus.  He spent time with him and his sisters, Mary and Martha.  In John chapter 11 we read that the sisters sent an urgent message to Jesus.  “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”  
     Jesus had a plan for Lazarus and He has a plan for us.  His desire is always for God to be glorified.  His decision to postpone going to Bethany must have been a difficult decision since it brought His friends grief and also grief for Himself.  He was also angry at the unbelief He saw when He told them to roll the stone away from the grave that had held Lazarus for four days.  “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believed?” 
     Then He thanked His Father for hearing His prayer!  “You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 
     To all who are reading this, the message is to always pray that God will be glorified!  Pray to be His hands and feet here on earth that He will be glorified!  God desires that we hold on to hope to see answers to our prayers!   Turn our thoughts to remember past answered prayers so that our faith be built up!  He does answer prayers and He does miracles still today!  Remember to thank Him, like He thanked the Father!
John 11:41
"So they rolled the stone aside.  Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, Father, thank you for hearing me."
Isaiah 53: 5
"But He was pierced  for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed."
Jeremiah 17:14
"Oh Lord, if You heal me, I will be truly healed; if You save me, I will be truly saved.  My praises are for You alone."

A Worthy Vessel

                     A Worthy Vessel
Dear Friends,
     I was reading about the Samaritan woman at the well and some thoughts came for this blogpost.  
     The story is found in John 4. 
      While on a journey, Jesus stopped in Samaria at a well called Jacob's well.  Normally, Jews didn't speak to Samaritans.  Jesus asked the woman for a drink, which surprised her.  She also was surprised that a Jew would speak to her because she was an outcast of society. She only came to the well during the time of day when it was less likely to be busy.  
     Jesus had a lengthy conversation with her.  Her eyes were opened to believe Jesus when He boldly told her that He was the Messiah!   He who had asked her for a drink was now offering to give her water that He called Living Water.   
     The fresh, bubbling spring in her heart couldn’t be contained!  She went running into town to tell  the Good News to the very people that she had been avoiding!  They were fascinated by her message and came running to listen to this man who claimed to be Messiah and had told the woman all about herself! 
     He wants us to have this same spring of Living Water bubbling up that this woman had.   Let’s let this spring bubble up, overflowing and touching lives of people around us!

“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.””
‭‭John‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬



“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:39-41‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Becoming Beautiful

                  Becoming Beautiful
Dear Friends,
     It has been a while since I've written to you.  I've started a few letters, then life happened and it was hard to come back to the same thought line.  Last week I saw this butterfly on this particular zinnia and God spoke a message to my heart.
     Something you will immediately notice about the flower is that a lot of the petals are gone.  Life still exists in the flower and it still holds nourishing nectar for the butterfly to sip.  The beautiful butterfly hasn't noticed a problem or flaw with the flower and is enjoying it immensely.  
     As I was taking pictures the butterfly would sail through the gentle breeze.  It circled past me so near that I could feel a soft breath-like movement as it fluttered past my cheek and landed back on the top of the broken flower.  I was mesmerized by the beauty!
     I thought, "This is why I grow flowers!  To see a sight like this and to hear God whisper a message to me is why!"
    We all experience brokenness at some point during life.  It can be caused by a number of things and can have many different outcomes.  God sees all the brokenness too, and He sees it like this butterfly sees the broken flower.  It's worth something.  The flower has worth to the butterfly and God sees our worth and potential through our brokenness.  
     A man who does volunteer work with me at the Salvation Army gave his testimony at a meeting I attended.  He shared about his brokenness.  He had come here from another country  as a small child.  They were very poor and  at a young age he got involved in gangs and drugs and spent time in prison.  Then God got ahold of his life and he has spent the past 40 years serving others.  He glows with the love of God!
     I want to encourage you today to know that God sees your worth!  You are beautiful to Him.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God's masterpiece.  He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

     

Manna From Prayers

                  Manna From Prayers
Dear Friends,
     When I look at my garden full of pink Missouri primroses I think of the manna that God provided for the people as they journeyed through the wilderness.  They would gather the sweet tasting manna that had dropped from heaven.  I can imagine the children filling their mouths with it as they helped fill the baskets.
     Have you ever seen an artist's work studio, a carpenter's shop or a gardener's potting shed.  Tools and equipment line the shelves in the midst of projects that are being worked on.  In my sewing room are bins full of linen and silk fabrics that were cast off and discarded by former owners.  The sewing machine, pin cushion and thread rack are ready to be put to use.  The garden shed is filled with bags of soil, various sized pots and tools for gardening.  The wheeled cart has been left in the garden by the area that I was working in, along with some gloves, trowel and clippers. 
     God delivered the Hebrew people from the Egyptians and led them through the wilderness.  The wilderness was a sort of work shop.  God continually gave them signs of His presence and protection. He opened the Red Sea for them.  He fed them from heaven.  He guided them with a cloud always providing for their needs.
     When Jesus had a multitude of people following Him, He spent days teaching and healing.    
     In Matthew 14 we read of a time when Jesus told His disciples to feed the crowd of 5000 men plus women and children who were following Him.  Five loaves of bread and two fish were blessed and broken by His hands and given to the crowd.
     In Matthew 15 we read the account of when Jesus had compassion when He noticed that His followers were hungry.  Seven loaves of bread and 2 fish were found.  Jesus blessed the meal and the food was distributed to all 4,000 men plus the women and children.  All were fed until satisfied and the left overs were gathered into 7 large baskets. 
      As I read the account of the time in the wilderness, tears come to my eyes and I pray that I will be thankful and see His hand at work in my life.   I desire to be soft clay in His hands and  I pray that the manna I gather be sweet to taste and full of the nourishment I need.  Each of our lives is like an art project.  God uses events and people like tools to mold and shape us.   The words that come to my mind when I think of the Israelites journey through the wilderness and the feeding of the multitudes is abundant provision.  God is the abundant provider.  May our prayers bring the manna from Heaven so God will be glorified!  When we are in need we can remember the manna blessings, the past times when prayers were answered and when needs were met.  We can pray with thankful hearts to the wonderful provider!
Numbers 9:17
"Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it."
Matthew 15:37
"They all ate as much as they wanted.  Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food."

Finding The Promiser

                 Finding The Promiser
Dear Friends, 
     When I saw the word 'Promiser' being used, it grabbed my attention.  The word brings some questions to mind.  Who is this Promiser and what does He promise?
     George Mueller said that when a trial comes, "I will wait and see what good God will do to me by it, assured He will do it."  He was confident because he was intimately acquainted with the Promiser. 
     We know that the Word of God is full of promises.   He also put His promises in creation to draw people to Himself.  The promises are not hidden.  They are in sight for anyone to see!  
     The sight of this blooming pussy willow was a promise that the season is changing from winter to spring.  Signs of newly sprouting plants bring hope and knowledge that God is in control.  He hasn't hidden this truth, but displays it openly throughout the world.     
     The grip of winter has been unusually tight this year.  Many areas have been experiencing unrelenting wintry weather when normally spring is in full bloom by now.  We had a small glimmer of warmth that made the plants including the pussy willow wake up, but then freezing temperatures came and snow covered the ground again.  Life is unpredictable like that sometimes!  The little bits of yellow from the blooming daffodils poked up through the snow helping me remember that spring will come eventually. 
     Our wonderful Promiser has given us hope to hold on to the promise of the coming change of seasons, the dawning of a new day and the turn of trials into something good! 
Ecclesiastes 10:7
"Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning."
 2 Peter 1:4
"And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises...."
Psalms 147:4-5
"He counts the stars
and calls them by name.
How great is our Lord!  His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!"
     
      

An Interruption Becomes A Blessing

     An Interruption Becomes A Blessing
Dear Friends,
     Spring is trying to enter this part of the country.  We have experienced a few interruptions from cold fronts, ice storms and even some snow.  Because of the interruptions I haven't been able to be in the garden much yet this year.  While I was looking at my pictures I found this one from last spring.  I was getting the garden cleaned up so the new growth could get sunlight and I came across this cute little bog plant.  A few years ago it had been given to me my one of my children.  The following spring I found that it had dried up and disappeared.  I thought it was dead.  Disappointments happen in gardening.  
     I was overjoyed when I saw new growth from it after experiencing a couple of years with no signs of life! 
     We all experience interruptions of one kind or another.  They can last anywhere from a few moments to many years.  How we react to interruptions can be life changing.  We can look in the Word to see how Jesus reacted to interruptions.
     In Matthew 19:13-14 we read that some parents interrupted whatever Jesus was doing.  They wanted Jesus to pray for their children!  The disciples wanted the people to leave Jesus alone, but Jesus opened His arms for the children to come to Him!  He took time to bless the children before continuing on His way.  
     In Matthew 9:18 Jesus was having a discussion with his disciples.  A man came up asking for Jesus to come to his house and bring his young daughter back to life again!  Verse 19 says, "So Jesus and His disciples got up and went with Him."  That hurried walk was interrupted by a woman whose faith and desperate need led her to rush up and touch the fringes of His garment.  He stopped and said these kind words to her, "Daughter, be encouraged!  Your faith has made you well."
     When Jesus finally got to the house of the little girl He took her by the hand and she stood up!  The interruptions didn't stop Jesus from attending to the requests of anyone.  The girl's father hadn't been complaining or wringing his hands in frustration at the delay.  Faith and trust bore good fruit. 
     In Acts 3:1-10 we read that Peter and John had learned to react to interruptions in the way that Jesus reacted.  A lame man received the gift of healing when he least expected it!  They had learned to be like Jesus by using interruptions for His glory!   
   My hope and prayer today is that you will be encouraged to press on in prayerful anticipation in spite of delays and interruptions!
Mark 10:51-52
""What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked.  "My Rabbi," the blind man said, "I want to see!"  And Jesus said to him, "GO, for your faith has healed you."  Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road." 
  

A Vessel Worthy of Treasure

           A Vessel Worthy of Treasure

Dear Friends,
     I found this giant terra cotta pot in a thrift shop and planted herbs and succulents in it and gave it an honorable place on the painted chair in a corner of the patio.
    Clay jars, pots, vessels and oil lamps are mentioned quite a few times in the Bible. 
    2 Corinthians 4:7 is a verse to look at first.  "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves."  The light in our hearts is a great treasure!!
    In Ephesians Paul wrote some beautiful prayers for the people he cared about.  Ephesians 1:18, "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with Light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called - His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance."  I want my heart to be flooded with this Light, this treasure!
    God is the Great Potter who makes each of us in His image.   If you have seen a Potter at work in His shop, you probably have noticed that he has shelves of pots that are drying prior to being glazed and fired in the kiln.  Since they are  made by hands instead of a mold, each one is unique.
    Jeremiah 18:4 says,"But the jar he was making did not turn out as he hoped, so he crushed the lump of clay again and started over."  When we pray for God to shape us and make us, to remove the stones and imperfections, we can expect some pain in the process. I have felt His strong  hands digging out the rocks, pushing the clay into a mound reshaping me over and over as I pray to be His masterpiece, complete, mended, refined by fire, a vessel worthy of His treasure!
    Another of Paul's prayers is  Ephesians 3:16-19, "I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.  Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how high, and how deep His love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
    The vessels on the shelves are fragile before the firing.  The glaze is applied often several times adding colors and shine to the pot.  Although the vessels remain fragile, they are less likely to be chipped and broken after going through the extreme heat of the kiln.  The color often changes when going through the fire of the kiln.  The end product is strong, beautiful and unique.
     When we keep our eyes on the Light as we go through the trials of life  the Great Potter is strengthening us so that His Light in us shines brightly!

     

The Well of Refreshment

              The Well Of Refreshment 
Dear Friends, 
      This was the first time I had an amaryllis bulb to add a ray of color to the frigid winter days! What a glorious sight it was when it popped open as if to shout "Happy Winter!"
     A ray of color brings refreshment during this time of winter when outdoor activities are limited.  
     Jesus needed refreshment also.  Let's look in the Word to see how Jesus was refreshed!  
      In John 4 we read that Jesus was traveling to Galilee and had to pass through Samaria.  He came to the town of Sychar.  His disciples had gone into the village to buy food, so Jesus was alone.  In verse 6 we read, "Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime."  A  Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus asked her for a drink.  We see that she was surprised that He would ask her for anything, even for a drink.  
     The conversation takes a turn around when she asks Him why He was asking her for a drink, and He answered by telling her, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." 
      The conversation continues on with His request for a drink forgotten.  Jesus goes on to explain to her that, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  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." Jesus talked with her at length, leading her to an understanding about true worship and the knowledge that He was the Messiah! 
     The disciples returned with food and the woman ran back to the village with the news about the Messiah.  The disciples encouraged Jesus to eat, but He wasn't hungry any longer.  He said, "I have food you know nothing about....My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing His work."  
So we see from this that the life-giving spring inside of Him refilled Him as it flowed out to nourish the woman's hungry soul.  
     She went out proclaiming the Good News, becoming refreshed herself. Those who heard her rushed to hear Him!  She had received the gift  that God had for her!  The spring of life-giving water was bubbling out of her heart!
John 4:42
"Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him ourselves.  Now we know that He is indeed the Savior of the world."