Spirit Wind: His Love In Motion
Dear Friends,
The cold winter wind has blown the leaves around the yard and some are pressed against the fence. In the spring I'll rake and clean up the dried, wind blown leaves, but for now I see a message in the leaves against the fence.
I don't want to be like the leaves being blown around without purpose or like the dried leaves against the fence. Each day we have an opportunity to pray that God give us a vision for Him. Where can we spread His love today? Who can we touch with kindness?
We are near the end of a year, about to begin a new year. Many people use this time to make changes in routine and lifestyle improvement. Spending time in the Word and prayer can help us focus each day renewed and ready to see the opportunities that He has planned for us. Small acts of kindness can do a lot to brighten the life of someone who is having a hard time.
The Spirit wind is love in motion.
Hebrews 10:24
"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."
Sheep, a Star and a Stone
Dear Friends,
Just as parents today are excited to announce the birth of a new baby, our Heavenly Father celebrated the birth of His only Son! He was so excited to announce this miracle to the world! The fulfillment of His ancient prophecies was coming! Angels filled the sky announcing His birth and the shepherds went to the stable and worshipped the newborn Messiah! Wise men saw a bright star then went to Jerusalem and followed that star to where they found Jesus. They brought special gifts and worshipped Him. They knew of Herod's plan and returned home by a different way. A dream warned Joseph of the evil plan and Jesus was taken to safety.
The Father had planned each detail to bring redemption to this world.
I find it interesting that a lovely flower called 'Star of Bethlehem' is used as a health remedy for trauma injuries and anxiety situations to bring calm and healing to the body and mind. Jesus was a healer of broken bodies, minds and hearts. His touch and His words brought peace, comfort and redemption to the world.
When His time for death had come and His body was sealed behind a large stone the earth quaked and that stone rolled away! An angel announced His Ressurection to the women who had come to the grave. The announcements of His birth and His Ressurection were followed by amazement! Shepherds, wise men, and fishermen fell to their knees and worshipped Him! Those who heard the Good News had a burning desire to spread the message. Our Messiah, the Star of Bethlehem lives!
Mark 16:15
"And then He told them, " Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone."
Crazy Quilts, Wrens and Gardens
Dear Friends,
In the middle of December I really start to miss my time outside in my little cottage garden. I miss my little wren friends who brighten my days and I even miss the physical work involved in growing my flowers. Today I was out there in the cold filling the bird feeders and putting some pots in the shed. I noticed some curly parsley and feathery fennel still growing in the midst of dried morning glory vines, leaves and twigs. My garden is a bit like a crazy quilt.
Crazy quilts are an arrangement of multicolored fabrics of different textures and shapes, often with bits of scrap material from discarded items. After the scraps are sewn together decorative embroidery, lace, buttons and beads are added giving the piece beautiful detail interest.
In Genesis chapter one we read about the creation. Our God is the amazing Creator of this world of details. These details are the basis for human creativity. His details give our minds food to fuel our imaginations and we make pictures with pencil, paint, fabric and words. What a beautiful world He made.
Genesis 1:31
"Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good!"
Drought In The Garden: Mary's Song
Dear Friends,
Just the other day a friend said that for her at this particular time it is a time of drought.
December may seem like an inappropriate time to talk about a drought but this is what I have on my heart today.
A place that is experiencing a drought is different from a desert place. Unique plants and wildlife live in the harsh climate of deserts. Desert winters are times when rain falls and cisterns are filled. We know that desert animals like camels can live without water for much longer than animals in non desert places.
A drought can bring the climate of a desert to an area that isn't used to those conditions making it potentially destructive to the plant and wildlife there. Because of the harsh conditions activity needs to cease for a time. The drought my friend was speaking of is a temporary time that is different from the usual. It's a quiet, sort of alone time.
In the gospel of Luke we see a time like this for Mary right after the angel came to her the first time. He told her that she was highly favored and she responded with a desire to be a vessel for His purpose to bring forth the Messiah. Then the time of drought took place. She quickly left the town where Joseph and her family lived. She traveled to the hill country of Juda to be with her aunt and uncle. No phones or Internet or quick visits back for weekends, only miles of silent separation. God met her in that place and ministered to her through her aunt Elisabeth. He confirmed His message to her and gave her a song.
Drought is a time to expect a miracle.
With less activity and less noise it can be lonely and sad. Come and sit in the shade with your prayers. Sit and wait with a song of hope in your heart. We can be thankful for this time of drought. Our Savior is near in this quiet time.
Luke 1:46-47
"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."
Fill My Cup
Dear Friends,
I have this song going through my mind.
"Fill my cup, Lord.
I lift it up, Lord.
Come and fill this thirsting of my soul."
When I was a little girl we had an old hand pump in the back yard next to the grape vine. A tin cup was hanging on the faucet by a small chain and would clink against the pump like a wind chime. The handle would make a loud squeak as I pumped it up and down while holding the cup under the spout. Then the water would gurgle and gush out overflowing the cup and splashing my bare feet with the cool water! Psalm 23:5 has the phrase, "my cup runneth over."
Jesus sat at a table with the one who would betray Him and the one who would deny Him three times. This was the table where He broke bread and shared it with His friends. He took the cup and shared it also with them. Later that evening while in the garden He prayed to his Father while they slept. "...except I drink it, Thy will be done." His cup of suffering was full.
While on The Cross He cried out! He was lifting His cup! Our forsaken, thirsty Savior. His cup overflowed. The veil was torn, the earth quaked, rocks were broken.
Then on the third day He rose!
Dear friends it's okay to cry out in your pain and thirst when your cup is overflowing. Fill my cup, Lord!
He said in Matthew 20:23 "Ye shall drink indeed of my cup."
Sweetness From Rocky Soil
Dear Friends,
Miles of rows of grape vines fill the hills of Samaria near Jerusalem. Large white rocks have been used to terrace the hills, creating little walls making the land useful for the vineyard and olive grove owners.
Each day the grape harvest starts early before the morning dew has evaporated. The sun rises higher in the sky. The scorching heat is perfect for ripening the grapes. The last clusters of royal purple grapes need to be picked before the cooler weather along with daily, heavy rainfall begins. The vineyard owner wants every grape picked to make his prize-winning wine. The ground is dry and dusty and the grapes are beginning to shrivel on the vines. These are the last and the sweetest grapes from ancient vines that will be pressed into the sweetest wine. The sweetness attracts the honey bees which will make golden, sticky sweetness.
The roots of these vines are strong. They have worked hard to push through the rocks to reach the deep water source down below the surface to feed the vines.
Once the work of the harvest is finished the heavy rains come. The dry, thirsty soil is thankful and the leaves on the vines become beautiful red and dry as they fall from the vines. The roots grow deeper as they find that the Source is now filled with life giving water.
Colossians 2:7
"Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."
A Fragrance Remembered: Reyhaneh
Dear Friends,
Flower petals are blowing in the breeze and cover the ground in silky softness. Happy children play in the blossoms tossing the tiny bits of color into the air. Little girls are dancing and twirling under the Magnolia tree. The fragrance fills the air of Heaven.
In Iran a young woman named Reyhaneh is known for her courage and her truthfulness and her merciful attitude. Reyhaneh was broken by cruel acts of injustice and wicked lies.
When I heard about Reyhaneh I thought of the woman who overcame many fears and came to Jesus. The room was crowded with many strange men. Cruel words were spoken against her as she approached the Master. She knew her calling and closed her ears to the accusations against her. She had walked carefully and deliberately with the fragile alabaster jar. Brave and confidently she came to Him and broke the jar of perfume. The ointment flowed over the head of Messiah. The accusations got louder and every eye was on her as the scent filled the air. She was blessed by Jesus and she is remembered today. This woman isn't named in the Bible. They said it was a waste of precious perfume. Jesus said she would be remembered.
Those who meant for Reyhaneh's death to be the end don't know Jesus. He can make something beautiful out of the injustice of her death. When Reyhaneh forgave her accusers the scent of perfume filled the air. When she wrote of her desire for her death to be used for good that others could live a more full life the scent of the perfume filled the air. The alabaster jar was broken and Reyhaneh will be remembered.
I pray that God will comfort those who knew and miss her and that they will know the One who died for us so that we can live with Him.
First John 4:10
"This is real love -- not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sins."
