Category Archives: Inspiration

Day 4/31: Never

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31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and what for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

Day 4: Never

I never thought it would happen, but here it is! I’ve been not so patiently watching and waiting and watching and waiting. Mixed in midst of all that watching and waiting there was also something else. Disappointment. This very plant was heavy with blue, pink, and lavender flowers last year, but not this season.

All summer my hydrangea grew bigger and rounder than its ever been before and didn’t stop until it covered one entire end of the flower bed. The crazy thing even encroached its way onto the sidewalk. While the dark green lush leaves outdid themselves filling the ample branches, not one single blossom formed on the entire bush, not one! I gave up and stopped watching.

Then, out of nowhere this small blossom appeared. It took its sweet ole time waiting until Fall to finally arrive. It certainly wasn’t the outcome I expected, but honestly? I think I appreciate that little flower more than I have any of the others.

This out-of-season late bloomer is a good reminder for us. We often find ourselves in times of waiting and watching for something to happen in our own lives or in the lives of those we love. Maybe you’re there now. There certainly are some things in my life that to me, seem a long time coming. 

We pray, we watch, we wait. We pray, we watch, we wait. And in the midst of all that? Disappointment, discouragement, helplessness, confusion, fear, anger can join in. When the answer doesn’t come when we want it to and it makes sense to us that it should, we begin to think it will never happen.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

Just because WE think it the right time for something, doesn’t mean God does. Have you ever had a “Garth Brooks moment”?  You know, “Thank God for unanswered prayers?” Or have you received a different answer that was different but much better than what you were expecting? The Bible tells us in Isaiah 55:8 that God’s thoughts and ways are nothing like ours. He knows exactly the what’s and when’s we need. 

There’s no doubt we’re encouraged to pray for the things on our hearts, but, we may have to wait for the right season to get an answer. What I’m learning though, is that in waiting we must keep watching with anticipation. Pray, wait, watch. Pray, wait, watch. Because as the NLT puts verse 8, God’s ways are “far beyond anything you could imagine.” I don’t know about you, but that tells me that we need to be on the look-out for those out-of-season outcomes we never thought could happen, just like a little hydrangea blooming in the Fall.

Day 3/31: Coffee

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31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23

Day 3: Coffee

Recently in the news I read studies are showing that drinking multiple cups of coffee each day is beneficial for your heart. I’m glad to learn this because one of my favorite things about being retired is to be able to linger each morning. Most days my routine remains the same. I wake on my own (no alarm is another plus to being retired), get up, open the blinds so I can see what’s happening around me, adjust the thermostat for comfort, and pour myself a hot, rich cup of coffee. I then enjoy a second one and sometimes even another. I savor the aroma, warmth, and flavor of every sip. I must admit, I’ve become quite protective of the time I devote to my coffee consumption and now I can reassure myself it’s OK because my heart health depends on it.

Guess what? There’s something much more important to my (and your) heart health and that is lingering with God, drinking in His presence.

“Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.” Psalm 86:11 (NLT)

So, here’s the bold, full strength, dark roasted question: Am I as devoted to protecting the time I spend in prayer, the Word, and praise, as I am to my coffee? Are you? We each need to answer for ourselves, but for me, I need to adjust my priorities.

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Matthew 6:21 (NLT)

Day 1/31: Way

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31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes

“The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'” Exodus 33:14 (NIV)

Day 1: Way

Just down the road from my house, majestically rising from the ground, are the Seneca Rocks. Rock climbers from all over the world come to ascend their sheer fins. They can often be seen standing on the very top, silhouetted against the backdrop of only the sky. I want to make it clear, I am NOT one of them!

Thankfully, there’s another route to enjoying the view from the heights of the rocks, one designed for non-climbers like me. Many years ago I took that trail with our church youth group and while the path is easily navigated, I found the steep slope and my lack of physical fitness challenging. At the same time that I was huffing and puffing, one of our youth who had physical limitations declared she needed to rest. I knew there was NO WAY I was going to make it without stopping, so I “generously” offered to stay back with her and continue on when she was ready. And that’s what we did together: climb a bit, rest a bit, go a bit further, sit for a few minutes, start again, and then pause until we finally conquered what we didn’t think we could. 

This story is a good reminder for all of us that the same is true in life. We will face many challenges and some will leave us feeling as if there is NO  WAY we can make it to the end. The thing is, we don’t have to push through on our own huffing and puffing under the weight of it all.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’”
Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)

We all know that standing in the valley looking up at the mountaintop can feel overwhelming. The weight of our circumstance makes taking another step, let alone a step up, seem impossible. That’s when Jesus generously sits with us, offering rest when we need it the most. While still difficult, the journey becomes doable by uniting with Him, sharing the load of our worries, anxiety, grief, or whatever we face. Together, we climb a bit and rest in Him, make it a bit further and sit with Him, begin again and wait with Him until we conquer what we didn’t think we could. Where to us, there seemed to be NO WAY, He doesn’t just make one, He IS the One!

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’”
John 14:6a (NLT)

#myseaofthought #31days2022 #fiveminutefriday #viewfrommylens

Spontaneous Detour ~ Five Minute Friday

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Spontaneous Detour

We’d driven by it more times than I can count and now, here we were approaching it again. The same question tumbled around in our minds that we’d asked over and over. “What is it?” But this time the words didn’t need to be spoken because instead of passing it by and wondering, this time we were going follow where it lead us. That brown, familiar sign along the highway with large, bold letters saying “Big Muskie Bucket” was just ahead and we were bound and determined to solve the years-long mystery.

I wasn’t sure where this spontaneous detour would take us, but I was excited to find out! The twists and turns of the old country road seemed to be a route to isolation. The bright blue sky was in stark contrast to the fields of dull, lifeless, scrub brush and dried corn stalks that lined the way. The further we went, the more we wondered if we were going the right way, but the anticipation of what we’d find at the end kept us moving forward.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t greet a spontaneous detour in my everyday plans with the same enthusiasm as I did in our travel plans. We’ve all been there, cruising along the road of life when, SCREEEEECH…things take a sharp turn for the worse and we suddenly find ourselves on a journey we never thought we’d take. Questions whirl in our heads. “What is this?” “Where is it taking me?” “How long will I be on this road?” “What will I find at the end?” 

The further the detour takes us, the more lost and alone we feel.

Not sure of where we were or for that matter, where we were really going, we were just about to give up when we came around yet another turn and there it was, a mighty giant on the horizon. The Big Muskie Bucket, once part of the world’s largest earth moving machine, able to scoop 325 tons of earth in search of coal sat on a rise overlooking the beautiful Ohio valley. We’d made it, the mystery was finally solved, and the detour totally worth it! 

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 (The Message)

Spontaneous detours are a part of this broken world. When life sends us on an alternate route the journey can be grueling. We may not like what we see along the way and want to shift into reverse. As we try to navigate all the curves and turns, it’s easy to feel defeated and unable to go any further, and truly, we can’t, until that is, we look to our Mighty God.

“Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)

God is with us. God is in control. He’s the one who keeps us moving forward in the right direction. And let’s remember that with God it’s no mystery, we’re assured that what’s ahead, twists and turns and all, is worth the trip every time! 

“Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 (The Message)

Why don’t you be spontaneous and click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and read more!

Generous in the Little Things ~Five Minute Friday

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV)

Generous in the Little Things

Family traditions: I love them! From the time our children were little there have been things I’ve done year after year to celebrate every holiday. Gifts, food, activities, and more, some of which I remember my mom doing for my sisters and me when we were little.  Now that I am a MiMi, a new tradition I’ve come to truly cherish is my daughter taking our young grandsons shopping and allowing them to pick out anything they’d like to give us as a Christmas gift. 

Those packages wrapped with lots of paper and way too much tape have become the ones I most look forward to, not because I’m expecting something grand, but because the little things inside were chosen with me in mind and show how known and loved I am by the generous, little givers.

As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t always treat God the same way. After all, I know He is powerful and can do anything. He’s performed miracle after miracle, so when I ask God for something I most often expect Him to give me something BIG. Maybe it’s healing, a new job, a relationship restored, or any of the myriad of things we put on our “grown-up wish-list” to pray for. 

And that’s just what I’ve been doing lately, praying for some pretty extravagant things and yet, I find myself still waiting for God to wrap everything up neatly for me like I’ve asked him to do. Despite knowing better, I’ve begun to wonder if He’s even heard as I’ve shared what weighs heavy on my heart. 

In the midst of my BIG and heavy I also decided on a whim this week to pray for my favorite birds that have been absent from my feeders all summer to return. I know it sounds like a silly, little prayer, especially with so much trouble everywhere, but I prayed it just the same. 

Not even 48-hours later, looking out the window I couldn’t believe my eyes! There, scurrying down a branch toward the feeder was a Nuthatch, my favorite of all the birds. A Nuthatch that hadn’t been to my feeders in months! A Nuthatch that I thought was gone for good. 

Why did God answer my silly prayer instead of the big ones I’ve been waiting on I wondered? It was then that I thought of those gifts from the boys. Tears fell and are falling again now as I type this because I’m certain that the Nuthatch, a little thing, was chosen with me in mind as a reminder that I am known, heard, and lavishly loved by the most Generous Giver and it has left me looking forward to more!

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 (NIV)

Are you like me, waiting for God to give you something BIG but feel like it will never come? That silly Nuthatch was an “a-ha” moment, a prompting to begin to look for the little things. It has shown me, and I hope you too, that because our God is generous in the little things, He can also be trusted in the BIG things. He sees, hears, and knows our every desire. 

Yes, we may think we know the what, when, and who’s we want from God, but “how much more” will we receive when we wait on the good gifts He wants to give us of His outcome, His plan, and His timing, and not just given at special times, but offered to each of us day after day, month after month, and year after year, for eternity.

Read more on generosity at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

 

Five Minute Friday ~ Rooted

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“It was majestic in beauty, with its spreading boughs, for its roots went down to abundant waters.” Ezekiel 31:7

Rooted

It’s official! I’ve now lived in the mountains of West Virginia for 40 years. 40 years! It was the last week of August in 1982 when I left everything familiar behind to move for my first teaching position. The flight and long, dark drive were all a blur as I sat in a small hotel room that seemed like a movie set from the 1960’s. The reality of it all left me in tears wondering what I’d done, how’d I gotten here, and where on earth was here?

Walking into the adjacent Motel restaurant for breakfast was also like stepping back in time, and it seemed that every eye in the place noticed this newcomer as I nervously sat down in the first booth I could find.“They” say that things will look better in the morning, but daylight for me only seemed to illuminate how very far away from home I really was. 

My apprehension continued as I learned that the county teacher training days had already officially started. Being behind before I’d started was not in my comfort zone. Also finding out I had no place to stay? Well, that about did me in and had me looking for the nearest exit. Thankfully common sense kicked in. Taking a deep breath I attempted to smooth my curls, plastered a smile on my face, and took a seat next to my new boss, but, I’m not sure I heard a single word said that entire day!

To be honest, my immediate plan was just to survive the school year, then pack up and move back home. But something unexpected began to happen.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)

The kindness of so many strangers who were becoming friends sustained me. The love of a special family grounded me. The courage of my students grew me. I became entrenched in the beauty of this place and it’s people.  God had planted me “by the stream.” He chose this exact place, the one where He knew I belonged, in the fertile soil of His plan where I’d quickly become rooted and thrive. And not just for a season or two, but for FORTY years!

The first year teacher in this picture didn’t know much. But, whether in the dark of night or the morning light, it’s this place that’s now most familiar to me and it’s very clear how I got here: I was transplanted by the Divine Gardner who knew that my roots would become more deeply entwined than I could have ever imagined. Most importantly though, I also now know exactly where I am…. I am home!

(That is, until He transplants me again, not for forty years, but for eternity)

Twenty ~ Five Minute Friday

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Twenty Things I’d Like To Tell the 20-Year-Old Me

“For we are God’s masterpiece.” Ephesians 2:10a (NLT)

1. No one cares about your hair, you shouldn’t either.
2. Dance to your own beat, sing off key, wear what you want. Embrace who your really are.
3. Don’t take yourself so seriously.
4. You can’t be perfect so stop trying.
5. Talk to yourself as gently as you do to others.

“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

6. Don’t let fear keep you from seeking adventure
7. Try new things even if you fail at them. That’s called learning.
8. Go with the flow. You can’t control everything.
9. Rock the boat sometimes.
10. Hard times will knock you off course. You will make it through.

“Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

11. Be content where you are instead of worrying about where you’re going.
12. Happiness comes and goes but joy in the Lord can always be found.
13. Read your Bible and pray a lot more.
14. You don’t have to do it all on your own. It’s OK to ask for help.
15. Even when it’s not easy, forgive others and forgive yourself.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

16. It is OK not to fit in.
17. Never underestimate the gift of friendship.
18. Stop looking so hard. Love will find you when you least expect it.
19. You’ll be amazed at how the bad experiences in your life will be used for good.
20. Trust God. (Even when it’s hard)  He has great plans for you!

To the 63-Year-Old Me: Don’t just read the above, live them!

“I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD. I will tell everyone that you alone are just. O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.”
Psalm 71:16-18 (NLT)

P.S. These twenty things are for you, too!

But God

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But God

I shared with my church family on Sunday that as I’ve begun to look at verses of Scripture more closely (thank you Faithfully Following Ministries), I’ve come to love the ones that include the words, “but God.” Why? Because each time they’re present, they signal that God is going to…well, be God!

A year ago this past weekend, JD and I packed up the boys and a car load of stuff and we headed back to Point Pleasant. Sutton was fighting for his life in the hospital. Hannah and Jay were by his side. We had no idea how long I’d be gone, if we had all I’d need, or what to expect in the days to come. What we did know was, that we were very scared, full of grief, feeling totally helpless and all the while trying to hold it together for the little ones.

In an attempt to keep things “normal”, we joined the community to watch the Fourth of July Parade, lit sparklers in the driveway, and sat in lawn chairs to watch the neighborhood fire works. As you might guess though, it was about as far from normal as you can get. My mind whirled and twirled overtime. Quite honestly, I didn’t think I was brave enough, strong enough, wise enough, or anything enough to do what I was about to embark on. And guess what? I wasn’t.
But God……

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

When JD pulled out of the driveway to head home on the afternoon of July 5th leaving me on my own, I. Was. A. Mess! But God..is the Master of messes. I was weak, but He gave me strength. I was afraid, but God calmed my fears. I didn’t know what to say, but He gave me the words. The list could go on and on. Day by day, week by week, month by month, with lots of help, the boys and I we able to put one foot in front of the other, but God was holding our hands and directing our steps.

Fast forward a year. Sutton and family celebrated their 4th together yesterday! JD and I spent a quiet day at home. And while we still wish things were “normal,” we are beyond grateful and blessed that we’re now living a new normal. One where we understand how precious each day with those you love is. One where the memory of all the kindness and compassion shown to our family overwhelms us. One where though things are different, what’s truly important remains the same.

I still don’t know what to expect in the days to come. None of us do. However, I’m not as worried about it as I used to be because the truth is, “what’s to come” doesn’t have the final word for any of us,

But God…… does.

#SuttonStrong One Year Later

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

I stood by the bedside, his tiny hand in mine. Monitors beeped. A maze of tubes were connected all over his baby body. Eyes closed, he laid there so very still; his tender skin the color of the hospital sheets. My heart shattered.

She stood beside me, my hand on hers as she explained everything that had happened. Her words caught in her throat; my breath caught in mine. Eyes full of tears, she remained there so very bravely. My soul shuddered.

I stood beside his bedside. I stood beside her. My legs barely able to hold the weight of it all. My eyes so full of overwhelming love, witnessing such indescribable pain. Our world, shaken. 

How could this be where we were? No warning signs. No clues. No red flags to prepare us for how a small, undetected hole deep inside would change life as we’d known it. And it seemed that we each began carrying a hole deep inside us  too, carved out by the grief flowing through it all. Me being me, just wanted to make things better, but of course, I couldn’t.

“Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’”
Luke 18:27 (NIV)

I stand beside him, his not so tiny hand in mine. Car horns beep. Neighbors wave as we meander our way through the neighborhood on our evening walk. There’s nothing still about him at all. I’m lucky to keep up with him at all. My heart soars!

What’s impossible for us is possible with God!

She stands beside me, hands me a mask, and explains everything they’re doing. This girl of mine, a Medical Mommy extraordinaire. Dad too! Words of pride well up in my throat. Eyes full of competence and confidence, they remain, taking care of what needs to be done every day, heroes without capes to me. My soul sings!

What’s impossible for us is possible with God!

I stand beside him. I stand beside her. My legs barely able to hold the weight of all the joy. Our eyes full of overwhelming love and gratitude, we are witnesses to so many indescribable miracles. Our world shifts. 

What’s impossible for us is possible with God!

It’s been a year today since Sutton’s intestines unexpectedly moved from his abdominal cavity, up through a little hole in his diaphragm, collapsed his lung, and pushed his heart to the opposite side from where it should’ve been. His near lifeless body was life-flighted to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. There, he lost most of his intestine and now he must receive all his nutrition intravenously through a line in his heart. 

So, how can we be where we are today? Sutton home and trying to do all his big brothers do? Only through God’s grace and strength, overwhelming love, wonderful doctors and nurses, the support of many, and lots and lots of prayer. 

The doctors were able to repair Sutton’s hole in his diaphragm. Though it’s a slow process, our “holes” are beginning to heal too, but only because…say Jesus’s words with me one more time:

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
Amen!

 

Stir ~ Five Minute Friday

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“The LORD says, ‘Now I will show them my power; now I will show them my might. At last they will know and understand that I am the LORD.’ ” Jeremiah 16:21 (NLT)

Stir or Be Still?

Funny how some things can stir up such conflicting emotions.  The first time I saw these family pictures I couldn’t have been happier. Based on the photo session I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the results were better than I’d hoped for.  I still love them today, however they’ve now also  come to represent for me, a divide in our life.

On the “before” side of the line, these photographs reflect the joy I experienced by having all of us together. We had such a fun weekend celebrating the big boys’ birthdays, walking by the river, and just enjoying each other’s company. Our smiles captured in this moment are genuine. Life felt good! No, better than good. Life felt great!
_______________________________________________________________________________

“After” lives on the other side of the line though. After we received a message we never imagined we would. After our youngest grandson was rushed to the emergency room. After the situation went from bad, to worse, to life threatening. It never occurred to me that soon after they were taken, one of our beloved family photos would be used as a battle cry for prayer, a representation of the desperate hope we were clinging to for living, pink intestines despite the unforeseen traumatic health crisis our precious boy had suffered.

Before and After: an unexpected line etched in the midst of our everyday. Our peace, comfort, sense of safety, and yes, our seemingly great life of the past becomes far removed from the agony we find ourselves standing in now. The devastating pain, the prayers not answered the way we wanted, the unknown, the fear, the guilt, and so much more in the After, seemingly cause the divide to grow even deeper until it feels as if we’re completely separated from everything we’ve known.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)

Unfortunately, we all have or will experience a dividing line sometime in our lives, maybe even more than once. During those hardest of times we feel so many things, including separation. What I’m learning though, is that my feelings can be what often lead me further from God. Maybe you’ve discovered that too? So instead, we need to conquer our emotions and cling to what we know, to what we are “convinced” of.  And that is, as Paul reminds us above, in life and death situations, when we’re caught between good and evil, find ourselves lost in worry about the future, or are trying to hang on during the highs and lows of this world, God’s love is always with us despite how it feels. Always.

Do I need to tell myself this over and over? Yes! Is it harder sometimes more than others? Yes, again. As we quickly approach the year anniversary of my grandson’s life-changing emergency, I find myself once more seeking answers that aren’t there, reliving things I wish I could change but can’t, and swirling in feelings that are all mixed up. I’m a work in progress but, I don’t want a life of constantly jumping the line between Before and After. You either? So how do we bridge the gap? There’s only One Way.

“Be still, and know that I am God!”
Psalm 46:10 (NLT) emphasis mine

No smiles in a photo are needed to know that living this is what leads to a truly great life, before, after, and forever!

https://youtu.be/x–f6pAIQI0