Waiting in Silence

Today is the Saturday between the crucifixion and the Resurrection.  It's a day of quiet waiting.  The online Bible study we have been doing is all about waiting.  We are in a time of waiting during our COVID quarantine.  Today is another day of waiting.  Maybe it doesn't feel like a day any different than the last twenty or so days.  In the days of Jesus this was a day of devastation, a day the disciples thought all hope was lost.  They thought they would never see Jesus or hear Him talk again.  

Imagine you were one of Jesus' followers.  You learned from Him, traveled with Him, and He changed your life.  You had never heard the kinds of things He talked about.  Jesus was always saying things that were very mysterious.  Things you didn't quite always understand.  He told you His time with you would be short.  It didn't scare you because you SAW Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.  You saw Him give sight to the blind man, heal a leper, and give the mute speech.  

But now...it's all over.  You heard Jesus was crucified.  You were too scared to find out for yourself.  You were so scared they were going to come for you too, that you were going to end up on a cross.  You wondered if it had all been worth it if this was how it was all going to end.  Why didn't He save Himself?  Where is God?  Why did He let this happen?  

Back in the present day we live as Easter people.

The first believers didn't know that Easter was coming.  They thought everything was done. The words Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished", were taking literally.  They thought everything was over.  Even though we are Easter people we can relate to how the disciples felt.  We have times in our lives when we think God has stopped working.  Stopped listening.  That our prayers are being sent into a great void.  Many may feel like this right now.  Where is God in this Pandemic?  Does He hear us groaning?  Does He care?  

This Pandemic can make us feel like we are sitting in our own Silent Saturday, and it feels like it is never going to end.   It may feel like you can't hear God.  It can feel like we are trapped between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection and we are waiting.  We are waiting for God to answer us and rescue us from our entrapment.  

  

The Silence of God can break your heart in two.  It can feel like your world has been turned upside down.  Silent  Saturday teaches us the importance of God being silent.  This day God was working on huge, monumental things we probably will never understand.  God was doing His things even though it seemed He was nowhere in sight.  Are you there?  Is this Pandemic making it hard for you to see what God is doing?  Are you afraid you won't make it to the other side?

We don't now what it will be like on the other side of COVID.  We will survive and be able to look back at this time in our lives.  How can I be certain of this?  Silent Saturday is my proof.  God is working in the silence.  We can already see little miracles that show He is working and will continue working in our strife.  He will make a way to the other side.  We are in a post-crucifixion, pre-Easter moment.  It is a moment when all can seem lost, that evil has won.  

Let's challenge ourselves to sit in this place.  To sit in this place and see God.  Let's not wait to look back and see Him when this over, let's see Him now.  Let's see Him in our Silent Saturday.  In the Easters of our lives, those top of the mountain days we can see God so clearly.  But I guarantee that when we start to see Him in our Silent Saturdays, our relationship with Him will grow by leaps and bounds.  So let's find God in our now!!  

The more our relationship grows with God the more we can trust and rely on His plan.  We need Him in our lives NOW.  A storm has hit and we may be treading water so we need God's power to stand up on the waves and walk on.  We know that Jesus will claim victory.  He does on Easter, and He will with this Pandemic.  The night may be dark and hard but the morning will come.  We have to rely on what we know about God.  He is good.  He is faithful.  He is true.  We can take that to the bank.  It allows us to stand up in the storm and not be blown over.  This is how we become unshakable.  

We look beyond what we can see in the future and we believe.  Easter wasn't possible without Good Friday.  Suffering and hardship is part of our lives, God told us it would be.  But the God who told us that is not the God of Good Friday.  He is the God of the Resurrection.  

So today, and for the rest of our COVID journey, we remember the silence of God.  Let this be a unbelievable opportunity to grow the intimacy of your relationship with God.  Let God grow your faith to heights you never knew possible.  Choose to trust God despite your fear. Choose to trust God even though you don't understand what is going on.  Don't confuse silence with inactivity.  Don't let that trap of Satan get a hold on you.  Satan wants you to feel lost, confused, fearful, and locked away.  Just because we are being kept in our homes don't be inactive.  Be active in opening your eyes to the presence and movement of God. 
God is on the move!!! (Click for awesome song)

Mayhem

Have you seen these commercials?  They are just so funny!  (Click to watch) You just have to laugh when you watch them.  This is one of my favorites.  The new ones with Tina Fey are especially funny to me, but I get a kick out of them all.  They show us that mayhem is everywhere.  A teenager texting, the storm blowing a tree on your house, the lawn mower getting hit by lightening (oh wait that is Farmer's but same diff 😜), the list goes on and on.  I like chaos in my commercials, I do not like it in my life.  

There will be times in life: when everything seems hopeless, when we can't escape our reality, when we wonder if God really cares 😠😭😵.  Mark 4:35 has the disciples asking "Don't you care if we drown?"  Have you been there before?  Terrified over what's happening (or not) in your life.  Do you find yourself crying out to the Lord, "where are you? why won't you help me? do you not even care about me?"  

Take heart! 💕 The disciples, that lived with Jesus, felt the same way.  Their lesson is the same as ours.  Jesus is always in control!  God is big enough to see you through any storm life throws at you!  

BIG QUESTION!

Do you have the faith to trust God in the storm? ☔⚡🌀 Read Mark 4:35-37.

I think their scenario fits our lives perfectly.  We've had a long day.  We are ready to be away from the people we work with.  We are ready to rest.  We make plans to have a nice quiet dinner with our families or friends.  But we walk in the front door and our plans are interrupted by a storm.  Not some small storm, but a storm that will toss us about and slam us to the ground.  We begin to sink...

Interrupted Plans

Interrupted plans come in a million disgusting flavors! 🍦👿💀

🍦your health does not allow you to do the things you want

🍦you worked hard to get ahead and one bad thing led to another and now you are broke

🍦maybe a surprise baby changed what the rest of your life looked like

🍦your spouse died, and you are alone 

🍦your marriage doesn't turn out the way you planned

🍦a fire sweeps through your life and leaves you with nothing

When smooth sailing turns into rough water we start to have some irrational thoughts.  Have I done something wrong?  Is God mad, doesn't He care anymore?  Why is God letting this bad thing happen to me.  Be encouraged! God is not mad at you.  We all face storms in life. (I have faced several in the above list.)  We forget who was in the boat with the disciples.  Jesus was in the boat.  The storm still came.  They were still bounced around, soaked and scared.  Jesus was with them, and He is with us too!  Even in the midst of the storm.

When anyone tells you that if you follow Jesus you will not experience troubles, suffering or pain; THEY ARE LYING!  Recall from the last blog who the Father of lies is.  Mayhem is coming!!! Storms are coming!!! Make sure Jesus is your insurance.  Jake from State Farm might have nice khakis but he is not enough.  Make sure Jesus is in your boat!
Remember the theme song from Gilligan's Island. Well here it is if you don't: theme song.  When this is your theme song, be sure to make Christ the Lord of your worries, doubts, and fears!!!
In the comments I would love to here your stories.  Times when you thought for certain you were going to drown only to emerge miraculously.  Tell me how God came through for you!!!

Here is our song for the week: Even If by Mercy Me

Unshakeable

UNSHAKABLE

Do you write your thoughts, prayers or even your deep dark secrets in a journal?  I do.  Actually I have several.  Truth be told I write things everywhere.  If only I could remember where I wrote it 😅.  We tease my Grandma because she writes things on little sticky notes and leaves them all over.  I guess that is where I get it.  Thanks Grams!!

King David records his most intimate thoughts in the Psalms.  Psalm 16 has David journaling a declaration that God is his Lord and he relies on him for everything.  This is so profound when we think about the life of David.  David is the King, the king that God hand-picked.  He was dealing with wars, way too many wives, rebelling children and it seemed people were always trying to kill him.  In verse 2 he lays it all before 

God.  He held on to what was most important - his relationship his King! 

King David knew that God had a plan for his life even through things that seemed chaotic.  Even when he screwed things up miserably.  My son Dylan's confirmation verse is Jeremiah 29:11.

Of course, David did not have this verse, but I think he knew the concept in his heart.  We are in a similar  place as David.  We are living through trials and tribulations that often feel like we have to kill a giant.  But I trust, I truly trust, that when we make God a priority he provides miracles!

Sisters, we must declare like David, "God is at my right, I will not be shaken!"  UNSHAKABLE!!! What a powerful word.  God is with us and will always love us 💖💖💖.  This allows us to live the truth that we are unshakable wholeheartedly.  

Of course this doesn't mean that we have a lack of hardships in our lives.  This world is broken and

it causes us pain.  Unshakable means that, because of God, we are equipped to face whatever life throws at us.  The equipping happens when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and nothing else.  Not our wants, desires, pains, disappointments or anything else.  When we can truly declare "thy will be done" - unshakable exists.  God gives us the power to overcome, excel and exceed.  If you don't believe it, try it!  There is no better time to find out than this very minute.  

Why this very minute?  Because there is a lion waiting to devour you!!! 1 Peter 5:8

If you know a lion is about to attack you, what do you do?  Here is a cool site to help you do just that: How to Survive a Lion Attack

I changed it up a bit to be a good guide for us to deal when the devil attacks us.  Here we go:

1) DO NOT PANIC!  If you're being charged, you will be extremely frightened.  (I have been in this spot so many times and I know that I did not always take this advice.)  Do everything you can not to panic.  Pray, recite scripture, and stay calm.  The devil won't be expecting that.  Knowing what to expect from the devil can help you to stay calm.  The Bible tells us a lot about the devil and all his little secrets.  It's like we have read his journal.  One example of this is that the devil is the father of lies. (John 8:44)  If we know he is going to lie to us we will not trust a word he has to say.

2) STAND YOUR GROUND! Do not run.  You need to take charge of the situation.  Jesus does not run from the devil when he is tempted in the desert.  Show the devil you are a threat.  Then sing praises, recite verses, pray right in his face.  Do these things at the top of your lungs if you need to.  Be like the women in the movie "War Room" and kick the devil out of your house.  

3) DON'T TURN YOUR BACK!  Keep singing, keep praying, keep reading your Bible.  If you stop, the devil may sense your fear and chase after you.  Remain threatening at all times.  

4)  BE PREPARED!  We certainly know who the bad guy is.  The devil is always watching and will charge again.  When he attacks give him everything you got again.  From the depths of your soul use all the tools the Holy Spirit has given you.  

David's life and our lives are not simply guided by things in the earthly realms.  There are things affecting us that we cannot see or touch.  We press forward despite these things so that someday we will transition to the glory God has promised.  There is nothing worth giving up our seats in the eternal kingdom.  Nothing worth giving up our crowns.  We are children of God, He has a plan to prosper us, give us hope and a delightfully undeserved future.  Do not let anyone stand in the way of this!  Fulfill the promise God has for your life.  Remember David's words:  Always keep your eyes on the Lord, He is at your right hand, YOUR ARE UNSHAKABLE!!!

Check out this video for a little inspiration!

Lessons from Linus!

   
     Most of us know the obvious lesson that Linus teaches us in the Peanuts Christmas special.  He stands in the spotlight and tells us all the true meaning of Christmas.  This year as I watched the Great Pumpkin I realized Linus teaches us some great lessons here too!

     Lesson #1: Never stop talking to God.  Linus writes letters to the Great Pumpkin.  He asks for things we wants, tell the pumpkin how great he is and discusses the problems he is having with others.  This is just like prayer for us.  We come to God with all of these things. Just like Linus we should keep praying even if others think we are ridiculous.  Linus' friends and family laugh at him and doubt whether he can get his letter to the pumpkin.  The world doubts the power of prayer too.  They think it is just a waste of time and doubt whether our prayers ever get to God.  They go so far as to doubt whether God is even listening or if He is even really there.  So let's be like Linus and keep those prayers ascending in spite of the world's doubt and criticism.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Phil 4:6)

     Lesson #2: Be firm in your faith.  Linus is firm in what he believes about the Great Pumpkin.  He tells about him with confidence.  Lucy, Charlie and Snoopy all laugh in his face and behind his back.  Linus stays resolute in his belief.  Lucy even tells him how embarrassing he is to her when she has to explain him to her friends.  It doesn't faze him.  The other kids remind Linus what he will miss out on (trick or treating, a party) because of his beliefs.  He stands firm that it is more important to wait for the pumpkin than do those other things.  We often face these same trials as Christians.  When we stand firm in our faith in Jesus Christ, others laugh and tell us all the fun of the world we will be missing out on.  Linus teaches us to stand up and stand strong for what we believe in, even in the face of great adversity.  He is even willing to lose the school election to stand up and tell about the Great Pumpkin.  We too have to be willing to lose or give up some worldly things to stand firm in our faith.  "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm". (Eph. 6:13)

     Lesson #3: Share the Good News with others.  Linus wants to lead others to the joys of the Great Pumpkin.  He tells everyone about it and even brings Sally to the pumpkin patch.  He is excited to have her come with him and joyfully explains all about the "sincerity" of the pumpkin patch.  We should also find this joy in leading others to Christ.  Even when Sally worries about her reputation in being there, Linus reassures with patience and gentleness that she in the right place.  Christians will often have worries like these and as their brothers and sisters in Christ can react with the same patience and gentleness.  "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." (Eph. 4:2)

     Lesson #4: Beware of false prophets.  Or beware of false great pumpkins in this case.  Snoopy comes along and fools Linus and Sally into thinking he is the Great Pumpkin.  We often come across Snoopys in our walk of faith.  They can even lead us or our brothers and sisters astray.  We see this with Sally.  Snoopy leads her to believe there is no great pumpkin and she is ticked.  She tells Linus that he "owes her restitution".  When people doubt God is real they often get mad at other Christians and the Church.  Linus wavers just a pinch and cries out, "Oh Great Pumpkin, where are you?".  He doesn't give up, He stands firm in the patch even though he is alone.  As Christians we know that we are never alone.  God is always standing with us.  "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Heb. 13:5b)

     In the end the Great Pumpkin doesn't come.  How often do we feel like this.  When God doesn't answer our prayer or we don't see Him working in our lives.  Linus doesn't give up and neither should we.  Linus is already planning for next year much to the surprise of Charlie Brown.  Charlie says, "I've done a lot of stupid things in my life too".  Linus doesn't think it is stupid, he still has faith.  Just like Linus we know that God is always with us, even when we can't see Him. "For we walk by faith, and not by sight". (2 Cor. 5:7) Linus still has faith and so should we.  Have a great, fun, faith-filled Halloween everyone. 

P.S. Once last little lesson: "Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker"!

HIS plan...Not mine!

Nothing is too hard for God!  Jeremiah 32:7 makes this bold statement. Today, at this point in my journey, I know this to be true.  I know this to be true because God's strength has brought me through some life situations where my human strength

got up and ran like it was being chased by a horror movie monster. There have been a few in my life but the horror movie monster I think of at this time of year is breast cancer.  The great mobs of pink brings memories to the surface that are usually hidden away.

I love the support that is shown this time of year. 

I was especially proud of the girl's volleyball teams here at St. Paul's this year.  They showed such love and support for their coach, whose sister is battling breast cancer.  I love all the supportive posts and pink clothes. (After all pink is one of my favorite colors.) It all however makes me a little trepidatious.          Ok, trepidatious is a timid word, sometimes it causes me totally guys lurking in the cornfield across the street, fear! It starts a trail of spiraling questions that sounds something like this...

Is it back?

How long until it comes back?

Will it be worse?

Do I have the strength to do it all again?

Will I survive?

These thoughts come at other times of year but they seem to be triggered more in the month of October.  I remind myself: Nothing is too hard for God! I can't let myself cave to the insecurities. I have been there, and done that.  

When I was first diagnosed we were on a mountaintop of life.  We were about to adopt our three foster children and become a forever family. One day in the shower, I felt a lump in my right breast.  I always checked myself once a month in the shower, something I learned in high school health class, and it just stuck.  Totally a God thing.  When I felt it I told myself, "no it couldn't be, your too young for that." (I was 29 at the time.) I finally got up the courage to tell Tim and my Mom.  They said I needed to get it checked out, but I was too young for that.  I went to my doctor and during the exam she felt something too.  She sent me for a mammogram with the words: "don't worry, you're too young for that."  During the mammogram the tech told me not to worry it was probably just fatty tissue, because you guessed it: 

After that they send Tim and I to sit in this little room to wait for the results.  Someone came in, I don't remember who, and said there was definitely something there and they wanted to do a biopsy.  The gentlemen who did the biopsy told me again not to worry, I was probably benign because I was just too young.  Well at this point I am worried!!! A lot worried!!!!

We went home to await the results. It was only a few days but time went by sooooo slow.  
Then the call came. I answered. It was my doctor. Not the receptionist, not the nurse, my actual doctor was on the phone.  I knew the news wasn't good.  I had cancer! But I was too young for that!!! We were about to adopt these three amazing kids.  This could not be possibly happening.  Why would God do this when everything was going so well? (A question the devil was very happy to hear me ask.) What would happen to my new family if I was gone?  And then the thought that made me take things into my own hands.  
Would they let us adopt our kids if I was sick?  Would they take them away if I was possibly terminally ill? (A diagnosis I made up in my head, no doctor ever said this.) The devil circulated all these scenarios in my head.  I made a decision.  A decision not to rely on God's perfect plan, which had led us to the mountaintop.  I take things into my own hands.  We just wouldn't tell the agency.  My surgery was to take place about a month before the adoption.  We would have that done, the kids would be adopted and then chemo would start.  No one would ever be the wiser.  And that's exactly what we did!

We went to the court room.  I was still moving very slowly but I kept my head up and moved as naturally as possible.  The day went off smoothly, but I was so scared that somebody would find out. 

We went about life. 

I started chemo, my hair fell out. We were in Meijer one day and ran into our adoption social worker.  It was pretty obvious that I was ill.  (Riding around on the motorized cart with no hair.) I broke down weeping right there in the middle of the store and told her the whole story.  I asked her to forgive me for being deceptive.  She smiled kindly and told me all was forgiven.  She wished we had talked to her so they could have supported us.  There was no need to hide anything.  It wouldn't have affected the adoption.  

I believed the devil when he told me those lies.  I forgot Jeremiah 32:7.  Nothing is too hard for God.  I doubted and let myself be led astray.  I was so overwhelmed when all of this came out.  I was awed by the power of forgiveness.  NOTHING is too hard for God! He brought the situation to light and healed a wound I had felt so guilty for.  Jesus was in that Christian woman who showed me forgiveness.  He was there all along even when I turned my back.  NOTHING is too hard for God.  This isn't a tale of God helping me to survive cancer.  It is so much bigger than that.  This is a tale of God saving me from myself, from my sins, and the power of the devil.

It's October and the devil is shooting those questions at me again.  After every mammogram, I wait with baited breath.  When I hear someone else was diagnosed, I twitch with a bit of anxiety.  Sometimes I even take a tiny little step into the doubt the devil brings.  Then I turn and tell the devil: That I know, without a shadow of a doubt, NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD!

Give It All Away!

Have you ever given something away and then really wished you had it back?  Maybe accidentally donated something you really loved?  Do you have problems getting rid of things in general?  I know I do, especially with clothes.  I am going to share something with you now that not many people see, my closet...it's actually a room.

Yes I know,

it's a bit ridiculous. (Especially when you know there is a full closet behind that too, wink wink). There is always that thought that I might have need of that discarded item of clothing someday. Now I love clothes and I usually spend very little money on them but we are not really going to talk about clothes today.  We are actually going to talk about how we do this with our thoughts and burdens.  I know I like to hold on to things mentally just in case I can use it, and most of the time not in good and healthy ways.  These thoughts and burdens stack up and make a mess out of my brain and emotions. It is like the show hoarders inside of my brain.

The mess makes me weary and burdened.

Hey, those are Bible words!! Matthew 11:28 tells us if we are weary and burdened to go to Jesus and He will give us rest.  But in order for Jesus to give us this rest we have to release everything over to Him.  This isn't so easy for my mental-hoarding self. I doubt God's power and want to rely on myself to figure out the situation.  I want to hang on to the slight against me, that juicy piece of gossip, and the bad things I think about myself.  I create huge mountains of junk and trash that suffocate me from the inside out.  

"Come to me...and I will give you rest," Jesus says.  Jesus gives us a way out of our hoarding tendencies.  He is the Goodwill of our burdens, cares and junk thoughts. We can give it all away.  And best of all, Jesus isn't picky.  He doesn't care how ugly, broken, or stained our mental stuff is.  He wants it all!!!! There is no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed.  Just drop your junk at the feet of Jesus, let Him take it all and leave it with Him.  

Wait a minute!!! Here's the trick.  Don't go back.  But what if it is my pretty antique vase my Grandmother gave me? (Just turn that into whatever thought, sin or grievance you want to go back and retrieve.) Nope, we need to leave it with God.  We need to trust in His power and goodness.

Can we do this perfectly? Of course not! We will sneak back in and take things back from God because we think we know better.  That will not give us the rest we are seeking. God knows this and He is ready and willing to receive it again when we are amiable to give it back to Him.  

This seems like an endless circle if we keep taking things back from God. 

 

God wants to lead us through the process of letting go. He wants us to participate in these unforced rhythms of grace. We don't have to build an ice castle and isolate ourselves like Elsa.

We have someone who wants to hold our hand and help us through.

Thanks Pastor Bruner!

We don't have to "hang in there" alone. We are being held in the loving hands of our Savior.  So give it to God, let it go, and He will give you rest! 

Here is a great song to help us meditate on this! Give It All Away by Ryan Stevenson

 Hope you all have a great day in the Lord! 

A Winter Garden

I know, I know it's not winter yet!!! Trust me I am the last person who would be wishing for winter.  Actually the weather right now is just about perfect in my opinion.  But winter is coming....(giggle) and I don't like it.  I love being outside! I love being in the garden!  I love, love, love to have dirt in my toes.  Winter does not allow for any of that.  It's usually cold and brown and nothing really looks alive.  

Some of you see beauty in this picture and I think that is wonderful but it is just not there for me. 

And it's even worse when there is not even any snow to make things have a little glisten.  The Bible is full of illustrations about gardening. Let's look at a couple of these Biblical gardens as we get ready for that season that seems to be without life. 

John 15:1-17 is one of those passages.  It got me thinking about how we are connected to God.  Firstly it shows us what our relationship is to God.  He is the gardener!!!!  That simple statement is so freeing.  We don't have to plant ourselves, we don't have to water ourselves, we don't have to pick our fruit, and best of all we don't have to prune ourselves.   Let me tell you why this statement is so freeing for me.  I love the self-help genre of books.  I would say I am pretty much obsessed with it as a matter of fact.  But just the title of this genre should give me a hint as to the problem, self-help!!  God is the one who is supposed to be doing the pruning and trimming.  I don't think I am going to ever break the cycle of reading these books, after all how else will I know how to fold my socks so they are happy or remind myself of my inner bad ass.  

But the danger for me comes when I forget where my strength comes from.  When I forget to give everything to God.  I take the pruning shears right out of God's hands.  Why on earth do I do that?  Why would I want to take things from the Lord, the strongest force in the universe, and put it back on my plate?  Who knows, but I do it all the time.  Somewhere my connection to God gets lost.  I seem to experience this most in the winter time.  It's kinda like seasonal allergies but pertaining to my connection to my Lord and Savior.  

I feel most connected to the vine, the Lord, when I am outside.  When I am running, in the garden, hiking or on the beach.  

So you can see where this is going, winter time is especially hard for me.  Sometimes my connection to God starts to resemble the weather; foggy, grey and frozen.  It's when I have to be intentional about strengthening the connection and turning the channel, but it is so tempting and easy too.  When I see something on TV that I don't like I can change the channel, there are only a billion other things on.  I can just forget about the last thing I was watching and totally remove it from my mind.  It is easy to do the same thing with God.  If I am on a different channel then I can just pretend He is not there.  I can get bogged down in my woes: oh its so cold and grey, oh my body hurts, oh my clothes don't fit because I am sitting on my butt and eating too much junk!  You know the drill.  Then I turn to my self-help friends and try and get myself out of the hole I've dug.  And yes some of the practical ideas I find are not in themselves bad things, but I cannot rely on myself for the strength I need to get our of that hole.  I have to remember where to turn to.  

This leads me to another garden in the Bible.  Genesis Chapter 1, the story of creation, the beginning of the vine and branches so to speak.  In the winter I tend to ask the question "What's so good about God's creation?" One of those questions I ask when I am deep down in the woe hole!!! My pessimistic winter self is rearing her ugly head.  I have to put my heat miser away and see all the beauty around me. 

God's creation is a 3D picture of Him for me to see, feel and touch.  Do I need to go out into the cold and blustery wind to see it?  Do I have to ski, snowboard or snowmobile to get that in the winter?  Absolutely not.  Some people can but not me.  But I can see it in the kid's at our school having fun in the snow on the playground outside my picture window.  I can see it sitting in front of our (fake) fireplace snuggled up with the perfect mate He has sent me.  And because I am made in His image I can see it in the mirror.  And I can share the image, that 3D picture of Him to others!!

So even in the bleak midwinter snow my relationship with God is still the same.  He is the gardener and I am the plant in His garden connected directly to Him.  He created this garden for me (and my brothers and sisters) so that I would take care of it and we would take care of each other as He would do.  I am not in charge of my pruning or anyone else's.  That is the work of The Gardener.  He will prune me and it will be for my own good.  It enhances the work he puts before me in the garden.  And when we see each other in those woe filled winter holes (whether they happen in winter or not) we can reach out a Christ-like hand and help each other.  So why did I write this in late August?  Well, I did start it last year and time has also gotten away from me a little bit.  But I also wrote it as kind of a challenge to myself, maybe to you too if the message sounds familiar.  I need to challenge myself to not change the channel when the woe is overwhelming, I need to see God in new and different ways, and I need to strengthen my connection to God with His word! So bring on dark, dreary January, I am ready to find His beauty all around me.  (Just not yet!)

New Year's Eve Prayer 2018

Dear God,

Thank You! I (we) made it through another year! It wasn't always easy. There were tears and heartbreak, and a whole basket full of good-byes! It was full of changes, some good, some bad, and some the jury is still out on. There was lots of laughter, how could there not be with the husband you have blessed me with.  There have been new memories, new friendships, old friendships restored and lots of love!  For these blessing I am truly grateful.  No matter what life threw at me, You got me through it.  Because of You I grew from and learned from every situation.  I am incredibly thankful for this!  But this year is almost over, and it is time to look forward. 

I am sure it will be a roller coaster as the years before have been. This year I ask You to help me remember, I AM LOVED! You have made me beautiful, strong, smart, creative, kind and loving.  I do not always see those traits. Help them to remain clear. Help me to remember that life is a thousand times better when You, my Savior, are at the center.  You love me strongly and deeply no matter my circumstances. You, my loving Father, provide endless opportunities.  Give me courage to take the paths You show me.  Don't let the fear of failure hold me in a prison of inactivity.  Lead me out of my comfort zone and into Your glorious adventure. Help me to step out of the fear of being hurt and open myself to new relationships.  Help me to live in Your moments even if they look like obstacles or diversions from my plan.  Fully immerse my life in You!  Lord please block negativity from my soul, from others and from within. 

Give me wisdom to know when to step away from things that make me unhealthy, both physically and spiritually. Give me the knowledge that you take care of me in every way. Help me to reach out to others with Your love.  Life is too short not to know Your love!  People I know and love may not have a tomorrow and they need to know that You love them. Remind me daily how important this is!  Lastly Lord, help me to understand Your love for this fallen world.  It is so beautiful in Your sight, help me to mimic that love. No matter what I see on the news, no matter what happens to my family, no matter what happens to me. I AM LOVED! THE WORLD IS LOVED! I need to always remember this. Oh Lord, do I need to be reminded, sometimes constantly!  I know that in 2019 You will be with me, while I grow and learn and discover who You have made me to be. With You by my side, I (we) can do all things!
                                                                               Your daughter,
                                                                                         Patti

Lilacs

Take me to where the Lilacs grow

It is March cold with melted snow

I long to see the tips of green

And melt my soul from the winter freeze

Who made the Lilac so petite and lovely?

The purple so fresh peak out from the leaves

With blossoms of grandness and glory

Blessing nature with beautiful love

Oh how I long for lawns & fields alive with green

The tulips & hyacinth their beauty anew

Nature ready to be set free

The beauty of God for everyone to see

The roads illuminated with wildflower romance

Rivals the golden palace a king does view

The love of our Father on precious display

Gives us the strength to spread the Good News

I know no way to celebrate the blooms

To give praise to God for dispelling the gloom

God gives us his best, a creation shrine

So we can worship the Lord in nature Divine!

Winter Drive in Nebraska!

Last weekend Tim and I got a chance to go to West Point, NE for a P.A.L.S. gathering.  And what is P.A.L.S. you might ask.  Well it stands for Post Seminary Applied Learning and Support, I know that doesn't really explain it does it?  It is a group of Pastors and their wives who are newly out of the seminary (in the last two or three years) who get together a few times of year to learn and support each other together with a mentoring couple who has been in the ministry for a longer period of time.  We really enjoy our P.A.L.S group and the time that we get to spend with them.  This time on our drive it had recently snowed so the ground was covered and everything was really beautiful.  I just made me think of all the wonderful blessings God gives to us.  So of course I had my camera with me so here is our winter drive through Nebraska in pictures!  Enjoy!

John 1:3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made!

Job 12: 7-10 But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.  Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?  In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.  

Even though the main roads had all been clear for days we still ran across a plow working on on of the side roads.  

Job 37:6 For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth' likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour,

Psalm 104:24-25 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.  Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both great and small.  

Psalm 96: 11-12 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar; and all that fills it; let the field exult and everything in it!  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

I just loved this country church!  It was so beautiful covered in snow.  

Psalm 147:16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes!

Of course, no road trip is complete without a few orange barrels!  I suppose this next verse tells exactly when there will be no more road construction.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

One of my favorite things about driving through Nebraska are all the life affirming signs like this one.  It is really great to see so many people standing up fir those who cannot stand up for themselves.

Psalm 139: 13-15 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you , for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  

Isaiah 55: 10-11 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes our from my mouth; it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.

This old house reminded me that no matter how badly beaten up we are, no matter how tattered we are with sin and guilt, we are beautiful in the eyes of the Lord.  We are washed in the blood of Christ and we are pure and white as snow!  

This is just a funny thing we saw on the side of the road. I am not sure if it got there because of the snow or it was parked there for some other reason.  I just hope there is not somebody out there waiting for their house!

I love taking pictures in the mirrors of the car.  Here is one of the many Semis that were sharing the road with us.

Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 

We arrived at our destination.  The drive was such a blessing.  Thank you God for giving us time to be together and enjoy the wonderful creation you have made!

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps!