Hearts in Service

  I Samuel 16:6-7 ~  When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD."  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."   God sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem’s home. His task was to find a new king for Israel. Jesse had many sons and they all took turns parading in front of Samuel. When he saw the eldest, Eliab, he was impressed. This guy was a strapping man and Samuel thought for sure he would make a great king.  However, it ended up being the youngest boy, David who was chosen. He hadn’t even been invited to the sacrifice. Instead he was out in the field watching the sheep.  The Lord responds to Samuel by telling him to stop looking at the outward appearance. God does not look at people the way we do. As human...

It went from almost 70 degrees a week ago to 17 degrees today with whiteout conditions. I had to travel to our district office for a meeting I have tomorrow. I am thankful that other than the beginning and end of the 200 mile trip it was uneventful. I combined this trip with a few other stops and meetings to prepare for a conference I am putting together next month. I also got to have dinner with a friend that I have hardly seen in the the past two years other than on Zoom meetings. That was such an encouragement.  This trip is a good reminder for me of the following: 1. I love the ministry the Lord has called me to do - not just in the church, but also in our district. I love being able to encourage women in their ministry, and as I am putting together this conference, I am working in my sweet spot. It's a great feeling! 2. I am reminded that I am not alone in the ministry Dan and I are in and I am reminded of how uniquely gifted we are. I was reminded that rather than try to be s...

My Thanksgiving cactus is blooming and confused! Spring is slowly making it's way to Western New York. It's still chilly and rain is always part of this time of the year, but my tulip shoots are up through the ground, there are some warmer days and the robins are back. Before I know it, warm weather will be here. I went to a meeting the other night for the upcoming farmer's market and my mind is turning towards the summer season. I've been busy making bottles of vanilla extract. The vanilla beans need to steep for 6-8 weeks so this is the time to get them ready. I'm going to have to start making soap again since those take about 6 weeks to cure. I bought some lavender buds to use in various soaps and other crafts and it smells heavenly. I can't smell many things, but that scent is coming through. All this preparation and then waiting for things to cure and mature before they are ready, reminds me of our Christian walk. A lot of our life seems to be waiting and m...

As I was sitting in my recliner and reading my Bible this morning, I looked down at my knees. I had surgery a few years ago on them, and have scars on on either side of both knees from the incisions. These scars are the marks of the surgery I had. They are slight because I had a very good surgeon. I also carry other scars. They are the scars from spiritual battles that I have been in. Battles of struggling against sin and past mistakes. There are deep scars from emotional wounds inflicted upon me. Most of the time, I don't notice them. But every now and then they twinge and ache. Something triggers a memory which causes the scar to throb. But I also know that when I allow God to work in my life to heal those wounds, my scars are minimal.  When the Master Surgeon works on me one will hardly notice my scars, and often I am so completely healed that no scar is left at all. Psalm 147:3 (HCSB) ~ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. I'm thankful that th...

After a couple of days of beautiful weather we were back to cold and snow over the weekend. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and I am looking forward to a much slower week ahead. I can honestly say though that I was doing things that were enjoyable to me. I got to work in my happy space which is one that involves creativity. We had a missions conference at church and our speaker had served in France so of course, French pastries were a must. I enjoyed trying to master some of them. Macarons. These were not as pretty as the ones I see in bakeries, but tasted delicious. Lemon yogurt cake. French butter cookies. I do think I will add these to my list of cookies I make for the farmer's market this summer. I've mastered the sourdough bread and really enjoy making this. I spent the day in the kitchen (my happy place) on Saturday prepping food for the freezer and pantry. There is a local farm market I go to and they had a basketful of green peppers for 3 for a $1. ...

  My Christmas cactus is having an identity crisis. After having a prolific year in 2020, this past December it only had a bloom or two. However, I've noticed the past couple of weeks there are tons of buds on it and it's starting to bloom like crazy. It seems to have forgotten that it's a Christmas flower! I'm having a bit of an identity crisis too. I'm going to be transparent here today because I feel like there are many people just like me out there that may benefit from this post.  I turned 60 back in January and I'm finding that I need to readjust my approach to ministry. I am a volunteer in all of the ministries I have, and yet, I often work at them like I'm a full-time paid employee. So that means I say "No," to the things I would like to do that bring me joy and make me happy because I have to do ministry.  Instead of picking one or two or three things to do, I plunge in, and the next thing I know I am in deep water, trying to keep my head ...

Do you expect good things from God?  Or do you go through life waiting for the hammer to fall?  Perhaps things are going well in your life and yet, you have this constant sense that it won't last.  That God is just sitting in heaven waiting to catch you unawares so He can spring some new trial on you! It sounds silly, doesn't it?  Yet so many of us do have that feeling.  There is an anxiety in the back of the mind that  senses that something bad is just waiting to happen. I love the verses I read this morning in Psalm 65, but verse 4 leapt out at me.  Blessed are those you choose     and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. A different version said, "We expect good things from your temple," which brings me back to my original question.  Do you expect good things from God? I usually say, "Yes!" until I'm in the middle of a trial.  Then it's not so easy to trust that...

Do you ever feel like you don't fit in? Like your personality, gifts, and the very essence of who you are is out of sorts with the rest of your circle? I feel like this quite often and when I allow myself to focus on people, I become self-conscious and feel lacking. My husband and I had a disagreement yesterday about an event we were hosting at the church. To set this up, you have to understand our differences.  I am an administrator and have gifts in leadership. Dan's gifting lies in mercy, hospitality and teaching. So when it comes to many of the services or events I tend to be the one organizing it and Dan is the one talking to people and making them feel welcome. He is on the alert to go to people who are new or on the periphery. He will be the first one to go visit someone in the hospital, nursing home or in their home. He has a way of making people feel very at ease around him. He is also a big picture guy. He has many ideas and a vision but struggles with knowing how to ...

What is your response when facing an obstacle?  Is it to become fearful and anxious?  To spend hours worrying and replaying it over and over in your mind?  To spiral into depression? To feel like you are going to be crushed by the burden? Or something else? As I read in 2 Chronicles 20, I found a better solution for the problems we all face. 2 Chronicles 20:1-4 (HCSB) ~ After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat. People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord . Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord . They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. Jehoshapat is facing a huge obstacle.  Three other nations were on their way to attack him, and he really didn't have ...

  Yes, I know it's only March 1st and spring doesn't officially come until the end of the month, but a girl can dream, can't she? This has been the coldest and snowiest winter! I am longing for flowers and birds chirping. But instead I've been hunkering down in my warm house and staying busy in my kitchen. I make just about everything from scratch. I love to cook and bake and love a challenge so I'm always up for trying new things. I'm loving the versatility of my sourdough starter. The only thing I need to do is make sure I'm planning ahead because it takes time for the dough to rise when making bread. I made pizza the other night and it was delicious. My taste has mostly returned after a year and I'm so thankful! Yesterday, I made cinnamon raisin bagels and the texture is perfect on these. My sauerkraut is fermenting nicely on the counter (see the bubbles). Once it's done (about 10 days) I will give these jars a water bath seal and then the sauerkr...