Hearts in Service

It's the end of another month and it feels as if this year is racing by. Everything is finally in full bloom here and beautiful. As I saw this reflection from the sun shining in through my front door this morning, it reminded me of the reflection of Christ that believers are supposed to be. The question I have today is our reflection a clear one or has it become distorted? Have we replaced the light of Christ with something else? Have we placed our politics, ideologies, or other things in the place that the Lord should hold in our hearts? Unfortunately, when we get that mixed up we do a poor job of representing  who Jesus really is, or how He can change lives. If all we show is an unclear or distorted image, how can we expect anyone else to follow Him? Let's make sure we are reflecting the correct image.

This is going to be a bit of a rambling post. It's raining out today and my energy level is low so it seemed like a good time to ramble! 😀 The sun has been peeking in earlier and earlier each day and it's amazing how much that sunshine affects my mood and desire to get things done. It's been an "at-home" week where I've been able to get some projects done around the house. As much as I say I'm going to pace myself and find balance each day, doing a bit of everything, it never seems to happen. Some weeks are busy ministry weeks and others are much slower paced and spent at home. I spent one whole day deep cleaning and rearranging our bedroom. Yesterday was spent out in the yard, planting. I've also spent some time sewing this week. A young friend who is headed overseas gave me some fabric she had from her trip to the country she is going to and asked if I could turn it into something for her. I ended up making her an apron and a teapot cozy. I had the ...

When my daughter, Emily, turned ten years old, I brought home five baby chicks. She has always loved animals, but given her allergies there are very few that we can have.  So I figured chickens were a safe bet. They would be outdoor animals and I would get fresh eggs out of the deal. Unfortunately, one by one, those "hens" started to crow.  I realized with dismay that I had five roosters on my hands.  By that time, Emily loved them and I too, had grown fond of them.  But I had a dilemma. The older and bolder they got, the more they became obnoxious. We let them free range and all day long they would circle the house crowing. Often, I would feel eyes on me as I would sit sewing and would turn to see all five of them peering in the window of my sewing room.  Each time I went outside, they would run straight towards me because they thought I was going to feed them. It was a bit unnerving, especially when they would decide to become aggressive. Each time that t...

  As of yesterday, my life has come to a screeching halt. The traveling is done for awhile. There are currently no speaking engagements, no more pressing events and my class is over. Unfortunately, all of the traveling and sitting has taken a toll on my lower back and I have been in pain the past few days. This morning I am taking it slow, alternating between ice and heat and trying to get up every so often and move around in order to heal. However, though I'm in pain, I am thankful for the opportunities I've had over the past few weeks. Today I'm thankful for the following: 💗 Wonderful conversations with people and being able to offer encouragement. 💗 Prayers of affirmation over me by others. 💗 I am thankful for a husband who supports me in my ministry. 💗 A church family who does the same. 💗 Safety while I drove, sometimes being very tired. 💗 Adult kids who seek out our advice. 💗 Finishing my class well. I had papers and assignments due almost every single week on t...

I returned last night from a very full and busy travel week. It started with speaking at a banquet on one end of the state Saturday evening and then having another speaking engagement on the opposite side of the state on Sunday. After that I headed north for three days of our District Prayer Conference. The theme of the conference was Unblocked and was based on Hebrews 10. Jesus' once and for all sacrificed opened the way for us to approach God. However, there are things that can block us or hinder us from fulfilling the task that He has given us to do. For me some of that sense of being blocked is the ever-present feeling like I'm not good enough, not wanted or that I don't belong. It's not always there and much of the time I am fairly self-confident, but every now and then it is triggered by something. Outwardly, it seems as if all is okay, but deep inside where no one can see there are those broken parts. Usually when I go to one of these events those trigger points ...

There is a quote that says, "The best things in life are free." I would agree with that.  There is the beauty found in nature. The kindness of a friend who let me come and forage her dandelions for jelly. In turn, blessing another friend with a gift of cookies. The appreciation of the taste and smell of simple foods. It's been over a year since I could taste or smell things properly. I do have a better appreciation of the senses as I long to taste food again. Beautiful colors of flowers. The love of family. The warmth of the sun. The undeserved, unearned grace of God.  

  Isaiah 41:9-10  ~  I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said to you: You are My servant; I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. I was raised by a single parent in a tiny rural community in the middle of the Catskill Mountains in New York.  Dan was from from a middle class family in a suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania. Yet, we both ended up in a seminary not far from New York City at the same time. God called us not only into ministry, but into a relationship with each other.  As I read these verses, the thing that strikes me is God's calling and support.  God is not walking in front of us, pulling us, nor is He is walking behind us, pushing us.  He is walking at our side. He is  with  us, walking alongsid...

I woke up at O'Dark thirty this morning and looked out my front window in time to see this beautiful sight. What a gorgeous way to start my busy day. I have two speaking engagements this weekend on opposite sides of the state and then our district conference starts on Monday. So it's going to be a week of preparation and study and then a weekend of travel. I'm thankful for the speaking opportunities that come my way. I don't actively seek them out, but usually say, 'Yes" to them.  I'd appreciate prayer for clarity and that the Lord would speak through my words. 

Yesterday was the day when mothers everywhere either had a wonderful day or a disappointing day. It was a day when you were showered with love and attention or a day when your family failed you. For others it was a heartbreaking day of reminders of loss or inability to have children of your own. It was a day that you hoped would be over as soon as possible. While I had a very good day yesterday, and my family did a great job showing me their love, as I've gotten older one of the things that has helped me enjoy Mother's Day is to begin to stop expecting my family to turn into a Hallmark movie. 😀 On Mother's Day they are the same people I loved on Saturday and yet, so often throughout the years, I expected some miraculous presentations of love. Often times they truly did shine. But then there were years when I was left feeling dejected.  That is until I began to lower the unrealistic expectations that not even Jesus could fulfill! My family is who they are, warts and all, an...