Encouraging Deep Roots

I often walk at our local audubon center and throughout the miles of trails they have different benches or swings like the one shown above. I love the reminders to stop and soak in the beauty. It is a visual reminder in this hurry-up and get it done world to slow down and relax. For those of you who read my blog regularly you know this isn't always my state of being. I'm usually cramming a lot into each day and while that is the way I'm wired, I do know that it's important to just slow down and relax from time to time.  I took a picture of the frost the other morning and then later that day found this quote. I thought it was a good reminder about the need to slow down. Philip Harnden, in A Gardener’s Guide to Frost ~ "In the end, this may be the most important thing about frost: Frost slows us down. In spring, it tempers our eagerness. In fall, it brings closure and rest. In our gotta-go world–where every nanosecond seems to count–slowness can be a great gift. ...

Homemade vanilla extract I took the vanilla beans that had been steeping in vodka for vanilla extract and let them dry out a bit.  I then added them to my sugar and let them sit in there for a few weeks. Now I have vanilla sugar that I can use in baked goods. I don't have anything inspirational to say today, but just thought I'd share a random happenings post.  Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the colors, scents and food. I love the cooler temperatures and falling leaves and I love the holidays that are coming up soon.  This past weekend we had a fall festival at our church for the community and it was a lot of fun. We ended up with a good turnout and the children who came enjoyed playing the different games, the crafts, face-painting and food. They got to take a goody bag home with them. I think the thing I liked the best was that it was a team effort and we had many helpers. The temperatures have dipped below freezing the past couple of nights and we've h...

There is a woman who attends our church and lives in a senior housing apartment complex. She organizes a weekly Bible study and invites different pastors in to teach it. I have been one of the participants. She puts the schedule out quarterly so generally I've been scheduled once a month. I recently asked her if it would be possible to do three weeks in a row so that I could do a continuous study rather than teaching three disjointed lessons over a three month period. Yesterday, I taught the final lesson in my three week series. It ended up being such a meaningful time with them as they shared their stories with me and the tears flowed. I was able to pray with them and connect in a way that I've never done before. As I closed out our time with prayer I actually got choked up. The thing that amazes me is that I've never felt that I would have the patience or ability to work with senior citizens. And yet, over the past 8 years God has given me a special affinity for them. I...

Psalm 51:10-12 ~ God, create a clean heart for me  and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not banish me from your presence  or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. This past Saturday my husband and I attended a missions conference where I led one of the breakout sessions and facilitated a networking session. It was a good day and I came home encouraged. I was encouraged mostly because I was reminded once again to stay the course and remain steadfast in the ministry God has given to me.  Ministry can be a lonely profession. You have to deal with all kinds of issues, as well as peoples' opinions about what you should or shouldn't do. There are very good and uplifting moments, but for much of the time you are walking with someone through their worst moments. It's a heavy weight that never really goes away. It's definitely not for the faint of heart and not everyone is called...

My flight from Texas touched down at 10:30 last night and by the time I collected my baggage and drove the hour and 45 minutes home it was almost 1 a.m. What a beautiful weekend it was! I met some new friends and reconnected with some long-time friends. I was able to listen to, and pray for women who have had major heartbreak and trauma in their lives. I'm thankful for those who told me that my messages and story ministered to them. I thankful for those who shared their stories with me and loved having these meaningful conversations with women of all different ages - from young to older. I wasn't sure what to expect this weekend, but what I discovered was a beautiful, ethnically diverse group of women and found an instant connection with them. It was a long way to go to speak, but I am thankful for the weekend because it also solidified the unique calling the Lord has given to me.  I'm starting out my Monday with a renewed spring in my step and ready to move forward into th...

I've been in a few cities in the United States that have traffic lights with crosswalks. At these crosswalks you have to push a button in order to have the light change color. Once you push the button it takes a few minutes for it to change from green to red and there is a recorded voice that says, "Wait!" over and over again. It can start to grate on your nerves hearing it repeat the word continuously, but the reality is if you don't wait there is a chance you will get hit by a car. Impatience can have devastating effects! Yesterday, I was in a prayer group of other pastors and ministry leaders and as we were praying a retired pastor prayed the phrase, "Waiting is the ministry, Lord." That resonated with me because it's been where I've felt stuck the past year or so. I feel like I'm in a waiting pattern and at times, feel very impatient.  The truth is I don't like waiting and I don't like it when God seems silent. It feels as if nothing ...

Ignore the condition of my very old shoes! I always think of myself as fairly adventerous.  I like to explore and  I believe that I'm up for many things, but I don't think I really have wanderlust. And a s I've gotten older, I really think I'm more of a homebody. I love getting out to hike and explore, but I would rather sleep in my own bed at night.  I enjoy making my space a beautiful and peaceful enviornment.  I prefer staying in at the end of the day and enjoy a quiet evening at home. My bedtime is the same time every single night. My sewing room/office is my haven.  I enjoy days when I can putter around my house and spend some time cleaning and straightening it.  I recently had the opportunity to travel to Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa to present at a workshop at our denomination's first world fellowship women's conference. The leadership team I'm part of was hosting the event. Part of me really wanted to go and I thought it was an honor to be asked....

Last week zipped by as I traveled back from my weekend retreat on Monday, worked on three messages that I'm giving at a different retreat this coming weekend, did church ministry, and got some walks into my days. I took my father-in-law to visit my mother-in-law's grave on their 65th anniversary (the first without her) and then out to lunch with him. I did some sewing. Made meals as normal. Red Lentil & Quinoa Wraps Lentil Meatballs Did some cooking with my son.  Visited my daughter and son-in-law and attended a fall festival with them. Found hidden gems. Weeded the front flower bed at church, organized towels that we distribute to those in need and set up 6 towel basket deliveries, including one I delivered myself. Taught a small group class and then rocked and read to little ones in the nursery. I sat and read and wrote.  It was a good week and I am thankful for every little thing.