Encouraging Deep Roots

I have many unfinished projects laying around my house. Quilts I started and never finished. Writings that I started and  they sit on my laptop, and piles of paperwork waiting to be filed. I have some good intentions that I never followed through on in my life. However, the one thing in my life that I don't want to leave unfinished is the ministry that the Lord has given to me. That nudge from the Holy Spirit to keep pressing on and finish my race is the thing that motivates me each day.  There are many distractions that threaten to derail the completion of the task and to veer me off course. Things such as worries about my family or other issues, distractions going on in the world,  my own failings at times, other people's opinions about what I should or shouldn't be doing, and  on it goes. These distractions can keep me unfocused or wanting to throw in the towel.  And yet, I want to press on and continue to follow the path that God has given me. He has given m...

It's February, the month of love. I think that February is one of my favorite months for many reasons. First and foremost, it signifies that I'm almost through the winter! This has been a rough one. It's -12 Fahrenheit right now with a windchill of -22. It's also the month of other fun events - the Superbowl, my son's birthday, Valentine's day, my husband is off his teaching and tutoring because of winter break. This weekend I'm looking forward to participating in our local farmer's market. The following week we are going to go and visit my daughter and son-in-law for a couple of days. All fun things! But February is also a reminder of love. I have this little plaque that sits on my mantle that says, "Love lives here." I often have to ask myself, "Is that true?" "Do I love well?"  Some days, the answer is probably, "No." But then other days I do a better job. As I reflect back over the past week, I had more days wh...

Each day I rise and look out the window for a glimpse of the sun. For the past couple of months there are many days when I can't see it because it is shrouded by clouds and snow. But when I do catch a glimpse of the rays, it raises my spirits. I miss seeing sunshine in the winter. Lately, I've seen it peeking out more often as the days are beginning to lengthen. The sun has a different feel and it brings a bit of hope that the bad weather won't last forever. Because the cloud cover has been less, I've also had opportunity to see some beautiful sunsets. I find those glimpses of the sun bring me renewed energy and joy. The days when the sun is out all day long are the best.  From a spiritual perspective, from dawn to dusk, I do have the Son shining on me. I am able to face whatever is happening around me with hope because of the light of Jesus Christ. He brings hope and peace. He gives me the strength to face hard things. He brings joy. He allows me to pass that on to oth...