The road is full of stumbling blocks, we see them every day, Our path is full of hiccups which toughen up the way, Our journey to eternity is filled with indecision, We struggle through all daily tasks, requiring supervision, The signs that lead to nowhere, just clutter up our walk, We can’t decide which way to go, we simply talk the talk, But when we walk with Jesus, our road is made quite clear, The things that seemed impossible, lose all their haunting fear, Our daily walk is easy when we simply trust in Him, We’ll reach our destination and in the end we win!
“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10 – Holy Bible
 “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances and one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.” William Shakespeare
Days in life grow shorter. They’re fleeting gasps for air. The span of seven decades at times were hard to bear. The memories of yesterday are clearer than today. The necessities of life grow dim – our lives soon pass away.
The bard referred to life of man as being seven stages The Bible also speaks of life as holding seventy pages. I’ll soon be seventy eight. Will I reach eighty three? I have so much to do. Will God still work through me?
When years go by and time runs out we could be terrified, But God has plans for all of us. For us his Son has died. He’s given us salvation, a pass to heaven free. He’s promised us a better place. It’s there for you and me.
Our years in life may vary, but one thing stands secure. Our time of grace upon this earth is always very sure. Lord, help me use these latter days to show my love for you – By sharing you with others and the wondrous things you do.
It’s only been a couple weeks since Christmas came and went. Some have packed away the lights and decorations. Most folks have taken down their trees and set them outside to be carried off by the waste management team. This most miraculous, mysterious event in the history of mankind has served its purpose for the time being. At least that’s what the world would have us believe, when in fact Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s the birthday of a King – the release from the bondage and chains of sin – the hope for eternity. Still, we carefully wrap it up and tuck it aside for another year.
We live in a time when we need this celebration to fill us with hope, peace and joy for a lifetime. Jesus came for all people. He is the hope of all generations, whether they are black, yellow, red or white. He chose us to share heaven with Him. What an honor.
Let us never forget – even though everything around us seems to be collapsing – though we have lost our ability to trust anyone for the truth – though we are living in confusing, difficult times – our Jesus, our God will always remain the same. His consistency is what we need to get through the muck of everyday life. Trust Him alone. Honor Him with your voice and prayers. Kneel down and adore Him, for He is our only hope, and know that you are a redeemed child of the King.
The first week of the new year has come and gone and with it, the tears from last year have spilled over the edge and into this one. You are completely aware of all the sadness that our country has experienced and continues to hang on to. I guess I was gullible enough to hope that we might have learned something from all those tears, but perhaps we still have much to sort through before we finally get it.
You know all of this, Lord. You keep track of every little detail of our lives – even our tears. You feel our sadness. You created us in your image and even though you are all powerful, you empathize with us because of your infinite love for us.
As much as I love my country, I feel so much sadness right now. Not only because of the state of affairs in this land, but because we have become so divided. This is something that’s been going on for a long time and I don’t expect it will be fixed any time soon, but I also have faith in your omnipotence.
My tears can be collected for many years to come. You have shown me, through your compassion, that you can make them disappear in an instant because of your power. You alone can turn the storms of life in to life giving water. I praise you and honor your holy name through Jesus, your precious Son. Heal my land. Heal our hearts and minds. Bring us back to you. AMEN!
“Tell me I’m clever, Tell me I’m kind, Tell me I’m talented, Tell me I’m cute, Tell me I’m sensitive, Graceful and wise, Tell me I’m perfect – But tell me the truth.” Shel Silverstein
When seeking the truth, we might not always get what we want. We may be searching for it in the mess of the media. We may long for it in the smile of a child. We might even see it in the face of love. Truth is a word that means honesty – purity – without embellishment. When truth is tarnished, how can we be sure of it? We’re told to be discerning, but it’s difficult to do so when you can’t tell the good guys from the bad.
We can learn what truth is from experience. We soon discover that everything we hear is not true. Even things we were taught as little children – like, “you can do amazing things if you just try” – become slanted by the voice of bully who can take the wind right out of your sails.
We suffer when the slings and arrows of untruth embed themselves in our hearts. We are exposed daily to lies and deception. Where on earth is it? The truth is, it no longer exists in common knowledge. Somewhere along the line the ninth commandment given to Moses has been forgotten.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
In my 78 years of living, I’ve been amazed to see the decline of truth in almost all areas of our lives. There is really no truth in advertising. We’re now simply entertained by commercials. We often don’t even remember the brand. In every day dealings, people lie to make friends, to influence others, to make themselves look good. We’ve seen an increase in lawsuits over the past 50 years – ranging from serving coffee which is too hot, to health care, to who knows what else. It’s become a national trend to sue our neighbor. Not to mention the untruths seen in the media, on the internet and in every day conversation.
So what is truth? Pontius Pilate asked that question when Jesus stood before him to be judged. It is an age old query posed by philosophers and theologians. The most scholarly in our world can’t see to come up with the right definition, because we’ve become numbed by the fact that a little white lie never hurt anyone. We’ve seen how sneaky the devil is in selling us stuff like that.
Truth in God’s terms isn’t a part-time activity. We can rely on His truth – the only truth which exists anymore. Jesus, said of Himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Who do you trust? There is none other we can trust, than the true Son of God. His Holy inspired Word, the Bible, gives evidence of this truth.
This is a rerun from last year, but it’s still relevant. It’s time to take another breath.
“Take a breath and count to ten.” We’ve all said it at one time or another. It sometimes works with children, but what about adults? How do we control our anger when faced with so much of it every day? Anger usually comes from frustration, inability to communicate what we feel and a lack of compassion for one another.
We all need to take a moment to compose ourselves, before we speak or do something we will eventually regret. But how do we do that when everyone else is so angry? It might work to count to ten, but anger often rears its ugly head at about five.
We, the adults, are supposed to be setting the example for future generations. Are we doing that? Take a look at our current division in the political arena. Take a look at most television shows, pitting one against another. Observe the bullying going on in the workplace. Watch the daily news filled with road rage, murder, assault, etc.
Why can’t we live in harmony? Where’s the compassion for one another? Why does everything have to be a competition to see who’s the best?
Take a breath.
Count to ten.
Take another breath.
Keep your mouth shut for a while.
Count to a hundred if necessary,
or a thousand.
We all need to look for some balance. We as human beings are going to get angry. It’s part of our sinful nature. However, if we look at the perfect example for what human behavior should look like, all we need do is turn to Jesus, the Son of God. In His humanity, he displayed anger. His anger was righteous however, since His house of worship was being infested by money changers and thieves. Corruption seems to show its ugliness even in the supposedly purest of places.
Still, Jesus the man also is God. He inherited His Father’s righteous indignation, but He also was merciful. Mercy seems to be a word that isn’t used much today, except in a court of law. Mercy is akin to compassion, grace, leniency, kindness or sympathy. Those terms have given way to cold heartedness, mercilessness, inhumanity, retribution and revenge. We’ve been exposed to a lot of those terms lately.
What if Jesus showed no mercy to His accusers and simply zapped them straight to hell? What if He never went to the cross and took on the burden of our sin so that we wouldn’t have to? What if He was never born? Think of the state our world would be in today, had He not taken on human form and died for us.
Have we become so engrained with anger that our opinion is the only one that counts? Are we so bold as to think, we’re better than others? Are we willing to listen, to communicate, to work together to solve problems, or are we looking only to make others look bad? The world will always be ugly. Sin still exists, but we have been bought and paid for by the blood of our Savior. We should start reflecting His personality.
I live in a part of the United States which experiences long winters – usually consisting of below zero temperatures and copious amounts of snow. Since we are currently isolating, the sting of winter isn’t quite as uncomfortable as it has been in the past. We don’t necessarily have to clean the snow off our cars, because chances are we aren’t going anywhere. We can get by with shoveling enough snow so the mailman can access our mailbox. We don’t need to bundle up in layers upon layers of clothing.
If we work outside the home, there are still those obstacles to overcome, but it seems that this pandemic has made us into a band of hermits, eager to congregate with fellow hermits and have a cup of coffee together. Our sights have been blinded by the winter of our discontent.
Light is something that is in short supply in my neck of the woods. We take Vitamin D supplements to fill that need. Days are shorter. Sunlight is lacking and we’re stuck with a huge case of cabin fever.
One thing I’ve noticed about winter is the tricks that light can play on us. Frozen crystals create snow dogs. A prism of light bounces a rainbow off the snow and reflects off frozen lakes. Trees are filled with a hoar frost that creates a mystical appearance – like being in the land of Narnia. There is beauty in light. It also can blind us at times.
When the Magi went in search of the new King, they were guided by a light in the sky. This led to all kinds of historical events, including the slaughter of the firstborn male of each household. That star of brilliance would lead them to a house where they would find the Christ and lay their gifts before Him – gifts of gold (befitting a king) – frankincense, which is used in religious rituals to indicate purity – and myrrh, which is an embalming oil. Their gifts would be pondered in Mary’s heart and would come to mind as they became apparent in Jesus’ life.
Epiphany is indicated as a season of light. Brilliant, blinding light which envelopes the entire world. When we celebrate this special day, we are witnessing the Light of the World – Jesus, our Savior and King. He has opened heaven to all of us, through the gift of His life, death and resurrection.
Dear, Lord, Jesus, You came to earth to live among us – to show us how to live and to bring the light of your salvation to mankind. Our sins put us in darkness, but you shine more brightly than any star in the heavens. Your light is perfect. May it continue to illuminate our hearts throughout this year and prepare us for your second coming. In Jesus name, I pray. AMEN!
This painting is a recreation of a spot in Yellowstone National Park. Imagine what the first explorers and mountain men thought when they saw steam spewing out of the earth and putrid smells exuding from its depths. It must have given them a peek at hell.
The devil is alive and well. He’s been here from the start.
He tried to overtake the Lord which must have broke God’s heart.
He had a place already there, but wanted more you see.
He gathered up rebellious friends to be what they could be.
His name was once the Prince of Light – the bright light of the dawn,
But when He turned away from God, His soul was surely gone.
And now he prowls this earth below in search of company.
It’s lonely in the depths of hell. He’ll never be set free.
When Jesus came to bear our sins, the devil cried in pain.
This lowly child would slay him and give us life again.
Upon the cross He’d suffer, He died but that’s not all.
He rose again.  He conquered death. He gave His victory call.
Right outside the city, stands a house that’s very old, Built to fight off danger and the bitter, wintry, cold, Each brick was placed precisely upon the cornerstone, The mortar held them tightly, through winds so swiftly blown.
This house was built so long ago, yet firmly does she stand, Five families came and went, while her face remained quite grand, A little paint might dress her up, fixing could be done, But still this aging treasure shines brightly in the sun.
We used to have one of these in our garage. I found it at a yard sale a several years ago and used it as a theater prop. Little did I realize I’d have such a hard time disposing of it. What do you do with a road barricade? We’ve tried to have it recycled – put it out with the trash – sell it in a garage sale – even the junk scrappers don’t want it. I’ve thought about setting it up alongside another group of road blocks, but that might lead to an investigation on how it got there.
A finger print and DNA analysis would point directly to me. I’d wind up in prison for the rest of my life along with my husband who served as my accomplice in the crime. Not to mention the fact that I have pillows and mattresses in my house that have tags removed that say, “do not remove under penalty of law.” I’m doomed!
I think about our friend Julie who is in the process of packing up her household to move to another. We went through the same thing four years ago. It isn’t easy to go through years of accumulation and sort through what you’re going to keep, recycle or throw away. It’s really a daunting task, but like taking stock of our lives, we often have to do some housekeeping along the way.
As we dug through all the things that encumbered our lives, it became more and more apparent what pack rats we are. We find stuff, hang on to it thinking it will be useful in the future and wind up throwing it away in the end.
There are probably lessons in this process, but when you’re in the middle of it, it’s quite overwhelming. A lifetime of junk really creates a huge pile of unnecessary baggage. We are so fortunate to have a Savior who will rescue us from all the clutter and weight of living.
Eventually we did get rid of the road barricade. I’ve forgotten what we did with it. Maybe we left it for the new owners. However, if we’re ever discovered and go to prison for possessing stolen property and tearing the tags off of prohibitive objects, we won’t have to worry about our stuff. I’ll have everything I need right there within the confines of jail. My husband can teach art classes, I can start a theater troupe, all our health and dental care will be covered, we’ll have three meals a day, maybe we can get an education. We could be like another team of Paul & Silas bringing the great news of the Gospel to others. Maybe Julie will come and visit us.
As I sit here at my window this morning, a new scene is taking place. Usually I watch the birds at the feeder or the squirrels beneath it. Occasionally there’s a feral cat or two to amuse. Today there is a group of strong young men being lifted up in the air by cherry pickers. They are taking advantage of the “warmer” Minnesota winter days to prune some trees in the area. Branches are interfering with utility lines and this seems the perfect time to undertake this activity. Not only that, it’s giving me a different view today.
As we prune away the debris of life, it’s also a good time to reflect on how that debris became obstacles which got in the way over the past yearand how we overcame them.
A tree stands firmly in the ground, though ancient yet unworthy,
Its life has spanned a hundred years, its limbs cried out for mercy,
The sun has withered, burnt and scorched, the wind has taken its toll,
The snow filled skies and frosty air are God’s quality control.
In spring new life will come again as leaves bud forth in glory,
A canopy of green appears creating a new story,
In fall the tree must undergo another painful trimming,
As leaves of crimson, gold and rust upon the ground are swimming.
Did you ever stop to wonder what might be going on in someone else’s head? They could be a complete stranger, but their actions are speaking volumes. For example, the lady at the deli counter, who apparently doesn’t like her job and gives you the end pieces rather than the prime cut. Or the teller at the bank who seems oblivious to your concerns as she angrily counts out your cash. Then there’s the grocery worker who stuffs your groceries randomly into the bag without thought to the eggs on the bottom.
We all run into people who seem to be so self-centered in their dealings that we quickly rush to judgment. Did you ever stop to think what may have caused their behavior. Perhaps the girl in the deli was filling in for someone who was late and she really didn’t know how to do the job. Perhaps the bank teller just received word that her job was going to be terminated and she didn’t know how she’d be able to support her young family. The grocery worker didn’t have to bag your groceries, but he was only trying to be helpful. Besides, no one ever bothered to show him how to bag groceries.
We often read so much into other people’s actions, without knowing the cause. Maybe if we start approaching life with a different attitude it would make a huge difference in the way we live. Our joy is dependent on it. If we look at those around us as the enemy we’re bound to be on the defensive most of the time.
We all have a life outside of the one we try to put forward in our dealings day to day. We want to make a good impression. We want to get the job done. We want to appear responsible, helpful and caring. As soon as something happens to get in the way of that, our body language changes, our facial expression is different and our attitude quickly takes a nose dive.
This is the beginning of a new year. We’re getting back into the routine of daily living. This is the perfect time to look inward and start reaching outward. By doing so, our joy will shine through a dark situation. Our responses will be different. We will begin to live life to the full.
The things we learned as children have become shrouded in the past. We no longer need them, or do we? When we look back are we simply trying to relive our lives and maybe change some of the mistakes we made along the way? Or can we actually use those experiences to shape our future?
When Lot’s wife looked back at the smoldering cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, it was the last chance she would have. Because she was disobedient to the command to keep her eyes focused on what lay ahead, her plight was that she became of pillar of salt. Just like that – bam! Why did she look back? Was it because she was told not to or was it simply a natural instinct? I often wonder what she was thinking in that brief moment.
When we reviewed the past year on New Years Eve, we did a lot of remembering, reminiscing, reevaluating, rethinking. The year 2020 had gained a reputation of sorrow, grief and disappointment. It was time to start over, but what would lie ahead? Would it just be more of the same or could we possibly hope for something better?
Of course, God already has a wonderful life set in the future for those who place their confidence in Him rather than themselves. Sometimes we have to look back to see how we messed up or what we can do to improve. We plan – we make lists – we set resolutions for ourselves which we know, deep down, will never be kept. We try to be optimistic and look forward rather than back, but our human nature soon gets in the way and we return to our old habits.
We should place our confidence in the future, but we need to be active as well. We need to use the gifts God has given to us, to make things happen, yet be on the lookout for God’s intervention and prayers that are being answered in His timing. We need to trust in His wisdom. We must have faith that He will give us the right direction. He’s our heavenly Father and wants only the best for His children.
If we keep looking back, we probably won’t turn into a pillar of salt, but we need to learn how to kick the devil out of our lives, shut the door on past mistakes and live for what will come tomorrow. We also need to learn from our errors so we can be free to move ahead. For all that will happen to those who love Him has already been established by the triune God. He knew it before we were even born. We don’t have to figure things out alone. We have His divine intervention in our lives every second of every day.
Dear, Lord, Jesus, my Savior and Brother,
You chose to leave your Kingdom in heaven and live a life of poverty and rejection so that I could enjoy the benefits of heaven. You are the beginning and the end of all things. I will place my trust in your direction for my life as I lay my sins at your feet, knowing that you have already forgiven all of them. Amen!
I can totally relate to this unusual day of celebration. I used to be an introvert. At least for the first thirty or so years of my life. “How can she say that,” you may ask? I’m a performer, a teacher, a writer. I put myself out there all the time. I almost feel like an AA member, admitting my past sins, when I reveal that my name is Kathy and I’m an introvert.
The year 2020 made me realize, I liked being an introvert and there really was nothing wrong with the syndrome, except for what the world imagines about those who prefer to be alone. In the ten months of a worldwide pandemic, I realized that I still enjoy being alone. I don’t crave it as I once did. I don’t run to hide within my own world anymore, but I do truly treasure moments by myself. Those moments gave way to new creative thinking and time to formulate, plan ahead and do some of things I wanted to accomplish.
I used to be a schizophrenic and so was I, but I digress.
During my time as a teacher, I was learning right alongside my students. I discovered that the stage was the perfect place to express myself. As a child, my refuge was reading and I still enjoy a good book if I can keep my eyes open long enough to finish one. I often retreated to my inner world when I started tapping out words on my typewriter. I felt that my hidden voice could be deciphered through those words.
Being an introvert isn’t a bad thing. I’ve been both introvert and extrovert through my 78 years of life and both of them are really overrated. I supposed when you don’t want to have any social interaction it becomes a problem, but I never slipped that deeply into introvertism (if that’s even a word.) Balance seems to be the answer for most folks.
When we look back in history, some of the smartest individuals were introverts. Some of our greatest scientists, artists, writers and creative thinkers preferred to be alone. Even Jesus needed time to Himself when He grew weary of the crowds.
So today we celebrate with all the introverts out there.
Our little friend, Stubby, the squirrel disappeared for a couple weeks in December of 2020, but made a brief appearance again late in the month. Just about the time we had given up on seeing him again, he made a quick path to the bird feeder – tried to climb the pole and quickly descended and retreated to from whence he had come. I wonder if a squirrel might stick to the bird feeder pole if he stuck his tongue out on it.
Stubby is called Stubby because of the short tail he has. He’s also rather aggressive and won’t stand for being bullied.
At first we wondered if he was in a self imposed quarantine. It would’ve been about the right amount of time. Then we wondered if he might be a she and was out of the food chain because she had become the food chain to a bunch of baby squirrels.
I guess we’ll never know for sure. It’s just very reassuring to know that Stubby is still alive and kicking. He/she has provided us with lots of entertainment over the past few months and even created some ideas for a children’s book series.
Opening up a new year like a gift from one now passed. Searching for solutions for mistakes that have been cast. Trying hard to change the errors we have skewed. Looking up with hope again. Our lives will be renewed.
We try – we fail – we try again to reach our simple goals, But there is nothing we can do to wash our blemished souls. There is but one clear answer to the darkness here inside. Just look to Jesus, God’s own Son who for our sins has died.
He came to live among us – to feel the hurt we know. He left His throne in heaven to dwell on earth below. He died, but then He rose again to prove He conquered death. He never leaves our aching hearts. He’s in our every breath.
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
Life is a patchwork of moments — laughter, solitude, everyday joys, and quiet aches. Through scribbled stories, I explore travels both far and inward, from sunrise over unfamiliar streets to the comfort of home. This is life as I see it, captured in ink and memory. Stick around; let's wander together.
God's amazing grace removes walls and replaces those barriers with Jesus, freedom from sin's consequences, freedom to forgive, and freedom to love unconditionally.
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