Picket Fences

  WHAT IF? “What are you going to do if God doesn’t answer your prayer?” My neighbor’s question left me stunned. Surely God would answer my prayer. I could see no reason at all for God to not answer my prayer. I spent quite a while praying that night, in my backyard, looking at the moon. It looked huge and seemed so close to earth that I felt as though I could reach out and touch it or even step right onto it. I knew God created that moon. He spoke it into existence. As a new believer I had not even considered God would not answer my prayer.  He spoke the entire world into existence.  He can answer my prayer. It has been over 30 years since the night my neighbor asked me that question. Did God answer my prayer? Not the way I wanted the prayer to be answered. It was a season of grieving and growing for me. Since then though, there have been many answered prayers. And – My dad’s friend did not heal. My friends did not heal. Some family members did not heal....

 Peace? Where is it? Chaos and confusion are everywhere. News, videos, people's choices, viruses, cancers, and relationships exploding - information that continually fills our minds.  Closer to home, life can be fast, relationships can totter at the drop of a hat, people are haggard, walking the streets with no home to go to, drug and alcohol addictions is a norm in a lot of families. Where is the peace? I know I can spend time during the day looking and looking for just a moment or two for some space where there is solitude. There is no news, no demands, no need to be emotionally available, and I am just able to take a moment to process life.  Where is the peace for the people who have been taken from their lives and held hostage? Where is the peace for the ones who have been stolen and sold for the perverted pleasure of others? Where is the peace for the one who is caring for a loved one that is suffering in one way or another, and where is the peace f...

  I had some time to sit on the beach and stare off into the vast unknown. Did you know just sitting there set me up for the boundaries of the ocean to be removed and taken out to the deep never to return? Did you also know that sitting there is so peaceful and shows me the power of God who created such a magnificent vast ocean with the beautiful sky above and the sun that rises and sets each day?  Anxiety and worry, or Peace and relaxation? I cannot tell you how many times I struggle to NOT WORRY instead of staying in the moment. About 35 years ago I had a tough situation in my life. Worry filled my mind about what could happen the next day. When I opened my Bible the verse I read was “Do not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough troubles of its own.” How hard is that? How hard is it to not worry about things that seem intimidating, scary, or life changing in the future? In a Bible study I am in, the discussion was on Adam and Eve after they had eaten the forbidden fruit...

 Galatians 2:20 NKJV I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Italics mine)

 Yesterday I watched a short portion of a movie about Anne Frank. I have read the story, so I know the sad ending.   When there is war, or a battle for power over people, there are many victims. Somehow, (usually very cruelly), certain people will be put in a weaker position than the power seeker. Somehow people are forced to live in a way they do not want to live at all. Their normal daily lives are stolen from them. It starts back in biblical times when the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. I can instantly think of some more, for one, after seeing Anne Frank yesterday, the concentration camps for the Jewish religion and those who helped them. There have been slaves throughout history all over the world, even today, such as those who are victims of sex traffiking.  There are those at the mercy of drug lords, due to drug addiction. People dominated and abused in relationships, by a parent, spouse, boyfriend, or friend. I thought of these situations, and the pe...

Proverbs 12:25 "Worry weighs a person down; An encouraging word cheers a person up." NLT I really hate that so many people are struggling. It's hard to hear about the violence on the news.  I hate driving down the street and seeing the people who must live in tents on the side of the road.  It is troubling that drugs are addicting, and people are trapped looking for the next high. When I hear about someone kidnapping and killing another person it angers and baffles me that they thought they had the right to interrupt someone's life in that way.  My heart hurts for those who are mourning loved ones who have passed away.  It seems like we have all walked into a big dark hole that has a swirling tornado of sickness, evil, and death flying at us.  It really is a miracle to rise in the morning, healthy, fed, and sheltered and to return to bed at night safe.  Some people can't even trust the very people they live with to keep them unharmed.  What does a pers...

January can either be a long, dark, boring month after all of the celebrating from Thanksgiving to New Years.  Or January can be a month probably every introvert enjoys, relaxing, refreshing, and renewing.  The one thing that seems consistent in January is; it is dark. They say it is a time where the days start to stay light longer, but it doesn't feel that way to me. It seems dark and the days are short.  Especially after people start taking down their Christmas lights.  When daylight savings time was over, it was quite an adjustment to the darkness that came earlier each day. For a season I can't watch the sunsets, while walking the dogs, after dinner.  The street lights are on, and the porch light is needed in order to see to unlock the front door.  Instead of natural light the lamps must go on so we can see without stubbing our toes or bumping into furniture. Because of that it really was a clear visual for me when I read Matthew 5: 15-16 ESV -“15...

  Today I woke up thinking of the future. So many things went through my mind. It looked scary and intimidating.  Do you ever look at the great unknown of the future and miss seeing the possibilities, but instead, focus on what can go wrong?  The great “what if” question can lead a person on a dark rabbit trail filled with thorny vines that ends at a high jagged rocky cliff to stumble off in to certain demise. My thoughts were looking over that jagged rocky cliff. They hadn’t stumbled off yet, but I could envision what was certainly there to meet me in answer to my “what if” questions.  Then I picked up my devotional. “Courage Instead Of Fear” said the bold Calibri 20 font heading at the top of the page. There is a picture of a paper airplane, with a heart emblem, flying directly at the bold Calibri 20 font heading. It is followed by this verse - “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 ...

  James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” NIV   I have been praying about something in my life. I would like to have this prayer work out a certain way. I pray for guidance and direction. Today I also confessed I want this prayer to turn out the way I want it too. I don’t think I want it to turn out another way. When I get direction I hope it is what my will is desiring. I have to take a moment and think, what if the answer to this prayer is not what I desire? Will I struggle and struggle in prayer to try to see that outcome? Will I waste time whining and complaining about this matter? Will I be able to trust God with the wisdom He gives me? Sometimes answers to prayer don’t come right away, but when the answer comes will I take note and follow if it is in the opposite direction? It is exciting when a prayer is answered. Sometime though answers to prayers can be v...