Category Archives: Jesus

Simple Devotion

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I wrote this Poem almost 27 years ago shortly after we met. Rich instantly swept me off my feet back in 1992. I wasn’t sure what to think. I hid this poem inside a picture frame with his picture in it. (back then I wasn’t apt to share any poems I wrote) One day I pulled it out and showed my girlfriends. Anyway it ended up on our Wedding Programs.

My sweet husband has been making the point today to make me feel especially special today on Valentines: Sending me texts with our song, “Everything I do” Bryan Adams, declaring his love for me on Facebook. He really is God’s gift to me for so many reasons. I can honestly say that marrying him back on January 2nd, 1993 was the best thing I have ever done with exception of giving my life to God as a kid.

Our relationship was centered on Jesus from the beginning and has been throughout the years. Our love has been a gift not from within ourselves, but from God who gives perfect love.

I love you Rich with all my heart! Happy Valentine’s Day my Special Young Man that God promised me!

Simple Devotion

I look into your eyes and know the love you have.

I see it in your smile, I hear it in your laugh.

I feel a thrill when you are near, and when we’re together there is nothing to fear.

Simple devotion is what I see

I see it in you, I hope you see it in me

A devotion that goes beyond us

Where your love is not only for me

But what you give to God for all eternity.

I must tell you this one thing that is true

I see Jesus living in you

I love you more and more with each passing day,

But my love can not compare to the love that God gave.

I know you know it and you see it is true,

I know His Fire is burning in you

As we’re here together in front of God and man

Pledging our love and lives together as part of His plan

As one we will live, as one we will give

Our hearts, souls and bodies as an offering

Of simple devotion to our Lord and King

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV

A Hope That Does Not Disappoint

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purple sky

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Pexels.com

Romans 5:5 has been echoing through my mind this morning. “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Romans 5:5 NKJV

Disappointment, that’s a word that has marred my life at times. Since It keeps running through my mind I figured I might as well check out the dictionary definition. “Defeat or failure of expectation, hope, wish, desire or intention; miscarriage of design or plan.” Webster’s 1828.

“Miscarriage of design or plan.” Wow! That sticks out. 16 years ago, after a year of trying to conceive, I miscarried a baby. Talk about a huge disappointment. It’s just not the way it’s meant to be. From the moment you become aware you have conceived and you hear the heart beat of a little one, the dream of how it is supposed to go becomes the gospel truth in your head. The design is to carry the baby nine months, Go through labor and delivery, and hold a beautiful baby in your arms. When it ends in anything but that, expectations are crushed.

Loss of any kind brings so much disappointment. We’re supposed to have perfect families, perfect marriages, perfect health, etc… it’s just the way the design should be. Or is it?

Eight years ago our family experienced 2 significant losses. The death of my father in law and my nephew was lost a sea while serving in the Navy. Both of these losses occurred within 15 days of each other. Two funerals within a month. It was a huge disappointment. It wasn’t the way it was supposed to go.

In recent years, I’ve watched my mom and my mother in law suffer from the effects of cancer. Once again a disappointment. Not exactly the way I had planned it would be.

In fact my mom has suffered for 19 years with the effects of cancer having survived breast cancer, but left with tremendous pain and now suffering with late stage ovarian cancer. It’s not the way it should have been, a disappointment. It’s a “miscarriage of a design or plan” what should have been.

The focus on these disappointments can paralyze you if you let it. It will hold you down with fears of moving, living, carrying on… Because the question comes, when will the next big hammer fall?

BUT… we have this hope. It’s a hope that does not disappoint. It doesn’t miscarry it’s designed purpose. It doesn’t bring you so far and drop you like a hot rock. It’s the one sure thing we can bank on no matter what twist or turn we face on planet earth. It’s the sureness of God’s great love and His promise that He will never leave us no matter what we walk through. It’s the confidence that although we live in a fallen world marred with disappointment and pain, we have a better place, which is really our home, waiting for us in Heaven. The things that were miscarried, cut short, flawed, and a disappointment, are only a small period of time in the light of eternity in a land where there is no suffering and no more pain.

Eight years ago when we went through such great loss, one of my children asked me why we had to lose my nephew and my father in love. It’s hard to explain that to an adult, but a kid makes it all the worse. I told them “I don’t understand why these awful things happen, that’s what makes heaven, heaven and where we live earth, earth. I can’t understand why we have to hurt sometimes and why bad thing happen. But I know God is good, and I have to trust that someday it will all make sense.”

God is good. His hope does not disappoint. It will accomplish exactly what it was conceived to do. His hope will lead me on in His love knowing that when all this is done, it will all be made right. No more suffering, whether it be physically or mentally, No more pain. Only joy and peace and perfect love when we stand face to face with Jesus in eternity’s hall.

“Hope doesn’t disappoint.” Sink your teeth into that one. Grab ahold and don’t let go. It’s a precious promise that brings peace when things here on earth are far from what you dreamed they would have been.

The Final Awakening-

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23a08a6c-6245-4a5e-b42c-5fb20aaf897fAround the time that Rich’s dad was suffering greatly from cancer, Rich and I took our kids to see “Narnia- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” at the movies. In the movie there was a brave little mouse Reepicheep. He was a scrapper who fought for Aslan’s honor. The whole movie and the book that inspired it is an allegory of great spiritual significance. My kids may not have gotten it but my husband and I did. With all the events of our life at that time being what they were we both broke into tears as the little mouse stuck his sword in the sand and said, “I won’t be needing this any more” He then began to make the voyage to Aslan’s land, a symbol of heaven. Our kids were amused to see mom and dad crying at a kids movie about a quote from a mouse and continually teased us after we left the movie. I turned to them and said, “It was so true, he didn’t need his sword. His fighting was over. He was going to be with Aslan.” Once again tears welled up in my eyes and once again the kids giggled.

It’s been almost 8 years since we saw that movie and it is still the topic of a good hearted laugh about how mom and dad cried at “Narnia”.

I sit here today contemplating that scene again. I don’t know why we have to look at death with sorrow and finality. Actually I guess I do, but I think our limited view skews the reality.

My husband stumbled upon a song by Molly Skaggs on Ricky Skaggs’s album Mosaic. Called “I’m Awake Now”. Upon first listening to it I determined I never wanted to hear that song again. It’s all about that final step from here to eternity and how instantly we are awakened. It’s hard to imagine a life anywhere besides here. But the Bible gives us glimpses of what it will be like.

I had told my husband I didn’t like the song because it was about dying. He replied, “It’s about life.” Sometimes we hold onto the lives we have like they are Gollum’s “Precious”. It’s only because we haven’t seen any better with our physical eyes. Death is a passing, not an end. We would do well to remember that.

The things we have fought, or watched the ones we love fight, are no longer a struggle when we at our appointed time “Awake” to our new life. Not only are sicknesses and diseases swallowed up in Jesus’s victory over death, but fears and torments are no more when we stand face to face in the presence of the one who paid it all so we can live, Jesus. His perfect love finally casts out every fear as we see Him face to face. We too will finally get to lay down our swords because we won’t need them anymore.

The words to that song have been echoing in my head today.

“I’m Awake Now, No Mistake Now,

I’m Awake.
It’s OK Now, I’m Safe Now,
I’m Awake, I’m Awake, I’m Awake Now.

Ooooh, Ohhhh….

I Wondered If I Would Get Through It
And Come Out On The Other Side.
What You’ve Heard- There’s Something To It,
And Now My Eyes Are Open Wide.

I’m Awake Now, No Mistake Now,
I’m Awake.”

I’ve stood at the bedside of someone I loved as I watched their last breath, and honestly the thought of standing beside others I love as they close their eyes has been a dreaded event for me.

But “the sting of death” is gone when I realize they’re not sleeping. They’re awake to worlds and realities that my mortal eyes can’t see, and it will seem like a moment to them that we are separated. Just like an earthly nap seems like a minute, and my “Awakening” will come when I have done what I was placed here to do.

“I’m awake now, make no mistake now. I’m awake.”

From Toddler to Great Aunt and Beyond!! Faithfulness

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img_7418I remember my first encounters with my great aunts when I was a kid. The main impression left on me was, “Wow! That lady is old!” I was probably 4 or 5 at the time. I looked up at my Great Uncle Raymond’s Wife. She seemed nice enough, but “how old is she?” was what ran through my mind. It’s easy to process a grandma and think of her as being old. That’s the way it should be. Grandma’s are meant to be old, soft, sweet, and the presenter of all kinds of goodies. But great aunts, they are hard to categorize in a young girls thoughts.

Last night we had the big celebration of Christmas for my husbands side. Somewhere near 40 people in our house, and once again toddlers, babies, and little ones were running through my house.  Every once and awhile one of these little ones would come in a face to face confrontation with me. I wondered to myself if their thoughts would mirror mine of decades ago.

I’ve tried hard not to look so old. “Rockstar” skinny jeans, T-shirt, tennis shoes, and dyed hair are weapons of my battle, but I’m pretty sure they are all masking the inevitable. “She is OLD”. That’s ok. Life is all about seasons, and I’m pretty happy about the season I’m in. No more diapers, toddler fits, and chasing little ones around a house that obviously isn’t child proof. But I also am getting glimpses of the other side of the hill. Sometimes it’s comforting and sometimes not so much. I’m where my parents were when I was newly married. Balancing out teenagers, aging parents, changing hormones, and my little eaglets flying the nest. Life can be full of joy one moment and anxiety the next.

We are on the doorstep of a new year. It’s a matter of hours before 2018 will be in the books and 2019 will begin to be written. “Where does this leave me and where will it lead me?” Are what I’ve been thinking about this morning.

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm‬ ‭100:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is faithful. He was faithful to me in 2018 and will continue to be in 2019. His faithfulness continues throughout the generations. From the wide eyes of the toddler I was playing peekaboo with last night, to the teen who is in a constant battle with boredom and puppy love, to the young mother (my nieces) who probably left my house last night glad that they could strap their little ones in a car seat for a few minutes and “take a breather”, to my brothers- in-law and sisters-in-law who are battling new aches from places they didn’t know existed revealed to them in their mid life, to my mother-in-law and parents who have seen a lot and sit upon a mountain of experience and wisdom from the years, God is faithful through the generations. That is Rock I can sink my anchor in. No matter the season of life or the path my year may take, I can be assured He is with me and in Him I can truly have not only a Happy New Year, but a Blessed one as well!

Happy New Year! God’s Blessings on you!

The Day THAT You Were Born

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As I look out my window

On this beautiful morn,

I think of what it was like

The day that You were born.

Was the air a little crisper?

Did the sky seem more blue?

Was the beauty in the sunrise more intense

As it rose in honor of You?

Did all of creation’s groaning stop

As it welcomed you that day?

A precious little baby

Who came to show us the way.

You came to look though human eyes

And touched with human hands.

To feel the pain that we all feel

To be God and yet a man.

You came to give the sacrifice,

The one that covers them all.

From the largest of all my sins

Down to the very small.

What gift can I give You?

How can I repay?

I have nothing but my life.

Take it all I pray.

As I look out my window

On this beautiful morn.

I worship Emmanuel, God with us.

And thank Him that He was born.

You Still Make My Heart Go Boom Boom

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It may sound a little corny, but it’s true. After 26 years together, I can’t imagine a more perfect match for me than my sweet husband. It’s the little moments, like last night, when we stopped at a convenience store to get a couple of diet root-beers to drink during our evening out. I hop back in our blue Charger that he bought for me as an upgrade from all the SUV’s and minivans I’ve dutifully driven for the past 18 years or so raising 4 kids, and he has “our song” playing on the stereo. The one that was in our wedding 26 years ago. “Everything I Do” by Bryan Adams. (That’s going to date me. Lol).

At times I forget how much we have in common, Our music taste, our love for sushi, how we love to hold hands when we walk, etc. Then there’s those sparkly eyes. The first thing I noticed about him 26 years ago. They still sparkle whenever we catch each other’s glance. I’ve been one blessed girl. If there is one thing that I can say about our relationship it would be that I have been loved by him and I have been loved well. And that love has been a gift from God who has helped us to build our lives on Him together. A few more days and our 26th Anniversary will be marked. Thanks for doing life with me baby! You’re my dream come true, an answer to my prayers. I love you!

(Picture of us 26 years ago. A few days before we got married. He was such a hottie)

“Always Winter and Never Christmas”

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The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is one of my favorite books of all time. It is an allegory representing Satan as the Witch and Jesus as the Lion. In the book, a Witch has cast a spell (that the Lion eventually breaks)  leaving the land of Narnia in constant winter. Layer after layer of snow and ice have plagued the land for such a long time that few remember what it was like to see green grass and flowers. “It’s always winter and never Christmas.” Is a quote from the book and a song by Reliant K on their Christmas album called “In Like A Lion”. It has been rolling around in my head this morning. It’s hard to imagine a world that never changes seasons, staying cold and frozen. Growing up in my neck of the woods, it is even harder to imagine a cold winter with no Christmas. That’s all I’ve ever known. Summer ends, Fall comes in with changes of color and temperatures, winter is introduced with cold, short days. Christmas is celebrated and then it’s just a matter of a few short months and the thaw begins. Buds appear on the trees. Green returns in the grass, and wearing my Birkenstock sandals outside with no fear of cold toes becomes the normal chosen footwear for me, FREEDOM!! It’s funny what a little more time with your part of the world tilted toward the sun does for you.

That is how life is. Circumstances tend to bury us beneath icy and cold layer after layer of hurt, unforgiveness, hatred, bad choices, and more. We can find ourselves feeling like thawing out and seeing the beautiful in our lives will never come. “It’s always winter and never Christmas” may be the reality of our world, or so we think. Isaiah 9:2 talks about our world just as Christmas dawned on it. ” The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Jesus came on the scene 2000 years ago and gave us Christmas. The start of the great thaw and change of seasons in our hearts. Things that were layered with the solid ice of sin and heartache melt in His love. The hopelessness of darkness and fear is driven out by the warmth of His light.

That light began to shine and continued to go on and on touching all who have been willing to let it shine in their lives for centuries to come until now.

So this morning as I sit by my Christmas tree wrapped in a fuzzy throw blanket sipping on a hot cup of coffee. I’ve been reflecting on some ice cold areas in my own heart that still need a little light of the Son to shine on it. Things that I thought would always remain buried under the ice and snow of many years of disappointment are showing the tell tale sign of dripping melt from icicles on my heart. I no longer have to face the prospect of “always winter and never Christmas” because His light has shone on me resurrecting the hopes of a green spring with colorful flowers in situations that seemed to never change. The more I reflect on it all I do believe that it really is amazing what a little more time with your world tilted toward the Son will do for you. FREEDOM!!! Winter Scene I Painted in a Bob Ross Painting Class

https://youtu.be/tXAY9txPLYk