Just Follow the Word

Do you wonder if a schedule or routine could be a distraction ?  Yes, I know all of us type A's are screaming "No way", it is a schedule that makes the world go around! If there is no schedule nothing would get done.  No one would know what to do. We all would be unproductive and lazy.  Is this true? Is it really the schedule or routine that makes the world turn? Or is it just a distraction making us believe we are in control? This is the year 2020 and it is spring and the world is suffering under a quarantine from the Corona virus.  And, I ponder as a believer,  what is the distraction in my life on a daily basis to proclaim the good news, make disciples while enjoying God and giving him glory? Has the corona virus been a distraction? How about the lack of a schedule or routine, is that been a distraction ?  The schedule and routine is gone. The corona virus is here. What is the distraction from enjoying God? Is it the virus, the schedule o...

It is 5 minute Friday and the word today is table. The first thing that comes mind for me is scared and fearful.  Really, you say!  Why in the world would some one think scary and fearful when the word table comes up? It seems lately everything I hear I connect to years back when body image ruled my world.  Table to me means food, and people as well, because when there is a table, there is both food and people around it and on it.  Have you ever struggled with body image?  What comes to mind when you think table? I know the Lord is redeeming the table and food and people thoughts every year that I grow in grace and His wisdom..... because.....  I now think of another table as I ponder this word. The table of the Lord where the Lords supper is served to His people in remembering that the Lord Jesus is coming again. We will eat at the table of the Lord with him in heaven again!  This table isn't scary or fearful to me, it is welcoming and...

Friday and 5 minutes to write comes fast. Walking across the room to say hello to a stranger, someone new you have not seen before. What is the risk? Staying home on a Friday night when all your friends are heading out. What is the risk? Getting on a plane knowing the whole world flies sick? What is the risk? Heading to the rest home to visit those who never get visitors? What is the risk? Going to church alone?  Going to a movie/restaurant  alone? What is the risk? Taking a job in another city or state? What is the risk? Instead of talking about the risk I wonder if we could talk about the possible gains.   Somethings we are scared of that are good for us, are risks.  Somethings we should be scared of and not good for us are risks.  The time it takes to ask what we will gain might be the wisdom we need to walk in the light and have fellowship in the light. What is the risk?

5 minute Friday What have you experienced on Valentines Day?    Today is the day when love is in the air, per the Hallmark industry. Today the experience of Valentines will make some hearts sore and some hearts soar. Take a look back at your past experiences of Valentines day.  What were some of the worst?  What were some of the best?  Are our experiences something that we want to place expectations on? Do we use our experiences to change our expectations? Do your expectations cause you to experience a heart that is sore or a heart that  soars? What expectations do you have that may affect your experiences ?  Who knows your expectations and can they be met for an experience of a life time? My experiences have been both a heart that is sore and one that sores, but as I looked at my expectations, I have come to know a person, and His love, that satisfied all expectations and understands all my experiences . His name is Jesus. Wha...

It is 5 minute Friday and the word today is Relief.  Yes the first song that pops in to my head is an old commercial.  "Plop plop fizz fizz oh what a relief it is." Yes, Alka Seltzer. And then, as usual my mind asks questions, "What is relief for me?"  What has been relief for you?  I have found relief in many places over the years but today I wonder over my younger years of seeking relief. I have been pondering food lately.  I had an issue with food as a young teen.  It started so innocently with a few pounds that maybe "needed" to come off.   Yes I was in the Pretty Plus section at Sears, luckily we didn't shop at JC Penny because then it would be Husky section. Relief to me was feeling a hunger pain as I lay my head on my pillow. Relief was swimming nightly all summer long to get my laps in. Relief to me was wrapped up in what I deemed success. When I went back to school that Fall and heard you look amazing from shocked faces... ...

Which way do I go?  Do you love it when someone is giving you directions with the terms North, South, East and West?  Is your preferred choice go left or right?  Or maybe your favorite way of getting directions are landmarks, you know, turn left at the red barn with the cow on top.   The landmark direction sometime comes with a story of the past, and why the landmark was special to the direction giver. I sometimes wonder if the landmark directions are the best, but seldom do we have time to hear the long dialogue of memories.  I wonder if directions given by those who have traveled before us NEED to have landmarks so we understand the way better. Lets consider Paul from his letter in Ephesians and his direction he give us about himself and where he is going and why.  Often times looking at the past of what was done long ago gives us the best way forward. Paul,  an apostle of Christ Jesus   by the will of God , To the saints who are i...

It began a few years ago. It was the spring of 2016. There were tears. Alot of tears. They came at the weirdest times. I did not know what they were from or why they came. I remember the tears came mostly in the salon, while getting my hair done. They would come from no where and my stomach usually felt queasy, you know  when you feel like your getting the flu.  These tears came every 5-6 weeks at the salon through the spring and into the summer.  I knew it had nothing to do with a change in hairstyle. Unexplainable in my eyes. The tears and the feeling would make me ponder what is going on that makes these tears come. The stylist would ask each time these tears appeared, "Is everything ok?  I am worried about you."  To which I would reply, "One thing you need to know is this is not about you." You may be making YOUR own assumptions right now as well. Sometimes when the tears came, we would laugh and say, "It must be menopause!"   ...

What does it cost? It is the first question we often ask.  Well, it is the first question I ask. I am also discovering getting the definition of a word helps me with how it works in my life. Definition of cost =  noun an amount that has to be paid or spent to buy or obtain something. verb 1. (of an object or action) require the payment of (a specified sum of money) before it can be acquired or done. Then there are some days I jump into something that may not cost me money, but it will cost my time, energy and my heart.   How do we look at cost when it comes to day to day life?  How do we filter the word cost into our life if we are believers?    What is my or your life worth? Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ...and just like that 5 minutes is up.

5 minute Friday word is unknown. The word has come up many times in the last few years.  Did it come up before?  Probably I suppose. Why am I noticing it more?  I wonder if it could be because I am realizing more often, that most things I thought where known, and controllable, are not. I remember the feeling of unknown as a late teen, then it sounded like this, "Will I get married?" I remember the feeling of the unknown as a first time Mom, then it sounded like this, "How do I care for a baby?" I remember the sicknesses of our children as a young Mom, then it sounded like this, "Will this turn into RSV or an ear infection?" There was a period of time I don't remember the unknowns, I believe it was during the period of time when our children could talk to when they began to drive.   I wonder if the word control would be why I didn't hear the word unknown? The word appeared again during the teen years of our children, during the care of our...

It is 5 minute Friday again.  Fridays come quick, but not as quick as Mondays :) I think the word convenient is quite convenient to be the word for this week due to what happened in New York this week.  And, how convenient that it was right after the Sanctity of Life Sunday and the March for Life in Washington. Is anything other than fun, ever convenient? And actually, sometimes, if you are a workaholic planning fun is not convenient either. I am beginning, well I began about 3-4 years ago caring for my aging parents.  I found from the very beginning it is and was never convenient.  I also learned I like a plan in my day and old people and babies are pretty hard to plan.  Please don't take offense to the word "old people."  As I sat in church in Sunday, and listened and watched all the years of people representing the length of time we have stood for life, it hit me.  If you don't have power or a voice you don't have a choice.  That may be c...

Hello Friday!  2019 Linking up with Kate Motang for 5 minute Friday. The word this week is better and the timer begins now... ...What does the word better mean to me? When words enter my mind, the first thing I do is grab the first thing that comes into my mind, and today the first thing was, "a better high priest".  Deep? Yes I know.  What does the word better mean to others?  What is the first thing that comes to mind for you? I want to be better at math might be a thought from a elementary student that struggles with math facts. I want to be a better Mom might be a thought from a Mom who lost her patience with her toddler, or teen yesterday. I want to a better friend to someone who forgot to keep an appointment that was scheduled just days ago with a hurting friend. I want to be better at_______________ I believe there will be 1,000 things that each of us can fill in that blank with and the next question is why do I want to be better ? ...

My mind works in questions rather than commands on a daily basis. So the word value: What are your top three things you value? What makes you value them? If they are people, what are the qualities you value in them? If they are things, what makes them valuable? As we think about the things we value, have we asked what Mr. Webster says about value? value   noun val·​ue   |   \ ˈval-(ˌ)yü     \ Definition of  value  (Entry 1 of 2) 1 :  the monetary worth of something  :  MARKET PRICE 2 :  a fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged 3 :  relative worth, utility, or importance a good  value  at the price the  value  of base stealing in baseball had nothing of  value  to say 4 :  something (such as a principle or quality) intrinsically  valuable  or desirable sought material  values  in...

Girl wash your face….My review? So, most of my life I have put a closed hand up when controversial things get placed in my lap. Think on things that are lovely and pure was, and still is my heart beat. What are lovely things?   What are not lovely things?   I also love to please people so doing a book review on a book that is controversial in the gospel world is dangerous and not lovely in my book. And then, I was prompted to open this book to wonder what the draw is to it. Here is my first try at a book review, which is my O - pinion . I do wonder one thing. Why was this book written?   What is the author’s purpose? This is a self-help book.   How do I know this?   The chapter titles begin with “I”.   Anyone can read this and work on some things they struggle with. For instance, I struggle with being a quitter (no not my identity but a huge struggle,) it had some great tips and I needed to hear them. Is a self-help book better than reading Ha...

This is the first year I have officially chosen a word.  Have you chosen a word before? My word is hope.  Why did I choose hope?  I think the main reason I chose hope was because over the last 2 years "my hope(s)" were revealed to me.  Actually, as I think back over my life I can recall all the many places my hope was placed. Where have been some places you have placed your hope?  As I type that question I hear that song, "My hope is build on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness." https://youtu.be/DWdNgXSd46Y I have sung that song for many years. Yes, I grew up in a home where the Bible was read, and church and school complemented what my parents desire was. Which was to train up a child in the way of the Lord.  So, my hope is found in nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.  God was and will be faithful to His Word.  Let's look back together.  Where have you placed your hope?...

The Friday word for 5 minutes of writing is  MOTIVATE Well the first thing I did is Google the word, motivate .  What else do you do in the year 2018 when you want to know more? Is the word motivate in the Bible? Google's definition: Provide someone with a motive for doing something. What motivates us?  Lets ask another question, "What motivated God to send Jesus, His only son?" or how about this question, "What motivated Jesus to obey God in coming to earth to die?" Our  motives are often hard to find amidst our wandering hearts. Do we ever ask God to examine our heart where everything we do comes from? David did in Psalm 26:2. What motivated David? Moses? Paul? Esther? Rahab? As we think about the word motivate , lets ask our self ... ...am I motivated to bring glory to God? If so why?...am I motivated by money, fame, acceptance? If so why? If we are honest there are many days we are motivated by m...

Hello 2018! I want to give you a somewhat quick recap of this blog before I begin this entry.  In 2008 and 2009 I felt a large pull to write a devotional to help others open Gods word.  There are a ton of details of how that pull or calling happened.  At the start of writing it I had NO desire to publish it, but as it was finished, that changed, and the opportunity was placed before me to publish it.  So, Meet With Me is a book! Why did I write it? I wrote it because of Isaiah 55:11.  Sure I wrote it because I felt the Lord laying it on my heart, to write something that helped myself, and others see Him, His story and where we fit. But when push came to shove, the only reason I had was, that verse.  My feeling of a call or a nudge in my heart could just be a feeling that "could" lead me astray.  But again that verse, it was a promise. Why did I not stand on the mountain tops with it? Well I di...

How can the best day ever be in the hardest year ever? December 12, 2015 a journey began for this Mom.  The day one of our children began to leave the nest!  She came downstairs and sat on the arm of my chair I often sit in and drink coffee and pray and read my bible and sometimes I just sit there contemplating the day ahead. Enough of what I do in my chair! Her words, "I am going to be a wife Mom!"  Her excitement was in the forefront and in the background was the fear of the unknown and the prep and am I really ready!  Are we ever really ready for anything?  Sure those in Christ are ready because of the cross, and or but, the day to day things that come our way...hhmmm.... Does ready mean prayerful with expectation that the Lord will give all we need to be ready? The year was full of preparation!  As I recall some of the prep days, I think of struggles, joys, anticipation and honestly some of it was hard ...

This was the first day to pick cherries at the local orchard!  I heard it was to be a banner year! Any berry pickers out there? Why do you go?  We all have different reasons!  I go berry picking for the time with family more than the actual picking fruit, we all know we can go to the store and get all we need for just a little bit more money.  Time and money two precious commodities in our culture today! You tend to remember back to the previous year as you approach a new season and last year we approached the trees and noticed the fruit was screaming pick me, pick me!  As we looked at the trees this year it appeared the scene was quite different and at first glance it was looking to be a disappointing activity for the day. The leaves were big and green and the trees looked healthy BUT to the naked eye, which is mine, the fruit was NOT there. I was tempted to not even look for a ladder!  Why waste the effort on dragging the ...

Its been quite some time since I blogged but today I really felt pulled to share some thoughts on a sermon I watched while getting on the treadmill, something I have not done a lot of lately, along with listening to Chandler. My treadmill and Chandler go hand in hand usually. Whatever, that was useless information...another reason why I don't blog much lately. My thoughts are definitely not your thoughts AND they are NOT higher than yours. Thankful we have a Bible and a Savior whose thoughts are perfect and He rescued us!! So, here is the direct quote that screamed, "Put me on face book and remind everyone NO LIFE IS PERFECT and stop comparing and live fully in your joy or trial because each one will end after the season completes the purpose for which it was sent." This is it!! A STUDY DONE BY INSTAGRAM not by Christians stated...."Instagram leads to depression" That was the direct quote from Chandlers sermon on James dated February 15. Which, by t...

Hello everyone!! It is December 12, 2013 today and I cant seem to get our real Christmas tree event out of my head. This is not a post about promoting real or artificial trees. This is not a debate about you loving your artificial tree or you loving your real tree nor is it a post telling you are not doing the "right" thing with Christmas if you have an artificial tree! This is simply my thoughts since last Christmas as I packed the fake tree away in the box. I put our tree away last year and remember saying I am not taking it out again. It felt fake! It felt mechanical! It felt yucky! It was another task that had to get done. So... this year... WE WENT OUT AS A FAMILY TO CUT DOWN THE REAL TREE!!! Yes I was very excited and yes we did have a great time. We took pictures, I got a face wash, Our two boys tackled each other because someone put snow down someone's crack as he went to cut the tree down, yes it was quite real! It went up very uneventful and I b...