Little Victories
“Little Victories”
August 30, 2022
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 25:8 (ESV)
It’s been a long time since I’ve been out walking. It’s been foggy in the mornings, and I don’t like to walk on our curvy mountain road when it’s difficult to see. But to be honest, I haven’t really felt much like walking. It’s been four months to the day since Remi passed away, and I’m still getting used to walking without him. When I woke up today, it was a beautiful morning; the gentle onshore breeze swept the cool, salty air of the ocean past me when I stepped out on our patio, and the sun was rising over the mountains, so I decided today would be a good day to start walking again.
As I walked the route Remi and I usually took, I rounded one of the curves and felt my eyes welling up with tears. I had come to an area where Remi liked to stop and sniff, and those memories triggered a wave of emotion that came over me. I thought, “Take one step at a time, put one foot in front of the other and just keep going.” I happened to be listening to my audio devotion at the time, and the narrator was reading Isaiah 25:8. I heard, “and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces”. I was amazed at the timeliness of his words. The other words in the passage drifted by, but those words really stuck with me. The narrator asked us to imagine God holding our face in his hands and to feel him gently wiping away our tears. It was a powerful image I visualized as I reached up under my glasses to brush away the tears that had spilled over and continued moving forward - left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot.
I continued my walk, looking expectantly for new sights and new inspirations to write about, but none came. I walked in silence for a mile, scanning the nature around me, hoping I would hear, “Look at that!” as I often have in the past, but the silence continued. I listened to another audio devotion to accompany me on my last mile, and as I neared our home, I felt a little disappointed that nothing had come to me today. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw these little yellow tubular flowers that looked like tiny trumpets. I walked past them at first, but turned back to take a photo when I heard a title come to me, “Little Victories”.
What a wonderful sight to see at the end of my three mile walk - my disappointment fleeing. These little flowers came into sight as if they were trumpeting my victory - you completed the walk, filled with emotions and all! You did it! Yay! Sound silly? Maybe, but I can’t help but think about all the times the Lord watches over us and celebrates the little victories in our life that we often overlook. He sees the struggles we have in front of us to overcome and watches us trying to tackle them little by little, day by day. Do you have things in your life you are trying to deal with? Maybe it’s working through a loss you’ve had, the frustration of battling weight loss, managing health challenges, facing overwhelming schedules, transitions, an uncertain future, or changes in your life? I encourage you to face your situation one step at a time - putting one foot in front of the other - and you will move forward.
May you honor each small step you take to address the challenge ahead, and let yourself celebrate your tiniest victory. Our Lord will wipe away our tears of grief, pain, heartache, fear, and disappointment as we face our challenges. Be encouraged to know he is there to walk with us, to encourage us, and to celebrate with us as we win each little victory.
Shifting Perspectives
“Shifting Perspectives”
August 2, 2022
And we know that for those who love God, he works all things together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
I have always loved the Bird of Paradise flower. These particular flowers marked the spot on our walk where Remi and I would turn around to go home. I could see why they called these flowers “birds”; I imagined the long beak pointing towards the sky and thought of the orange and yellow tufts to be feathers on its head. But one day, our daughter suggested another perspective.
What if you imagined the long beak heading downwards towards a flower like a hummingbird, and the orange and yellow tufts were its wings fluttering at a rapid speed? Can you see the hummingbird, too? It’s amazing how shifting our perspective changes the way we look at things. That shift of perspective helps us in life as well.
When we have challenging situations to face, knowing Christ will see us through whatever we are dealing with shifts our perspective from one of despair to one of hope. He brings us strength and peace and courage where weakness, doubt, and worry take hold. It helps to shift our perspective as we learn that Christ reweaves the difficulties we face for good.
The photo on the right shows a beautiful sunrise Remi and I enjoyed together one summer morning. The colors in the sky looked like the Bird of Paradise to me, and the orange and yellow “tufts” reflected in the blue of the pool reminded me that Paradise is near; God is near and knowing that helps me shift my perspective to one of hope, encouragement, and confidence as I begin each day.
I invite you to be ready to shift your perspective today. It’s amazing how the way you view the world may change.
Faith Beds
“Faith Beds”
June 24, 2022
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
A few weeks ago on one of my first walks without Remi, I saw several new images that brought meaning to me. This dry stream bed seemed to illustrate a point.
We are experiencing a drought here in Southern California, and it is so dry, the rocks on the bed of this stream are easily seen. There is dry grass growing right up to it, and boulders make the stream’s path curve around it. You can see the path made by the rocks at the bottom of the bed, but how well would water be able to flow through this narrow waterway? Is the path cleared enough to be effective when the rain returns?
This image made me think about my own “faith bed”. Like this stream’s bed, is my path of faith laid out and prepared to receive the water of God’s wisdom, instruction, love, and protection? Or am I neglecting the care of my path of faith by letting the tall grasses of busyness, lack of study, prayer, worship, and despair over the events in our world hamper God’s ability to work in my life? Are there boulders in my “faith bed” that are diverting God’s plan for me?
Will you take a moment and examine your “faith bed”, too? Is your faith path cleared of any obstructions that are keeping God from flowing easily to and through you? If not, I encourage you to join me in thinking of how to clear your “faith bed” so that God’s love and care will be able to flow to you freely.
What will you do this week to clear your “faith bed”?
Flowers to Tumbleweeds
Flowers to Tumbleweeds
November 17, 2021
“That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16
Fall has always been a beautiful time of year for me. No matter where we have lived, in the Midwest, on the East Coast, or on the West Coast, fall brings change - leaves turn vibrant colors, the temperature fluctuates, and we bring out our sweaters to prepare for the cool days and nights ahead. But there is also a bittersweetness that creeps in when fall arrives as well. The perennial flowers and plants of the spring and summer months end their season of blooming and begin to dry up as they enter into the period of rest that is winter. During this time, they slumber and lie in wait until spring returns when they are restored and come to life once again.
As we began our walk the other day, I happened to notice Remi sniffing a lone tumbleweed that had blown into our landscaping after a windy night. As we continued our walk, I saw there were many tumbleweeds that lined the edge of the road. I wondered how I had missed seeing them before. As I looked a little closer, I discovered that some of the tumbleweeds still had delicate pink and white flowers on them. I had never seen this before, and I was intrigued that a “weed” that “tumbled” could be so pretty.
And then an analogy hit me; we will all be a sort of tumbleweed some day. I thought about the time a few falls ago when I was helping my dad get settled into an assisted living residence. My dad was 90 years old at the time, and I remember how important it was for me to share with my dad’s caregivers who he had been earlier in his life. I wanted to share with them what had been that “flowering” period in his life. As I looked around at the other people who resided there with him, I realized that I was looking at only a sliver of the life they all had lived. I didn’t know anything about their youth or the stories of their college fun. Most of the people were there without their spouse, and many had family members that were no longer around. Their lives of raising a family, or having a career, and celebrating their life achievements and successes were lost to those who now surrounded them. They seemed to be a little like the lone tumbleweed Remi had stopped to pay attention to - alone in their waning years, some away from their family and disguised in bodies that no longer reflected the youthful beauty and ability they once exhibited. I wanted to expand my dad’s caregivers’ understanding of who he had been so that they could see beyond the man they saw now in front of them. His caregivers were wonderful, and they treated him with dignity and love, but I realized not all elderly people are as fortunate as he was.
In the Scripture verse above, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth encouraging them not to grow weary of facing the persecution they faced as they told others about Christ. May we also take to heart his encouragement to never give up, even though this life can be filled with disappointment, loneliness, pain, and loss. Like the perennial flowers that rest in winter, each of us will one day find ourselves needing to draw on our inner strength to get us through as we wait for Christ’s resurrecting power to sustain and renew us day by day.
As Remi and I passed the tumbleweeds when we returned home that day, I remembered the people who lived in my dad’s community. Though outwardly many were physically and mentally wearing out, I knew that inwardly there was still a remnant of those delicate pink and white flowers; the dignity and beauty that were representative of a life well lived. If we live long enough, we, too, will know the passage from flowers to tumbleweeds. I hope we will recognize and cherish the flowering season of our life that precedes the maturation of the tumbleweed season we may face. May we be reassured that Christ’s spirit dwells within each one of us who believes in him. He will renew and encourage us day after day so that we will not be discouraged in this life. And like the perennials in springtime, he will restore us to life once again after our season of winter rest.
The next time a tumbleweed crosses your path, I encourage you to look past the tough, woody exterior and remember the soft, delicate flowers that once were in its place. I hope you will spend a moment paying attention to it like Remi did and see the beauty of each stage of life.
How’s Your Walk?
How’s Your Walk?
May 3, 2021
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
There are many weekends when Remi and I come home from walking that I’m asked, “How was your walk?” I often answer by showing whoever asked the photos I took, or sharing the thoughts I had, or sometimes I just answer, “It was nice.” This weekend I went on a hike with my daughter and thought about how going on a hike is a lot like maneuvering through life.
We climbed almost 800 ft in elevation to the top of a beautiful spot where we looked out over the Pacific Ocean. It felt great to have made it to the top, but the 45 minute hike on the trail wasn’t without some challenges. On the way to our destination we walked uphill on dusty trails, sidestepped large rocks in our path, balanced on small boulders to cross the low-level stream due to the minimal rainfall that fell this winter. We admired the beauty of a trickling waterfall and the yellow wildflowers that lined the path and provided a lively contrast of color to the blackened trunks of oak trees that were damaged by a wildfire that went through the area a few years ago. During our ascent, we commented on how well the trails were laid out and maintained. As we walked, my daughter remarked how much better it would have been if she had shoes with more traction that were made for hiking, and I realized how helpful a hiking stick would have been to help stabilize the descent in some steep areas. Not being avid hikers, and only going on a short hike, when we arrived at the top we realized we had hastily left without taking any water with us. Were we able to complete the hike without the proper tools and provisions? Yes, it all worked out fine, but it would have been easier and safer if we had hiked with the necessary equipment.
And that’s when I thought about how hiking is much like navigating life. We can go through life without God, but it is so much better when we acknowledge him and let him be our guide and “hiking” partner. He goes before us and prepares a path for us to take. Sometimes we stay on his path and at others we wander off it into the unchartered wild, exploring on our own. When we go off the path, we risk getting lost or turned around, we might encounter hazardous terrain we hadn’t expected or brush up against poisonous plants that could give us a painful reaction. He clears the way, providing safe passage through the wild, but the clear path he has prepared doesn’t always stay the way he had designed it to be. Since nature is always changing, boulders may come down from hillsides and land in our way. Trees can come down in a windstorm and obstruct our passage. If the path isn’t well-maintained, branches, erosion, and invasive plants can impede the path that had been planned. The beautiful path can be altered by nature’s freewill. Life travels on a similar path. It isn’t without its twists and turns, uphill climbs and difficult descents as we try to find our footholds. The barriers of challenge and boulders of disappointment get in our way, and gushing waterfalls of success and achievement can turn into a trickling stream in the face of the drought of creativity, motivation, and perseverance. Fires of loss and ill health can come and ravage the beauty around us, but after the fire has passed, the ashes seem to fertilize the soil and allow beautiful flowers to poke up out of the devastation, providing glimpses of beauty, hope, and joy in our life once again.
As we go through life, letting God be our guide as we travel makes the journey more satisfying. We may not understand the path God has laid before us, but with him beside us, we can trust that we will never be alone and that he will have his hand there for us to grab on to when we come upon a difficult portion of the trail. As you go on your journey, don’t be hasty in your preparation. Be sure you don’t forget to take along the essential equipment; your relationship with Christ will be like good hiking shoes - he will provide firm footing and will always be with you every step of the way, prayer will be your walking stick - it will give you support and stability as you encounter difficult terrain, and Scripture will be your source of water - it will bring you spiritual nourishment when you need it most.
How’s your walk?
Growing Up
Growing Up
April 23, 2021
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 1:9-10
Remi and I have been watching this plant, the Echium candicans, or pride of Madeira, over the past few months, waiting for it to flower again. I love to watch the cones sprout forth and change from green to purple as the flowers fill in the conical shoot. It’s fun to watch the progress of the growth and how each green cone forms, develops, and flowers at differing rates.
As we continued our walk, I reflected on how much the development of our Christian faith is like this plant. We each have our own path of growth and we reach spiritual maturity at different times in our life. We begin as baby Christians, beginning our faith journey like the new green buds that begin to form the cone on this plant. As we study, worship, pray, serve, practice obedience to God, follow Christ’s teachings, and experience life events that test our faith, our spiritual cones continue to grow and fill in with the flowers of our spiritual fruitfulness.
I began to think about what stage my own “cone” was in its development. What areas do I need to strengthen, what spots do I need to “fill in” more, where am I missing the “flowers”? I thought about how, like each cone in the pride of Madeira, each one of us develops our faith at our own unique pace. The pride of Madeira, as a whole, receives its nourishment from the same source, but each flower in the plant experiences its own rate of growth. Similarly, each one of us receives our spiritual food from the same Father, but our stage of spiritual development is different from anyone else’s. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to another’s progress but take responsibility for developing our faith as we journey forward, becoming the “full-bloomed” person God intended us to be.
How about you? Where are you on your faith journey? Are you a green bud, a blossoming flower, or somewhere in-between? What can you do today to nurture your spiritual growth? When we are rooted in Christ, he will strengthen us and equip us for all we need to grow up to be someone he can be proud of. Will you join me in growing up?
A Crown of Thorns
April 2, 2021
“And twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” Matthew 27:29
While walking Remi, I often see images in nature that I feel the Lord uses to remind me of his presence, and yesterday was no exception.
As we neared our home, I noticed how thorny the bougainvillea had become along our path and was reminded of how Jesus had worn the crown of thorns on his head as he was crucified. The red flowers seemed to symbolize the blood he had shed for us on the cross so that once and for all he paid the price for the sins of mankind for all of eternity. What a poignant reminder of what Christ had done for us.
As I remember this Good Friday, I give God thanks for his mercy and grace and for the love he has shown us, his people, by sending his only son to die for us so that we may be reconciled to him forever.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Light at the End of the Tunnel
December 31, 2020
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
As Remi and I began our walk late one afternoon, I saw the effects of the pale light of the sun peaking through the clouds that hovered over the mountains to our north. The light seemed to part the clouds, revealing the mountains behind them. It reminded me that the darkness that has come during our many months of COVID-19 is beginning to dissipate as we see the light, in the form of a vaccine, overcoming the virus. A vaccine brings us some clarity and hope - a light at the end of a long tunnel of difficulty and change in our way of life.
Many of us have lived through months of feeling unsettled, lonely, and fearful of the future, and some of us have faced illness, the loss of loved ones or the loss of special life moments that we are unable to recover. All of us have been changed in some way during this pandemic. One fact that has helped me during this time of uncertainty is the fact that Jesus is the light that brings us hope, clarity, and stability in an ever-changing world. Unlike the vaccine we desperately awaited, Jesus has always been accessible to us to help us overcome the darkness that tends to discourage us and bring us fear. He is here today and is available to everyone who calls out to him. Nothing can separate us from our Lord and Savior.
It is my hope that as you see 2020 end and a new year begin, you will let Jesus be your light that guides you through the days and months ahead. With Jesus as your light, darkness will not overcome you, and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Happy New Year!
You are Never Alone
December 1, 2020
“Be strong. Be brave. Be fearless. You are never alone.” Joshua 1:9
Remi and I were walking this morning and I happened to look over to see our shadows projected on the hillside across from us. It reminded me that, like my shadow, God is always with me; a silent presence and partner in life.
If I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have missed seeing this image. How often do we miss feeling God’s presence each day because of our distractions or busyness or worries?
As I continued our walk after seeing our shadows, my senses were more aware of my surroundings. I was more attuned to nature; the oaky smell of fallen leaves, the coolness of the air as it swept gently across my face as I passed through the canyon, the sound of wings fluttering as I watched tiny birds skirt away from me and hide in the shrubs nearby.
I was not alone on my walk. I was reminded that God walks with me every day. I just often miss seeing him.
It is my hope you will look for God’s presence in your life today. You are never alone.
Abide in Me
December 1, 2020
“The one who says he abides in him ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked.” 1 John 2:6
What a beautiful day to walk! It always amazes me how observant Remi is on our walks. He sniffs the ground beneath his paws and looks up to bark at the soaring crows and looks around him, as if to take in all of the beauty that surrounds him. He’s in his element, abiding so naturally with nature and God, the Creator. How about you and me?
As I walked today, I was reminded of how important it is to be grounded in my faith as I begin a new week. I soaked in the beauty around me and especially admired the colors of God’s handiwork. I came home and listened to “All the Poor and Powerless” by All Sons & Daughters and read a devotion to continue to align my mindset with Christ so that I could walk with him throughout my day.
Like Remi who walks next to me on a leash, I want to be tethered to Christ each day, abiding closely to him, and he in me. I hope you will also find ways to abide in Christ this week. Happy Monday!
When Disappointment Comes
November 30, 2020
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
What a difference a day makes! These photos were taken from the same vantage point, one day apart. The top photo of the beautiful sunrise was the view I saw yesterday, and today’s view was completely different; a dense fog with almost zero visibility greeted me instead. Same place, same position, different outcome.
Like many of you, I get disappointed when things don’t go the way I had planned. Today, I ended up cancelling an outdoor meeting because of the weather, and I was disappointed. I know I am not alone in feeling this way. Many of us are disappointed with not being able to celebrate the upcoming holidays the way we usually do, and we are disappointed.
There have been so many things that have brought us disappointment in the past ten months, and God knows about each one; from the little disappointments, like mine today, to the devastating ones as well. When you are feeling down, God wants you to go to him in prayer and humbly tell him how you feel. Cast your worries and anxieties on him. Let him take on your disappointments and look to him to give you renewed hope, strength, and his peace to get you through life’s discouragements. He cares about you, and he loves you. He will lift you up and bring you through your disappointment when you seek him.
One thing I know about fog; it lifts. Similarly, with Christ helping us through the foggy patches in our life, our disappointments will begin to fade with time, and we can approach tomorrow confidently with the hope that another beautiful sunrise is just within our reach.
Little Victories
Little Victories
Our Lord wipes away our tears and celebrates each little victory we win as we take each step to overcome the challenges we face.
“Little Victories”
August 30, 2022
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 25:8 (ESV)
It’s been a long time since I’ve been out walking. It’s been foggy in the mornings, and I don’t like to walk on our curvy mountain road when it’s difficult to see. But to be honest, I haven’t really felt much like walking. It’s been four months to the day since Remi passed away, and I’m still getting used to walking without him. When I woke up today, it was a beautiful morning; the gentle onshore breeze swept the cool, salty air of the ocean past me when I stepped out on our patio, and the sun was rising over the mountains, so I decided today would be a good day to start walking again.
As I walked the route Remi and I usually took, I rounded one of the curves and felt my eyes welling up with tears. I had come to an area where Remi liked to stop and sniff, and those memories triggered a wave of emotion that came over me. I thought, “Take one step at a time, put one foot in front of the other and just keep going.” I happened to be listening to my audio devotion at the time, and the narrator was reading Isaiah 25:8. I heard, “and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces”. I was amazed at the timeliness of his words. The other words in the passage drifted by, but those words really stuck with me. The narrator asked us to imagine God holding our face in his hands and to feel him gently wiping away our tears. It was a powerful image I visualized as I reached up under my glasses to brush away the tears that had spilled over and continued moving forward - left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot.
I continued my walk, looking expectantly for new sights and new inspirations to write about, but none came. I walked in silence for a mile, scanning the nature around me, hoping I would hear, “Look at that!” as I often have in the past, but the silence continued. I listened to another audio devotion to accompany me on my last mile, and as I neared our home, I felt a little disappointed that nothing had come to me today. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw these little yellow tubular flowers that looked like tiny trumpets. I walked past them at first, but turned back to take a photo when I heard a title come to me, “Little Victories”.
What a wonderful sight to see at the end of my three mile walk - my disappointment fleeing. These little flowers came into sight as if they were trumpeting my victory - you completed the walk, filled with emotions and all! You did it! Yay! Sound silly? Maybe, but I can’t help but think about all the times the Lord watches over us and celebrates the little victories in our life that we often overlook. He sees the struggles we have in front of us to overcome and watches us trying to tackle them little by little, day by day. Do you have things in your life you are trying to deal with? Maybe it’s working through a loss you’ve had, the frustration of battling weight loss, managing health challenges, facing overwhelming schedules, transitions, an uncertain future, or changes in your life? I encourage you to face your situation one step at a time - putting one foot in front of the other - and you will move forward.
May you honor each small step you take to address the challenge ahead, and let yourself celebrate your tiniest victory. Our Lord will wipe away our tears of grief, pain, heartache, fear, and disappointment as we face our challenges. Be encouraged to know he is there to walk with us, to encourage us, and to celebrate with us as we win each little victory.
Shifting Perspective
When our perspective shifts, it’s amazing how our view of the world often changes, too.
“Shifting Perspective”
August 2, 2022
And we know that for those who love God, He works all things together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
I have always loved the Bird of Paradise flower. These particular flowers marked the spot on our walk where Remi and I would turn around to go home. I could see why they called these flowers “birds”; I imagined the long beak pointing towards the sky and thought of the orange and yellow tufts to be feathers on its head. But one day, our daughter suggested another perspective.
What if you imagined the long beak heading downwards towards a flower like a hummingbird, and the orange and yellow tufts were its wings fluttering at a rapid speed? Can you see the hummingbird, too? It’s amazing how shifting our perspective changes the way we look at things. That shift of perspective helps us in life as well.
When we have challenging situations to face, knowing Christ will see us through whatever we are dealing with shifts our perspective from one of despair to hope. He brings us strength and peace and courage where weakness, doubt, and worry take hold. It helps to shift our perspective as we learn that Christ reweaves the difficulties we face for good.
The photo on the right shows a beautiful sunrise Remi and I enjoyed together one summer morning. The colors in the sky looked like the Bird of Paradise to me, and the orange and yellow “tufts” reflected in the blue of the pool reminded me that Paradise is near; God is near and knowing that helps me shift my perspective to one of hope, encouragement, and confidence as I begin each day.
I invite you to be ready to shift your perspective today. It’s amazing how the way you view the world may change.
“Faith Beds”
“Faith Beds”
June 24, 2022
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we many receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
A few weeks ago on one of my first walks without Remi, I saw several new images that brought meaning to me. This dry stream bed seemed to illustrate a point.
We are experiencing a drought here in Southern California, and it is so dry, the rocks on the bed of this stream are easily seen. There is dry grass growing right up to it, and boulders make the stream’s path curve around it. You can see the path made by the rocks at the bottom of the bed, but how well would water be able to flow through this narrow waterway? Is the path cleared enough to be effective when the rain returns?
This image made me think about my own “faith bed”. Like this stream ged, is my path of faith laid out and prepared to receive the water of God’s wisdom, instruction, love, and protection? Or am I neglecting the care of my path of faith by letting the tall grasses of busyness, lack of study, prayer, worship, and despair over the events in our world hamper God’s ability to work in my life? Are there boulders in my “faith bed” that are diverting God’s plan for me?
Will you take a moment and examine your “faith bed”, too? Is your faith path cleared of any obstructions that are keeping God from flowing easily to and through you? If not, I encourage you to join me in thinking of how to clear your “faith bed” so that God’s love and care will be able to flow to you freely.
What will you do this week to clear your “faith bed”?
Flowers to Tumbleweeds
November 17, 2021
“That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16
Fall has always been a beautiful time of year for me. No matter where we have lived, in the Midwest, on the East Coast, or on the West Coast, fall brings change - leaves turn vibrant colors, the temperature fluctuates, and we bring out our sweaters to prepare for the cool days and nights ahead. But there is also a bittersweetness that creeps in when fall arrives as well. The perennial flowers and plants of the spring and summer months end their season of blooming and begin to dry up as they enter into the period of rest that is winter. During this time, they slumber and lie in wait until spring returns when they are restored and come to life once again.
As we began our walk the other day, I happened to notice Remi sniffing a lone tumbleweed that had blown into our landscaping after a windy night. As we continued our walk, I saw there were many tumbleweeds that lined the edge of the road. I wondered how I had missed seeing them before. As I looked a little closer, I discovered that some of the tumbleweeds still had delicate pink and white flowers on them. I had never seen this before, and I was intrigued that a “weed” that “tumbled” could be so pretty.
And then an analogy hit me; we will all be a sort of tumbleweed some day. I thought about the time a few falls ago when I was helping my dad get settled into an assisted living residence. My dad was 90 years old at the time, and I remember how important it was for me to share with my dad’s caregivers who he had been earlier in his life. I wanted to share with them what had been that “flowering” period in his life. As I looked around at the other people who resided there with him, I realized that I was looking at only a sliver of the life they all had lived. I didn’t know anything about their youth or the stories of their college fun. Most of the people were there without their spouse, and many had family members that were no longer around. Their lives of raising a family, or having a career, and celebrating their life achievements and successes were lost to those who now surrounded them. They seemed to be a little like the lone tumbleweed Remi had stopped to pay attention to - alone in their waning years, some away from their family and disguised in bodies that no longer reflected the youthful beauty and ability they once exhibited. I wanted to expand my dad’s caregivers’ understanding of who he had been so that they could see beyond the man they saw now in front of them. His caregivers were wonderful, and they treated him with dignity and love, but I realized not all elderly people are as fortunate as he was.
In the Scripture verse above, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth encouraging them not to grow weary of facing the persecution they faced as they told others about Christ. May we also take to heart his encouragement to never give up, even though this life can be filled with disappointment, loneliness, pain, and loss. Like the perennial flowers that rest in winter, each of us will one day find ourselves needing to draw on our inner strength to get us through as we wait for Christ’s resurrecting power to sustain and renew us day by day.
As Remi and I passed the tumbleweeds when we returned home that day, I remembered the people who lived in my dad’s community. Though outwardly many were physically and mentally wearing out, I knew that inwardly there was still a remnant of those delicate pink and white flowers; the dignity and beauty that were representative of a life well lived. If we live long enough, we, too, will know the passage from flowers to tumbleweeds. I hope we will recognize and cherish the flowering season of our life that precedes the maturation of the tumbleweed season we may face. May we be reassured that Christ’s spirit dwells within each one of us who believes in him. He will renew and encourage us day after day so that we will not be discouraged in this life. And like the perennials in springtime, he will restore us to life once again after our season of winter rest.
The next time a tumbleweed crosses your path, I encourage you to look past the tough, woody exterior and remember the soft, delicate flowers that once were in its place. I hope you will spend a moment paying attention to it like Remi did and see the beauty of each stage of life.
How’s Your Walk?
May 3, 2021
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
There are many weekends when Remi and I come home from walking that I’m asked, “How was your walk?” I often answer by showing whoever asked the photos I took, or sharing the thoughts I had, or sometimes I just answer, “It was nice.” This weekend I went on a hike with my daughter and thought about how going on a hike is a lot like maneuvering through life.
We climbed almost 800 ft in elevation to the top of a beautiful spot where we looked out over the Pacific Ocean. It felt great to have made it to the top, but the 45 minute hike on the trail wasn’t without some challenges. On the way to our destination we walked uphill on dusty trails, sidestepped large rocks in our path, balanced on small boulders to cross the low-level stream due to the minimal rainfall that fell this winter. We admired the beauty of a trickling waterfall and the yellow wildflowers that lined the path and provided a lively contrast of color to the blackened trunks of oak trees that were damaged by a wildfire that went through the area a few years ago. During our ascent, we commented on how well the trails were laid out and maintained. As we walked, my daughter remarked how much better it would have been if she had shoes with more traction that were made for hiking, and I realized how helpful a hiking stick would have been to help stabilize the descent in some steep areas. Not being avid hikers, and only going on a short hike, when we arrived at the top we realized we had hastily left without taking any water with us. Were we able to complete the hike without the proper tools and provisions? Yes, it all worked out fine, but it would have been easier and safer if we had hiked with the necessary equipment.
And that’s when I thought about how hiking is much like navigating life. We can go through life without God, but it is so much better when we acknowledge him and let him be our guide and “hiking” partner. He goes before us and prepares a path for us to take. Sometimes we stay on his path and at others we wander off it into the unchartered wild, exploring on our own. When we go off the path, we risk getting lost or turned around, we might encounter hazardous terrain we hadn’t expected or brush up against poisonous plants that could give us a painful reaction. He clears the way, providing safe passage through the wild, but the clear path he has prepared doesn’t always stay the way he had designed it to be. Since nature is always changing, boulders may come down from hillsides and land in our way. Trees can come down in a windstorm and obstruct our passage. If the path isn’t well-maintained, branches, erosion, and invasive plants can impede the path that had been planned. The beautiful path can be altered by nature’s freewill. Life travels on a similar path. It isn’t without its twists and turns, uphill climbs and difficult descents as we try to find our footholds. The barriers of challenge and boulders of disappointment get in our way, and gushing waterfalls of success and achievement can turn into a trickling stream in the face of the drought of creativity, motivation, and perseverance. Fires of loss and ill health can come and ravage the beauty around us, but after the fire has passed, the ashes seem to fertilize the soil and allow beautiful flowers to poke up out of the devastation, providing glimpses of beauty, hope, and joy in our life once again.
As we go through life, letting God be our guide as we travel makes the journey more satisfying. We may not understand the path God has laid before us, but with him beside us, we can trust that we will never be alone and that he will have his hand there for us to grab on to when we come upon a difficult portion of the trail. As you go on your journey, don’t be hasty in your preparation. Be sure you don’t forget to take along the essential equipment; your relationship with Christ will be like good hiking shoes - he will provide firm footing and will always be with you every step of the way, prayer will be your walking stick - it will give you support and stability as you encounter difficult terrain, and Scripture will be your source of water - it will bring you spiritual nourishment when you need it most.
How’s your walk?
Growing Up
April 23, 2021
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 1:9-10
Remi and I have been watching this plant, the Echium candicans, or pride of Madeira, over the past few months, waiting for it to flower again. I love to watch the cones sprout forth and change from green to purple as the flowers fill in the conical shoot. It’s fun to watch the progress of the growth and how each green cone forms, develops, and flowers at differing rates.
As we continued our walk, I reflected on how much the development of our Christian faith is like this plant. We each have our own path of growth and we reach spiritual maturity at different times in our life. We begin as baby Christians, beginning our faith journey like the new green buds that begin to form the cone on this plant. As we study, worship, pray, serve, practice obedience to God, follow Christ’s teachings, and experience life events that test our faith, our spiritual cones continue to grow and fill in with the flowers of our spiritual fruitfulness.
I began to think about what stage my own “cone” was in its development. What areas do I need to strengthen, what spots do I need to “fill in” more, where am I missing the “flowers”? I thought about how, like each cone in the pride of Madeira, each one of us develops our faith at our own unique pace. The pride of Madeira, as a whole, receives its nourishment from the same source, but each flower in the plant experiences its own rate of growth. Similarly, each one of us receives our spiritual food from the same Father, but our stage of spiritual development is different from anyone else’s. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to another’s progress but take responsibility for developing our faith as we journey forward, becoming the “full-bloomed” person God intended us to be.
How about you? Where are you on your faith journey? Are you a green bud, a blossoming flower, or somewhere in-between? What can you do today to nurture your spiritual growth? When we are rooted in Christ, he will strengthen us and equip us for all we need to grow up to be someone he can be proud of. Will you join me in growing up?
A Crown of Thorns
“And twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” Matthew 27:29
While walking Remi, I often see images in nature that I feel the Lord uses to remind me of his presence, and yesterday was no exception.
As we neared our home, I noticed how thorny the bougainvillea had become along our path and was reminded of how Jesus had worn the crown of thorns on his head as he was crucified. The red flowers seemed to symbolize the blood he had shed for us on the cross so that once and for all he paid the price for the sins of mankind for all of eternity. What a poignant reminder of what Christ had done for us.
As I remember this Good Friday, I give God thanks for his mercy and grace and for the love he has shown his people by sending his only son to die for us so that we may be reconciled to him forever.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Light at the End of the Tunnel
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
As Remi and I began our walk late one afternoon, I saw the effects of the pale light of the sun peaking through the clouds that hovered over the mountains to our north. The light seemed to part the clouds, revealing the mountains behind them. It reminded me that the darkness that has come during our many months of COVID-19 is beginning to dissipate as we see the light, in the form of a vaccine, overcoming the virus. A vaccine brings us some clarity and hope - a light at the end of a long tunnel of difficulty and change in our way of life.
Many of us have lived through months of feeling unsettled, lonely, and fearful of the future, and some of us have faced illness, the loss of loved ones or the loss of special life moments that we are unable to recover. All of us have been changed in some way during this pandemic. One fact that has helped me during this time of uncertainty is the fact that Jesus is the light that brings us hope, clarity, and stability in an ever-changing world. Unlike the vaccine we desperately awaited, Jesus has always been accessible to us to help us overcome the darkness that tends to discourage us and bring us fear. He is here today and is available to everyone who calls out to him. Nothing can separate us from our Lord and Savior.
It is my hope that as you see 2020 end and a new year begin, you will let Jesus be your light that guides you through the days and months ahead. With Jesus as your light, darkness will not overcome you, and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Happy New Year!
You are Never Alone
“Be strong. Be brave. Be fearless. You are never alone.” Joshua 1:9
Remi and I were walking this morning and I happened to look over to see our shadows projected on the hillside across from us. It reminded me that, like my shadow, God is always with me; a silent presence and partner in life.
If I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have missed seeing this image. How often do we miss feeling God’s presence each day because of our distractions or busyness or worries?
As I continued our walk after seeing our shadows, my senses were more aware of my surroundings. I was more attuned to nature; the oaky smell of fallen leaves, the coolness of the air as it swept gently across my face as I passed through the canyon, the sound of wings fluttering as I watched tiny birds skirt away from me and hide in the shrubs nearby.
I was not alone on my walk. I was reminded that God walks with me every day. I just often miss seeing him.
It is my hope you will look for God’s presence in your life today. You are never alone.
Abide in Me
Abide in Me
“The one who says he abides in him ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked.” 1 John 2:6
What a beautiful day to walk! It always amazes me how observant Remi is on our walks. He sniffs the ground beneath his paws and looks up to bark at the soaring crows and looks around him, as if to take in all of the beauty that surrounds him. He’s in his element, abiding so naturally with nature and God, the Creator. How about you and me?
As I walked today, I was reminded of how important it is to be grounded in my faith as I begin a new week. I soaked in the beauty around me and especially admired the colors of God’s handiwork. I came home and listened to “All the Poor and Powerless” by All Sons & Daughters and read a devotion to continue to align my mindset with Christ so that I could walk with him throughout my day.
Like Remi who walks next to me on a leash, I want to be tethered to Christ each day, abiding closely to him, and he in me. I hope you will also find ways to abide in Christ this week. Happy Monday!
When Disappointment Comes
When Disappointment Comes
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
What a difference a day makes! These photos were taken from the same vantage point, one day apart. The top photo of the beautiful sunrise was the view I saw yesterday, and today’s view was completely different; a dense fog with almost zero visibility greeted me instead. Same place, same position, different outcome.
Like many of you, I get disappointed when things don’t go the way I had planned. Today, I ended up cancelling an outdoor meeting because of the weather, and I was disappointed. I know I am not alone in feeling this way. Many of us are disappointed with not being able to celebrate the upcoming holidays the way we usually do, and we are disappointed.
There have been so many things that have brought us disappointment in the past ten months, and God knows about each one; from the little disappointments, like mine today, to the devastating ones as well. When you are feeling down, God wants you to go to him in prayer and humbly tell him how you feel. Cast your worries and anxieties on him. Let him take on your disappointments and look to him to give you renewed hope, strength, and his peace to get you through life’s discouragements. He cares about you, and he loves you. He will lift you up and bring you through your disappointment when you seek him.
One thing I know about fog; it lifts. Similarly, with Christ helping us through the foggy patches in our life, our disappointments will begin to fade with time, and we can approach tomorrow confidently with the hope that another beautiful sunrise is just within our reach.