40 Words for 40 Days: Day 40

Hello Beloved Friends,

    We did it! We made it to our very last of forty words! Do you remember them all? BELOVED ~ SACRED ~ LIGHT ~ SONGBIRD ~ CALLED ~ LEAST ~ AWAKE ~ FORGIVENESS ~ MULTIPLY ~ BELONG ~ TRUTH ~ EMBRACE ~ FEAR ONLY GOD ~ PRESENT ~ HUMBLE ~ GRACIOUS ~ TRUST ~ DELIGHTFUL ~ NECESSARY ~ FAITHFUL ~ WELCOME ~ COURAGE ~ ALIGNMENT ~ LOVE ~ KNOWN ~ VESSEL ~ KIND ~ CONFIDENT ~ GENEROSITY ~ BOLD ~ HOPE ~ ESSENCE ~ SACRIFICE ~ ALIVE ~ PURE ~ GLORY ~ PEACE ~ ATTENTIVE ~ ETERNAL ~ and today’s final word is FREE

    This morning, as I walked across the vibrant grass, I paused to pull a few blades of grass, smelling them first before letting them flit from my fingers. I thought of the verse from 1 Peter 1: 24, “For, all people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

    Our lives are of greater value than the ground below our feet or the ever changing seasons enveloping us, but nonetheless God cares for every intimate part of creation. Not a single blade of grass can grow without his abundance of sun and moon, soil and water, nor can we. The gentle rhythms of each day that we often take for granted give us FREEDOM to thrive and even forget that we are created to depend on God for the very breath in our lungs. We have FREE-will, and from this beautiful and dangerous gift comes the FREEDOM to live as we choose.

    Kings will come and go, days will become years and life will always surprise us with unexpected trials and triumphs. Whether the blades surrounding us are of grass or weapons of angel armies, held back from battle, until victory prevails at end of this age, God is God. Beloveds, don’t forget, God is God! There is no other! He holds you in the palm of his hand and loves you more deeply than you can imagine. Each trial we face will endure only as long as he deems necessary, to lead every willing heart to himself. Our role in this exciting, excruciating adventure of life is to love in boundless measure and live with the daily joy of knowing our hearts are FREE, while we speak of this FREEDOM wherever we go. For true FREEDOM comes only through Jesus Christ, our Savior, who died on the cross to forgive and redeem all who call upon him. The two verses that precede 1 Peter 1: 24 are these, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart; for you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living enduring word of God.”

    Finally, John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you FREE, you will be FREE indeed.” In this we can rest, no matter what tomorrow brings. Our faith is the solid rock on which we stand and our FREEDOM rests securely in God’s everlasting love!

    I leave you with this, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6: 24-26

    Tomorrow is in God’s hands and so are you!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 39

Hello!

    Here we are, on the second to last day, and our word is ETERNAL. There’s a black spot on the counter in the kitchen that people often try to wipe away. It appears as if it’s coffee grounds or Oreo crumbs, but in truth it’s some marvelous mysterious element, imbedded as the marble was forming. At first I saw it as a representation of me(us) and sin. I know that by the blood of Christ my sins are forgiven, washed clean and white as snow, as scripture says. Yet, when I saw the swirling beauty of the marble, and I placed my fingertip on the speck, suddenly I had a new picture of grace. Not only does God forgive us, but instead of just barely blotting out our sin, his grace is vastly more merciful and bountiful than we can ever truly understand.

    The second thought about this speck came from our friend Sarah Davis. She described the spot as our earthly life, just a blip on the timeline of ETERNITY, with heaven surrounding it. We only know our day to day life, tangibly bound to earth, though our minds feel no limitation. The idea that in death our existence is snuffed out is unfathomable. The years and months rush by until the day will suddenly be upon us, and in Christ, the vastness of heaven’s beauty will astound us! We’ll look back and see all the tips of the icebergs of hardship that we endured, while God simultaneously kept us safe from the mountain of pain and suffering below the water of our life’s surface. We’ll finally know why God permitted what he did to equip us and the role our gift of free-will played. Understanding why evil existed, and where God was each time we called upon him in despair, will become crystal clear.

    With Jesus Christ before us, and heaven on our minds, our days on earth must magnify God. We haven’t time for worthless squabbles, condemnation or hurtful acts. Jesus has forgiven us of so much! We have no business judging others or wondering if his love will truly overcome. From now until our last breath, we must spend our ‘blip’ loving Jesus with all that’s in us and loving others in the same manner as we love ourselves.

    “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us ETERNAL encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16

    “Come now and let us settle this matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins were like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

    “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God and believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

John 4: 1-2

    Bye for now, see you tomorrow, Lord willing!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 38

Hello dear friends,

    Our word for this evening is ATTENTIVE. Isn’t that the oddest word? I must admit, I had no idea of what to write to encourage us, until I came across this photo of Zion helping Damascus warm-up to the puppies. His patient, ATTENTIVE stance is a great example.

    What does ATTENTIVE look like in your life? I’d love to hear your thoughts? For Dennis and me, it means not missing the important moments happening right under our roof, or before our eyes—you know those ordinary, extraordinary moments. Take a deep breath right now and breathe it out slowly, then let yourself settle, quieting your mind. Now think about the last few days or hours, ATTENTIVELY seeking out something perfectly normal, that you noticed or someone else did, that encouraged your heart. For me, it’s this photo and writing to you right now. In the hurry scurry of each day I must force myself to stop and ATTEND to that which unfolds before me. Otherwise, I miss the most important details.

    The stunning events of 2020 have shaken our world and changed us, but there is comfort in knowing that nothing surprises God. He is unchangeable and has missed nothing. Psalm 34:15 says. “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are ATTENTIVE to their cry.” This verse reminds me of the story in the Gospels of Jesus amidst the clamoring crowd, all seeking help and healing. A woman who’d been sick for twelve years reached for his cloak, believing that if only she could touch it, she’d be healed. Jesus noticed her even when no one else did and was ATTENTIVE to her silent plea. He turned and saw her, then said, “Take heart daughter your faith has healed you.”

    In the struggles of this season that seek to steal our focus, let’s surrender our fear and worry to God. Instead, with trust and faith, let’s set our minds on honorable things, believing that God’s plans are good—because they are! He is ATTENTIVE to us, his beloved children, in our ordinary and extraordinary moments.

    See you tomorrow! God bless you!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 37

Hello dear hearts!

    How are you this 4th day? My word today is PEACE and it’s quite a marvelous gift when FB posts our memories. Three years ago, I wrote this on PEACE, so tonight we depart from my daily writing, and hear words applicable from the past!

    Magdalene hid the Halloween candy somewhere out of reach. Tomorrow I’ll find, it but today...hmm, I’m pondering all the curious places it might be. High or low, I’m up on a stool or peering under something else, it exists, she said so...and I’ve seen evidence of it. Currently, however, it’s nowhere to be found.

    Isn’t that how PEACE feels sometimes? It’s somewhere—most certainly, but just out of reach. We search around, peeking here and there, frustrated or determined, anxious or anticipatory, certain it’s deeply hidden in something. Yet that something often ends up being so much of nothing, empty and dark. We know PEACE exists but we’re left wondering.

    These are the days when we wait. We trust the promises of God. We believe what The Word says. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4

    Candy like PEACE is ever so sweet. Tomorrow I’ll ask Magdalene where she hid the treats, but today God is showing me where I can always find PEACE, even in this tumultuous life, when some dare to say it doesn’t exist. PEACE is found in God, in his unending love. Ask, he says, he has ample stores, his heavenly cabinets are overflowing! “PEACE I leave with you, my PEACE I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

    Be enveloped by God’s PEACE as you finish reading this, he is with us, he loves you more deeply than you can imagine and his PEACE is everlasting.

See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 36

Good evening friends,

    As time marches along, we have five more days to go. Tonight we celebrate the word GLORY. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give GLORY to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

    Who is the light of the world? You! What are you to do? Shine! And what is the result? God is GLORIFIED! Our time to shine in the darkness is now; for such a time as this! Then someday, when our hurting world is fully restored and we are made new, this will be our new beginning!

    “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it for the GLORY of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of earth will bring their GLORY and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the GLORY and honor of the nations.” Revelation 21:23-26 What a GLORIOUS future God has planned.

    Until tomorrow, God bless and keep you and may his face shine upon you!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 35

Hello Friends! I’m so glad to sit with you now to unpack our word, on this 6th afternoon.

    “But the wisdom from above is first PURE, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18

    As you see, our word for today is PURE, but all day yesterday until around 7:00, I wondered what I should write...though I knew this scripture would encourage us, even without another word. About that time, I reached my hand across my face, in an attempt to wipe away the exhaustion of my go-go-go day. In that sweeping motion, I discovered that one of my pearl earrings, a gift from my in-laws 30 years ago, had vanished. I’ve prayed and searched since then, but to no avail. And though I’m quite sad, I realize pearls represent PURITY and are the perfect example for us tonight.

    The beginnings of pearls are far from beautiful. In fact, the seed of a pearl is a rough irritant, either naturally or intentionally placed in the soft flesh of a mollusk. In order to protect itself from injury and to alleviate the discomfort, the mollusk slowly layers the foreign object with a substance called nacre. For as long as a year (though the process can take longer than 7 years) the mollusk must continue to soften the object, until finally, what first was invasive and destructive has become a stunning sphere of exquisite beauty. Instead of rejecting the unwelcome irritant, the mollusk is designed to transform the painfully invasive thing into a PURE treasure.

    I must relate this idea to our hearts and the difficult situations that invade our peace, piercing us where we feel most vulnerable. Fighting the hard things, rarely works, yet accepting them, just as they are, can tear us apart or produce bitterness in us. I believe that Jesus gives us the perfect example. Through sorrow and suffering on the cross, he wraps his love around our sin, and transforms us into beautiful saints, made PURE by his sacrifial love. We, in turn, can receive the difficulties before us, whether situational or in human form, with open arms. Jesus equips us with his Word and Holy Spirit presence to transform whatever we face with the power of his love. Grace and truth, proclaimed through words and by our actions, are our nacre of love. These PURE gifts offered freely transform even the most painful things to lasting beauty.

    May you rest well and feel fueled for the rest of the day ahead.

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 34

Hello dear friends,

    Is the sky that meets your horizon blue? Is there a crisp bite to the air as you step out amidst trees adorned in golden leaves? Or is your sky filled with twinkling stars as you walk along the sidewalk of this warm evening? Do you have some good news to celebrate, or is there some silent fear gnawing at your mood? In whatever setting we find ourselves, we can all be encouraged in today’s 7th word. It rhymes with thrive and is the first thing for which we can be thankful!

ALIVE

    I find great comfort in the scripture from Acts 17:26, “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”

    Last fall, our oldest son, Gabriel, embarked on a new life adventure. Line and baby Karsten were already nestled safely in their new space in Norway, awaiting his arrival. Amidst the bustle of preparation, we seized every opportunity of time together, storing up memories to cherish.

    Dennis and I often catch each other’s eye, just as an exciting journey or challenge is opening for one of our maturing children, but then must quickly look away. If we don’t, avoiding the shared tears that spring to our eyes—the happy/sad tears of letting go—is impossible!

    We all can be ‘leapers’! This is my reference to living fully in the center of the moment at hand, and being ALIVE in it, but also ready for the next ‘yes!’ Time is short, our settings are fluid, no matter how permanent we believe them to be. And there is a time for all things as Ecclesiastes makes clear: for dancing as well as mourning, times to rest and times to work, but in all things, Jesus is near, ALIVE in us, as we put our trust in him. The moment at hand is full of hope, because it’s ours to embrace and use to God’s glory. The boundaries of time and space are authored by God, who moves and works in all things based on love. ALIVE in him, means trusting that we are safe in the center of his will. In this truth we can rest and find peace, in every circumstance we face.

    God bless you and keep you today!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 33

Hello there! Tonight, on this 8th day, our word is SACRIFICE.

    Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a SACRIFICE of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”

    Since our five years of residency in Hawaii, a tiny book has influenced the way I sort trials. Prison to Praise, by Merlin Carothers, is that book. Merlin explains the true story of his prodigal life and the redemptive way God drew him to joy. Instead of fighting the terrible struggles he faced, he began to thank God for them. Such counter intuition sounds ludicrous, but when he did, the hardships often fell to the wayside like paper-thin accusations against him. The freedom he found, by accepting suffering, as necessary, filtered through God’s hands, was miraculous.

    I began to thank God then, through his economy, so that nothing he’d filtered through his hands would be wasted on us through stubbornness, bitterness or rebellion. I accepted that each painful thing, would somehow lead us closer to him, even if it meant just in the realization of our need of a Savior!

    I’ve realized since then that to utter praises, in this SACRIFICIAL manner, usurps the powerful hold evil has on our perspectives. Satan has nothing praiseworthy in his existence. He is a cornered beast whose temporal victories will never win over God’s eternal plans. Satan has nothing to praise; his only relief of evil is to be destructive to all we hold dear. He’s jealous of our relationship with God, and for God’s love that heals, strengthens, and blesses our lives. Long ago, through the unleashing of pride, he traded that love relationship for rebellion. Satan remembers the taste of the fruit of praise on his lips, but can’t ever have it again. It’s the very reason we must call to God in thankfulness for even our hardest days, in a SACRIFICIAL way of praise. God hears. He loves to commune with us through trust and faith. He will turn our sorrows to victories, our suffering to joys, but while we wait, Satan has no foothold when we continue to offer the SACRIFICE of praise!

    God bless you and keep you until we meet again!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 32

    This time last year winter arrived before dismissing autumn. I caught her calling her crimson leaves, as they swirled across the powdery snow. It reminded me of a scene from the movie Notting Hill, and our word for this 9th day, ESSENCE.

    Do you remember when Will (Hugh Grant) walks through the street market, broken hearted, while seasons change before his very eyes? He sees nothing. The season of joy, awakened by Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), is gone in a breath, and unexpectedly, he’s left to remember who he was before she came. But he can’t go back; he doesn’t fit into his old identity.

    We’re a bit like that aren’t we? So many things have upended us, that we scarce remember who we once were. Forward moving, across unknown terrain, often leaves us swirling about, scattered and insecure. It is now that we must dig deeply into the core of who we really are, to find our ESSENCE, an ESSENCE of true character, refined by fire, unchangeable no matter the circumstance.

    The challenge in good storytelling is to bring the protagonist from identity to ESSENCE. This journey is revealed through goals, motivation and conflict...yes, conflict! The courage we seize to overcome our greatest challenges in conflict transforms us into our best selves. Every hero we’ve ever championed overcame dire strife to earn our adoration. Even the little terrier, Benji, in Disney’s classic film from the ‘70s, overcame pending disaster to reach his true beloved ESSENCE.

    At the end of the film Notting Hill, with the help of his fabulous friends, Will, decides to forgive Anna’s failures, to turn from insecurity and blame, and to trust that their love in the season to come, will sustain them. In the final scene, Will appears as a pretend journalist at a press conference, where he asks Anna to restate her desires. They reset their relationship, not as if nothing challenging has ever occurred, but because now, the true nature of their ESSENCE has been revealed.

    Every new season of life begs the question? Who are you now? With God’s help, our best selves are yet to be revealed, as we journey forward authentically, in this great season of becoming!

    “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement, give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,” Romans 15:5

    God bless you! See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 31

Hello dear friends,

    Tonight, on this 10th day, our word is HOPE. When despair creeps in or worry washes over us, the best antidote we have is HOPE. When dreams seem far from possible and joy feels out of reach, HOPE guides us forward, reminding us to believe anyway! And the beauty of HOPE is that it is ever present as faith’s close companion.

    Romans 8:24-25 says, “For in this HOPE we are saved. Now HOPE that is seen is not HOPE. For who HOPES for what he sees? But if we HOPE for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

    And similarly, Hebrews 11:1 speaks of HOPE in this way, “Now faith is the assurance of things HOPED for, the conviction of things not seen.”

    Two years before Zion’s birth, we taped this verse from Hebrews to the inside of our pantry door. Under it we wrote his name, Zion David, as we prayed for the baby we HOPED to adopt. Each morning, as we grabbed cereal or cinnamon or any other simple thing, we’d see these words of HOPE.

Even our close friend in the adoption agency didn’t think anyone would choose us, an older couple with five children already, but our HOPE was secure in the desires God had placed in our hearts.

Anna did choose us! We were the parents she HOPED to find for her beloved son.

    As we navigate this season of our lives, there’s no less reason to HOPE! There’s more! HOPE springs eternal, because the Author of our lives is working all things out for good, as we put our trust and HOPE in his promises!

    “May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in HOPE.”

    Sweet dreams, see you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 30

    Elias (28) lovingly calls me, “Weirdo!” for all my eccentricities. Gabriel (30) says he loves my lemon-yellow coat, along with, ‘Keep it! It’ll always come in handy if you decide roadwork is your next career move!’ And Magdalene (25) likes to remind me, ‘Patterns? The more the better—on you—you can’t wear normal clothes!’ The dogs, as you see, are always telling me things as well. My job is to learn their native tongue (I’m certain it’s a love-language).

Can you guess what our word, on this 11th day? It’s BOLD.

    Be BOLD! Why not? There’s no time to lose! Be BOLD in what you love to do and how you love to live. For me, I love people and beauty, God and the joy of knowing him, and being known by him! My life-long goal is to love BOLDly, in word and deed, even when it’s hard and harder still!!! Part of navigating my own sinful nature, through confession, repentance and Jesus’ clean-slate grace, is to BOLDly believe the truth of his Word! I must lay aside the sin that tempts my heart, even if it’s as simple as self-doubt or despair, and to run headlong into Jesus’ unconditional love. In BOLDness I proclaim, I’m free in Christ, beloved by him and called with a purpose to live BOLDly! I believe who he says I am! Believe in him and what he says of you!

    What do you love? Love BOLDly! Who needs you? Love them BOLDly! What gives you joy? Seize joy, BOLDly? What binds you? Ask BOLDly of God for freedom from that which seeks to captivate you! You are not who you’ve been in the past, with forgiveness through Jesus, you ARE a new creation!

Who do you want to be now? Dreams? Hopes? Plans?

Seek God in BOLDness, ask for courage to live for him, fueled by him, fulfilled in the love he’s always displayed in his Holy Word for you!

    His BOLD promises are the true north that lights our lives from this moment to our last breath, then first breath in heaven! “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very BOLD.” 2 Corinthians 3:12

    Bless you! Be BOLD! You are loved!

(And exclamation marks are my favorite, in case you hadn’t noticed!)

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 29

    Suddenly the clouds part, I see a moment of opportunity through this tiny window of time, between chores and rush-rush, to speak. I’m calling out our word for today across the street, from my window to yours! Do you have a minute, on this 12th day, to contemplate with me?

    Our word is GENEROSITY.

    When I was a young mother, with three little ones in tow and Dennis immersed in his thoracic surgery fellowship, we lived in Memphis. Our two years were excruciatingly difficult on many fronts but God gave me two precious kindred spirits...two, one is already a miracle, but two...oh the bounty! Jeanene was younger than I and Rochelle was older. Each of these wise woman possessed a deep passion for the things of Christ, a gentle and humble demeanor, and a willingness to speak truth. (It was a time of great struggle for our marriage, for this Dennis and I are thankful, because it was a trial by fire for our refining, but that’s a post for another day.)

    Because Jeanene and Rochelle loved us both, and were rooting for our marriage, Dennis knew I could safely sort with them. They also knew our practical difficulties, such as our very tight budget. One day I heard of a woman from church who had a great need. Pastor Jim and Rochelle asked our Bible Study to help, as we were able. I desperately wished to participate, but didn’t mention this to Dennis. Jeanene, who always wrote her plans and desires on a note on her fridge, offered exactly the things she could GENEROUSLY give, working them into her list. Rochelle, who, as pastor’s wife to Jim, served nonstop, GENEROUSLY gave time from her packed schedule. I had nothing to give.

    The night of our Bible Study, I left our little ones with Arian, Rochelle’s daughter, to learn Bible stories and play games (she was brilliant at that!). I methodically carried up four huge bags of groceries from the car, as our contribution to the woman. At the end of the evening, as everyone trickled out, Jeanene and I stayed behind—as usual, because their home was our favorite place. 

    

    We sat down and Rochelle took my hand before asking, “How did you pay for four bags of beautiful groceries?”

My face flushed as I confessed, “The credit card.”

“Does Dennis know?” She continued, perceptively.

Tears ran down my cheeks.

    She hugged me and said, “Tell him. He knows your heart, but he’s spread thin providing for your family already. You must apologize for not working this out with him. Secondly, our GENEROSITY comes from what God provides, no more or less. You have more needs now, this is your time to receive. This is God’s balanced economy that aligns us.”

    From that experience twenty years ago, I learned that GENEROSITY must stem from the humble, honest heart of dividing that which is in our hands to give. And when our hands are empty, God often provides unexpectedly through others. Pride could block another’s blessing of giving to you! Stewarding our possessions well seems to open up places to both give and receive. We need each other! In those two years, God’s GENEROSITY to us came in the form of the people who surrounded us. Their GENEROUS companionship and strength in our weakness was far better than tangible things.

    Let’s speak, act, give and receive with hearts open to GENEROSITY. God provides for his plans, and when there’s no provision, we must wait and trust that it will come in due time. It can even be considered GENEROUS of God to allow us to deeply perceive our need for Him now. He is with us and his abundant mercy is new every morning!

    Until tomorrow, God bless you and keep you!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 28

Dear Friends,

    How are you on tonight, on our 13th night? I’m well, because our word this evening is CONFIDENT. Even just writing the word and I feel it!

    About three weeks ago, as my rough day came to a close, a friend called. She sensed my low spirit and spoke the word CONFIDENCE over all of my troubles. Have you ever experienced this? She named each struggle, then countered with a prayer of CONFIDENCE over me. It felt rejuvenating, and the captive feelings from difficult details I needed to wrestle, dissipated. My weariness disappeared and clear-minded strength returned. Oh the power of words!

    Last night Dennis described the difficult procedure he’d be facing today. After 31 years of marriage, I still marvel at his ability to cut open someone’s chest, sew their tiny vessels, then put everything back together for the healing of the patient! How can a person develop such CONFIDENCE? For Dennis it’s years and years of doing the next thing well with humility, as he works for the Audience of One. He knows surgery will be the only way to freedom for many, this fuels his CONFIDENCE!

    In what does our CONFIDENCE stand? I’d say ours is on the eternal conclusion to a life well lived. In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If we stand on the truth of God’s Word, we face each trial with CONFIDENCE, because we know that what matters to us, matters to God! Jesus is everything he says he is and more! He has created us with dreams and visions of great joy, I am CONFIDENT that the seeds he has planted will return with a mighty harvest! Though the mountains may fall into the sea, we lift our eyes to the maker of those mountains! With CONFIDENCE we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” Because soon he will, and we’ll be found CONFIDENTLY doing the work he’s set before us!

    Blessings and joy to you!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 27

Hello Beloveds!

    I have a handful of unexpected minutes, want to share them with me?

I searched my list, for this 14th day, and discovered that I’d written the word KIND twice. So in this little window of time, let’s unpack these twins...KIND KIND! KIND squared? KIND in double portion?KIND, then more KINDness to spare?

    If I search back to my first memory of unexpected KINDness, I am only three years old. I’m standing in the elevator of Bullocks Department Store, in Pasadena, CA, watching in terror as the doors snap shut! My gentle grandmother’s worried face disappears from the foyer and up, up the elevator ascends! I am alone; I’m sobbing into my hands and crying out, “Grandma, Grandma!” The doors open to a different floor. A towering man in a suit looks down at me. Silently, he scoops me up and brings me to the sweeping staircase where he carries me down to the ground floor. There my grandmother is waiting with open arms.

    All these years I’ve wondered how he knew where I belonged, but just now, as I searched my heart for a KIND story I realized—he was KIND KIND. The first half of the story must be this. He’d seen me disappear! He must’ve told my grandmother not to worry because he’d find me when the doors opened. He’d said this comfortingly, as he sprinted up the stairs to find me!

    Perhaps double KINDness is the KIND act we do, plus all the hidden details that no one sees or knows, of preparation or sacrifice, that carves out space for KINDness to express itself. KINDness is a gentle, humble form of love that is often more layered than it appears. I think we need KINDness in double portion more now than ever! Want to pray with me about it?

    “Dear Lord, Thank you for mirroring KINDness is every act of healing, listening, serving, meeting, providing, encouraging, shepherding, forgiving, sacrificing and dying, expressed in your Word. Will you please teach and strengthen us to answer meanness, aggressiveness, pain, anger, fear, shame, disdain, ridicule, disrespect and hatred with KIND KINDness, that only unconditional love can inspire. There is nothing easy in this, but since all things are possible in you—please do this impossible work of grace in our hearts.

Amen.”

    If you happen to see an elevator today, ascending from the ground floor, then returning, with doors opening wide, like my grandmother’s arms, perhaps you’ll remember this story of KINDness?

Happy Sunday! See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 26

Good evening!

    Today I realized that my post for our fifteenth word, VESSEL, didn’t sound life-speaking enough to remain. In its place, I’ll share this simple verse that often reminds me of who God asks us to be. Psalm 61:8 “I’ll be the poet who sings of your glory and live what I sing everyday!”

    As we navigate the currents ahead, our own responses to choppy seas may be the very thing that most threatens to capsize our boats! Let’s agree to fix our eyes on God, the only one to whom the wind and the waves must obey. His request of us is to fully trust in him and to count it all joy no matter what we face, knowing he can work through every situation for good! Let’s be VESSELS of courage, whose sails of hope catch the winds of this day, and sing of his glory as we journey onward! The lighthouse of his love shines as our steady guide, and with eyes fixed on him, our destination is clear.

    Have a joyful night! See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 25

Hello friends! Our word this evening, is KNOWN.

    When our grandson, Karsten, arrived with his mama and papa, he only knew a few of our names. With each new day, he’d hear his mama, Line, repeat a name, then she’d patiently await his attempts at pronounciation. When the aunt or uncle, who’s name he’d newly learned, heard, “Seesee, for Salomé or Zowee, for Zion,” they’d laugh and clap, smile and hug him! The joy on his face was indescribable!

    Just think, even before you were knitted together in your mother’s womb, you were KNOWN! God knew you and loved you then, even before you were KNOWN to a single earthly soul. And since that magnificent day of your birth, God has seen you, cheered you on and been present with you in your joys and sufferings, teaching you to walk with courage and compassion. He’s sent his angels to guard you from harmful things you’ll never know! And through his hands, he’s filtered the hardships you’ve faced to sculpt you into the beautiful human you are! Oh that the God of the universe would choose to KNOW you and me!

    He knows what’s ahead and in the past, and in this present moment! Rest, Dear One, rest with me, knowing that our Father loves us. He hems us in from before and behind and even darkness is not dark to him! Psalm 139 is deeply encouraging! Read it first thing when you start your day. Let the words wash over you and be of good cheer, you are KNOWN and loved from the tip of your toes to the very hairs on your head, counted by God himself!

    Blessings and great joy to you, incredible you, KNOWN and loved beyond measure! See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 24

Hello there!

    On this 17th day, how about guessing our word? I’ll give you a few hints.

___________is patient and kind;

___________does not envy or boast.

___________is not arrogant or rude.

___________does not insist on it’s own way;

___________is not irritable or resentful;

___________does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices in truth.

___________bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Did you guess it?

    Yes, from 1 Corinthians 13, it’s LOVE....but you know what else I think? Because you’re here, seeking as I am to trust God daily, there’s another answer to fill in the blanks. Your own name! YOU, beloved friend, are patient and kind...all the way to the last part...YOU can bear all things, hope all things and endure all things, because our source of LOVE is Christ. And when we call upon him to renew our strength he fills us with his LOVE that never ends!

    1 Corinthians 14 begins this way, “Pursue LOVE...” Let’s do this together and hold fast to all facets of LOVE to guide our minds and actions through today and every day forward!

    See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 23

Hello Dear Friends,

    How was your day, on this 18th day? Today’s word is ALIGNMENT.

    Have you ever read Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery? Words tumble off each page piling up delights to store away for rainy day blues. It was neither raining nor sad here in Post Falls today, but it was a day of both bright and tugging emotions, so I’ll turn to Anne Girl for a couple of quotes.

    “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

    “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!”

    “Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it...Yet.”

    This time last year, a close friend braved the miles over the mountain to share face-to-face news that she’s engaged! It was wholly unexpected and unlike Salomé’s exuberant scream, I was silent, as I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Our friend’s dreams and desires of ten years have come to fruition. Earlier today I’d been pondering dreams, why would God give them if he didn’t mean to fulfill them in some way? This friend did marry her childhood best friend and they are now expecting a baby girl! This prayer of many years has been answered fully. She is a kindred spirit.

    The joys and transitions of the day, felt ALIGNed with good. As God gives us ample opportunities to trust him to turn chaos to order, he’s ever inviting us to reALIGN. Today the big life things about which I’ve worried, landed in sweet places of joy and peace. God orchestrates our days, even though we find ourselves making a muddle of things, in the end he reALIGNs all things and often with people who love, bless and serve immeasurably more than we can imagine.

    Kindred spirits, unexpected October (August or whatever other month it might be) day joys and living as best we can, trusting that God gives us a clean slate through grace: these were lessons in ALIGNMENT for me today.

    Have a blessed night, see you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 22

 Hello Dear Friends,

    Our word for this day is COURAGE.

    Do you remember the passage in the book, Lord of the Rings, where Frodo Baggins offers The Ring to Galadriel for safe-keeping? For those of you who might not know the story, this ring was designed to rule all other rings (authorities), throughout Middle Earth. Frodo, the humble hobbit, carried The Ring through perils of great suffering to its final destruction. Of many possible bearers, Galadriel, an elven queen, seemed one who might benevolently carry it. She, however, knew the corruptability of its power forged in darkness and offered this answer to him, “In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!"

    When Galadriel refuses to keep The Ring, even as temptation rages through her, you feel the evil power loosen its grasp, then release her, with a jolt. The freedom she gains by denying the tyrannical power over her soul, restores her COURAGE and confidence in who she is, a kind guide, wise woman and purveyor of good.

    What evil on earth is like this? I believe it’s the tyrannical binding of moral rebellion that tempts us to side with destruction. Our words and actions can build up or break down, speak death or speak life, bless or curse. When our COURAGE holds steady on the righteousness of our Holy God, no power on earth can steal our identity as his beloveds. Temptations arise on all sides, seeking to steal our allegiance, luring us to live in enmity to our fellow citizens. When we remain COURAGEOUSLY rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, God’s boundless hope flows through us. We’re not swayed by the power of evil, nor do we pick up tools of battle forged by hatred, to fight for good, because this won’t work! We choose love, as the only defense AND offense, on which our COURAGE holds strong.

    Can we COURAGEOUSLY love and bless others without their reciprocal kind response?

Of course, we can freely do this!

    Can we COURAGEOUSLY speak gently when aggressive words feel like piercing arrows?

Of course, kind words turn evil away.

    Can we COURAGEOUSLY trust God’s promises even when evil seems to have the upper hand.

Yes absolutely, the battle belongs to God, his victory is secure.

    While we wait on the Lord, we do so with COURAGE, battling spiritual foes on our knees, loving well the faces before us. Our perspective is formed between our ears, if we fill that space with God’s promises, the overflow will be his love!

    “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and COURAGEOUS. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

    God bless you! See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 21

 Hello! On this 20th day our word is WELCOME.

    We’re always better together. So, will you please write your first thoughts when you consider what the word WELCOME means to you? I WELCOME you here to speak, just as on every other day you WELCOME me!

    I can’t wait to read your thoughts—each encouraging thought is a WELCOME joy!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 20

 FAITHFUL. That’s our word, dear friends, for this beautiful 21st day.

    Can you think of a person who has modeled this trait in your life? Learn their secrets and follow their lead.

    My 54 year example of FAITHFULness is my dear mom, Aase. Born and raised in the exquisite countryside of Norway, she experienced war in her tiny village, her father’s year of captivity by Nazi’s, the death of her mother at an early age, then traveled to America for a mini adventure—one that would last 60 years and counting! Marrying my dad in 1961, they vowed to never argue about money, sacrifice for their three children and spend every Sunday in church! Each morning, for all of our growing up years, she’s modeled FAITHFULness to God’s Word by beginning each day with her Bible on her lap and coffee in hand. She advised, “If you ever wonder about churches or doctrine, just remember what Jesus said and did, and follow that!”

    In the fall of 2020, my mom sold her house, gave half of all she owns away, packed up a Uhaul with Leo, Dennis and my sister Kristi’s help, and here she is in Idaho! At 85, she’s full of joy, knowing that God has never failed her; he’s always FAITHFUL.

    If my mother can leap into the unknown, trusting God’s FAITHFULness, so can we! Magdalene has a plaque that reads, “We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future!” This is my mother’s mantra!

God is good! See you tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 19

Hello, how are you beloved friends?

    Two poignant images from the same sky, combined with a spare moment, on this 22nd day.

It is NECESSARY.

    The first photograph looks like a spiritual ozone covering earth, seeking to hide The Light. It reminds me of the NECESSARY role of prayer, and what it feels like when we don’t engage. When I live in denial of the battle before and within me, my spirit feels captive, dark towards others and despairing of the future. Satan is the source of any lies I believe. He seeks to create fear, separating and devouring us, like isolated sheep outside the pasture. He dwells in a dark layered fog, manipulating truth, while tempting us to feel powerless.

    The second image is my idea of the spiritual ozone split open when children of God lift their hearts and voices in prayer! Light breaks through, piercing the darkness, revealing heaven’s expanse and God’s omnipotence. The lost are found, courage is restored, sin is vanquished! We are called to bring everything to God in prayer. He invites us to do so and guides us with it. Prayer is NECESSARY, opening our souls to commune with our Creator while we are strengthened by his love.

    Philippians 4:5 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

    And Romans 12:12 empowers us, “Be joyful in hope, be patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”

    Would God tell us to pray if it didn’t matter? It is NECESSARY for each and everyone of us to be alert and in prayer in these days. Who will pray if we don’t?