October…. What a beautiful fall we have had, kind of a bonus treat after the turmoil our nation has been experiencing over the last several months. It seems we have also seen more rainbows than usual, a reminder of God’s promise to never destroy the whole earth with a flood again– and we know God keeps His promises!

I was greatly encouraged and challenged through “The Return” event last weekend, with the many testimonies and messages of God’s transforming work in people’s lives, and a call to repentance and return to the Lord—as individuals, families, churches, the nation, and world. The times of worship and powerful prayers were so moving, and I know touched me and those participating in personal ways as God’s Holy Spirit worked among us. We are in a critical time in history, and have much work to do in these last days. I would encourage anyone who has not been part of The Return to google it online and listen to the messages and participate in this time of repentance and petitioning the Lord on behalf of the salvation of others and for our nation to turn to Him.

Something on my heart lately has been the lack of love and respect for each other, specifically with those who have differing beliefs and opinions than our own, and the hatred and violence we are allowing to destroy us. Yes, we are in a spiritual battle, and we can’t afford to let the “enemy” win! It seems with the months of social distancing, isolation, and mask wearing, that we are now afraid of each other and have been conditioned to avoid human contact. This is so sad to me, and no matter where you stand on those issues, this is a tragedy. We need each other. We need human connection, smiles, courtesies, and were created for fellowship. While we need to be respectful of other people’s comfort levels, somehow try to reach out with meaningful gestures and make someone’s day a little brighter.

Respond vs. reacting, and that would probably apply most of all to social media…. Though a response is rarely needed and scrolling on by things that we do not agree with or can’t find something kind to say can be a much better option. I am appalled at the behavior of people from behind the keys, or worse yet, when it’s relatively anonymous… things that would never be said face to face to someone.  And the dishonor to those in authority over us! Whether we like and agree with these leaders, their offices alone should demand our respect. I have done my share of complaining through this pandemic and all that has gone along with it, and for certain leaders who seem to be making things much more difficult than we perceive as necessary. But what should we be doing instead? Pray, pray, pray, and pray some more! God is the one ultimately in control, and He has the power to use whoever He will to accomplish His divine purposes, whether we understand or see the bigger picture or not! It can be really hard to trust Him for that, but He has shown Himself faithful in the past, and we can trust Him for the present and future.

I have been involved in several challenges the past couple of months, and it has been very stretching for me! Some have been health / physical related, and some spiritual. I drank a healthy drink every day for 30 days, joined in the 10 day fasting/ prayer Return event, and now have a daily prayer challenge for the month of October. I think right now, taking prayer and fasting, repentance and turning to God seriously is the most important challenge for us all. I hope that in these times of uncertainty, each one of us is truly seeking His face and leaning into Him, and trusting God to lead us through whatever the future holds. Knowing the One Who holds the future gives us comfort and peace, and strength to keep on!

Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Today I just want to come to you and share the message that you are loved… unconditionally, overwhelmingly, outrageously…. by your Heavenly Father who provided the one and only way to relationship with Him forever (ETERNITY!) through the death and resurrection of His One and Only Son, Jesus, on the Cross.

The Bible is His personal love letter to YOU. He sent us His message of love, directions how to live, and hope for the future. Read His Word and believe it, and let His love draw you to Himself. He is indeed a good, good Father!

A couple of weeks ago, my daughter and I had the amazing privilege and opportunity to attend The Way Retreat women’s weekend in Goshen, IN. My brother had been sharing his previous experience there (a men’s weekend) and it was obviously life changing, so I had been interested in doing it “sometime.” It just seemed like it was not something that we could fit into our lives or budget, especially since we would have to somehow get there and back, about a 12 hour trip. However, 2 cancellations came up on Monday and we were miraculously able to participate in those spots though we had to be ready to leave by train Wednesday evening to be there when it started Thursday eve.! (Side note–Amtrak was another great adventure we would recommend!). Through this weekend retreat, we were loved on like never before, and shown God’s love in very real ways through the messages, worship, times of reflection and prayer, notes and gifts of encouragement, and many very special activities and details woven throughout. Though we attended at the same time, Elissa and I were in separate dorm rooms and tables with our own groups, and it was remarkable how the Holy Spirit worked and had everyone placed exactly in the right place! Each table developed relationships with each other and became new family/ friends for life, providing accountability groups as you we went out from there on Sunday afternoon. This time away from the distractions and responsibilities of life gave us time to focus on our relationship with God, worship Him, and allow Him to touch and heal the deep places of our hearts.

I don’t ever want to forget this experience and He continues to work in and through me as we returned home. I would now love to see everyone in my “circle” get to attend one of these retreats, which is truly heart and life changing and healing!

But I wanted to share about it now, because so soon after we returned home, the world has been rocked by this new coronavirus CVID-19 which seems to be spreading globally at an alarming rate causing hysteria and unreasonable panic with shortages of food and other supplies like we have never seen where we have been so blessed to live in the USA… the land of abundance, freedom, protection, etc. Now we are forced to look up… to ask God for His hand on us and for Him to stop this virus and bring healing to those affected, and to supply everyone’s needs. We are needing to bond together to look after our neighbors and the elderly. With children home from school and many businesses closed, we are forced into family time together and possibly a slower pace for a time– except those on the front lines in the medical world and police forces, etc. Sometimes it takes a virus, or some other crisis, to get us to stop and realize what we are here for, and what really matters, and who we depend on. Do we depend on God to supply our needs, or do we panic with everyone else when the grocery store shelves are empty of the items we are used to having so available to us? Do we think of others, or do we hoard all we can with no compassion for some who could not get their supplies? What are we trusting in? The government and health care services can fail at times. We may be quarantined and isolated. We may worry about the economy collapsing, and our personal financial struggles if we are laid off work.

So in all of this, I just want to remind you… YOU ARE LOVED! God cares for you, and He will never fail! Even in crises and disasters, HE IS THERE. Call out to Him and experience His peace and joy for the journey. You do not have to be fearful or panic! He knows all about it, your innermost thoughts and worries, and nothing is a surprise to Him. He will carry you through this as you put your trust completely in Him and allow Him to provide for your every need! God can take what was meant for evil and use it for good, and for His glory! I want to just share a few verses from Romans 8 that give us hope for the future as we rest in His love!

Romans 8:²⁸ “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.^{‘ 37} Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)

And yes, remember, “The Best is Yet to Come!”

Though I have had a lot of different thoughts swirling in my head these recent months, I have not taken the time to put them into print, so this is my first blogpost in a very long time. But if there is ever a time to “take these things and ponder them in our hearts,” Christmas is probably as good a time as any!

I love Christmas! First and foremost it is the celebration of Emanuel, God with us– the coming of our Savior as a Man, and is ultimately about the Cross– where His sacrifice provides all who believe with the gift of salvation, and relationship with God!How amazing is that! And Christmas means family gatherings, sharing gifts and good will to others, and a time to “reset” as we look forward to the changing over to a new year.

So, what if your Christmas is different this year? What if it’s not about the gifts, photo perfect family times, good health and happiness? What if the Savior, Who is “God with us,” seems very far from us? What if this Christmas means family far away from home, marriage on the brink of divorce, temporary sickness (this year I am on day 3 of NO voice!) or more serious diagnosis? You may have experienced a huge financial loss or seen your home going up in flames. Or it could be the first time a loved one is missing– or the 2nd or 3rd time… I’m not sure that pain ever goes away. What if the new baby you were so excited about arrived with multiple ongoing health issues needing 24/7 care? Or the teenager in your home is making choices leading them down a road you have often prayed against? Or young adults who are making their own way in life as you continue to let go. Those who are alone the first time ever– a spouse has died, or left, children are gone, a wife with Alzheimer’s is admitted to a nursing home… And the lasts that we often do not know until they are past– it could be the last time together with an elderly parent or any of our loved ones, or the last time your children are at home in this way– nothing on earth is guaranteed.

Then there are also the joyful differences, such as the arrival of a new baby long awaited for by a couple who struggles with infertility, though we realize every life is a gift from God! A newlywed couple celebrating for the first time in their new home, the adult adopted brother coming home to spend time with adopted family and recently found biological family, this year bringing his son! It could be the year you are celebrating an engagement or new marriage, or getting to visit grandchildren. Maybe there are treasured relationships in your life that you are enjoying, or special times with friends. Maybe an illness or sad time from a year ago has been healed, and you have new hope for the future. There are so many ways each year can differ from the last, and I am finding it so important to keep these memories hidden away in my heart!

Whether you are enjoying time honored traditions, making new ones, or attempting to find meaning and comfort at all, remember– Emanuel, God with us! Our hearts may be filled with so many things this Christmas season… joy and sorrow, loneliness, hope and peace… it is a great time to reach out to those around us– rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Look for those special moments to tuck away in your heart– shared tears and hugs, words of comfort and joy, sharing of precious memories, and the testimonies of faith from those who have gone before us as well as those still with us! Though Christmas may be different this year (we can say that every year), the Reason for the Season remains the same– it’s about the coming of our Savior, from the manger to the cross, and what this means for all of mankind– there is HOPE!

And I will finish this with the touching conclusion of my widowed aunt’s Christmas letter this year, who unexpectedly lost her adult son very recently… after sharing how her heart was broken, but God will fix it, she signed off with “blessed be the name of our Lord.” These are words from the book of Job. If we can truly say them, we have found deeper meaning in whatever kind of Christmas we are having any year– no matter how things change in our lives, God is faithful and with us through it all, and we can trust Him.

“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21 KJV)

A blessed Christmas to all! Love from our home to yours!

“Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” I remember hearing this as a child, as well as “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and other wise sayings! So today I am sharing something that has been on my mind a lot lately with all the current emphasis on health and wellness.

We live in a time where the search for the easiest, cheapest, fastest, and most convenient way to good health and long life is very popular, and it can be time consuming and hard to sort through all of the information, resources, hype, and drama of various products and marketing. Our loyalties and friendships can also be affected in our personal decision process.

I don’t take the gift of good health for granted and believe we are to care for our bodies as the “temple” where God’s Spirit resides within us if we are believers…. but I do feel it is pretty much becoming an idol in our society. We will spend enormous amounts of money on whatever the latest craze is, and probably the most sought after remedies are in the weight loss industry, whether or not it is conducive to good health or not. For the most part, if we can pop a pill and not have to go the route of disciplined eating, exercise and other care our bodies need, it is the easiest way to go– along with short term diet fads and many unused gym memberships.

So for what it’s worth, you can feel free to disagree with me, but I believe God’s best way to care for our bodies is to eat nutritious food that He provided for us, drink lots of water, enough rest, daily exercise, getting lots of sunshine and fresh air, and taking good supplements when needed …. and to do all in moderation. I also believe that avoiding the “bad stuff” (sugar, processed foods, “whites”, preservatives, and anything toxic to our minds or bodies) is just as important. Do your research and read labels. We are responsible for the care of ourselves as well as our children and loved ones. And I by no means have all the answers on an exact regimen that is perfect in every case, and continue to work at discipline in these areas myself!

Most of us also deal with extraordinary amount of stress and overwhelming schedules, and live on the verge of exhaustion. This also contributes to mental, emotional, and spiritual lack in our lives as we scurry from one place to another and surround ourselves with “busyness.” God has given us times of rest, including His gift of sabbath rest, and we so many times just fill our time with more activities and recreation that doesn’t truly “recreate” or refresh us. The Lord’s Day was given to us as a day set aside for rest and worship, and I also believe taking breathers and breaks during our days can be so helpful also. Stop periodically and take some deep breaths, a walk outside, read an inspirational chapter, or whatever your “thing” is, even for a short time.

We also have so much entertainment available to us to fill our minds and hearts with impure thoughts which lead to sinful intentions and actions. This is more serious than how we care for our bodies. We need to guard ourselves from the evil influences that would take footholds in our lives and keep our minds and bodies pure. “Garbage in, garbage out” is another true statement.

Spending time daily in God’s Word, prayer and worship, and armoring up with the spiritual armor found in Ephesians 6 helps protect us from the temptations around us.

Also, sharing our burdens and joys with others in our “community,” relieves the isolation that is often in the midst of life’s craziness.

Knowing we are not going through the hard times alone, and that we have others to share our joys and sorrows with, makes such a difference! Along with that, don’t underestimate the power of worship, especially in music and song, and how God communicates with us through those times.

In conclusion, I am not promoting any one type of product….. our household uses several different types in our efforts toward a natural, healthy lifestyle, but know what you are putting in your body, and in your children. We are responsible to know better and do better. And remember health is a gift, and more than physical care of ourselves. Being too consumed with anything can steal our joy. Do the best you can but enjoy the gift of life! We need to keep our focus on what is most important, and to take the best care we can of what God has blessed us with– mind, body, and spirit, as well as caring for others, and even His Creation around us, leaving everything as good or better than how we found it.

So… that is enough to think about this day in September! Just have done a lot of thinking about all this over the past months.

While I feel like the lifestyle I have adopted for 5 years now has made me feel physically better than ever, realize that there are many aspects to pay attention to and to be careful about making anything in my life more important than living for Jesus.

Blessings on your week! Stay healthy mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally! =)

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Cor. 6:19-20

(Featured image pc: Chelsea Jane Photography)

Today as I am writing this, I have enjoyed seeing many first day of school posts on social media, and have those bittersweet feelings of nostalgia since our children have been out of school for a few years now. We homeschooled until middle school/ high school years, and then sent our children off to our church school where they finished their official school years. They have also had Bible College, online college, and other college courses to learn more about their possible career interests, but it has been awhile since we have been part of the “first day back to school” excitement. But while we are in a different season, “going back to school” still affects us in various ways.

With the start of school in the fall, other routines and schedules are put back in place as the freedoms of summer fade away, and almost seems like a fresh start similar to New Year’s every year. We start to realize the year is slipping away and any goals we still want to accomplish need to be revaluated and either discarded or increased efforts and discipline given to them. Our church also resumes certain programs in the fall, including our midweek services and AWANA, as well as other events now that everyone is back from vacations and such. And on the farm, we will soon be making our last harvest rounds and getting busy preparing for winter.

On a personal note, our connection to the actual “school” part of fall has changed from students/ parents to other responsibilities related to education (sometimes part of or in addition to our “regular” work)– my husband does chapel monthly at our church school and begins teaching our church instruction class during Sunday School on Sundays, our daughter helps sub- teach Sunday School preschoolers, does a lot of early childhood education with her babysitting, plus teaches piano, we have done some volunteering, and I am also involved with some sub- teaching and tutoring– all things we are enjoying being part of! This is actually an interesting turn in life as I actually trained and worked first as an LPN and then as an RN for several years before having children, thinking that I wasn’t cut out to be a teacher! But it happens in such a variety of ways, and it seems like teaching takes place in every area of life. So, we are still “in it,” but not in the same way as when you are either homeschooling or seeing your children off each day.

However, I think we are all “back to school” every day! So many life lessons we don’t really take into account as continuing education, but there is always more to learn! It makes me smile to think how years ago I had an uncle I saw most days as our families farmed together, who would ask me almost every evening at milking time what I had learned in school that day! Mostly I didn’t have answer as it can be hard to think of specific things learned or accomplished, but thankfully it was happening anyway! Many days we learn new things we don’t even realize, as we go about our daily lives and take advantage of opportunities and interact with others along the way.

Sometimes we make more intentional efforts in specific areas. This past summer I took part in an Emotional Freedom Webinar which was so helpful for me especially with processing my personal grief journey. Also, in our household different ones of us listen to different podcasts and do a lot of reading for various topics that affect us. (Some examples– marriage, parenting/ childcare, leadership, finances, natural health and nutrition, car detailing, making YouTube videos, and other things that we are interested in improving and gaining knowledge in). One of my goals lately is to be more intentional about reading actual books! We get used to “bite sized” or “snack portions” off the internet, but focusing on reading good, uplifting books by solid Christian authors is a good discipline– to say nothing of taking daily time in God’s Word.

This fall our midweek service and Sunday School times are good places to learn and discuss topics in addition to the regular Sunday morning message. We need a hunger to grow spiritually as well as in other areas of life. While we live in a day and age where we are constantly bombarded by information and different forms of media, it seems we often lack the desire and time to focus on things that should be priority, and especially that have eternal consequences.

So as we are all caught up in the back to school frenzy, let’s remember we are all teachers and we are all students! There are those who have gone before us that we look to for their wisdom and experience, seeking them out as mentors, and those who are coming after us and learning from our examples even more than what we would intentionally teach. And there are some who walk beside us, encouraging us as we learn and grow together as well. Just because we are no longer in formal education does not mean we aren’t responsible to learn and grow in whatever ways we have available to us!

Happy Fall and Back to School!

Proverbs 9:9 “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

I took off more time from blogging than I intended to…. summer tends to get away from me and before we know it, we are in my favorite season, late summer going into fall.

I think this season especially resonates with me right now because it also coincides with the season of life we are in. We are pushing the upper limits of “middle age,” and are in the process of parenting often referred to as “launching.” We are approaching our 25th anniversary this fall, which is feeling to me like the “second half.” Even though we don’t have any guarantees of our time here on earth, somehow it seems we are well into the other half of our lives.

Each season has its joy and wonder, sadness, fears, challenges, fun, good and hard times. I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness through it all, and that nothing takes Him by surprise! One thing that is certain about life, is that it is full of changes. My decision is how I will respond to those changes, and how I can best fulfill my role (wife, mom, daughter…. etc.) as we walk this journey of life together.

When we were first married, we were full of vision and plans for the future…. planning our family, getting started on the family farm, and looking ahead to all life held with the excitement of youth. In this season, it seems we have changed gears, looking ahead to how to make plans for end of life, retirement, and the futures of our children who are now young adults, in their late spring/ on the brink of summer. My husband and I have now each lost a parent, and we are well aware of these treasured times with our remaining parents as they also age, and are in the winter season of their lives.

There are times when we feel at a loss to know how to best care for our loved ones, when to speak, when to remain silent, when to allow for independence, or when to come along side and offer assistance. I have been SO thankful for those special people who are walking alongside us and sharing wisdom, prayers, and their own experiences. Especially in this stage of parenting, I pray for wisdom to know how to respond to life’s surprises, how to best speak into our children’s lives, or when to let them gain confidence in making their own decisions and figuring out who they are and why they are here, even when it’s a different path than we had in mind. It can be hard to stand back and trust the God who loves them more than we do, to keep them in His hands, and to remember that they have indeed been taught the Truth and have the life skills to move forward. And it is a blessing and honor to be present, sometimes in the wings, cheering them on, supporting and praying them through, knowing they are a gift from God and really never belonged to us anyway. We wait with expectancy for the glorious unfolding of His plan for them, and look forward to the next season as well– even while, to be honest, we are sometimes holding our breath, crying tears, and offering many prayers! That said, I need to add that there are many times of laughter and fun as well as we begin relating more as adults, and we intentionally work on those relationships!

So as the leaves turn brilliant colors, we hear the honking geese and see the V-forms flying south, and the crispness of fall is in the air, as life continues to change and we make decisions and plans for our futures, we also take time to enjoy the late summer sunshine and the beauty everywhere…. and I remain firmly convinced that God’s plans for us are good, and that the best is always yet to come.

Genesis 8:22–“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

Psalm 55:22 NIV– “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

I have taken a little break from writing as summer’s busyness is in full swing, but lately “community” seems to be a main theme in my life and a topic I’ve been wanting to address.

I absolutely LOVE my “community” and feel SO blessed by all of “my people!” Life can be hard, but so much harder doing it alone than surrounded by community. For me, that means my family, extended family, church family, online and long distance acquaintances, and the actual physical community that we live in.

Summer seems to be full of various events all crammed into a few months since we live where it’s cold so much of the rest of the time and harder to get together. There are weddings, grad parties, family reunions, camp fires, and even family trips and vacations if you are especially lucky! Many opportunities to connect and enjoy fellowship with others now and in any season.

We have had two big family reunions two weekends in a row, and I have to think in the middle of it all, that this is where we belong. These are “our people,” and I hope to pass on that sense of belonging to the next generation as well. I also feel that way about our church family and the larger family of God. These are also “our people,” and have carried us through many joys and sorrows of life, with so much support, prayers, encouragement, as well as physical acts of kindness. And our rural community– so many are willing to reach out and give someone a hand who is going through a hard time. There are fundraisers, helping hands for service projects or disaster relief, and many other ways people bond together on the twists and turns of this journey of life. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)- “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” And Romans 12:15 (NKJV)- ” Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

Recently I seem to have been more aware of “community” all around me…. both those who have it, and those who don’t. I am so sorry for those who do not have that network around them, and you are certainly very rich if you are surrounded by your people– those who have your back and that you can rely on at any time and in any circumstances to be there for you and your loved ones. I believe God made us for community and fellowship, and even if we are introverts by nature (yours truly), we are here to love and be loved, and everyone needs to know that they are not alone in this life.

As hard as it can be to get out of our comfort zones, you may never even know how much it could mean to someone if you reach out to them, smile and say hello, and show interest in their lives. Even if you think maybe someone else is with them or brought them along, be the one to make that connection…. vs. waiting for someone else to do it. You may find you have things in common you never expected, or even gain a new friend. Always keep a lookout for those who are on the outside edges, waiting for someone to notice and draw them in. And if you are the one there, take the initiative to join in a conversation, or to just find someone who needs a listener. We rob ourselves sometimes by not being willing to take that first step, and maybe taking the easier road by staying in our social media virtual worlds of superficial relationships rather than be vulnerable and real with those right in front of us.

So that is it for this week… maybe this month…. I need to work on my “community” skills for awhile! Blessings to all!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV) “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
¹¹ Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”