The Pure Word...

Bless Them...

A few months ago, I was privileged to share with some sisters in a neighboring state at their sisters' meeting. We had some prayer time at the end of our time together, and when the sister who had invited me there prayed, she included in her prayer a specific blessing over me, my husband and my children. It warmed my  heart and blessed me incredibly much, and also humbled me to receive this unexpected blessing.

Then the other day, a friend called me to share some concern in her circumstance, and in my personal struggle of that day (it was a particularly struggley type of day!), I had a tap on the shoulder from the Holy Spirit to pray with  her before we ended the conversation, but it ended before my intentions were fulfilled. So that evening, the Holy Spirit again prompted me to call her back and pray with her. I finally got to do that yesterday morning (two days later). As we shared hearts, my heart was so blessed by the godliness that Jesus is working in this sister thru her struggle in a circumstance that is at times puzzling. Then we prayed. And when she prayed, again the Lord reigned down blessing on my head as she included in her prayer, specific blessing and thanks for me.

I am humbled but also so thankful. God is enough. But to receive blessing at the hand of the Body of Christ, after years of knowing turmoil and facades is an amazing experience that I treasure deeply.

We withold blessing too long, I think. Maybe because we see each others imperfections? Or we are afraid that if we bless that imperfect person, they might think we agree with the wrong in their life? I don't know why we withold blessings...

I am newly grateful and want to make it a growing habit of mine to bless my fellow believers more...

a word of thanks to the brother who preached on Sunday

a note of love to the sister whose motherhood I appreciate

a word of blessing to a struggling sister or brother

a smile of blessing to a sister over the crowd at Bible study 

when the speaker touches on something we had been sharing in conversation with each other

"...speaking to each other in 

psalms and hymns and

spiritual songs..."

Of Mission and Life...

Yesterday I read Mark 1:1-8 

and was very inspired. 

I'm still pondering, but here are a few thoughts 

 that stirred my soul...

John the Baptist had a calling on his life 

to prepare the way for the coming Christ, 

the promised One who would take away the sin of the world. 

Born of unusual circumstances, he did not let that go to his head, 

but instead, lived the mission he was called for: 

to proclaim the news that the Messiah would soon appear.

As I read, it struck me that everything John did 

during his preaching years that are recorded in Scripture, 

was about his mission. 

Everything he ate, where he lived, what he wore, 

and what he said and did all helped him to proclaim 

the news of the coming Lord. 

Some things, like removing himself from distractions of town and city life 

to the desert land and eating simply,

 clothed in simple attire helped John to 

focus fully on his calling to preach to the people.

I am pondering...

Somehow that struck thoughts deep in my soul. 

I have been called to proclaim the Good News that Jesus lives. 

What distracts me from doing that fully? 

Where can I lay down things that are hindering my walk and my witness?

Still pondering...and I think I shall be for quite awhile.

I have been put here on Earth for only a little while, 

and the calling is loud and clear:

 "Go and preach the Gospel...

teaching them to observe all things 

whatsoever I have commanded you."

I don't see much room for distraction in my life,

 and with each passing day, 

my heart yearns still more to be uncluttered from the stuff of earth...

stuff that clouds my judgement and causes me to look away from the One

 who called me by name and lifted me out of a horrible pit 

and set my feet on the Rock...

My heart responds in gladsome reply to that call: 

Yes, Lord. I will.

The Pure Word...

Random Facts...

I don't normally post stuff like this, but awhile ago I participated in a 'random facts' thing on Face Book, and was given 21 things to share about myself. It was sort of fun, and so I thought I'd share it here. If you want to do this in return, do it in the comments...as many things as you like but at least 21 :-) I would find it fun if you did.

1. Having been born during the time when abortions were newly legalized in our country, 

I am privileged to have two mothers, 

one who carried me under her heart for 9 months and chose life for me, 

and another who adopted me and taught me valuable things for life.

2. My life motto is that God has lit the candle in my soul (Psalm 18) 

and I cannot but speak and live the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Nothing else is quite so important to me.

3. I love whole food plant-strong eating. 

I find it an exciting challenge to cook foods for my family 

that both please the palate and feed their cells.

4. Earth tones are my favorite colors, 

especially the warm autumn colors of 

sage, burgundy, red, yellow, bronze, and wheat/oatmeal.

5. I am very interested in family being the hub of God's plan for living, 

and in the return of daughters to their true calling of homemaking 

and serving the Church through domestic avenues 

(teaching children, helping their fathers, being involved in their family ministry, 

serving busy moms so they can raise their children and

 teach them at home if they choose, tending the sick,

 learning to serve in preparation for homes of their own some day).

6. I do not like the factory or dirty side of farming, 

but love my Farmer and find it a pure joy to take him tailgate suppers when needed,

 or run for parts, or send healthy lunches with him on the tractor.

7. Cottage gardening is my delight when I have time to devote to that. 

I love the bouquets my daughters bring me from the gardens, 

and the photos they take for me from the gardens as well. 

8. One day I hope to publish a plant-strong cookbook 

complete with a photo of every dish

 (photos done by my daughter).

9. God has 'enlarged my tent' not with many biological children, 

but with many spiritual daughters whom I love very much 

and know they can succeed in Jesus!

10. I would love to be at my wedding weight...

11. I love cloudy days.

12. Autumn is my favorite season.

13. I am currently looking forward to beginning Dr. Fuhrman's online NET program to

 earn a certificate of nutrition so that I can help my family 

and others in true, whole food nutrition.

14. I am a homeschooling mom. 

I love having my children home with me every day.

15. I am called Mar(sha), Cici, Aunt Cia, Ci, Marci, Mama, and Mom. 

And I answer to them all.

16. I grew up with 7 siblings, all of us adopted.

17. If I could choose anywhere in the world to live, 

I would move to the Ozarks of Missouri in a heartbeat. 

Took me 5 yr to like the area, and then enjoyed it 4 more years before 

God took us back to the Fingerlakes of NY where I grew up.

18. I love cilantro...

in fresh pico de gallo over tacos, 

or in cranberry salsa with home made tortilla chips, 

AND in 'holiday wine' 

(fresh juiced beets, apples, cukes, celery, and cilantro with some ginger).

19. I love biking in Pine Creek, PA 

on railroad beds that wind thru woods, and meadows.

20. If I was going to eat a 'non plant strong meal', 

it would be farm-raised hamburgers with all the fixings...

21. I have learned many things from my husband, 

who truly has been a knight in shining armor to me, 

giving me a safe haven to work thru some serious life issues 

in years gone by and loving me through thick and thin. 

22. I love green juice. 

(kale, cukes, celery, apples, pears, lemons, and ginger).

Thanksgiving on Monday...

Life has been busy the past few weeks/months and I have 'slipped' a little

 from my traditional Thanksgiving on Thursday posts.

 Not that I'm not thankful, because I truly am, 

but just because I have been busy with many responsibilities

 that have kept me from writing.

So today...I post a thanksgiving.

A very close friend from church has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

 It has hit me hard personally and I have found myself crying alot the past few weeks, 

just releasing her to God and trusting Him to work out 

His purposes in whatever way He sees best.

We had a beautiful service a few weeks ago at church,

 laying hands on her and praying in the name of Jesus

 for her to be healed in whatever way God allows/chooses.

 I am so blessed to be part of a little country church 

that is interested in each others' lives and in praying together to a God

 who is greater than anyone or anything.

Then last evening, we had a church picnic at a local park. 

It was a beautiful evening of fellowship and games with the children. 

Before we parted ways, all 36 of us stood in a circle 

in the parking lot at dusk and prayed for this dear sister as she prepares 

for a surgery on Tuesday...

and for her family, too, that they will be strong and of a good courage.

My heart welled in thankfulness to God

 to be part of the Body of Christ and, painful as it is,

 to experience the blessing of praying together, 

having our hearts knit together in love.

Life on earth is very imperfect.
We have no continuing city here.

 People all around disappoint us and hurt our hearts. 

Sickness happens.

 Relationships don't always progress as we had hoped.

 But in and through it all, 

those who serve the Lord truly are the most blessed on earth

 because they have the hope of a perfect life to come 

where there will be no more sorrow, 

no more tears and no more heartaches,

and where we will be in the presence of

our wonderful Redeemer forever.

If you think of my dear friend,

 please remember her and her family in prayer.

The Pure Word...

Of Tree Houses and Life Lessons...

The other day, much to the delight of the children, their favorite cat, Noel, lovingly rescued and raised from orphaned babyhood to now, presented 7 kittens to the world.... (!!!! is what this non-pet-loving mama was doing inside, while doing the mama thing on the outside and rejoicing with my offspring!!!!!)

These 7 kittens were delivered in a flowerbed off the back entrance to our house, a spot where the lovely Noel often hangs out. All was well, until a few days later, rain was on the horizon...So, a banana box, sporting a lovely cover from a discarded potting soil bag came to the rescue and those kittens and their mama are warm and dry (while my flower garden looks like part of Home Depot has found storage there!)

And above our heads near the 'kitten home', we often have heard this past week, the sounds of a hammer pounding nails, results of an industrious 10 year old boy who has been given wood and leftover plastic to add a roof and a room to his tree house (I cringe slightly to think what we might have to stare at all winter when the leaves come off that tree, but hey, he is healthy, and alive, and out of trouble this way!). When his 'room' was finished, he started asking to spend the night in it. One night it was too cold, the next night was Saturday night and his daddy said another night would be fine.

Well, today...Sunday has rolled around and this afternoon, the children were slightly alarmed to find only 3 kittens in their little Home Depot home...but we said, Noel is probably moving them because there are other cats around here bothering her. We told the boy to stay away for a few hours and then we will check. And guess what?! She moved all SEVEN of her babies up to that tree house!!!!! (My heart softened towards her slightly when I thought of her doing all that work and sacrifice for her babies)

"I spent 4 days making that room in my tree house and making it water proof, and now a cat has taken over!" was the boys' surprised reaction...

And then I pondered...

Isn't that life? We spend years dreaming and planning and making our 'tree houses'...They might even be good tree houses, with permission granted by our Father to build them where they are.

But then one day, our best laid plans come crashing down and crumble into powder at our feet. And I, for one, (and I suspect all people go through this) find that God uses these situations as opportunities to increase our faith and get us to trust Him more, and fully.

The process of trusting and growing and learning and seeking is not wrong. We dare not let people make us feel as though to weep over wrongs, and to be disturbed over darkness settling over churches and families and nations, and to be shocked when truth is mixed with falsehood, is wrong. The only wrong that comes of all that is when we doubt God and do not allow Him to work in our lives through the process.

A few years ago, I went through an incredibly shocking, devastating, disturbing experience.

 It shook me to the very core of my being.

 I had no idea how to even do life for awhile.

 Except that I had an already established relationship with my Jesus 

and my heart was broken before Him, ready to obey Him at every turn. 

I spent hours in prayer before Him, weeping and asking 

that I would do the right thing through the heart ache 

and the troubling experience.

And what I found, is, that just like my son and his tree house

 (a splendid idea for a boy to have, and a good thing to do in his spare time!),

 it is much better to just trust the process of Life in Christ than it is to insist that

 my dreams be fulfilled and my hopes be completed in the way 

that I had read in Scripture that God's perfect plan is.

I am blessed to look back on that experience and see that 

as long and wherever I hold to the hand of God, 

and seek to live Jesus' Way, I have

 answers, hope and a future.

Slowly as I grow, the dreams fade into nothingness 

as I gaze into the face of a Father who had my life planned 

since before the world ever began.

 I have heard Him calling in the night and I have said

 that I would go wherever He sent me. 

(I just didn't imagine He would send me the details that He has...

who ever imagines such things, anyway?! 

We tend to think selfishly...

and without regard that the reality of the Christian walk

 is strewn with rocks along the way...) 

I certainly acknowledge and recognize that 

hearts get broken,

 hurts happen, 

and sorrows are real. 

That is part of life.

But through the process of 'giving our tree houses over to seven kittens', 

we find a peace that passes understanding,

 and a joy the world can never know. 

Somewhere in there, we stop looking to people to fill the deepest needs of our hearts 

and we start being grateful for a Father who never ever lets us down, 

and who, in His love and graciousness, 

gives us joy in fellowship with other believers.

Have you a broken dream, or a 'road block' in your life?

Give it to Jesus. 

It very well could be that it is a divine appointment for you to walk through.

Perhaps it isn't even about you this time,

 but for a loved one or friends who need to hear the

voice of the Lord to come higher in some area, and in that process, 

God does the beautiful thing

of moulding and changing you as well. 

His ways truly are higher than our ways, and 

His thoughts

are beyond comprehension.

Trust Him completely. 

If you are His child,

 nothing can separate you from His love and protection.

Trust and Obey

"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 direct your paths."

The Pure Word...

Whatever your hand finds to do...

This blog post stirred my heart 

this morning...

and my thoughts come spilling out
and tumbling onto the page...

We only get a short time 

in this world to

 do the work He commissioned

 us to do...

To love...

To preach the Gospel...

To make disciples...

To visit the fatherless and widows...

I am only one person.

I cannot possibly do all there is to do.

I haven't even been called to do all there is to do.

But am part of  Body...

And together we can accomplish the task

 He sent us here to do.

But we can't do that very well if 

we are sitting around enjoying a gluttonous

lifestyle, whether it is three meals a day

 consisting of disease-producing

foods that Americans love to eat!

or gathering unto ourselves many possessions,

or wasting huge amounts of time

on entertainment and

recreation...

We stumble and drop the ball in this job

if we have the narrow vision of

only making money,

 getting glory and

enjoying the American dream...

(which in Biblical terms is simply called GREED).

We falter when we have 'daddy issues'

 (as I read about with some alarm

in an article the other day)

from past struggles that we refuse to

 let go of and be free from so we can 

be useful vessels in the kingdom

(the Bible calls it forgiveness
and laying down our lives to
receive new life in Jesus).

We accomplish small things and have 

shriveled fruit when we focus on 

the wrongs and evils
others have done to us
or against us,

 instead of gazing at the face of God,

 who is our source

of Strength and direction.

What is God calling you to do, 

as part of the Body?

Is He calling you to minister to the 

poor and destitute with physical care?

Is He calling you to pray?

Is He calling you to disciple young people?
Is He calling you to minister to
widows, or to bless the orphan,
or many orphans?

Is He calling you to motherhood, 

raising up sons and daughters to be faithful

in Kingdom work?

Photo of my garden...

None of us can do all of that alone.

But we most likely all could dig in deeper,

 give up ourselves more,

 have greater visions

for Kingdom work needing to be done,

 and waste less time on frivolity and nonsense.

I know I can.

And most likely you can, too.

It has nothing to do with what
I want to do or dreamed of doing
if it is not in the work my Father
has planned for me to do...

"Let us, then, be up and doing,

   With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

   Learn to labor and to wait."

(from A Psalm of Life 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

My Shepherd...

Because the Lord is my Shepherd...

 

It is possible to face the death of a favorite uncle with the hope of eternal life, and rejoice at his grave that he lived his life for God...

 

Because the Lord is my Shepherd...

 

I will not live in fear today when the feeling that my husband is going to die keeps pressing my spirit. (How happy was I to see him stride in the door mid-afternoon, all sun burned and dusty from working hard in the fields, and hand him a frosty mug of chai latte, and see his tender smile!)

 

Because the Lord is my Shepherd...

 

I will loosely hold my friendships in my hands, and thank God for them daily...

I will trust my friends to Him...good friends who are facing illnesses and surgeries and unknowns.

 

Because the Lord is my Shepherd...

 

I have joy that never can be shaken, the joy of knowing Jesus Christ and being whole in Him,

in spite of storms and winds and waves that shake my little boat and would frighten me, were I not secure in Him.

 

Because He is my Shepherd...

 

I have nothing to lose by telling the Truth to others, in love, and then letting them reject me and the message because they don't like it...

 

Because the Lord is my Shepherd...

 

I bow under the yoke of my Savior, and learn that His love always hopes, is never rude, endures much, suffers long, is kind, and does not envy what blessings others seem to have that I do not.

 

Because the Lord is my Shepherd...

 

I have everything that I need for this fleeting life that I am commissioned here on Earth.

 

What a Shepherd.

What a Savior.

 

 

Because the Lord is my Shepherd

by Ralph Carmichael

 

(a song that really blessed me of late)

Please forgive me if I ever double up

on songs on this blog.

 

I do not remember which ones I have on here,

and I have MANY that bless me!



The Pure Word...