Jane Hinrichs - Home

How you live today matters a lot

6/1/2020

You have the ability to affect your children's lives, your grandchildren's lives and future generations with your choices today. They might be choices no one else sees but you and God, but they matter. You matter. You are a spiritual being. You are a soul clothed in flesh. You were created in God's image. Your words and actions have far reaching consequences (for good or bad).

Please choose wisely.

Exodus 34:6-7 says, "GOD passed in front of him (Moses) and called out, 'GOD, GOD, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient -- so much love, so deeply true -- loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion and sin. Still, he doesn't ignore sin. He holds sons and grandsons responsible for a father's sins to the third and fourth generation.'"

Do you see that phrase I underlined?

If we choose to love God and love people in all we say and do and think we will be blessings the generations that come after us, from our children on down. What a promise!

The last part though is scary: for four generations the consequences of our sin will be felt. Our children, our grandchildren, our great and our great-great grandchildren will have to deal with our sin's consequences. No one would purposely choose to do this to those we love, but we do when we live for Self. Think of sin that has passed down in your family -- wrong perspectives on life; habits that control; learned behaviors and thoughts that must be unlearned to be free in Christ.

Choose Jesus today. Choose His ways. Choose to love even when you are misunderstood or overlooked.

Isn't it so fun when...

5/28/2020

Isn't it so fun when you give to someone something that causes her face to light up? You can tell you really made him happy?

One Christmas years ago when our son Pete was in his Willy Wonka phase (the one with Johnny Depp -- if you haven't seen the "new" Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp you really should -- the oompa loompa is amazing) I was able to get off of Ebay a large figurine of the Willy Wonka Character for $20. There was something slightly wrong with it because brand new the figurine would have sold for at least $200. It was some kind of collector thingy. I wrapped it up and waited excitedly for Christmas morning.

When Pete tore into the paper and lifted the figurine out of the box his mouth opened but no words came out. His face glowed. His eyes were bright. He stared at the Willy Wonka figurine for several minutes while he held it almost reverently. The rest of the room was gone for him during that time.

I love to see someone smile and say, "Praise Jesus!" when they are given something that could only have come from God. When we give out of His love and His creativity the whole transaction is a miracle.

I know you must know how this feels.

But the other side of giving isn't much fun. You give when someone demands it of you. Or you give and the gift is no big deal. Or you give and it is totally the wrong gift -- you can see it when the person looks at it.

Or you are given a gift out of obligation or because someone is trying to buy your love. Those kinds of gifts bring no joy to anyone.

Okay, this post is totally not about me even though it sure sounds like it. It is about bringing delight to God's heart. We have that capability -- to make our Father so so so happy.

2 Corinthians 9:7b says, "God loves a cheerful giver."

God wants us to give back to Him not because He needs our stuff or our money (everything belongs to Him anyway), but because He wants us to experience that love of giving. That generosity. That feeling of joy when two hearts meet. He wants that joy for us -- He gets delight because we are so happy to love Him like this. When we joyfully give to God we are showing Him and ourselves that He is way more important to us than the stuff and money in our lives. We are saying that we trust Him a whole lot more than money. We are saying that the provision that is brought into our lives is from Him and we don't have to hold tight to it. We can hold it loosely. We are also telling Him and ourselves that whatever He chooses to do with it is the best thing.

Are we losing our country?

5/25/2020

On this Memorial Day it seems appropriate for me to write this. Both my husband and I served in the U.S. Army -- I for four years, Shannon for six. We are thankful we are still here to live the lives God has for us. We met in Somalia where daily and nightly guns and weapons of all kinds could be heard going off. The U.S. lost several soldiers in that country. They, like other servicemen and women, died bravely for this country God has given us -- a place where we have freedom to live lives of promise. That doesn't mean we all agree. It doesn't mean we all like each other. It doesn't mean there aren't "bad" people in our country or prejudice or corruption.

It does mean we have hope and promise and freedom. If someone wants something bad enough and fights for it they can achieve it here. People from all backgrounds and with varying skin tones and hair types and sizes have seen their dreams come true in this land of America. It truly is a blessed land.

We wonder about America and its future. It isn't mentioned in the end times in the Bible. Other countries are.

Could it be that America is overtaken by fear? Could it be that the enemy is using the media to overtake this great country of ours? Crippling it with fear?

God has told us in His word not to fear 365 times. He said "Do not Fear" over and over. The Bible is still relevent. We are not to cripple ourselves with fear. Please people, do not fear. No, this doesn't mean to be stupid. It means to be confident in faith. To let faith lead you rather than fear. Fear is a harsh and horrible tyrant. Faith gives you freedom.

Will we lose our country to fear?

This veteran sure hopes not.

Are you putting others in danger?

5/21/2020

Even in this time of social distancing our choices in life make a difference to those who know us (maybe even to those who don't know us). We are connected. We can tell ourselves no one is affected by a secret sin or rebellion. We can tell ourselves that bad attitudes within only affect our inner selves. We can tell ourselves that we are adults -- we can do whatever we want. But these thoughts are just not true.

Those who love you (and hate you) and the world at large needs you to choose God. To choose to live for Jesus Christ and let the freedom He offers you guide you even if it is hard to do.

Think of Jonah. He ran from God and put the whole ship and the sailors in danger.

And then in Jeremiah 42 God tells the people not to go to Egypt, to stay and live by faith where He calls them to live. They didn't listen and they brought destruction onto Egypt.

"'God has plainly told you . . . 'Don't go to Egypt.'" Jeremiah 42:19

(Just FYI, Egypt in scripture often refers to the world system)

"Nothing is more difficult than living by faith -- living spontaneously, living hopefully, living virtuously...it's always easier to live by sight than by faith where verything is certain and clear and all the loose ends have been tied up." Eugene H. Peterson

This morning God was talking about having a fluid lifestyle -- how I am learning how to live like this. A couple definitions of fluid are: "characterized by or employing a smooth easy style" and "Available for various uses."

Yes, this relates. We Christians can fall so easily into a dos and don'ts kind of lifestyle thinking we are living a life of faith if we do certain things and don't do certain other things. But this isn't a life of faith. It might just look like we are "good" people according to our own expectations. But that isn't freedom. That isn't living a spiritual life. And it is this superficial faith that comes up short.

I guess I am all over the place right now but I hope you are hearing from God. Life isn't about rules. Life is about a deep, growing relationship with Jesus Christ and others.

There is not one insignificant person alive (or dead)

5/19/2020

,An amazing thing about the Bible is that no matter how much you read it you will discover new things in it most every time. This morning I read 2 Samuel 17 and found three people, three people who probably seemed unimportant to the world, who ended up indirectly saving King David and his entire army from David's son Absalom (and I have read this passage numerous times and never paid attention to them before)_.

2 Samuel 17:17-21 says, "Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting around at En Rogel. A servant girl would come and give them messages and then they would go and tell King David, for it wasn't safe to be seen coming into the city. But a soldier spotted them and told Absalom, so the two of them got out of there fast and went to a man's house in Bahurim. He had a well in his yard and they climbed into it. The wife took a rug and covered the well, then spread grain on it so no one would notice anything out of the ordinary. Shortly, Absalom's servants came to the woman's house and asked her, 'Have you seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan?' The woman said, 'They were headed toward the river.' They looked but didn't find them, and then went back to Jerusalem.
"When the coast was clear, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well and went on to make their report to King David, 'Get up and cross the river quickly; Ahithophel has given counsel against you!'"

Why didn't they give the spys up? They were loyal to King David even though the whole country seemed to be following Absalom. Why were they loyal to David? I can only assume he earned their loyalty.

There is not one person alive or dead who isn't significant, significant to God's plan. Even after we are dead our lives still speak to those who are alive (for good or bad).

You are where you need to be right now in this time. God is working in and through and around you. Wait on Him in times of trouble. Wait on Him in times of peace. Wait on Him in expectation of what He will do next.

She might be an ostrich

5/13/2020

I read this this morning:

"The ostrich flaps her wings futilely -- all those beautiful feathers, but useless! She lays her eggs on the hard ground, leaves them there in the dirt, exposed to the weather, Not caring that they might get stepped on and cracke or trampled by some wild animal. She's negligent with her young, as if they weren't even hers. She cares nothing about anything. She wasn't created very smart, that's for sure, wasn't give her share of good sense. But when she runs, oh, how she runs, laughing, leaving horse and rider in the dust." Job 39:13-18

And God spoke to me. He spoke to me about people through this ostrich passage. We read about the problems ostriches have, the short-comings, but then the last part says, "Butt when she runs, oh, how she runs, laughing, leaving horse and rider in the dust."

This last part is where I really heard God. When we love people sometimes we get frustrated with their short-comings. Sometimes we get frustrated with bad behavior. If it is bad behavior that can be corrected, if we are in the position to help that person change their behavior then so be it. Help them. But back to the short-comings.

An ostrich will never be a dove. An ostrich will never be a chicken that covers her chicks with her wings. An ostrich is never going to be super smart. An ostrich is never going to fly like other birds (the wings are for balance when they run). An ostrich is never going to be maternal. It just isn't in an ostrich hen to care. The closest the ostriches get to caring for their young is when they fight other ostrich couples. The winning couple gets all the offspring. One source said a pair of ostriches had 300 offspring. I guess they are like trophies to them (again, sorry -- ostriches are very fascinating so tangents are easy in this post).

But when the ostrich runs it is enjoying life and all eyes are on its speed. It is amazing when it runs. If the family member or friend you get frustrated with is an ostrich you are never going to make her into a dove or an eagle or a cute fluffy bunny. We should not focus on each other's short-comings. Laugh about them (mainly your own) and then revel in each other's strengths and laughter and joy.

An ostrich can run faster than a leopard. An ostrich's kick can kill a full-grown lion. I wouldn't want an ostrich to watch my children or comfort me when I am ill, but if I were up against a lion I wouldn't want that tender dove. I'd want the ostrich with her powerful kick.

Remember who we are fighting

5/8/2020

Hey, Loved ones (that includes you) take care of what you are putting in your brain during this crazy pandemic time. Remember this truth in Ephesians 6:12, "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

People aren't the enemy. We aren't supposed to be fighting humans. We are to fight the unseen powers that are against God. If something is in our world God has allowed it. It is good to pursue truth and to know the truth, but we must keep a right perspective. Hebrews 12:2 says, "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

We are only to fear God, to reverence Him, to remember that He is far above all things and people and governments and world leaders. No one surprises Him or worries Him or freaks God out. They shouldn't do this to us either.

Yes, I've watched a few of the videos going around about what some of the rich elite of our world are set out to do. Is it all true? I don't know. It might be. Yet, God is way bigger than all that. Pray for these people. Jesus loves them. When you are confronted with negative truth that you can do something about, then do it. When we see a wrong we can right we need to do that. But if we just are feeding our mind a bunch of negative talk that turns us against a group of people rather than seeing them for who they really are -- people who are so desperately lost -- we might be getting off course.

And yes, be ready. Make sure you know what you will and won't do. I for one am not going to get any sort of implant or tattoo that I am told I am supposed to have for health or legal reasons. But I am also not going to let this possible stuff become my reality right now. We are to use our imaginations for good, for creating beauty and serving God and loving Him and others. Using my imagination to worry about things that might happen is a waste of the resources God has given me.

Let's use our imaginations right now during this time for God. Think of how we can love Him and others. Imagine new ways, creative ways to reach out to people in this time of social distancing. The enemy wants to divide us. Let's figure out how we can become unified in love. We have a big beautiful task to do for Jesus at this time. What an amazing time and what an amazing thing God wants to accomplish through each of us.

Maybe first we need to think, "I wonder why...."

5/4/2020

Yep, I'm still here. And you are too if you reading this (very thankful for that). I've been involved in an inner conversation with myself about writing and art and such. Sometimes I think I should just quit. I should just get rid of this blog (as you see it has been almost a month since I last wrote) but then I think No. I can't do that. We all must use the talents God has given us to bless others; encourage other believers; share His word and His love and His hope. One thing that might limit us is that if we begin to compare our talents/skills with other people's talents/skills. Don't do that! I know for a fact that there are lots and lots of writers and artists who are far beyond me in talent and skill. But that doesn't matter. Only I can speak and write and draw and paint the way Jane can. God will use each of us differently. He needs each of us to share His love because through each vessel His love and message comes through differently. It may be (no -- actually I know this is true) that only through you can His love come through in the perfect way for certain other people. Boy, I got off on a tangent.....Here is what I really wanted to talk about (which will relate to the title):

Exodus 17:1-2 says, "Directed by GOD, the whole company of Israel moved on by stages fro the Wilderness of Sin. They set camp at Rephidim. And there wasn't a drop of water for the people to drink. The people took Moses to task: 'Give us water to drink.' But Moses said, 'Why pester me? Why are you testing GOD?'"

I saw something new in this passage today. Glory! Love that when God does that. So, I read that and I understand why the people are thirsty. There's no water. We can all understand their thirst. This isn't the problem. Of course they are going to be thirsty when they are led to a place with no water. Later on in this passage Moses is afraid the people are going to kill him they are so angry. I can even understand their angery. They have lots of animals to water and feed and tons of children to water and feed. Nursing moms. Nursing babies. So, what did I think about when I read this passage?

Here it is -- instead of getting angry and yelling at Moses about this awful situation they could have said, I know God provides all we need. Why did He lead us to a place with no water (which is obviously a necessity)? If they would have given God opportunity to show Himself their faith would have increased. Instead of waiting on God, instead of talking to God they blame Moses.

How often do we humans do this? Instead of wondering what God might be up to we immediately seek someone to blame? Maybe we blame ourselves. Maybe we condemn the other people who are part of the situation. Instead, we could give God time to act; give God time to work it all out. We could remember His promises and know He hasn't left us.

Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.

Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Believing and waiting on God rather than reacting in panic or blame is the way of the Believer. We each can choose this (it really cuts out the drama, which is a always a good thing).

Lay it all out there.

4/9/2020

Jeremiah 17:9-10

This strange time of social distancing and staying home a lot and not seeing many people except for your family is the perfect time to let God clear away the crud in your heart.

Don't be offended. You have crud in your heart. I have crud in my heart. We all do. Don't be surprised at that. God isn't. Read the verse on the left. That is truth. And the sooner we accept it as truth the sooner God can do His work in us to clear the junk out.

Sure. You can live with all that bad stuff. People do this all the time. People live their whole lives with poison in their hearts. Jesus says in Matthew 15:18-20, "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the (person). For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the (person);"

Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, so one (person) sharpens another."

I tell my kids often that their true character comes out in how they treat the ones they live with; how we treat those we feel safest with; how we treat those people who we see day in and day out; those people who see us in the early morning and the late at night; our brothers and sisters, spouses and children. How we treat these people is a spotlight to who we are. That's why this time of just hanging out with family at home can give God the opportunity to clear away the garbage that lives in our hearts. When it is exposed to the light it can be cleared out.

It's no use denying what is there. One of my children loves to kick against the boundaries this child so desperately needs to be safe and grow in wisdom and joy and love. How I respond to this shows who I really am. And I tell you -- I am not at all like Jesus sometimes. Instead of condemning myself for negative thoughts or irritation I can just hand it over to God and ask Him ot change me, to make me like Him.

There is great power in getting alone with God and laying it all out in honesty and vulnerability. That lets Him in. Self-justification, excuses, blaming others -- all these kinds of reactions harm ourselves and our relationships with others and God. If you catch yourself doing any of that, stop and ask God to help you respond in love.

Let God Use These Unusual Circumstances In Your Life

3/30/2020

God only can use these unusual circumstances in your life if you allow Him to. He will do what He can, but if we keep our hearts closed to Him, He can't flow into our lives as He desires.

Last night my husband took a shovel and turned over all the ground in our garden. Our garden isn't huge, but it is a very big job for one person to work the ground. Working the ground before planting is necessary. Farmers do this all the time. Hard ground can't accept seeds. Sure, once in a while a seed might take root in hard ground, but not normally (unless it is a weed and we don't want weeds in our lives).

God tells us in Jeremiah 3:3 to "Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns." Hosea 10:12 says it even better. It states, "Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD."

This is exactly what we all can be doing during this time of quarantine and social distancing. This time (again, if we allow it) will remove the dross, the unwanted junk out of our lives. It will remind us what's important. We can once again focus on our families.

The Bible talks about dross. Dross is the waste, the unwanted stuff that comes out of metals like silver or gold when they are fired. Each time the gold is put into the fire the impurities rise to the surface. The artist then scrapes those off and does it again until eventually there are no more impurities.

What if God has chosen to use this COVID-19 pandemic to take away the dross in our family life so our families will grow closer and stronger? God will use anything in our lives to strengthen the good. To strengthen our relationship with Him and with people in our lives. I am not saying He brought this into the world, but even when bad things come into the world God can bring great good from them. Joseph says to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good"

When our world is functioning without restriction, it encourages tons of activity. You gotta do this. You gotta do that. You gotta play in all these sports. You gotta do ______________. Fill in the blank. It is as if the world system is trying to tear apart our families and stop us from spending time in quiet and thoughtful contemplation.

One last thing. You might ask how you can break up that fallow ground in your heart. Just ask God to help. Pray something like this: "God, please break up the hard shell around my heart so I can hear from you."

That's all you gotta do. He just wants you to look to Him. Give Him permission to plant His seeds of Love in you. You will not regret it.

He is Amazing

3/25/2020

I've got to share something with you today. And I wholly recommend getting a copy of The Message Devotional Bible by Eugene H. Peterson. That is where what I am going to share with you comes from. Peterson's comments, notes and questions really get deep into a person's heart -- well, at least this person's heart. Here is his comments on The Parable of the Sower found in Luke 8:4-15:

This sower went out to sow his seed, and he threw it everywhere. He didn't care where the seed went. He didn't seem to care whether it fell on the road or in the rocky places or in the briar patches -- he just threw it to the winds and let it fall where it may. A farmer has to have a lot of seed to be that extravagant.
We flash back to Genesis where God created an entire universe and put one man in it. Sun, stars, moon, seas, vegetation, fish, birds, mammals -- a cosmic system created so that one man may live. And that is extravagant, too.
The Genesis story reminds us that the parable, too, is about God. God is the Sower. He sows his seed, which is his Word. And the characteristic of his sowing is his extravagant, if not wasteful, generosity. Seed everywhere. God's Word spoken incessantly. The words, acts, intentions, creative happenings of God falling all over the place.
Is that the way the world looks to you? Well, whether it does or not, says Luke's parable, that's the way it is. We live in a world that's dominated by a Farmer-God striding through nations, civilizations, societies, communities, continents, countries, families, and private minds; through war, through peace, through taverns, through restaurants, through theaters, through offices, while people are typing, sewing, eating, sleeping, driving, singing, weeping, talking, watching, playing, cursing, blessing, arguing, making love, studying, striving, escaping, running; in Bangladesh and Baltimore, in Calcutta and Chicago.
God is present in the world sowing his seed, the seed thrown into every person's life, into every situation, into every heart, into every nook and cranny of the universe.

Isn't that great? That "in private minds" reminds me that God speaks to everyone. Even those who have convinced themselves that He doesn't exist. He is speaking and revealing His love to everyone. He is working. No one can keep Him out. I am so very glad of that!

He Wants To Be Your Father (in the most perfect sense)

3/24/2020

I've done it myself. I've read books and articles that encourage it, but they are all wrong. There is no formula, no right way to pray, no right way to talk to God because with that kind of attitude it is essentially us trying to manipulate God to do what we want Him to do. When people try to manipulate us and we resist or succumb to the manipulation, it is a bad thing. It doesn't encourage love or closeness or honesty. I want to share a couple of good quotes I read today from The Message Devotional Bible by Eugene H. Peterson:

"The living God cannot be used, manipulated or managed. Spiritual power isn't a matter of getting our hands on the right method or technology. The personal God cannot be reduced to an impersonal power."

"pagan worship was grounded in the belief that human actions provide the critical element for what happens in life, that the gods can be bribed to prosper humans. Viewed this way, Canaanite culture is hardly distinguishable from contemporary culture. A great deal of contemporary religion is little more than trying to manipulate God in order to get something from him."

This is a worldly way of thinking about God and relationships with others. If I do this, He owes me. If I do this, they will do _____. You see this in certain children. Children who are not normally "sweet" might start getting all sweet and cute in order to get something from their parents. When we indulge this behavior we reward manipulation and not honesty and real connections.

God will not be manipulated. He wants to have real relationships with us. If He would bow down to our manipulation, it just indulges us and encourages and fosters dishonesty and more manipulation. He doesn't want spoiled children. He wants children who are close to Him. Children who want to spend time with Him. Children who lean on Him and find their strength in Him and who enjoy is presence. Why? No, it isn't for selfish reasons. God is not selfish. It is because He loves us and knows in this is where we will find true joy and contentment -- being in a loving relationship with Him.

Doing things God's way is the best way to do things. Jesus says in Matthew 22:37 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."

In John 13:34 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

Doing life God's way means loving Him and loving others -- doing what is best for others. Imagine if everyone in the world lived this way. That would be heaven. And actually, that will be heaven. We want you there! So, talk to the Father. He is very very good. And He loves you. Talk to Him.

You gotta change your life rhythm

3/23/2020

Being at home for extended periods of time is hard for some of you. It isn't your normal. You have a different rhythm to life. We're creatures of habit, and we're comfortable doing things the way we do them. Routines are blessings (their true worth shows through at certain times of life); but God, who is in charge of all, might be telling you to try a new life rhythm for a time. Trying to keep the life rhythm of your other life will just frustrate you while you are at home.

As one who has been a caregiver and stay-at-home mom for almost 25 years, I can tell you you gotta slow down and be flexible. Notice things. Find the joy in your situation. Don't hold fast to any kind of routine or task. If you are a parent of young children who need your help with homework, find joy in that. Laugh with them. Laughing is a really good thing. Kids (and adults) long to laugh with you.

God is blessing us with some really good weather this week. Make a point to get outside. You don't have to do anything out there unless you want to. When I go out I usually just sit in a chair and enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face and drink a cup of coffee. While I do that I might notice birds; I might do a bit of yard cleaning or throw a stick for the dogs; maybe I will do a bit of garden clean-up. Whatever. God isn't in a hurry. When we are in a hurry and adament things have to stick to the schedule we have in our minds, we miss some really good stuff.

The moments in life the New Testament Writers chose to share with us about Jesus' time here on earth are not all the moments they shared with Jesus. In between all those times He and they did a lot of walking and a lot of sitting and a lot of talking. They prayed. They sang. They laughed (I believe they laughed a whole bunch). They ate together. God is calling us to enjoy some of these kinds of moments.

Last week I was helping Pete with his essay questions that dealt with two stories he had read. We laughed. We laughed a lot (I admit when I do the thinking and discussing thing with him I get kind of irreverent...well, maybe a whole lot of irreverent....if you read his bigfoot books -- he has two now -- you'll read this irreverent attitude a lot).

Something we all need to get better at is to quit taking ourselves so seriously. The One we need to take seriously is God. And then become a student of the people you are with. Learn about them by listening and noticing. There is always something new to learn about people, even yourself. Let me share with you what I just learned about myself. I have been having a lot of negative dreams lately. I didn't know why. I don't read or watch anything that would cause this. And I am not angry or worried. So I did some research. Turns out that nightmares and negative-feeling dreams are common in people with bipolar disorder. Wondering how to get them to stop I read one place that suggested to tell yourself to dream gentler dreams. That sounded silly to me, but I tried it. It worked! I'm going to try it again tonight.

What can you learn about yourself this week? About the ones with you? How can you enjoy the life you are living right now? Taking it as it is and not imposing your own agenda on it?

Death is not the end -- indulge me please

3/21/2020

Indulge me please as I talk about a personal matter. It's not that private really, but there is a reason I will share what I share. With this story I want to illustrate that death is not the end. Just because we lose someone who rips a hole in our soul when they leave this earth doesn't mean we have to live devastated for the rest ofour lives. If we know they are in heaven we know their lives continue on, and one day we will get to hug them again. Death no longer has to have the final say. Death no longer has to destroy the lives of those who are still on earth. We grieve but not without hope -- that is a Bible verse paraphrased...let me look it up . . .

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope." 1 Thessalonians 4:13

When you lose someone so close to you you will grieve at times throughout your life, but there is hope in it.

Seven years ago, our daughter Maggie went to heaven. She was two weeks shy of her 12th birthday. Since then she has never left our lives. She is still part of it. I say to my oldest son, "Maggie would have loved Anna!" And she would have. Anna is my future daughter-in-law. My oldest daughter says, "Maggie would have loved little Weston." Oh, she would have delighted in being Aunt Maggie! Weston is my genius grandson (he is six months old -- and I am so in love). As Pete, her adopted twin (both were the same age and were in the same grade -- Maggie was from Bulgaria, Pete is from Russia but they ended up being like twins in a way), will graduate this year from high school. We think what Maggie would have done. We imagine her reaction to things Pete does. We picture her in her cap and gown. We picture her at college (she wanted to be a special education teacher like her favorite teacher of all time, Mandi).

As I write this my cat Killer is on my lap. Maggie said to me once, "Mom, don't ever get rid of Killer." Why? Because Killer is a small cat and Maggie could pick her up (my stepson Tyler named Killer -- it was to be a prophecy and it sure is. She's a great mouser). Maggie was very thin and didn't have much physical strength.

She loved babies. I think of her taking care of a bunch of babies in heaven. And I picture her riding a horse. And I picture her sitting on Jesus' lap telling stories.

One thing I long for that just isn't going to happen, but that is okay (because in heaven all will be made right). I wish I could see Maggie as an 18 year old. She was beautiful. Big brown eyes. A sweet angel face. Thinking of that sweet sweet face makes me smile right now.

Memories and the hope of heaven and knowing she is with Jesus keeps her right here as a part of the family. When people ask me how many kids I have I always say, "Six." Maybe I should say five but that isn't right to my brain and heart. Three of my kids presently live with us. Three of my kids live elsewhere.

Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."

It doesn't matter what others say or argue about or don't want to believe. Jesus said the only way to the Father is through Him. This is why we gotta tell people this. It isn't about what to do or what not to do. It isn't about rules. Sure, the "Father" word makes some scared, but our Father is good, good, good. If you feel resistance in a person about accepting Jesus, maybe that person has a problem with authority. Maybe you can explain to them how good and loving our Father is.

Death is not the end. I talked about Maggie and then I went onto us here on earth because it is all connected. Heaven is much closer than we realize. I still grieve at times for Maggie, but more often than not, I smile and laugh when I think of her. The grieving times are precious to me because it means we shared a really deep love, a wonderful special love created by God for us to enjoy. I didn't even have to go through a pregnancy for her (I do regret at times that I didn't have more children, but I will say when I was pregnant I didn't enjoy it. I got too tired and felt like a whale at the end navigating through the world...though I would experience a labor and delivery again. Yes, it hurt BAD but you get a baby in the end)!

"Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is fading away."
1 Corinthians 7:31

If we can get past the noise and the arguments and the weird notions of people, we can show them Jesus. We can show them the Father. We can tell them about the Spirit living in Believers -- we are no longer ever alone when we enter into relationship with God. All people want to belong somewhere to a group of people. When we accept Christ we finally have found our tribe.

Finish well

3/18/2020

So, maybe you didn't start well, this life of faith. That's okay. Ezekiel 4:10 reminds us to "Don't despise these small beginnings." And maybe you have been in this faith journey for months or years or even decades and you've faltered at times. Maybe you've even slipped back to living for self instead of Jesus. That's okay too. God knows what we are made of -- He likens us to grass (which is here today and gone tomorrrow); clay (which breaks so easily and can be smashed to bits in a nanosecond); and sheep (which are truly very stupid animals, though they are quite cute -- especially the little ones).

But, no matter where you're at in your faith journey, finish well. Finishing well can change all the falters into grace moments. Finishing well can help us and all who are watching see God's hands in the misteps, the falls, the times of confusion or wanderings.

Today I read in Job 23. Verses 10-12 is the passage I hope and pray will be true about me for the rest of my life. I suspect you hope and pray they will be true for your life too. Here is the passage:

"But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall
come forth as gold.
"My foot as held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not
turned aside;
"I have not departed from the
command of His lips;
"I have treasured the words of
His mouth more than my
necessary food."

You're not forgotten

3/16/2020

So you did that good thing for someone. You did it out of love and you asked God to use you. He did. But then that person forgot all about you and you never heard from him or her again. You were tempted to feel used. You were tempted to feel abandoned, but you didn't. God sees that.

This is what happened to Joseph in Genesis. He interpreted the dreams for the cupbearer and the baker. And he told them when the dreams happened to remember him. He said in Genesis 40:14-15, "Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me in a dungeon."

Sadly, they "forgot him." Genesis 40:23

Two years went by. And then Pharaoh had dreams that needed interpreting and Joseph was called and eventually made the head of all the land (If you don't know the story, it's a good one to read. Start in Genesis 37).

We aren't told what happened in those two years but we can believe that Joseph was faithful to God doing the tasks he was given faithfully. Like the rest of his life his faith didn't waver. He could have given up but didn't.

Those spaces of time in scripture that aren't mentioned are as important as the ones that we read. Two years of faithfulness to God. Two years of living a quiet life ("make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands" 1 Thessalonians 4:11). When God needed him God brought him out.

Years of quiet faithfulness can grow boldness in us. They aren't wasted whatsoever. For in those quiet unseen times, the times just between God and us, we can draw closer to God and develop deep, eternal roots that grow and wrap around every part of us. Each tiny space of ourselves can be overcome by God's peace and friendship and faithfulness. And then when He needs us for a special task, we will speak from that depth of faithfulness.

You are never forgotten. Never. Yes, people forgot. But God doesn't. People are like grass -- they can be cut down or wiped out in an instant. Often, the forgetfulness isn't on purpose. We all have brains and bodies that are getting older daily. Sometimes life just gets busy. There is no evil motive behind it. People are just people. But God is watching. God sees your faithfulness. He sees everything you do. And when He needs you for a special task He will pluck you from where you are at and place you where He needs you. So, stay faithful. Do not waver in the every day. Do not waver when every day seems the same. Continue to cultivate your relationship with God. It will serve you well.

This verse isn't talking about death by suicide

3/9/2020

When people have their own agenda it is super easy for them to use scripture to back up their agenda. We could probably prove anything we wanted to prove with the Bible when we take bits and pieces and have them stand alone. I plan on mentioning one verse in particular but I want to continue on this thread -- when we read the Bible we need to go to the Bible first and see what God wants to say to us rather than have an opinion in our mind we see as truth and then try to back up our own thoughts with certain Bible passages. Reading it without a teachable spirit, reading it with an agenda will not bring us to truth whatsoever. Manipulating scripture for our own gain is wrong. Ephesians 5:5 says, "You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them -- the usual variations on idolatry -- will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God."

Now onto the verse I wanted to mention: 1 Corinthians 3:17. It says, "If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."

Later in this book in chapter 6:19 we are told, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"

Because of the second verse many think the first verse (3:17) is saying that if someone dies by suicide that means he or she is going to hell because the verse does say, "If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him"

This is not what the verse says. Interpreting the verse this way is totally wrong. You have to take the verse in context. 1 Corinthians 3 is not talking about individuals. The whole chapter is talking about a body of Believers -- the temple in this verse means the church.

This verse must not be used to condemn those who have lost their lives to suicide. Suicide is a tragedy. Often, though, it is a symptom of a mental illness. And there are other reasons -- as many as its victims.

I do see suicide as a sin just like many actions we take that are centered on self. But Jesus died to free us from sin and if we've accepted His gift of salvation we do not need to fear that this sin will send us to hell. I am not condoning suicide. God doesn't want us taking our own lives. We are way too precious for that.

5 seconds of every day -- you will see a difference

2/19/2020

I read some great verses today in the Bible (if you aren't reading daily you are really missing out). I want to share some with you. First, read this:

"Grow a wise hearrt -- you'll do yourself a favor; Keep a clear head -- you'll find a good life." Proverbs 19:8

You will do yourself a favor. Growing a wise heart will cut out the drama in your life dramatically. It will also give you inner peacee and you will tend to not panic. Panic causes all sorts of problems.

Now for the five seconds I urge you to spend daily:

Pray this scripture daily for 30 days and see what happens. It will change your life. When we get an appetite for God's word and that appetite keeps growing we will see changes in life, in ourselves, in how we relate to others; in how we think. It is all positive! You are worth this. Even if you don't believe scripture, even if you don't really follow Christ daily, this scripture prayer will change you. Pray it as a challenge to God if you like. Pray it in doubt if you like. But just pray it. Do it for yourself. Do it for your family. Do it for your friends. Hey, do it for your enemies.

And while you'll at it, if you have entered the podcast world, think about downloading episodes of Bible Talk with Jane and Shannon. I think you'll enjoy it and it might even get you thinking (it is always a good thing when we start using our minds). Or, you can find it anywhere you find your podcasts.

We See What We Look For

2/9/2020

We see what we look for. Artists train themselves to look at life in the way they need to see it for their art. Parents become good (hopefully) at seeing the truth behind their children's words. When I go outside these days I have to search for things in a different way because snow covers everything. Finding a stick to throw for my dogs to fetch takes a different kind of looking than I use in the summer. Yesterday while I drove to Pierre for more parts for our shower I was looking straight ahead. My mind was on the podcast I was listening to and getting to Pierre and back home as quickly as I could. Suddenly, a deer slammed into the side of the car. He was killed instantly. Thankfully, the car suffered minimal damage and was still drivable -- so I continued on my journey (I threw that in there because as you see I wasn't looking for a deer and I sure didn't see him -- usually when I drive our roads I'm alert them...that was my bad yesterday).

Again, we see what we want to see. We find what we search for (eventually). This completely applies to us seeing God in our lives. If we aren't looking for Him we usually aren't going to see Him.

Jesus says, "ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened." Luke 11:9-10

The more we look for God, the more we will see Him.

Eugene H. Peterson writes in The Message Devotional Bible: "the word blessing isn't a static word but rather a dynamic one, filled with action. Like a seed. God's blessings often come to us in seed form, sprouting through the tangled complexities of life and ripening to fruition. Because the blessings of God often grow slowly over time, it's easy to miss the miracle of growth taking place right before our eyes. But when we look attentively, we see blessings budding all around us . . . If we forget his blessings, we slip into what psychologists label 'sensory deprivation,' and we become deaf, dumb, and blind to the flourishing miracle of God at work, not only in the catastrophic circumstances of our lives, but also in the casual circumstances."

Let's not be deaf, dumb and blind to God and all He does in our lives. If we are we will shrivel up inside. He is the water our souls need. He is the food our souls need. He is the light in the darkness. He is the song we need to hear.

Here's something you can do today

2/7/2020

I hope you've checked out the podcast Bible Talk with Jane and Shannon recently. I think it will bless your life. You can download it anywhere you get podcasts. If you are new to podcasts you need to enter the podcast world. What is a podcast? It is like a recorded radio talk show. I listen to them while I drive distance. Anyway, the reason I bring it up is because our podcast that will be published this coming Sunday is called "Why We all Matter." This is important to listen to if you sometimes think your life is pointless or you wonder if you really are having an affect on others in a good way.

Okay, wait. This is really going to wander around. Why? Because it is how I think. It is like everything in my life is connected and I go back and forth from here to any other place and bring it back to the front to see the connection. So, just keep reading. It might or might not make sense to you. Yesterday Hawk and I drove to Rapid and as I do, I was listening to Podcasts. One of the podcasts I listened to was "Missing Richard Simmons." I'm not like a huge fan of Simmons, but I downloaded one and liked the conversation so I listened to the whole series (some podcasts are ongoing. Some are limited in episodes -- this one has just six episodes). In this podcast a lot of Simmons' fans are interviewed. This was broadcast a few years ago when Simmons left the limelight suddenly and wouldn't talk to anyone for years. All his devoted fans wondered why (I told we would wander around). One of the fans named Iris really touched my heart and made me realize a lot of people need to know they matter. She spoke about being obese and how it is painful -- physically, but even more so psychologically and emotionally. She talked about how isolating it is because when she'd go out in public she was always judged by people who see her because of her weight. I could hear in her voice how heartbreaking this was for her (and many others).

This isolation is part of a lot of people's lives. A lot of people these days are lonely and feel insignificant. So back to the title of this post, "Here's something you can do today."

You can be kind. Be kind to others. A lot of people don't ever experience kindness. Their worlds are cruel. We are here to be kind to each other. Don't do superficial niceness. That isn't kind. Instead give real kindness -- look people in the eye, smile big at them and see them. People want to be seen through eyes of kindness. They want to know someone notices them (not in a judgy way but in a compassionate way). Ask God to bring someone to you who needs your kindness. When you give it you can know for sure that God used you today.

It isn't about us. It isn't even about our purpose. It is about God and His purpose through us. Please give kindness today. Maybe even pray with someone. Share a word. And pray this verse: Give me an appetite for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. (Psalm 119:36).

Another symptom of our sex-obsessed culture

1/28/2020

There are some thoughts going through my head because of some things I've read and looked at recently. I don't know if it will make sense to you but I'm going to share anyway. Why? Because we need to take action. We need to do something about this -- if we all do something in our own lives, just change our perspective or just start thinking about it, maybe things can change.

Okay, a few days ago I clicked on one of those links that make you keep clicking on "NEXT" to see more photos. It was a post about Hollywood couples that have been married for decades. First, I was surprised how many there were. That was a wonderful thing to see. Second, and this is what got me thinking, some of the people featured looked awful -- not because of their age but because they were trying so hard to appear young and sexy rather than their dignified age.

The second thing I read was yesterday in Our Daily Bread. Some countries are putting out Friendship Benches. There is a grandma-type lady who sits on the bench and is there for anyone to come and talk to her. The "grandma" I believe has some training in listening skills and such, but the main thing is that people who are depressed or overwhelmed with life come and have a conversation with someone who will listen and really cares. And these benches are doing really good things. I love this idea!

Those two things I read about are now milling around in my mind and I am wondering if our culture that is so focused on youth and sex that we are forgetting some of our greatest treasures are our elders. I'm not saying we should all look awful. Go ahead and dress nice and take care of the bodies and faces God has given you, but we are really losing out on a great opportunity to just relax and be ourselves and enjoy the new wrinkles and graying hair knowing these bodies are temporary tents for our true selves.

Younger people need us to be content in our aging and if we are aging wisdom ideally has been building up in us too. Think about the grandma Friendship bench. If a Grandma is trying to be young and sexy I just don't think a person is going to feel as comfortable talking to her as a Grandma who is comfortable and just shining for Jesus and just looks kind.

(Remember I mentioned above that I didn't know if I could write this out coherently and I know this is borderline coherent)

I know our society doesn't respect and revere elders anymore overall, but we should. Other than the health issues and the aches and pains that come with age, getting older is a good thing. I love being 51 and life just keeps getting better. Our churches, our society, the world needs the wisdom God has taught us and is still teaching us. Let's focus on the inner person rather than the outer person. Sure, go ahead and look nice and dress how you want -- there's nothing wrong with that. But the beauty of the inner person is what really makes a person beautiful. One of my friends who is 80 (I think) is so pretty because she has the light of Jesus in her. And she has a calmness about her that the world just can't shake. When I first saw her I thought, she is beautiful.

"The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair." Proverbs 20:29

What do you really really long for?

1/21/2020

I read this this morning: "Undoubtedly this was a moment for which Paul had yearned for years: the chance to preach the gospel to his Jewish brothers within the walls of their beloved city of Jerusalem." Erica Wiggenhorn

This moment happens after the crowd tried to beat Paul to death. I thought two things: first, what moments am I yearning for; and second, they don't always come the way we envision them. I'm sure Paul didn't think he'd be nearly beaten to death prior to getting to preach to his fellow Jews in Jerusalem (and at the temple no less). But he was still given that moment.

I wrote down six moments I am yearning for deep in my heart. I can't share them because each of them involves other people. Writing them down was a good thing though. Why? Because I really hadn't thought about what I was absolutely deep-down yearning for. And now that I know I can pray for these moments and the people involved in a more specific way.

What are you really yearning for? I mean deep down, way down at the root of your soul? Possibly, those yearnings involve loved ones. Maybe you yearn to see someone really set free from fear; or maybe you long for a deep conversation with someone you love; or maybe there are people you desperately want to connect with again. Think about it. Taking the time to figure it out will wisk away the dross of life that sometimes clutters up our brains.

A few verses from Psalm 37 come to mind:

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalm 37:3-5

Is this you?

1/9/2020

I read a paragraph this morning written by Erica Wiggenhorn out of her study The unexplainable church: reigniting the mission of the early believers. When I read it I thought, I've been there. I've done this.

Honestly, we've all been there. The question is, are we still there?

Here's the paragraph:

"What a sad picture of the state of humanity apart from a Savior. People don't know why they are here or there or where they are going or why. They just blindly follow the crowd and listen to whoever is noisiest. Maybe they want to be part of the 'in crowd,' or they're curious or looking for excitement, then one day they suddenly wake up and wonder, 'What am I doing here?' Or they never wake up at all and spend their entire life chasing the latest rush of fools. They just keep shouting and running, hoping to be heard and to find the satisfaction they're desiring."

Mindless.

If taken literally, the word is nonsense because if a person has life a person has a mind. But when taken in context it is a state of not thinking for ourselves; not using the brains God has given us to examine our lives and what we are doing on this earth.

Even Believers can find themselves in mindless seasons of life. God is faithful to nudge us awake and help us get back on track if our hearts are tender toward Him.

This will probably sound stupid, but here it is. In a college sophomore literature class my eyes were opened to the fact that not everyone is telling the truth. We were focusing on story narrators, questioning whether or not they were reliable or if they had agendas. Before that class, everything I read or heard I believed. I never thought that anyone would deliberately tell a lie or say something to sway readers for personal gain (yes, I was that naive).

If we don't use the intelligence God has given us we will find ourselves in places we really don't want to be. If we don't use the intelligence God has given us we will miss Him. We will just see the surface of things and totally lose what He wanted to tell us. He won't give up on us, but when we refuse to think for ourselves we always lose and life is diminished.

"the mind set on the flesh is death, but the miind set on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

A New Podcast Has Come To Town -- Hope you check it out

1/2/2020

A new podcast has come to town and I sure hope you will check it out. It's called "Bible Talk with Jane and Shannon", and yes I'm the Jane mentioned. My husband Shannon is the Shannon!

We have one published episode presently and the next one will be published Sunday at about 1 p.m. mountain time. That will be regular time they are published.

You can find us on podbean. And soon you will be able to download it on iTunes (it's been submitted and waiting for approval). I will do my best to get it to all sorts of podcast outlets.

If you've never entered the world of podcasting, you need to. There are so many good ones out there. Practically any topic you can think of you will find a podcast on it. These days if I travel I have a bunch of downloaded podcasts for the road.

Bible Talk with Jane and Shannon is me and Shannon discussing topics and scripture and how they relate to our lives. The first episode is about Rest and why we need it. It's a good one. The second episode will be about Idols -- then and now. We recorded it last night. I will tell you I am definitely still learning how to do it. I added music to the second episode but it is pretty much a big fail. If you bear with me and get past the mistakes each episode will enrich your life I am sure.

You can comment. We love comments. Hopefully I'll set up a place where you can email me to ask us questions. I'd like a question time at the end. Check us out. I think you'll like it.

Put Your Brain On A Diet

12/28/2019

One of my children has had overactive imagination when it comes to worry. She worries about all sorts of things, things that will never come true; things that just don't matter. We talk a lot about it. I give her verses to read; strategies to try; we pray together.

This morning, though, a "new" idea came to my mind. I told her she should put her brain on a diet. And then I thought -- we all should do this!

It isn't about things you should and should not watch, read, see, dwell on. It is about what is healthy for your brain; what will encourage its health and strength and resilience to life's stresses. Just like our physical body, we can't expect our brains to be at their best and handle stress well if we feed them junk all the time.

Philippian 4:8-9 is a great guide for choosing postive brain food. The Message says it like this:

"Summing it up, friends, I'm say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble reputable authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

We are free to read what we want. We are free to watch what we want. We are free to talk about what we want.

But, if the choices we make drag us down, do we really want to continue making those same choices? If the choices we make draw us closer to Christ and to our best selves, aren't those good things?

What you ingest mentally and emotionally should encourage you to love God and people. If some of what you ingest closes your heart to certain people or God, then that stuff probably isn't good stuff.