Jane Hinrichs
Jane Hinrichs
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Do you think about heaven?

6/2/2023

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Do you ever think about heaven? 

I do. I think about what will be: animals, my own horse; a room made just for me; people I love who know Jesus; fruit from the Tree of life; Jesus!; the River of Life; streets of gold clear as crystal.

Jesus says in John 14, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

Sometimes this life gets weary. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it feels lonely. Sometimes you disappoint those you love. Sometimes those you love can't be there for you. Sometimes you are misunderstood (Jesus was and is all the time). Sometimes you body hurts. Sometimes a day feels like it goes on forever. Sometimes you blink your eyes and a whole month has gone. These are the times I think of heaven -- of being with Jesus. He never leaves us. He never rejects us. He is always encouraging. He always has time for us. He never gets weary or misunderstands. Oh, if you don't know him, why not? 

Have you read the last few chapters of Revelation? I wholly recommend them. Here is when Jesus comes on the scene: 


"11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Revelation 19:11-16

Wow! He is the Hero. The Conqueror. The Savior. The One!

After this is the "Great Supper of God" for all the birds. And then, in Revelation 20 we read about the Thousand Year Reign; the final defeat of Satan; and the Great White Throne Judgment.

Revelation 21 begins with these glorious verses: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." Revelation 1:6

Chapter 22 is the last chapter of Revelation and well worth your time to read. Here are a few of my favorite verses:


"Then the angel[a] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life[b] with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever." Revelation 22:1-5

It's not hard to meet Jesus. It's easy! Just talk to him. He is waiting right there beside you. He's closer than your own breath! Invite him to be part of your life. Read his word. That's the way you learn about him. He will speak to you. Just get rid of the distractions and go where it is quiet. "Come Jesus," you can say. "Please come to me and be with me." And then say something like this, "Speak. I am listening."

Don't wait any longer. Today is the day of salvation. All we have is today. 




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Make friends with her

5/27/2023

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This can't be anything men want to read, but I kind of think there must be some women out there who want to read this -- maybe just to laugh with me (or at me) at my foibles.

I've decided I have to make friends with this 55-year-old body I inhabit. I noticed while lying on the floor on a yoga mat that it has gotten harder to put my legs over my head because my stomach gets in the way now!

I knew I needed an attitude change when I felt God say to me, "What if I want you to be chubby?" and I had no answer for him.

I had no problem when he asked me "to believe no matter what" (I said yes enthusiastically). After that question, over the next few years, we almost lost our house to foreclosure; our oldest daughter went through months of doctors trying to find the answer to her pain (we did finally get answers and a solution); my husband had a seizure (first time ever) at work and was rushed to the hospital; and our middle daughter died suddenly. Through it all I held on tight to Jesus. And he got us through everything.

He still is getting us through of course. But not being able to say yes to the idea of being chubby made me realize that I still, after so many years of walking with Jesus, have body issues. I'm embarrassed to even admit that because I've been a Christian since March 6, 1988, and read the Bible daily. I love to read the Bible. It is one of my favorite things to do. I've seen God bring about financial miracles in our lives over and over throughout the years. I've seen people accept Christ. I've seen God lead my husband into ministry (and my husband is a dynamic preacher -- the best one I have ever listened to). God has brought me through so much stuff -- some really serious stuff. So how come I can't get over my changing body?

You know what post-menopausal changes seem like to me? They are like puberty in reverse. During puberty our bodies change dramatically to give us strong adult bodies that can take on the world. After menopause our bodies change and settle and can even horrify us to what they become. But without our bodies we wouldn't be able to live our lives or walk this earth. 

I feel like I'm talking to so many people about this. This has got to be my third blog post on it, but I'm still figuring this out with God's help. And no wonder people deal with body issues. Weight loss is a hot topic for headlines. People love to see before and after pictures. We read about celebrities losing weight or using some new-fangled drug. People comment favorably on someone's weight loss not knowing why a person lost weight. Sometimes people gain weight because of medication. Sometimes people lose weight because they are very sick. 

We Christians should be free of this body stuff for sure because we know our present bodies will be replaced with resurrected bodies one day. We will be changed forever in a twinkling of an eye! I want to see everyone, including myself, through Jesus's eyes. Every single one of us are sacred and beautiful and we should be able to see the exquisite treasure each of us are. Every wrinkle, every freckle, every spot, every lump -- all are treasured by Almighty God. And they should be treasured by us too instead of demeaned and hated and sculpted away or cut off. 

So, hello Body. I want to be your friend. Please teach me how.
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Vanity is so ugly in the face of tragedy

5/26/2023

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PictureThere is a reason I shared this photo. Read the post to find out why.
I gotta tell you -- vanity is so ugly in the face of tragedy! Just two days ago a family in our great state of South Dakota lost so much and will be dealing with grief and healing and starting life again for several months, possibly years (if you want to read about this dear family and help them, please click here). I don't know this family, but I know they are loved, and I know what grief is. We are praying especially for their two young sons to be miraculously healed. Hundreds of people are praying for them. 

Knowing all this, superficial things shouldn't get to me. I mean in the face of tragedy why be concerned about silly things like appearance? Vanity is so ugly and stupid!

Mornings are slow going for me these days. It takes me a couple of hours for my body to function well. And this morning I was just caught up in hating the way I presently look. I am embarrassed to even mention this! This past Wednesday a young lady and her mom (friends of mine) put on a very special tea party at our church for several ladies and girls. It was absolutely beautiful! They spent 12 hours decorating and weeks preparing. Our little church was transformed into a wedding reception. Every single person had her own teacup and saucer -- all different designs. We were taught how to know if it is fine china. There were scones and little finger sandwiches and cream puffs and chocolate-covered strawberries and French delicacies -- it was amazing. And there flowers everywhere. 

We were asked to wear dresses. And women did. They looked so pretty. Some looked like they were part of a wedding party they looked so pretty. 

And then there was me. I wore a $4 dress I bought at a thrift store. In fact I wasn't quite sure if it was a dress or a nightgown (Shannon said it had to be a dress because it had pockets). I put a wide black belt around my waist so it would look fancier (or so I thought -- actually it looked like a cheap girdle). Pictures were taken. Man, I looked so bad.

I should laugh about it. And I am. To think I had on possible nightgown while other ladies had their hair and makeup done and wore beautiful lace dresses. Oh, yeah, that is funny. 

Yesterday after seeing that picture I had my husband cut a few inches off my hair. And I started cutting out a pattern for a dress. Of course even if this dress turns out well the best I can go for is cute. Not pretty or glamorous. C.S. Lewis was known to always look rumpled. I read that he would put on a nice suit and look put together for a few minutes and then he would be all rumpled. That is what happens to me (oooo, maybe that is a  good sign! Maybe I will write some great books one day). 

Presently, I am reading Exodus in the Bible. The last couple of years my personal Bible study has just been reading straight through the Bible. Anyway, if you check out that photo you will see that Exodus 37:1-9 gives us the building instructions for the Ark of the Covenant. They are so detailed. And while reading this I prayed and wondered how God would speak to me through these details. 

Something came to mind. The Ark was sacred. The Ark could only be transported a certain way. It could only be touched by certain people. It was not to be opened. It held the Ten Commandment tablets, Aaron's budding staff and some mana. It was kept in the very center of the Tabernacle. Great care went into taking care of it.

Great care goes into taking care of each of us. Great details and forethought by the Creator of the Universe went into creating you and me. The numbers of hairs on your head are numbered by God. The way you talk, the way you walk (or don't walk); the way you move and eat and see life and wonder about things -- all of this is you -- the person God loves so so so much. Sure, some of us are rumpled people. Some of us are glamorous (though really -- as C.S. Lewis said in The Magician's Nephew, people often look a whole lot better in their every day clothes -- their rumpled clothes). Some of us are pale. Some of us are ebony. Some of us are brown. Some of us are strong. Some of us are fragile. Some of us can function quite well on just a few hours sleep. Some of us need ten hours of sleep. Oh, we are varied and beautiful and none of us should be vain. But I guess, we all can have vain moments. As Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 1:2, "'vanity of vanities! All is vanity." So, maybe we all have vain moments.

Yet, I will tell you what got me out of this silly funk -- my grandson videochatted me and told me he went number 2 on the potty! And he made me laugh and and my almost 8 month old granddaughter smiled and bounced on her mama's knee. Children! To be like children. Jesus says in Matthew 18:3, "“unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

When children are being children they aren't vain. They are totally outside themselves just enjoying life -- absolutely no self-consciousness at all. And that is how we are to be. To live eternally we are to let go of Self and embrace Jesus and his love. And love him and people. Thank you Jesus for this life!

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Seriously, it's necessary

5/25/2023

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The place we live on has dozens of lilac bushes. I love lilac bushes. Last year we had tons of blooms, but I didn't get to appreciate them as much because that nasty covid had taken much of my smelling sense. I have a bit of it back now so I was really looking forward to lilac season. 

See the white lilacs on the left there? 

Those are the only lilacs I have found blooming. No purples or lavenders or pinks. Only one little white lilac bush bloomed!

I still plan on walking beside all the bushes just in case I missed some, but I don't think I did. 

This is all we got.

And really, it's our fault. We are the ones living on this place, and it comes down to us to care for these bushes. Most of them are pretty old I am guessing -- decades -- and their age is showing. 

They all need some good pruning in order to continue producing blossoms. They might have been telling us this years ago, but this year they've screamed, "We need to be pruned!"

If bushes have feelings I kind of think they all are frustrated because they aren't putting out all that pretty color they usually put out. And so they aren't attracting any bees which bums me out. Yet, lesson learned! I will get to it. Hopefully by the end of the summer each bush will have a good pruning.

And this is exactly like us too. God knows we need to be pruned in order to develop spiritual fruit in our lives. That's why he prunes us. We can go only so long before it is necessary. Jesus tells us in John 15:2 that "every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." He is the Father.

Almanac.com tells us that "Pruning is the measured removal of parts (such as branches, stems, and flowers) from plants. It isn’t done just for shape and style, though. Pruning helps to manage the growth and structure of shrubs and trees, removes dead or diseased stems and branches, and encourages the development of flowers, fruit, and new foliage. Especially when to comes to woody plants like trees and shrubs, pruning is a great way to keep them growing in a healthy fashion."

Same goes for us. Pruning from God helps us continue to grow in a healthy fashion.

If shrubs could feel and tell us about it, they'd tell us it hurts to have branches cut off. So too, when we are pruned, it isn't going to feel nice. But the results of that said pruning will be a healthy, abundant life.

Willingly go under God's pruning shears. He does it out of love. And he knows what will make your life and heart sing. That's what he wants for you, for all of us.
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And it all changes in a day

5/23/2023

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Things change so quick sometimes! Two days ago, I had 41 tomato plants. Today, I have less than 20! Darn rabbits.

When I was a kid, I felt sorry for Peter Rabbit and thought Mr. McGregor a grump and a meanie. 

I've become Mr. McGregor!

So, we put up a snow fence around our garden and every few days I'll spray coyote urine around the bottom (yes, you can buy coyote urine...I wonder how they collect it). 

Today has a been a hot day. Hot and blowy. And I couldn't take a walk because every muscle felt so heavy. And a haze of uncertainty hung in the air. And my body keeps changing shape -- growing in places I really would rather it didn't, but it is life for me right now. It is a struggle I'm dealing with -- accepting my changing and aging body for the beautiful creation it is. God wants us all to do this. 

In a book entitled An Altar in the World: a geography of faith by Barbara Brown Taylor, Taylor has a chapter called "The Practice of wearing skin." 

It is such a great chapter. I want to share a few quotes from it:

"Yet, here we sit, with our souls tucked away in this marvelous luggage, mostly insensible to the ways in which every spiritual practice begins with the body.

"We would rather lock up our bodies than listen to what they have to say. Where Christians are concerned, this leaves us in the peculiar position of being followers of the Word Made Flesh who neglect our own flesh or -- worse -- who treat our bodies with shame and scorn.

"our bodies remain God's best way of getting to us.

"The daily practice of incarnation -- of being in he body with full confidence that God speaks the language of flesh -- is to discover a pedagogy that is as old as the gospels. Why else did Jesus spend his last night on earth teaching his disciples to wash feet and share supper? With all the conceptual truths in the universe at his disposal, he did not give them something to think about together when he was gone. Instead, he gave them concrete things to do -- specific ways of being together in their bodies -- that would go on teaching them what they needed to know when he was no longer around to teach them himself."

This is good stuff!

I don't agree with everything Barbara Brown Taylor writes in this book, but I sure identify with this need to see the body I have been given as sacred. It is a gift from God to me. Without it I couldn't love others. Without it I couldn't experience life. Without it I couldn't serve Jesus and love him and show others him.

It is anti-god and anti-biblical to compare our bodies to other people's bodies. For always one will fall up short. We are all different. We are meant to be different. 

I took clothes and stuff to a thrift store today -- clothes I no longer can fit into. And if someone else told me this about themselves I would tell them to embrace their bodies exactly as they are. I'd say read those beautiful verses from Psalm 139:13-14:


"For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well."

I remember one time I was at a volleyball game watching the girls play. The girls were all different sizes and shapes. And all of them were beautiful. Every single one. Each one of us are too. I believe this -- I do. I honestly do. But every single cell in my body has to catch up to this truth. I'm working on it. God is working on it with me. 

So, we're working on this next phase together.

We serve a loving and patient God. He wants only the best for us. The very best.




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So dinky

5/22/2023

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Picture
 Do you see that picture to the left? Those are the plants I started in mid-March. They looked so good.

Two days ago Shannon and I finished putting the plants in the ground -- the tomatoes counted 41 (I know, I know -- who really needs 41 tomato plants). We also planted cucumber, pepper, and flower plants (and a bunch of seeds earlier -- the beans by one of my teepees are beginning to sprout!).

Late afternoon yesterday we went out to water. And oh, the tomatoes looked terrible! Dinky and kind of shriveled up. We watered them but my heart was sinking. How can these dinky plants do anything?

This morning Shannon left early to lift with his lifters. I got up later and I will tell you I was overwhelmed. I was fearful. Full of fear. First, it was like 7 a.m. and I felt I had so much to do. Second, I was full of fear for those dinky tomato plants. I had to water and I had wanted to walk, but it was getting too late for that (I take care of my son Hawken and I have lupus -- have to be careful what time I do my activities outside). 
Despite fear pushing down on me I sat at my picnic table and opened my bible (actually this is the best thing to do when you are being filled with fear). The verse in one of Peter's books kept coming to my mind: Perfect love casts out all fear. Perfect love casts out all fear. I'm still repeating it to my mind. 

I also put on the sprinkler in the garden -- sprinklers are for older people and little kids -- older people because it makes watering the garden easier; little kids because it is fun to run in the sprinkler! Actually, do kids still do that? Maybe not. That was a summer joy when growing up for me (and probably lots of kids who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s). 

And then I took the time to look at my dinky tomato plants. They looked a whole lot better than they did last night. Maybe there is hope. God then reminded me the size of those plants doesn't predict their future fruitfulness. Last year I planted some really good-sized plants, and they did nothing for me (last year was a bad gardening year for us, but a good geranium year!)

We humans often judge by what we see. And often this serves us well -- when we're driving a vehicle; when we're picking out fruit at the grocery store; when we pump gas; when we need to get to safety, etc.

But when the outside is affected by what is going on in places we can't see, our sight can hinder us from seeing the truth -- I guess this applies to things/objects that grow -- plants and people and animals -- living things. God says this very thing to the Prophet Samuel when he was sent to anoint King Saul's replacement.

In 1 Samuel 16:7 God says to Sanuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. GOD judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; GOD looks into the heart." MSG

He is talking about people here, but this can be applied to anything living too. Don't despise small beginnings. That is a paraphrase from a verse in Ezekiel. Good things start small. Small and unseen is often how God works. Not flashy and glamorous. 

Thanks for reading! Jesus loves you and so do I!
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Who is she?

5/2/2023

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PictureBlue Eyes is for sale. She is 20 in by 20 inches on canvas. Mixed media. $150. If you are interested click on the picture and it should take you to my email . Just send me a message. And I am looking at the picture and the blue that is on the flowers is not in the painting. Not sure why my picure did that.
Here is a painting I finished yesterday. it is called Blue Eyes. I have no idea who she is. She just started to appear on the canvas -- that is how I paint. I just let the painting lead.

Painting this way kind of reminds me of how we can let God's Spirit lead us. We show up. We begin to do the work, the task he has called us to do, but we let him lead us in it. We probably have a few preconceived notions about how it will go -- expectations -- but if we are smart about it, we will let those go and see what God has planned. It always turns out better than how we envisioned it. 

Like, when I paint -- when I try to control the painting it never comes to life right. It is kind of dead on the canvas. Just a silly picture that has no life at all. It might be a pretty picture, but something definitely is missing.

Same goes for the stuff we do for God. When we try to control them, they might be okay, but they will never be what they could be. Letting God lead takes courage because you aren't in control anymore and you have no idea what the ending will be. What stuff? you may ask. Actually, it can be anything we do in life. Doing errands. Doing chores. Creating something. Doing taxes. Going to work. Going to school. Eating. Shopping. Anything. 

And how do we let him lead? 

Easy. Just invite him to lead. I have an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day. I know he is there. So, I talk to him and if I am about to do something I say, "Jesus, please do this through me" or "Jesus, lead me" or "Jesus, shine through me in this." It doesn't matter what the words are, and I don't always remember to ask him to do this. I need to get better at that. When we forget to ask it doesn't mean we aren't letting him lead though, but it is a good reminder to yourself that he is leading. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (MSG) says, "Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."

Aren't those some great verses! What if we all lived like that? Saying hello to everyone with big smiles really blesses people (and you). Praying all the time is just having that ongoing conversation with God, recognizing that he is with you and including him in all you do. Thanking God no matter what happens is good for us -- keeps us grateful, tenderhearted, open to his Spirit. Helps us be lovely, beautiful humans who shine bright in this dark world. 

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There's more to it than just what we do

4/23/2023

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Over the winter (the last two years) I have grown geraniums and basil and other plants indoors. I do it because the green helps me get through the winter. Oh! I have a peace lily too. His name is Richard (and another plant my brother Matt gave me that has rubbery leaves and lots of tiny red flowers -- Agnes -- she's growing great though lopsided). 

One plant I planted because I had had the seeds for a few years and I didn't even know what it would look like (I could have looked it up on the internet, but for some reason I didn't think about that until now). People wrote beautiful things about this plant ("Love-in-the-mist") so I planted it. And even though it was winter and cold and probably not where it wanted to grow, it grew. And it got these tiny delicate white flowers that remind me of chamomile. Like all the other plants it has gotten routinely watered and fed. It was doing great until it wasn't. And then it just up and died.

When I read about it I knew it needed to be outdoors. I knew it needed a much bigger space to grow. Like, I think this plant spreads and gets bushy and is happy to look at. I think it is a wild looking plant -- not real neat I mean. More like something that should be in a meadow. But I really hoped she would hold on until I could plant her outside. 

She didn't. She just couldn't. The space just wasn't right for her. 

I am still going to plant her outside after the last frost and see what happens. 

It reminds me God places each of us in perfect spots to grow -- we aren't like my Love-in-the-mist. We are called to be adaptable. Sometimes the place God puts us will be a spiritual desert; sometimes a lush green spiritual delight. Sometimes life sucks and is painful; sometimes it is sad; sometimes it might even be boring (if that is where you are then boredom is the perfect condition for your creativity to grow). Sometimes life is dangerous or scary or lovely and full of flowers and love. No matter your situation God has called you to grow there -- to grow spiritually. We don't have any excuses -- well, any good excuses -- not to grow spiritually daily. It is our choice. Spiritual growth means we're producing fruit.

Jesus says in John 15:16, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." 

So, if we aren't bearing fruit, we aren't doing the job Jesus calls us to do. The fruit we are called to bear are character traits like: "l
ove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." 

Who doesn't want more of those traits in his or her life?

Grow, grow, grow! Don't ever stop growing. Do it for Jesus. Growing happens by feeding ourselves with the word of God and prayer and living in obedience to Jesus Christ. John 15:9-10 says, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."

God's commands aren't meant to be lived as rules, but lived as a way of life. They all come down to: Love God and love people. The 10 commandments all deal with relationships. The first four are between you and God. The last six are between you and other people. Looked at them in this way, it makes it simpler I think. Just to refresh your memory, here are the ten commandments (given to Moses on the Mountain in Exodus 20):


  1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
  2. You shall make no idols.
  3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
  4. Keep the Sabbath day holy.
  5. Honor your father and your mother.
  6. You shall not murder.
  7. You shall not commit adultery.
  8. You shall not steal.
  9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  10. You shall not covet.

Jesus loves you and so do I!! If you need help with the Bible or have spiritual questions or whatever feel free to email me here. I study the Bible daily because it is one of my all-time favorite things to do. If I can help you I will. If I can't I'll point you in the direction of someone who can. 

Picture
Here is my poor Love-in-the-mist plant.
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When you know that you know that you know it's right, but it feels so wrong

4/15/2023

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Picturethe garden seedlings I started from seed a few weeks ago. Obviously, I'm going to have way too many. If you find yourself short in late May, send me a message (if you're local). I will probably have lots to share.
There are some things in life that we know are the totally right thing to do. I mean, we have no doubt. But it still feels wrong. So, what do you do? Do you do the thing that feels right or do you do the thing you know is the right thing?

I am hoping you choose to do the right thing. Because feelings can lie. Feelings aren't good or bad, but when they control us they can be very bad. We can't live by feelings. We can love them when we have them corresponding to doing the right thing, but we need to tell them to be quiet when they are telling us to do something wrong. 

See, feelings as I said above are neither bad or good. They just are. As we mature, we learn how to use them as a tool to make life better, to live the way God calls us to live. In this way feelings are big blessings. 

So, this can be in big or small things. Mine is a small thing. I'm growing garden plants in my basement for my spring garden. They are doing great, but they are at the point where I need to thin them out. I know this is for them. It is the best thing for them. If I don't thin them out and leave them as they are, they all might grow, but none of them will be big, healthy plants. They will all be sickly and stunted and might not even bear fruit. If I do what I know I need to do, I will have much more of a chance to reap a great harvest. If I follow my feelings (which I know are wrong), I will have a lousy garden. Okay, so all I will have is a lousy garden.

But what if you have started messaging an old flame in your life. And as you message her feelings are building between you and her. You know it's wrong (since you are married to another lovely lady, not mentioning your 12 children), but it feels really good to message her. And then your feelings tell you you gotta meet her (and you know that is wrong too). But you go ahead and follow your feelings. And before you know it, you have messed up your marriage, your kids and this other lady's life too. In this fictional scene, the guy should have never even followed his curiosity to message the lady. Really, nothing good could have come out of it.

Another situation: you are doing your taxes and realize you owe the government. And you don't want to pay those taxes. It will stretch you financially thin. But if you take out part of your self-employment income, if you hide it, then you won't technically owe the government anything (at least in print). You tell yourself it will be easier on your family if you don't pay those extra taxes. You tell yourself you have medical bills to pay. You might even tell yourself you could give more to the church if you don't pay these taxes. What do you do? God tells you to report your income, be thankful for it; and even be thankful paying the taxes you owe because that means you had a great income last year. 

Even when the right thing feels wrong, still do the right thing. Even if you are never caught, God sees everything. And he will see you do the right thing and will bless you for it -- especially when he sess that you went against those sneaky feelings when it would have been so easy to cave.

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Just go with it

4/4/2023

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It is April 4th. Easter Week. And we are experiencing a gentle blizzard outside. Not what most of us wanted for early spring. 

There is no use grinding our teeth. It is what God is giving us and he knows what's best. 

Often, stress levels increase in us because we are trying to control our worlds. Inevitably, it doesn't go the way we want it to go anyway. Just go with it. See what God has in store. Plan, but hold onto plans loosely.

My upcoming spring and summer plans have changed at least three times already. I planned one thing. It can't happen. Second thing is planned. That too is stopped. Third thing planned . . . Wait. I think I've planned at least five things that have had to be changed and I still don't know about really any of it. 

Life's sometimes like this.

Maybe we just need to hold onto what really matters and let the rest go. 


Ecclesiastes 5:18 says, "I have seen what is best for people here on earth. They should eat and drink and enjoy their work, because the life God has given them on earth is short. "

God loves it when we enjoy this life he has given us. Live in the moment. Pray, plan and enjoy the life he has given you. Find the beauty. God's glory is his beauty. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."

Do everything for God's beauty....We show forth God's beauty when we are content in this life. You are truly beautiful when you are content and enjoying this life. 

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Comparison is Toxic

3/30/2023

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PictureCarol Brady had the perfect life. She was a stay-at-home mom and had Alice (who did all the cooking and cleaning). Of course this was just a TV show!
Last Sunday sometime during his sermon Shannon said, "comparison is toxic." You can listen to that sermon here if you'd like. It's called "That's not fair!" And he is so right. Nothing will get us more down on our own lives when we start comparing parts of them to other people's lives. God never tells us to compare ourselves to other humans. Who said they were the rule anyway? We are to become like Jesus Christ -- not our neighbors. If we compare ourselves to someone else and in that comparison, we come out ahead, that isn't any better than being worse -- in fact it might be more deceiving. 

2 Corinthians 10:12b tells us, "when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. Comparison is of the flesh, the world and the devil. We should never step foot in that arena.

But we are human and sometimes we fall into it -- often, when something doesn't go as we wish it would go.

If we are living for Jesus and doing our best to follow God's voice and commands, then that is enough. If people don't like our choices that is between them and God. We just need to follow Jesus. He will deal with other people's attitudes toward us.

Galatians 1:10 says, "
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Here's another good verse, 2 Timothy 2:15: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

At times there will be fallout from others when you follow Jesus Christ. They won't understand why you do what you do. They might belittle what you do. They might pass judgments on what you do. They might ridicule you and see what you do as a waste of time. Or maybe they write you off because they label you with some category in order to not really understand you. All of this happened to Jesus. It still happens to him. So, if this happens to you, you are in good company.

Psalm 118:6 says, "The 
Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Just live your life for Jesus. If someone asks why, tell them why. But if they don't understand, that is ok. Or if they think what you're doing doesn't make sense, that's ok too. It is between you and Jesus. Like I wrote above, he will deal with other people's attitudes toward you. You may never see this but know that he has your back. 

I saw a robin two days ago -- yeah! Robins always bring me hope. And then tomorrow it is supposed to snow 3 to 5 inches.

Time is short. Choose Jesus now. You might not have another chance. 

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3 hours this morning

3/16/2023

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PicturePicture of the local business I spent 3+ hours at today. I was sitting at a small booth in the corner by the boxes in the bottom right of the pic. Great people work at this business on Main street.
Let me remind you and me of something we need to keep in the forefront of our minds: the enemy seeks to isolate us -- to get us alone in our own little worlds. When he does this, he easily distorts truth and people's comments and even get us to believe lies like: we're better off without people or so-and-so thinks I'm crazy or whatever -- any negative comment that comes into your mind in regard to others, I guarantee the enemy helped it get inside your head.

We all have a gift that often goes unused by many of us because of many reasons: laziness, fear, comfort. And we probably don't even see it as a gift. The gift I am talking about is local people (including yourself for other people).

​This morning I spent 3+ hours at a local Dupree, SD business while my Suburban got worked on. While there I talked to all sorts of people -- some of the wonderful people who work at this business; plus, customers who came and went while I was there. When we get to engage in conversation with others and share smiles and laughs we can truly see what a gift people are to us. 

We were made to be part of community. When we deny ourselves time with others, we deny ourselves and them something we truly need -- each other. Everywhere we go we can build community: church, town, the grocery store, local businesses; the library (if you have one); the post office -- anywhere we come into contact with other people. -- community connections can be fostered.

The world needs you! We need each other -- now, more than ever.

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Need some Philippians

3/12/2023

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PictureThis is a painting I'm working on right now. I believe it is headed in the right direction. Should be done tomorrow or the next day.
I'm dealing with some pain right now that very likely is not serious and hopefully will have a practical solution. While I wait for answers, I have grown tired of the pain. Imagine yourself in the worse pain you've ever felt, and then realize there are people in the world who are in that kind of pain 24 hours a day. I have an acquaintance from years ago who was in an accident. Daily she was in excruciating pain, and she continued to function and help lots of people. I was and am amazed when I think of her. My pain comes and goes. It's messing with my sleep presently, but I still get sleep. And if I must, I could live with it the rest of my life. I just don't want to. 

This morning my husband's sermon was titled "The Sunny Side." It was and is a great reminder that we are called to a life of joy. So, I wanted to share with you some of the verses from Philippians because someone out there might be dealing with pain or loss or a very hairy problem and has forgotten what Christ has given us (besides forgiveness and eternal life). 


Philippians 1:3-6 says, "Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."

Philippians 4:4-9 says, "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d 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."

Those verses are written for you! Yes, for you! Grab hold of them and let them soak into your soul. 






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The useless ones

2/23/2023

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PictureA few of the flowers in my dining room window. Thank you Jesus for flowers!
I read Luke 7 - 8 today. I am amazed at the people Jesus helped -- a popular preacher, a faith healer, a popular teacher with the crowds. Jesus had what so many people in the world crave for -- popularity, fame, a huge following -- but he didn't cater to those at all. If he had he would have acted like most of us humans do today. He would have exploited all that. He would have done miracles for people in power. He would have told them all what they wanted to hear. But he didn't do that either. 

Every single person who was healed or addressed by Jesus in the two chapters above were nobodies to society back then: a slave; a widow's son; a prostitute; a 12-year-old girl; and a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and had been taken advantage of by every single physician she sought for help. We don't understand in our society how useless society saw all these people:
** a slave -- you could get another.
** the widow's son -- too bad for her.
** a prostitute -- filthy of society
** a girl -- just going to grow up to be a woman
** a woman who was unclean and helpless -- just a drain on society.

Yet, what makes these people different is that Jesus loved them. Jesus saw them as individuals. Jesus saw their needs and filled them. The woman who had bled for 12 years he addressed as "Daughter." That was specific for her need. For some reason that role was one that needed addressed in her. With the prostitute, he took time to address the pharisee in the room who had already dismissed her as filth and who was judging Jesus at the same time. While addressing Simon about her, he elevated her -- he drew attention to the service she was doing him that Simon the pharisee hadn't. She washed his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair. He hadn't anointed Jesus with olive oil while she anointed his feet with perfume, very likely her most precious thing in the world. Only after justifying her verbally to the man who was condemning her, then did Jesus address her and tell her she is forgiven. 

Oh, if we all could have the compassion Jesus had (and has) to the least of us. To those society throws away. Maybe during this season of Lent, the compassion of Jesus is something we all could pray for, could ask to be given. For it is God's will for us to be like Jesus. If you like you could pray this prayer: "Father God, please open my eyes and heart, my ears, my mind to those who need your compassion. Show them your love through me. Amen."

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Mr. Tattoo is not "woke"

2/11/2023

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Hawken and I have been watching Fantasy Island on the Tubi App recently. I can hear some of you laughing. Or maybe it is the loud eye rolling you are doing. Yet, hear me out. If an episode is too corny, we skip it, but all in all they are really good. The fantasies always have morals. The show promotes traditional values (which were the values of the day when it was made). And it is kind of fun to see actors long ago who were on the show. Sure, some of it can be goofy, but yesterday we watched an episode where Tattoo was in charge of finding a family for a little baby boy. He fell in love with the boy himself and told Mr. Roark he wanted to adopt him. 

Later, Tattoo had second thoughts and told Mr. Roark he had to do what was best for the baby. He said, "I can give him all sorts of material things, but I can't give him a mother or brothers and sisters." 

It was touching, and it was also the truth. Sadly, you won't hear that kind of statement on TV shows or in movies today because it goes against WOKE thought. How did we get to where we are today?

There's also a lot of reference to God in the show. Some think Mr. Roark is an angel. Maybe he is. 

I remember watching the show as a kid. It always came after Love Boat on Saturday nights. I thought it would be so cool to go to Fantasy Island and have a fantasy granted. I don't know what mine would have been, but if I could have one today, I would want to see a glimpse of heaven. I'd want to see Maggie, our daughter, enjoying herself in heaven. I'd want to see Jesus face-to-face. I'd want memories of heaven that I could share with others. Yet, mere words from my mouth would not be able to convey its beauty and love. So, maybe what the Bible tells us about heaven is enough. If we needed to know more, God would make sure we knew more. 

What are you thinking about these days? A friend sent me and Hawken friendship bracelets and some heart stickers for Valentine's Day (and two heart ornaments I hung on some house plants). Her thoughtfulness makes me feel loved!

I guess that is it. I hope you go to church soon. Jesus has something to say to you there. Watching it online is not a substitute. It really isn't. You need fellowship with other Believers. And they need to see you. 

​You are loved!
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Learning all the time

2/4/2023

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Picture
Cultivate a love of learning because it will give you joy all your days! I believe in heaven we will be learning forever -- there is never an end to God and His creation! What a joyful thought! 

What have you learned this week? 

I learned many things, but two things stand out. First, after you no longer have children for tax deductions you need to be very aware of how much federal tax is being taken out in the beginning of the year from your jobs that supply you a W2 or it will bite you in the butt when you file! But again, it is a lesson learned and God supplies all we need. We found out unfortunately two of our jobs had no tax taken out which made us owe the government. I don't mind paying. The government, despite the rampant corruption (and sadly I have found out it is also in our South Dakota government) there are still good people our taxes fund to keep our society running (that doesn't mean I won't be smarter this year about being aware of what is being taken out and what I need to pay every quarter to the IRS). 

Second, I watch my husband and I am so thankful for him. Since he is not a full-time teacher anymore, it is so apparent to me (and maybe to others) how God is using him with his powerlifting team and our church family (and others who call him to talk) and anyone who watches his sermons. I stay mostly in the background, but what I realized is that me being in the background is an important part of Shannon's ministry. He is free to minister more because of what I do here at home. So many years of our marriage I had guilt about not making my share of the money for our household, so I worked doubly hard doing whatever needed doing at home. I was trying to "earn my keep." Shannon never thought that. It was just my own hang-up. That attitude took away some of my joy of simply being alive and having some great kids (and their friends coming over daily after school for cookies). Thankfully, there is grace for all of us!

It is no surprise to any of you (unless this is the first time you've been here and haven't checked out any of my other pages) that I have a mental illness. It is controlled most of the time -- haven't had any episodes for a very long time. For that I am so appreciative to Jesus Christ. If you have a mental illness you need to be proactive. You need to figure out what works for you so you can function and be the person God has created you to be. Only you can really know what you need to be in a good place mentally. That doesn't mean others can't help you. You need a good support system. But you have to communicate with your support system about what will help you function well. God made your mind the way it is for His glory. He never intended you to be a victim of it.

Anyway, that was a rabbit trail! Yet, it does apply in a broad sense. What I wanted to tell you is that the revelation I got about Shannon's ministry really changed me the last couple of days. I knew I was part of our team. And I no longer felt I like I had to "earn my keep." I got over that several years ago (I am going to be 55 this year -- you'd hope I learned it by my mid-50s). But one of the things that goes with bipolar disease is that there is a fatalistic streak in me that often wishes life would be over. Sometimes it is because of despair. Sometimes (the worst times) are because of mental torment that is excruciatingly painful -- such that you just want the pain to stop. But what happened to me because of a health situation that showed up suddenly 3 a.m. Friday, was I realized Shannon couldn't do what he does if I were no longer here. So, even though the health situation probably will turn out to be hardly anything, no matter what, I will do what I can to be healthy and stay on this earth so Shannon can continue to be used by Jesus Christ. 

(The painting featured above is called "Ginger in the Wind." I painted it years ago. A wonderful lady in central South Dakota owns it.)

And because I need to share at least one Bible verse, here is Psalm 18:2: 

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."


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A way to pray

1/30/2023

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Picture
Time in prayer and time in scripture will never be time wasted. And if you combine the two you will get double the benefit. What if 2023 became the year where you started a regular prayer practice? I call it a practice because like anything, we get better the more we do it.

There are no rules about prayer (if there was one, it would be to come to God honestly and vulnerably knowing that is how He calls us to approach Him). 

During the next few weeks, our Adult Sunday School class will be talking about prayer. We started this week talking about the benefit of structure to our prayers. Structure to our prayers is not necessary, but often it can help. Eugene H. Peterson writes, "Prayer, which we often suppose is truest when most spontaneous -- the raw expression of our human condition without contrivance or artifice -- shows up in Jonah when he is in the rawest condition imaginable as learned . . . Honesty is essential in prayer, but we are after more. We are after as much of life as possible -- all of life if possible -- brought to expression in answering God. That means learning a form of prayer adequate to the complexity of lives."

That form Peterson refers to is the book of Psalms. N.T. Wright online states, "The use of the Psalms in worship as aids to prayer goes back to the early years of the Christian church."

In A Christianity Today article dated November 9, 2020, Tish Harrison Warren writes, "Reflecting on, memorizing and praying the Psalms also helps us find (ways) that direct our emotions away from self-worship or narcissism and toward God himself. The practice of praying the Psalms teaches us over time that, along with our minds and our wills, our emotions need to be disciplined." 

Also, the emotions can also be discipled like our minds and wills can be.

Early Christians prayed aloud together by reading/reciting the Psalms together daily. One site said they went through the Psalms month after month, five a day. By engaging in this kind of prayer, our prayer language will grow deeper and we ourselves will grow deeper and closer to Christ Jesus. 

If five Psalms a day is too much for you, just pray one Psalm a day. Any amount of time you spend in the Psalms will help develop your emotions in ways that will help you spiritually. 

Back to the reference to Jonah, if you take his prayer which is found in Jonah 2 (click here if you want to read it) you will find many phrases and words that come directly out of the Psalms. Very likely Jonah had been through the Psalms hundreds of times which led to them being incorporated into his own prayer language.

What will you lose if you spend more time in prayer this year? Maybe the better question is: what will you possibly gain if you develop your prayer practice in 2023?

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Happy Bees and winter

1/20/2023

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Picture
"Happy Bees" is off to her home tomorrow. As a painter my goal is to bring joy to people through art. My style isn't everyone's thing. And there are 1000s, maybe 100s of 1000s of artists way more talented than I am, but I do what I do. 

And I think that is what we are all to do. Do what we do and do it with joy and love. Bring the light of Jesus and his love and peace and joy to the world. This world so needs it! 

​I read a devotional this morning by Connie Rowland on the benefits of winter. You can read it here. I want to share a few quotes from it. She writes, "each season has a purpose in maintaining our environment. And winter is an important part of God's plan to

 preserve the earth for our use." And the second one: "God . . . has given us and all of nature this time to rest and prepare for the coming spring...winter, our God-given time of rest."

I searched for wintering and benefits of winter because I've been sleeping more and later in the morning. And I wonder if I should feel guilty about it. I'm moving slower. I'm not bustling around trying to get stuff done. And I think, it is a good thing. I had a bout of pneumonia that took a while to heal -- but God was even in those weeks of recovery. And Lupus is flaring and snow is everywhere and it is sure hard to get the wheelchair to the Suburban in the snow. So, Hawken and I hunker down and thank God for a working furnace and a kitchen that has food. And I think its okay to be slower in winter -- I know our society doesn't think that. Activities continue. Don't quit the race. Conquer winter. Do as much as you do all year long. But is that how God designed life to be like? 

Maybe we are supposed to be cozy in winter. Maybe we are supposed to get needed rest. Maybe we are supposed to be a bit slower and more contemplative; taking time to read God's word and to consider life. 

I just finished a book called 7 Ways to Pray by Amy Boucher Pye. She is an American Believer married to an English Vicar. They live in London. Click here to get a downloadable resource about the 7 ways to pray -- an abbreviated form of the book. I recommend buying the book because there is a lot more involved than the short descriptions of the 7 ways to pray. You can buy it here on Amazon or here at CBD. You can also buy it right off the author's website here. 
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One way that was new to me and will be new to a lot of you is the Imaginative Prayer. I tried it with the handout, but I just didn't get it. After reading about it in the book, I tried again and God spoke to me. It was enlightening and I am thankful for what I learned. 

Why bees in winter (referring to the picture I painted)? For the third time I am going to become a beekeeper. I am going to try anyway. The first two times so many things went wrong. But I've learned a lot and I now have a local person to buy bees from and I am going to redo my top bar bee box starting next month.

So, this has become a rambling mess so I will close. I hope you are pursuing Jesus. I hope you are spending time being creative just for the joy of it. I hope you are letting God love you. I hope you are spending time in His word. He will speak to you through it.

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January 10, 2023 -- relationships

1/10/2023

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It is stunning to think what power one person's words have over another. Some bully others to try and get them to do what they want. Some encourage others to help them be who God created them to be. We choose every time we speak if we are speaking life or death into someone's life. 
PictureThis is Little Duck. He just makes me smile. He looks joyful and fun! May we be like Little Duck! Joyful and fun! Joyful and fun for Jesus!
 If you have children still in the home, it is your job to guide them in the right way. Guide them to follow Jesus.

But other than that, we aren't called to make people do what we think they should do. How do we know what is good for them?

Jesus said something like this to Saint Peter. Pete wanted to know what would happen to John. 

"When Peter saw (John), he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about him?'
     "So this rumor spread to the brothers and sisters that this disciple would not die. Yet, Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, 'If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?'" 

That passage is found in John 21:21-23. Jesus told Pete to mind his own business. What he was doing in John's life was between him and John. It had nothing to do with Pete. 

Years ago, when I was newly married a dear friend sent me a card about being a wife. She told me that God has an individual plan for each of us. And what he is doing in my husband was no business of mine. She said it much nicer, but we have to trust God with the ones we love. Often, what we think they need isn't what they need at all. 

God says share life. Choose life. Give words of life to others. Words of life will be saturated with the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 6:22-23.

As people grow and age they change. Someone we knew as a child is a different person when they are an adult. We don't know their life experiences. We don't know what God is talking to them about. We don't know where their heart is. We must tread lightly when we are dealing with other people's lives. With the best of intentions, we can hinder God in another person's life. Sometimes this is the hardest with adult children. They are still your children and you love them so much. You want the best for them. But we don't know what that is. It takes time to figure out the balance with adult children. Give yourself grace. Give them grace. And with others -- the same goes. If someone asks you for advice well then pray and then share. But don't demand they do what you tell them to do. That isn't friendship or love. That is a boss and employee relationship.

Have you done anything creative this year yet? Just do it -- not to be great at it, but just to enjoy it. What did you like to do as a child? Did you draw? Draw again. Did you fingerpaint? Then do that? Loved playing with playdough. Play with playdough as an adult. Whatever brings you delight, that fun joyful delight -- do that.
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Merry Christmas!

12/24/2022

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PictureShannon, Hawken and I wish you a Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Merry Christmas! This year weather and sickness have changed our plans and many other people's plans. No Christmas Eve service. Yet, Christmas will arrive as always. The hope of the Savior rips through the darkness and lets in the Light of the World! Oh, I pray you know Jesus. I pray you have let that light into your life. 

If not, why not? For some it is pride. For others, it is fear of a life that is diminished, a life that is bound up in rules. These arguments are so far from the truth! Jesus came that we might have "Abundant life!" Life upon life upon life! Everlasting life! The "rules" people see as constricting are not even a thing for one who is in relationship with Jesus. He is our friend. He is our brother. We want to live to please him, and it is not a burden to live a joyous life!

Living for Jesus gives meaning to all things. Nothing is wasted. He doesn't want to make you less, he plans on making you more you than you know is possible. 

It is true that the kind of lifestyles promoted in media and society today across the globe (big time in our country) are not Christian lifestyles. When we make a choice, we naturally exclude other things. If I choose to eat an apple rather than a sandwich, I said no to the sandwich. 

When we choose a way of life we are saying no to other lifestyles. When I chose to marry my husband, that was a choice to be bound to one extraordinary man and no other. 

The Bible is not hate speech. God is love. And in love he puts boundaries up for our own good. He only wants the best for us. 

Be courageous. Choose rightly. Be brave and go against the crowd. Be bold and speak truth. Be strong and choose to love Jesus and people no matter what others say or think. You are worth this. Jesus says you are. 

May 2023 be a year of illumination for all of us as all things and situations can show us Jesus! Oh Lord, open our eyes to you!

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Survival

12/22/2022

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Winter weather has a way of putting us in survival mode. That's really all we can do when winds rush outside blowing snow around; hindering our vision and blocking us in with the white stuff. It sure shows us how frail we humans can be, helpless to the elements when the elements start roaring. 

Job 37:9-10 says, "9 The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. 10 The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen."

Psalm 74:17 says, "It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter."

Yep, this wintry weather is ordained by God. 

Psalm 147:16-18 says, "He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? 18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow." 

Psalm 148:7-8 says, " Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, 8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,"

The snow, the cold, the wind -- all of it is part of God's plan. And if you are living in the middle of it, it is part of his plan for your life too.





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The Ending explains the rest

12/20/2022

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So, you know when you read a book or get involved in a TV drama, some things just don't make sense -- or you come to wrong conclusions, but when the end is revealed (if written well) everything else is explained. You see why that detail was important. You see why that character did what he did. The ending brings meaning to the rest of the story. 

(This is true in our own lives too. Our endings will either bring meaning to our lives or they will peeter out and we will be buried and that's it. Paul tells us to finish the race. Finish strong. I'm putting this in parenthesis because this is not what I wanted to talk about, but maybe someone out there needs to read this part.)

The most perfect story of all is God's story. And we find it being played out through all our lives and through all of creation and through time and beyond time. The ending is already available for us to read, and if we do this, many things will be clear. Yes, Revelation. You gotta read Revelation. We just finished it in Sunday School at our church. We studied it simply. We just read through the text, maybe got a few quotes from authors who have studied the book and some other sources, but we would read it together and discuss questions. No, we didn't answer all our questions. No one can do that. But there are a few things we learned that will help you read it (because you need to read it and you need to read it regularly). Here are a few things we learned:

1. Revelation is not written chronologically. Don't try to read it like each chapter follows the next in time. This book is outside of time but also is part of our time. 

2. There are images that are very scary, and no one really knows what they mean, but we need to be familiar with the text so when it happens, we think, "Aha, that is what it meant in Revelation."

3. This will be controversial, but it doesn't have to be -- just read the text for yourself and decide. But I know after reading and studying the book there is no rapture in there. We aren't being taken out. Not everyone in our Sunday School class agrees with this. People love the Rapture part, and if you want to believe that, go ahead. But I found that when someone holds onto a teaching they were taught outside the Bible, it sure makes things confusing when you read the text because they are trying to find the teaching they were taught.

4. The 1000-year reign is the time when God is going to fulfill lots of promises! This is the Messiah the Jewish people have been waiting for. I have been reading through Isaiah recently and there are so many passages about the 1000-year reign in that book I never noticed before. It brings understanding to texts I have read in the past but didn't really understand.

5. We don't have to be afraid of the end. 

6. God wins. We win. 

7. Finally, we are warned not to add or take away from Revelation. Revelation 22:18 says, "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the books of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book." 

You gotta read it. Read it. Then, read it again. And if you want our Sunday School lessons about Revelation, I can surely send them your way. Just let me know!
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KISS -- from the mouth of babes

12/18/2022

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Isaiah 11 (you can read it here) is one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. I believe it is very possibly referring to the 1000-year-old reign (read Revelation -- all the way through this coming year -- in the first chapter Jesus promises that anyone who reads it will be blessed). Verse 6 in Isaiah 11 says, "The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leoparp will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them."

When Isaiah writes child, he is speaking of the best kind of child -- the one who is still child-like (not childish).

Unfortunately, there is a whole bunch of childish behavior being embraced by our society these days. We all know what childish behavior is: spoiled, self-centered, always wanting your own way; no patience with anyone who disagrees with you; refusing to obey; hating limits; violence, bullying, no possibility of sharing or seeing others as relevent; a lack of compassion for others; a lack of understanding. When we see these qualitiies in our children we try and correct them. Parents want to raise children who are blessings to everyone (I believe). Children raised to be compassionate and understanding; children raised to embrace who God created them to be and follow where he leads.

A couple of weeks ago I got to spend time in MT with my daughter's family. She and her husband have two children, a  three-year-old son and an infant daughter (what gifts they are to me!!!). If you have spent time with children you know they can out of the blue say something that has no bearing on the present conversation. They will say things that, if the words came out of an older person's mouth, the words may shock the hearers. This is part of the joy of children. They cut across bull%&*^t and speak the truth!

My grandson says to me, "You have girl parts. I have boy parts. Mom has girl parts. Dad has boy parts."  I replied, "Yes." And it followed that that is why his Baba and his mom are girls and why he and his dad are boys. Simple. 

And here we come to KISS -- "keep it simple stupid." I did a bit of research on where the KISS method originated. One source said it had been used as early as 1938. And often it applies. Sometimes the simple answer is the right answer. I know with Jesus Christ -- his offer of salvation is simple. Believe in Him and accept his sacrifice for your own sin and you get to go to heaven. Simple. Simple. Simple. 

My grandson's comments reveal to me that KISS is no longer being used in public decisions. This month in Connecticut, a federal judge upheld that a transgender woman could compete in women's sports even though everyone knows it isn't fair to women athletes. A male body is built differently than a woman body and just believe someone says he is no a woman doesn't mean he gave up his male body. There is no way he could even if he wanted to. Here is a link to the story (click here). This trans woman has beat all the women and made new state records. If this trans woman would have competed with people who had the same kind of body that the trans woman has, this individual wouldn't have even placed most likely. By allowing biological males who say they are trans woman compete in women sports, we are throwing up our women athletes to slaughter. We are saying that trans women are more important than biological women. This is wholly political because anyone who would use commonsense would see that this is wrong. My 3-year-old grandson knows that a person with boy parts is a boy. A person with girl parts is a girl. 

If someone wants to be a trans woman, they by all means wear makeup and girl clothes and put on a persona. But don't take over girl sports when in fact you shouldn't be there. The Bible says that women are the "weaker" vessel. When the Bible says "weaker" it means we weren't fashioned in a way that gives us the physical strength of men. We have other gifts. And the Bible goes on to say that women should be treated as treasures -- like how you would treat a priceless treasure -- with special handling and protection. 

Where has our common sense gone? Why have we allowed a radical group take over and push their agenda onto our society? Why are we all who know better staying silent? If we stay silent, our women athletes will no longer be able to compete anywhere. 

Oh, please speak up! Let us stand by our women athletes. They have gifts. They inspire others. They cannot be allowed to be thrown out of the playing field. 
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Sweet Light

12/15/2022

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Here, on the Rez, the wind's blowing and snow's been falling. Yesterday, the snow was almost knee-high -- just shy of the top of my boots. Shannon's going to try and get out today -- we'll see how good his 6.0 4WD diesel truck does in deep snow. He wants to move some bales and he's officiating a wedding in two days. 

The house we live in is so cozy -- every other house we lived in since 1994 always blessed us with winter drafts. I'd diligently put plastic on the windows every fall (for entertainment we could watch the plastic blow in and out when winds were high). 

Not sure why any of that would be interesting to anyone but me, but I got a tangent when I looked out the window! What I really wanted to share with you is this: "Light is sweet, and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun." Ecclesiastes 11:7

And that takes me to Matthew 5:14 where Jesus says, "You are the light of the world." and then he instructs us in verse 16 to "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." 

So, light is sweet -- this world needs a whole lot more authentic sweetness. When was the last time you were around someone you genuinely could say was sweet? That kind of sweetness just melts a heart and makes you smile. I'm not talking about fake syrupy sweetness. The sweetness I'm talking about is genuine love and kindness. Gentleness. A contented peace. Loving just to love with no thought of reward or payback. This world needs more of this. 

We all can be genuinely sweet. What melts you? Watching a baby sleep? Holding or feeding a baby? Seeing someone you haven't seen for so long that you have longed to see? A surprise call or visit from someone you love? An unexpected present that is so you? 

Whatever it is, do it for others. This world, well, the world we hear about in media and all over social sites and TV is cruel and selfish and lustful and not at all sweet. We don't need any more of that. People don't need any more of what the world throws at us. 

Think about being that sweet light now and in the coming year. Let's make our worlds better. Let's not add to the violent rhetoric that permeates all the airways.

"Jesus loves you this I know for the Bible tells me so."

Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. at the Dupree Baptist Church -- hope to see you there.
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Sometimes it's okay to do it just for others

12/12/2022

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So, if you are a Believer and are really committed to loving Jesus, you are one of those people who want to do all things for Jesus. You live for Jesus. You eat and drink for Jesus. You do dishes for Jesus. You clean house for Jesus (well, I try on that one -- but sadly, I will always be lacking in this category). You love others for Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God."

I love that verse. Jesus first. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

Yet, sometimes, if something isn't against Jesus but it makes others happy, it is fine just to do it.  

For the last couple of years, I decided I was done dyeing my hair. I am 54 and I thought -- I can go gray. And of course I can. Jesus didn't care one way or the way. It was my decision. Totally my decision. My husband loves me no matter what and thinks I look just fine no matter what color my hair is. 

But a month or so ago, a dear friend gave me a gift to put toward getting my hair done. I caved. I was fine being gray, but if it meant so much to someone who loves me, I thought, okay. 

And guess what -- it has made a few people very happy. Who knew a decision about hair would be such a big deal to a few people who love me? It was still my decision, but if it makes them happy, why not do it. As I said Jesus doesn't care what color my hair is. Jesus doesn't care if my hair is curled or in its natural state -- stick straight. It wasn't that these dear ones didn't accept me with graying hair. They did. But for some reason they smile when they see me with brown hair. So, for a while (don't know how many years I'll keep dyeing my hair) I'll keep these people smiling by putting a bit more effort into my appearance.

It's okay, very okay, to do things to make people happy. Just don't start living in such a way that you want people's approval. That is a big trap from the enemy, a trap that will always catch you; a trap that will get in the way of living for Jesus.

I hope you have a beautiful and meaningful Christmas as we close out 2022. And if you are still reading you probably know me and I will give you a short update on my household:

It is just me, Shannon and Hawken now. Me and my boys. Son Pete will come home for a few days, but other than that it is just the three of us. We have a Christmas Eve service at Dupree Baptist at 4 p.m. (We've done this for years now. All are invited and it is my favorite service of the year -- if you are in the area that day, please join us. We end with candlelight; and there will be some lovely, lovely music). 

​Merry Christmas!


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     Who is Jane Hinrichs?

    Jane is a wife, a mom, a writer, an artist, a lover of the Word of God. She has been studying the Bible since 1987 and has been writing about it almost since then. She loves to hear from her readers. Email her at:
    JaneHinrichs@mail.com

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