Until we look at the world the way it really is we will continue to be tripped up. Somewhere in our minds we seem to think if we do all the right things things will turn out for us. That's a wrong perspective, one that will cause us to fall into holes of despair over and over again. And then there is also the strange thinking we get that if we become Believers that God will keep all the bad things from happening -- that if we just act like good little Christians He will make sure the world behaves. 

This is wrong too. Both of these perspectives are really the same. They both revolve around the mistaken notion that the world revolves around us and what we do. No, no, no. We gotta get out of this mindset. 

Put your fairy tale mindset on and you will be able to see (yes, you read that right). All of us, good and bad, believers, athiests, agnostics, people of other religions, are in the same world. It is the world of a dark and scary filled with lots of unknown, magical stuff enchanted forest. Yes, an enchanted forest. It is filled with malevolent forces. It is filled with things that can make it look glittery and will hypnotize us to eat the magic mushrooms and fall asleep in it or lull us into thinking it is something it isn't. Bad things and good things happen to everyone in this forest. The difference for the Believer is that we know when the bad things happen that Father God will help us with them. When the evil forces throw things at us, Father God will be able to turn those situations around so His light will shine. Without Him the darkness and the evil deeds can consume a person. 

But we gotta give the Father time to act. If we try to fix it ourselves in a panic, we will mess it up. We have to take a breath and plug into God and His wisdom and He will guide us through the bad parts so when we get past them we won't be depleted of strength but will be renewed. That is miraculous! 

Often we Believers don't allow God to do this. We stumble through the bad parts. We might even resent God cause we wonder why He let this bad thing happen. We do this because we have that wrong perspective about being the center of our worlds. In a dark, enchanted forest bad things happen to everybody. And this is our world. 

Of course the world we inhabit doesn't look like an enchanted forest (remember, it is enchanted). It looks ordinary. Don't let it fool you. The real dark forest is the unseen realm. This is what we are walking through without realizing it. 

Be happy and joyful and enjoy life. At the same time know that bad things will happen. This is life. But God will get you through to an even better place afterwards if you let Him. These are the situations He really shines in because the dark forces are caught off guard (Ahhh! We are foiled again). 

​

You know when it happens because you can feel it. And maybe I'm the only one who wants this and it sounds so childish. It sounds like I should be above it, but then I read Psalm 68:4 today. In The Message it says, "Sing hymns to God; all heaven, sing out; clear the way for the coming of the Cloud-Rider. Enjoy GOD, cheer when you see him!"

I love that "Cloud-Rider" name. That is God! Who else can ride clouds! But the last part is what I want to talk about, the "Enjoy GOD, cheer when you see him!" part. 

Wait! Back the truck up. What am I talking about? What can you feel when it happens? Okay, here it is: when I am with people I want them to enjoy being with me. I want to enjoy being with them. That's an indication of some good fellowship. Just enjoying each other. I thought about that when Psalm 68 commands us to simply, "Enjoy GOD, cheer when you see him!"

That's really what praise is about -- enjoying God. You know, I think we all want to be enjoyed. We don't want people to feel obligated to be around us. We don't want people to feel like they HAVE to spend time with us. I don't want that anyway. I don't want to hang out with anyone who doesn't want to hang out with me. Maybe God is the same way (but not in a self-centered way; in a perfect kind of way)? 

Jesus does say he would rather have us cold or hot -- not lukewarm. What's lukewarm except that we think we HAVE to be there. We aren't excited. We aren't passionate. We aren't really desiring to be with Him, but we feel we must be with Him. 

My son Hawk is great at this kind of discernment. He knows when someone is uncomfortable around him or sees him in pity or sees him like he is somehow not all there. Even though he doesn't talk or communicates in ways most people can understand, he understands what they are communicating to him. It doesn't get past him. If someone doesn't have time for him he doesn't have time for them. But when someone takes the time to genuinely talk to him he will respond. 

Do you want to be with Jesus, Father and Spirit? They know if you do. I think deep down everyone wants to be with God. He created us to be in relationship with Him, but worldly desires, cravings and lusts get in the way of what's really important and if we focus on the stuff the world says is important we can't enjoy God. Life is so much better when we come to the place where we enjoy Him; where we enjoy being with Him. Are you there yet? 

To enjoy hanging out with someone means you kind of get in sync with them. You kind of are on the same rhythm, the same understanding, maybe? 

We have a German student staying with us for ten days. This was not my idea. Not that I don't want visitors, but when someone stays with you for a while life is interrupted and routines change; things are done differently. This isn't all bad. Some of it can be quite good (which I have found out). But when told we were going to do this I sighed big-time. See, our life has a very solid routine. As I see it played out with a visitor around I think this is because of Hawken and my care for him. It works for us, but I was so afraid someone else coming in for 10 days would be bored out of his mind. I can let "Entertainer Jane" out for a few hours, even for a few days (which I often do if someone is just here for two days or if I go visit family), but E.J. is exhausting to Everyday Jane. I knew I couldn't let E.J. reign for ten whole days. 

Well, the time is going okay (even though we had two snow days this week -- wow -- snow days in early October). I think our guest is a bit shy but he's coming out of his shell and I think he is getting comfortable with us. I've seen him smile a lot and laugh. I don't know if our life is anything like what he thought an American household was like (maybe I'll ask him that today). 

Oswald Chambers writes, God "has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined in His ways . . . Spiritual truth is learrned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not through intellectual reasoning." 

We're told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

How can we do that? we might wonder. "Always" and "without ceasing" is every second, every nanosecond of the day and night.

I think it gets down to this notion of Enjoying God. If we stay aware of His presence we can enjoy Him as we go about our lives. For then He is part of it all and that is what He wants. Not for Himself, but for us! When we let Him be part of all we do everything takes on real meaning, real purpose; the load of life is lifted from our shoulders and given to Christ. Everything is better when God is involved. Everything. Joy is more profound. Grief is easier to bear. Challenges are no longer impossible because God always makes a way through them or over them or under them. Everything is better. We can enjoy others more when God is there because He loves them so very much. He can give us understanding and love for absolutely anyone and everyone. And He will if we let Him. 

For the last few months my posting on this blog has lessened. For years I've been posting several times a week, but this year it has become once a week and now it has become less than once a week. This last time it has been three weeks since I've posted. It isn't that I don't want to post. I love writing. I write daily in my journal. I read many, many books (which good writers do). I long to write. And I have a dream of writing in such a way to reach a huge audience for Jesus. I have ideas for books. I've started and stopped. But lately I just think it doesn't matter anymore. If I never write another book life will continue and life is still very, very good. Great really. I have a beautiful grandson. Being a grandma is such a lovely gift from God. For years I was not content in my role as a caregiver because I was looking at it wrong. Thinking I needed to contribute in a "bigger" way to make my life count. That is thought influenced by the world's values. Our lives count just because God created us to be loved by Him and to love Him and others. That's it. We count because we are God's. Because He chose to create us from nothing. Just from His words and love. 

Thank you for reading my blog. I will continue to post but it might continue to be just once every couple weeks. I invite you to click on some of the several (way too many) categories that are listed on the side. There are some very good blog posts that might speak to you. Enjoy the people in your life. And let them enjoy you. And most importantly, enjoy Jesus. Enjoy Father. Enjoy Spirit! 

It's been 15 days since I posted on this blog. I have no excuse. God's been working. He works all the time in our lives. He never quits. And I've been learning.

I've learned what it's like to be a grandma. I became one for the first time September 11th. 

I always learn in Adult Sunday School. Some might find this funny. I'm the teacher (the one who leads the discussion anyway), but in our discussions comes revelation often. There are so many reasons we are called to walk in faith in a church family. We sharpen each other spiritually and emotionally (in a good way). If your church doesn't feel like a family, either get involved and find that family connection or find a church body where it feels like a family to you. And it might not be the church where the rest of your biological/adopted family go. It might be a totally different church. You need to grow spiritually. The right church family will help in this. 

I'm having one of those funny-feeling afternoons. I haven't had one of these for a long time. I didn't miss it. It's kind of like a feeling of dread or anxiety or yucky awkwardness. It causes me to want to hide, not to leave the house, to escape the feeling somehow. I can't though. It will go when it goes.

I've been thinking about growing in Jesus. John 15:5 says, "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant."

"Intimate and organic."

Doesn't that make you think? An organic growth is one that grows out naturally and with flexibility and creativity. It's not forced. It can't be made to happen.I want this kind of growth for me and my husband and every single one of my children (and my son-in-law and grandson and my future-daughter-in-law and whoever else joins our family). But, I can't force anyone to grow (even myself). As our children grow into adulthood we parents need to set boundaries and rules and gradually give them more and more freedom. But once they are adults our hands have to come off. We might not like their choices, but that is between them and God. God says our job as parents is over in the sense of structure and rules and guidance (unless they ask for it). We've gotta let Him work without trying to interfere (parents love to interfere). We have to let them make mistakes and let God help them sort it out. God tells us to trust Him with our adult children. We can pray. Those prayers will be answered. 

Euguene H. Peterseon writes in his Message Bible Devotional, "Every movement we make in response to God has a ripple effect, touching family, neighbors, friends, community. Belief in God alters our language. Love of God affects our daily relationships. Hope in God enters into our work. Also their opposites -- unbelief, indifference, and despair. None of these movements and responses, beliefs and prayers, gestures and searches, can be confined to the soul. They spill out and make history." 

Have you though that you are making history in how you respond or don't respond to God and His work in your life? You are. I am. Things are happening. Good things. Even when it looks like nothing is going on, God is at work.

We humans fear. I think we are told "Do Not Fear" in the Bible like 600 times (or it might be a whole lot more, but 600 comes to mind). The feeling of fear rushing into us in an unknown situation is natural. There's nothing wrong with that. The problem comes when we choose to hold onto that fear. 

After that initial feeling, we can say and choose, "I will not fear. I choose to believe God will get us through this." Or, just say, "I choose to believe in God!" Or, "I will not fear! I will believe."

And then, you have to hold onto that belief as hard as you sometimes hold onto worry. Come on. We all are great worriers by nature. We can worry for hours and days on end on something that will probably never happen. Why not use that energy, that will to hold onto belief rather than worry? It's in the choice where we choose to obey or sin. Choosing fear is sin. Choosing to believe is obedience. Jesus says in John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." 

I want to share a quote from Eugene H. Peterson from his devotional bible. It is about choosing to live by faith. Here goes:

"Faith has to do with marrying the invisible and the visible. When we engage in an act of faith as Caleb did (see Numbers 14), we give up insisting that head knowledge is our primary means of understanding. Faith isn't a conclusion we come to simply on the basis of what we see. It's a conclusion we come to on the basis of who God is. And that, fusing of the visible with the invisible gives us a different way of looking at the world around us. It's often said that living by faith is a risky way to live. What isn't so often said is that living by sight has risks too. Even greater risks."

Tomorrow our son Hawken turns 20 years old. If you know me you know him. And if you've read my stuff for a long time you know about him. Real quick for those who don't: Hawken was born typically. Beautiful 8 pound 15 ounce baby with big eyes and a load of dark hair. I was in love (again). At 3 1/2 months he started having seizures. Fast forward to today, he's been my constant companion since. We tried kindergarten it just didn't work out well (he can't talk or walk or hold things or communicate in a way most people can understand). When he was a tiny tot we put him on a special diet in hopes of controlling his seizures. When his birthday came around I made him a special cheesecake because this went with his diet. My first attempt. The entire family realized we love cheesecake.

It's been a very, very long time since he's been on that diet (but he has a new medication that has dramatically taken down his seizures recently and now he laughs and smiles and smirks and howls with joy), but we kept having cheesecake and so I have perfected my own very easy cheesecake recipe.

I am going to share this recipe with you and I hope you will try it (if you like cheesecake). It's easy. Very easy. And very, very delicious (and it is traditional cheesecake -- not the whipped cream kind..though that kind is good too). I make a 9 x 13 pan of it because a typical pie pan just isn't big enough (so the recipe is for a  9 x 13 cake pan).

Jane's Traditional Cheesecake

2 1/2 sleeves of honey graham crackers (this is almost the entire box)
1 1/2 sticks of melted butter
4 packages of cream cheese very softened
3 large eggs
1/4 cup sugar 
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla 

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease the pan.
3. Put melted butter in bowl.
4. Fine crumb the graham crackers. Add to butter. Mix thoroughly.
5. Add 1/4 cup sugar to the mix (but even do a little less than 1/4 -- maybe like a 1/6th of a cup). Mix it in.
6. Press this mixture into the greased pan going up on the sides, making it even.
7. Bake for about 10 or so minutes. Take out and let totally cool.
8. Turn off the oven (cause you won't be using it for a while. I often do the crust in the morning and then do the cake part in the afternoon).

Now for the cake body (after you know the crust is totally cooled -- don't shortcut this):
1. Put all the cream cheese into clean bowl. Mix thoroughly until very smooth.
2. Add eggs. Mix until totally mixed and smooth.
3. Add 3/4 cup sugar and the vanilla. Mix thoroughly. 
4. Add to crust and smooth out.
5. Turn oven on to 300 degrees F.
6. Put in cake.
7. Now, here is the part you have to watch -- it takes a couple of hours to cook (or something like that). Just watch it periodically. Everyone's oven is different. When it becomes tan around the edges of the cake body it is done. You should also be able to touch top easily. You can stick a toothpick in it. It should come out clean.
8. Now for the patient part -- you have to let it refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Yes, 6 hours! You should make this the day before you need it. My husband tried it once when it had only been in the refrigerator for 3 hours and it just wasn't as good. So seriously, wait -- do it the day before.

And that is it! As I said it isn't hard, it just takes some time. Serve with canned cherry pie filling if you like (we do). 

And for those who didn't see my Facebook post, I want to say this again. People see me and my husband caring for Hawken and think we are something special. We aren't any more special than anyone else (I was going to say we aren't special, but God has created each of us beautifully -- everything God makes is special and wonderful and lovely and so on). And some may think it has been a huge sacrifice for me to care for my son Hawken daily his whole life. I've changed diapers daily since August of 1995 when my oldest son was born (except for during the trips I made to Bulgaria and Russia). One thing I can say is that I am an expert diaper changer.

There have been periods in my life I've been discontent, but that wasn't my son's fault. That was me looking in wrong directions and trying to figure out things that God had under His control (and didn't need my help). Or, I'd condemn myself thinking if I was more industrious I could be making an income at home (and sometimes that has happened, but more often not). And there have been days I've needed a break (like all caregivers do -- if there is a caregiver in your family, maybe you can give that caregiver a break -- just a few hours would be nice). But all in all, it is a privilege to care for my son. He is a delight. And really (and I know most of you won't believe this) he has taken care of me all these years (along with my husband). I have a mental illness (which is controlled most of the time with lifestyle choices and medication) and there have been times life has been very dark and depressive. I've had depressions that have lasted for several months. And all the while Hawk and his constant, quiet presence has sat with me and reminded me I need to stay on this earth until God says it is time for me to go. When will that be? I have no idea. None of us do. 

We humans (Americans especially I think) sometimes judge people on how they benefit society in a tangible, monetary or service way. Thinking our worth is in what we do. Thinking we only benefit our world by producing stuff or money or whatever. There's nothing wrong with any of that, but that isn't where our worth lies. Our worth lies in the fact that we were created by God to be in relationship with Him. He created us because He loves us and wants to hang out with us. He wants to be part of our lives. God shines through Hawken in a way He can't shine through anyone else. Hawk benefits our family and our church and everyone who sees him just because he is alive. Each one of us affects the people in our worlds. We are all so interconnected. Funny -- we at the same time think we need to "benefit" our society but then we also want to be fiercely independent thinking only in that is someone wholly human. I recently read a book where the author wrote that unless someone is sexually active that person isn't a whole person. Obviously, that isn't true. As Horton the elephant (one of my favorite characters) says, "A person's a person no matter how small." 

We can't say a person has to be able to do "_________" in order to live a full human life. Think of a child who lives just a few hours. There's purpose for that child. That child was loved (and still is). Love is a purpose. To be loved is a purpose. We are all to be loved. Loving someone else changes us. I know loving Hawken has changed me. Loving each of my children has changed me. Loving my husband has changed me. Loving Jesus has changed me most of all (but in loving others we love Jesus too -- what we do to others we do to Jesus). 

Oh boy -- I just meant to give you the recipe. If you are still reading I guess you wanted to keep reading. If you make the cheesecake don't eat the whole thing yourself. You'll get a stomachache (and always eat it cold). 

Am I a prophet? I don't think so. But I know that God has givenyou three things to do today. Yes, you. I don't know your name and I don't know where you live, but I know God's will for you on this day, this very important day He has given you to live. Each one of us who reads this will live God's will out differently because we each are in different places and times. I am writing this Thursday, August 29, 2019. You might read this today. Or you might this two years from now. But God will use these words that tell His will for us every time you read them. Here is His will for you today:

"for right now, until that completeness (when we see ourselves and God clearly in heaven), we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagently. And the best of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Did you get it? Trust God steadily. Hope in Him and His goodness unswervingly. Love Him and people extravagently. 

That is our focus. That is what our lives are to be like. 

We need to do this for ourselves. Only living like this can we tap into who God created us to be.

People need us to trust and hope and love wholly because there are too many people who don't trust God or anyone; who don't have any hope; who have never experienced real love.

The world needs us (no matter what we hear). The world (meaning the world system, not creation) sends out messages of fear and distrust and discontent. Trust and hope and love are so much more powerful than fear and distrust and discontent. 

Later in the same chapter I quoted it says, "Love never fails." 

That is the divine love we all can be part of if we allow God to love through us. This is true success. This is true life. 

1 Corinthians 14:1 goes on to say, "Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it -- because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth." 

You have abilities and gifts God has given you to spread His love and truth. Those gifts are needed. The world needs to see them in action. God's people need to see them in action. Don't compare your gifts to anyone else's. Don't desire someone else's gifts. Yours were uniquely created for you to work with who you were created to be and work through you to proclaim God's truth and love to all. 

Don't take this lightly. This is vital to you and to everyone around you. To me! I challenge you to use your gifts. 

(Okay, so you say, you have no idea what your gift(s) are. Answer these questions:
1. When you were a young child what did you love to do?
2. What do you seem to understand or get quicker than others do?
3. What does another person do that makes you feel very much loved? 
4. What kinds of activities do you lose track of time doing -- not the zoned out kind of losing track of time but the fully alive kind of losing track of time?
5. What needs do you see in your church? In the world you inhabit?

If you've answered those questions and you still can't figure out what your gift is or not sure, email me here. I'll help you figure it out. 

Whether you've read his Canterbury Tales or not, you've probably heard of Geoffrey Chaucer. I thought of him and his tales today -- not that I'm a huge fan. He's got a sharp wit and imagination and quite a lot of humor, but one year I thought I'd read through The Canterbury Tales (which I must admit are pretty amazing since they date back to the Middle Ages and are quite sophisticated and imaginative) and had to quit because they are just too bawdy for me. But they are brilliant. Twenty-nine pilgrims are walking along together on a pilgrimage to Canterbury. There are men and women pilgrims, laypeople and clergy, a knight and merchants. As they walk along together most of them tell their personal tales to each other. 

The reason I brought this up (and now that I've written this maybe I'll try and finish the book. You can click here to read the tales if you) is because some of what I read today in the Bible reminded me of The Canterbury Tales. In Eugene H. Peterson's Bible Translation The Message, two verses in Ephesians stuck out to me. Ephesians 4:1 says, "I want you to get out there and walk -- better yet, run! -- on the road God called you to travel."

The second one is Ephesians 4:4. It says, "You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly."

I wonder if unity would happen more often if we took the time to tell each other our tales and listen to others tell theirs? Instead, I think we often go to church and are quick to leave to get to the things we have planned for that day. There's nothing wrong with plans, but I wonder if maybe we should be investing in our brothers and sisters more of our time?

One thing about Chaucer's tales -- the people are quite honest and forthright about personal stuff. They don't hold anything back. We in today's society often hide behind nice masks afraid to really share what we need to share. 

Jesus wants us in His church to experience unity (that doesn't mean we agree on everything. That just means we love each other and not allow anything to take that love for each other away). In John 17:20-21 Jesus says, "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me." 

Unity between Believers will cause the world to believe that the Father sent Jesus! That is powerful!!

You know you should read the Bible, but you don't usually. Maybe never. Maybe it is because it is a big book full of a whole bunch of words and you don't know where to start. Maybe you've tried in the past and it confused you and so you are afraid to try again. Maybe it's just cause you have tried when you're tired and really just wanting to relax. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

I don't know why you don't read the Bible, but I want to encourage you to try again (or for the first time). The Bible is different from every other book ever (or will ever) be written. It is living. Seriously! You don't need to feed or water it. It is self-sufficient. But, it will change you (for the better) if you give it time. It truly is filled with words straight from God's mouth! Words from the Creator of the Entire Universe! You won't regret any time you spend in it. I guarantee this. And God will give you the time back you spend trying to get to know Him better. 

So! Here we are! What now? Get your Bible and ask God to open your heart to hear from Him. 

Now, below I've listed the 15 shortest books in the Bible in descending order. I believe I got them right, but even if I didn't the ones I list are very short!

What if you took this list and told yourself I am going to read these 15 books by the end of the year. That sounds like a lot until you realize how short they are. The shortest one is just a few paragraphs long. The longest one on this list is just four pages long! If you can read you can read this list. Here is the list:

1. 3 John
2. 2 John
3. Philemon
4. Jude
5. Obadiah
6. Titus
7. 2 Thessalonians
8. Haggai
9. Nahum
10. Jonah
11. 2 Peter
13. Joel
14. 1 John
15. James

Now, there is no shame in using the Table off Contents! I do and I've been reading the Bible daily since 1988 (If you happen to be part of the church I attend I plan on giving everyone a copy of this list this coming Sunday). 

Reading other people's thoughts on scripture is good. Listening to people speak about scripture and God and His principles is good, but none of this can take the place of you personally getting into the Word. God wants to speak to you directly.

Romans 15:4 says, "Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us."

Replace the word "us" with your name. It was written for you.  

And here you go -- my guarantee. If you read the Bible and regret it, email me here. I'll do something for you. And if you don't have a Bible let someone know who can get you a copy. Or, email me about that too. I'll help you figure it out. But if you are on the internet you can access the Bible in tons of different version at Biblegateway.com. 

It is a relief to know it isn't about us. When you know life doesn't revolve around you, around your successes and failures, you can relax. You can just take part in life and not be concerned about other people's opinions or reactions. If you are conscious of whose story it is then you just need His approval for the part you are playing in it. 

Daniel 2:44 says, "But throughout the history of these kingdoms, the God of heaven will be building a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will this kingdom ever fail under the domination of another. In the end it will crush the other kingdoms and finish them off and come through it all standing strong and eternal."

Eugene H. Peterson writes, "All human kingdoms are indeed in decline, including your kingdom and mine. Only what is done for God's kingdom will last. And the sooner we shift the center of trust from what we're doing to what God is doing, the better off we'll be, both here on earth and hereafter in eternity."

God has placed you exactly where you are in life. What you are part of is important to His kingdom and purposes even if no one else sees what you're doing. I've been a full-time caregiver for years, but it took me a very long time to be truly content in being a caregiver. It isn't that I didn't love my son. It isn't that I didn't want to care for him. It is that while caring for him I felt alone and insignificant. Thankfully God kept at me on the topic of contentment. Being a full-time caregiver isn't for everyone but I am content in this life, in this role of caring for another person 24 hours a day. No one but God sees what I do all day. And that's okay. I'm doing it for Him.

What about you? Are you content in the life you have been given? Have you found purpose in it? 

You can, you know.

Being content where you are doesn't mean you can't pursue other things or stay where you are forever. God is the God of dreams too. Maybe where you are is a temporary situation. You can be content in that while looking forward.

Being content is a spiritual work. And when we are content we can be conscious we are part of God's plan. 

I'm learning something this summer that makes me feel quite silly or stupid or ...well, it is pretty much a humbling experience. See, for like 20 years I've gardened every summer (I skipped one summer in there due to moving). Sometimes my gardens do okay. Sometimes parts of them do really well while other parts don't yield much of anything. And I committed myself to continue gardening even though my results are just so-so because I enjoy it and we do get some  good produce (last year the tomatoes we grew were so tasty).

This year at the insistence of an older gardening friend my husband started putting this special fertilizer on our garden once a week. We started this really because our older friend was persistent with his gardening enthusiasm. We thought, what could it hurt? 

It hasn't hurt at all. In fact our garden is exploding with color and produce and beauty!

​I took these two photos a few minutes ago before 7 a.m. We planted a few too many zucchini plants (but my husband is loving zoodles) and it can be difficult to find the zucchini. But that makes it like a treasure hunt! If my bees had survived they would been buzzing around the garden these days (though I saw a couple of honey bees buzzing around me earlier this week. I put some more lemongrass oil in my beebox in hopes of attracting a swarm....you never know). 

Why do I share this silly revelation with you today? 

Because it is a good reminder to me (and maybe to you too) that God gave us brains to use in all we do. Having a "green thumb" for gardening isn't a magical thing or a gift God infuses some with (though it probably comes a bit easier for us just like all things). Engaging our brains and learning into things we do can only help and may give us greater understanding in God's creation and creativity. 

I think we humans sometimes try new things that have interested us only to quit too early or give up because we don't feel we have the "knack." 

God doesn't call us to be quitters. He wants us to enjoy life and revel in it. 

Ecclesiastes 9:7 and 9 says, "Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes -- God takes pleasure in your pleasure!
"Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!"

God loves to see us enjoying the simple pleasures life gives us. 

Invest in life and people. Enjoy them all. I want to end with a quote I read this morning in a Bible study I am doing called Walk Like Jesus (I recommend it wholly). Author Dann Spader quotes an author named Robert Coleman from Coleman's book The Master Plan of Evangelism. This is what I will share with you. See below:

"The multitudes of discordant and bewildered souls were potentially ready to follow Him, but Jesus individually could not possibly give them the personal care they needed. His only hope was to get men imbued with His life who would do it for Him. Hence, He concentrated Himself upon those who were to be the beginning of this leadership. Though He did what He could to help the multitudes, He had to devote Himself primarily to a few men, rather than the masses, in order that the masses could at last be saved. This was the genius of His strategy."

Maybe you're wondering how this relates to the gardening lesson I shared (I am wondering too). Maybe it gets back to enjoying -- enjoying life and enjoying people. People know if you enjoy being with them. There are tons of people out there who want to be enjoyed, who want to be appreciated; who want to know they are loved. That's what we can do when we invest our time in them. Be their friend.

Jesus has called us His friends if we do what He commands (taken from John 15). We can be friends to others and to His creation (ah! There you go. That is kind of relating to the gardening thing).  

I've been involved in groups of nice people. And I know the feeling when you just don't want to go to the next meeting. You'd rather just stay home. The couch is comfortable. You're tired. You just want to rest. 

But church is different than just another group of nice people -- or at least it's supposed to be different. 

If you see church as just another group of people having a meeting that sometimes can be irrelevent and sometimes can be boring and sometimes is inconvenient, than think on this: church is Jesus's body. Church is meant to be a family.

If you don't feel a connection to the church you sometimes go to, ask yourself why. Is it because it isn't the right fit? Or is it because you haven't invested yourself into it? You have a role. You are needed. The family of God needs you and loves you. 

Jesus says in John 15:17, "But rememer the root commandment: Love one another." 

You need the church family and the church family needs you. Believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and that Holy Spirit will encourage others through you (and if you aren't a Believer you can become one right now. Click here for some help with that). Don't go to a church service expecting to be entertained. That isn't the point. The world is great at entertainment. At church service we are there to worship God and to fellowship with each other. Go to give and you will receive for sure. 

Find a Body of Believers you can commit to; a body of Believers you can love like family; a body of Believers you will engage in, become part of and strengthen. That is when you experience church as it is meant to be. You have gifts to share with the Body to further the kingdom of God, to encourage and to equip others. If you aren't using them in the Body, then there is a hole there. 

I don't know what you can do for the Body of Christ. There is a way though you can become engaged and actually find it to be a whole lot of fun! Really!! 

You don't know how your sharing will affect others. It will profoundly. I guarantee it. 

If you've had bad experiences with church, I understand. Church is just made up of fallible and sinful humans. We mess up. But don't throw out all of church because of a handful of people. Try a different church. Find the one you can become part of. If you go to a mega church you need to be part of a core group of Believers. Otherwise, that will just be entertainment. 

Give church another try. Find one and stick to it. When the pastor gives a mediocre sermon pray for him (pray for him/ her daily -- pastors need it. I know. I'm married to one) rather than criticizing him. He or she is only human. Maybe they had a tough week. When the music isn't to your taste, try to appreciate it for what it is and learn to worship in a new style. Worship doesn't have to be your flavor to be meaningful to you. 

The world is getting crazier and more violent and evil is prevailing in some places. The world needs the church. The world needs the church's light. The world needs the love and moral compass and strength the church can give. And the church needs you.

I lead a summer Bible study for teen girls at my church. We've only met a couple of times so far but each time it has been wonderful. Absolutely an incredible time. It's better than I had even thought it would be. 

But, as I sit in my chair early in the morning drinking my coffee and thinking about the day, a voice in my head tells me I don't really want to go. I'd rather stay home and relax. I'd rather stay home and sit in the sun and just do my thing. 

And, this is true. It is the same feeling we get when we are lying on the couch and just don't want to get up to go do something with others. 

When we succumb to these feelings, when we listen to that voice that tells us going to church this Sunday isn't convenient because we have other stuff we could be doing; when we cancel because it takes a bit of planning to get to that Bible study we are being played. We are being played by the devil and our flesh. People, this is a form of spiritual warfare and when we buy into it we have lost a battle. We are doing exactly what the devil and our flesh want us to do.

Read what I wrote December 2, 2015:

Boy, he and his crew fight dirty. They are rotten and evil and they don't care.
They see the weakness and they jab right into it.
They will use the ones you love the most.
They will use a speck of truth and blow it up into a huge lie that you are seduced into believing.
They will take a seemingly lovely gathering of friends or family and all of a sudden you start bickering and you don't even know why. 
They make it so darn personal so you don't notice it happening. 
They are professionals.
They know how to hide behind the known so we stay right here in this realm and forget about the other. 
It's spiritual warfare folks and it's real.

This is still true. Do we want to be puppets in the hands of the flesh and the devil? Or do we want to fight the good fight and live the way God intended us to live? 

It's our choice.

Yesterday, Hawk and I drove to Rapid City to see his neurologist. We drove the Buick so this means when Hawk is in front with me he can stretch out and even get his feet where the driver's feet go. And he did this while we were in Rapid. With his feet there I couldn't get to the gas pedal. My driving was impaired. I had to move his feet back to his side. The driver is the driver and the passenger is the passenger. 

Yet, I think some of us Believers are doing just what Hawk did to me with God. 

I fear many fellow Believers are not grabbing hold of the hope that is in them to get through situations. If you have a hopeless situation ask God to take over. Invite Him into this situation. Let Him work in it. He will. He won't (almost positive here) work in the way you imagine He will. He will work in a much better and deeper way. God will transform and restoe and bring us to a better place than where we are at. 

We can have hope all the time, but we have to ask God to come into the situation. We have to give up the reins of control and let Him have control. It won't work if we say "Help me Lord" and then proceed to ignore what He tells us and do it our way anyway. 

Every impossible situation is possible through God. He can do anything, but we tie His hands when we have to stay in control. Letting Him work means waiting on Him expectantly. Trusting. Believing. Even suffering in hope and joy knowing He will come through. 

Life isn't hopeless in Jesus Christ. It is full of hope but only if we do it His way. We gotta let Him be in the driver's seat and we slide over to shotgun. We can't say, "Take control, God" and then keep a tight grip on the steering wheel. 

Know what really matters and let go of the rest. 

Do you really want to spend your days being distracted and busy? Just being entertained? 

There's nothing wrong with entertainment. One of my favorite parts of me is "Entertainer Jane." Kids love her. She's goofy. She's loud and fun. Adults can take a bit of her, but you sure don't want to live with her (ask my husband -- Entertainer Jane comes out in full force when a hypomanic episode hits me and she can be downright obnoxious and irritating -- oh and I have realized when I am on the top end of the mania I experience I should NOT write any letters).

Do you want to spend your days worried about what people think about you? People you probably wouldn't give a thought too if they weren't your "friends" on social media? Do you really have that kind of time? Are you using social media to add goodness and love and God's message into the world, or is social media using you and your time and getting you down? Social media can be a very good thing, but it can be a very bad thing too. 

Take this challenge if you dare:

Get in a quiet spot where there are no distractions. Take your Bible and a piece of paper/notebook and pen/pencil. Officially say hello to Jesus and tell Him you're listening. And then listen. You can write out a prayer. You can say a prayer aloud. You can read some scripture aloud. There are no rules here. God isn't going to speak above all the noise we let into ourselves. We have to get quiet. He wants to speak. Actually, He is speaking. We must take time to listen.

And after you do this (and it'd be good to do this every day -- you get closer to someone by spending time with that person. So, if we want to have a deeper relationship with Father, we need to spend time with Him), then list the people you know you want to invest in. Life is about loving God and people. Maybe list someone you have recently met who you know needs Jesus. Maybe you can start praying for that person. If you know Jesus you have the ability to have inner peace all the time! The world can't give inner peace. If you have inner peace and can't remember what it is like to not have it, ask God to remind you. 

After you figure out the people you need to make a priority then think of the activies in your life that add richness to your life; activities that bring you joy, real joy. Those are the ones to keep. If there are activities in your life that drain you, that add nothing good to your life, then consider letting them go. Even if we each have decades of life left, it still isn't much time. 

"What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God." Acts 20:24

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Okay, I was going to title this blog "it isn't difficult" or "It's easy" but then I realized those titles are just not true. It is kind of difficult. It is kind of hard to do, but I am going to tell you how to do it. And I'll be honest -- you will still have a flutter in your heart and you might feel nervous, but isn't something important worth those feelings? If you're married, didn't you have those feelings on your wedding day? If you started a new job that you were excited about, didn't you feel those feelings then? What about meeting your new in-laws or going to a new church or a new school? What about speaking in front of people about something you knew they had to hear? Or maybe you were nervous the last time you went to the doctor or the dentist? Or maybe you got nervous because you were going to meet someone you have admired for a long time? Those nerves didn't stop you then, did they? No! You were able to do what you had to do anyway. Why? Because you were knew it was important. Because you knew it was worth having that bit of nervousness.

The same goes for asking people if they want Jesus in their lives. Remember the blog post from yesterday (click here to read it)? Think of one person in your life who needs Jesus. Pick a person you have a good relationship with -- maybe a friend or someone you'd like to spend more time with; someone you have a good feeling about. Okay. Ask this person if you could talk to him or her for a few minutes alone. That person will say yes. When you get this person alone, look him or her straight in the eye and say, "Do you want Jesus to be part of your life?"

Okay, again, I know  you will be feeling nervous. That doesn't mean you are ashamed of Jesus or anything. It just means you are human and you know this is really important and it's hard to bring up such honest and important topics to another person out of the blue. But you can do it! This is like God-proportion-important-stuff. God is letting you be part of this person's eternal life! Wow! Now, if this person says no that is okay. That means that person is being honest, but you planted a seed and he or she will be thinking about it. If he or she says no, say, "If you change your mind, let me know." You can even ask that person if you can pray for him or her right there.

Okay, let's say the person says, "Yes" to wanting Jesus in his or her life. You can say, "Okay. Pray with me. You can repeat what I say." 
 
Then pray something like this:

"Dear Jesus, I admit I am a sinner. I need you in my life. Please forgive my sins. Please be a part of my life. Lead me and guide me and give me a heart to hear from you every day. In your name, Jesus, Amen."

There is no set prayer. Just get the person talking to Jesus and admitting he or she needs Jesus in his or her life. You can also have him or her say aloud Romans 10:9 which says, "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."

It isn't hard to ask Jesus into your life. We have to help people do it though. Just one person this year. Think of just one person right now you can ask. Pray for that person and then make a time you can talk with him or her for a few minutes. After you do this once it will get easier. Be nervous for Jesus! He and people are worth it. 

Now, after you've done this once you can ask anyone if they want Jesus in their lives. The more you do it the easier it will get. BUT, if you do get to pray with someone, keep tabs on them. Give them some encouragement spiritually. Guide them a bit -- tell them to read their Bible; tell them to hold onto God's promises; tell them to pray. Maybe call them once a week. Disciple them informally (or formally -- whatever works for you). Show them how to pray with another person. Encourage that person to ask someone he or she knows if they want Jesus in their lives. 

As I said yesterday there isn't time left to not do this. None of us know when our lives will be cut short. None of us. Do it for Jesus. Be nervous for Jesus. Love for Jesus. Share and pray for Jesus. 

We're all called to do it right now (not when we have all the answers; not when we feel we've arrived). Here's what Jesus says to us, "'God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.'" Matthew 28:18-20

We're to help each other figure out how to live this faith life. God has taught you something that you can teach someone else. We're a family. We are to help each other. The person who is your trainee might not even know he or she is your trainee. But you know. Or you know now (now that you're thinking about it). If you're a parent then of course some of your trainees will be your children, but don't stop there. 

Recently I got bees. I was so excited. They arrived and things were going good. Only one sting happened on the day Shannon and I put them in the hive. I have fallen in love with that tiny creature God made that is so intelligent and beautiful and amazing! Yesterday when I checked the hive at dawn (one of the lessons I've already learned -- check the hive right before the sun comes up. The bees are sleeping! Makes checking easier) all my bees were dead. Oh, I was sad. I am still sad. Yet, in my two or three weeks experience I've learned a few lessons (besides the dawn one). Another lesson I learrned is that you have to feed the bees constantly if it is a new hive. I didn't get this. I thought it was just for the first few days. So, yes, my bees died of hunger. We found out yesterday a new hive probably will go through 100 pounds of sugar (in the sugar syrup the beekeeper makes and feeds them) in the first year. I am still a beekeeper, just a beekeeper without bees at the moment. I will get some more next year and will see my new bees flourish. We'll take this time to make our bee box better and the sugar syrup container more sturdy (and I even get to paint the bee box fun colors now). 

I am obviously a novice at the bee thing, but I know a few things.  If someone came to me wanting to know about bees I could share with him or her what I know. He or she would need other sources other than me obviously, but I still could share what I know.

That is how it is with the faith life. Maybe you're a brand new Believer. Great! You have something to share with someone because there is someone who isn't a Believer or someone who might be a doubting or discouraged Believer. You have something to share. We all do. 

"The ultimate goal of our faith journey is to relate to the person of Jesus, because it is our relational connection to Jesus that will produce Christlikeness and spiritual growth. This relational perspective of discipleship is required if we hope to have a faith that is marked by the Spirit's power. Models of discipleship that are based solely upon what we know and what we do are incomplete, lacking the empowerment of a life of loving and living intimately with Jesus. A Spirit-empowered faith is relational and impossible to realize apart from a special work of the Spirit." The Great Commandment Network

Relating to and loving Jesus and then relating to and loving others is what life is about. Why wouldn't we want to share the Best Friend Ever with someone who needs a friend? That Best Friend Ever is Jesus! And He is such a wonder that He can be everyone's Best Friend Ever! 

There's not much time left for any of us (even if we live to 100). Maybe we could give ourselves a goal -- help one person a year learn how to live this faith life. If you live another 20 years that would mean you have discipled 20 people. And hopefully that is 20 people discipling their own 20 people and so on. Some mathmatician somewhere can figure out how many that would be. Jesus had 12 disciples. Yes, He touched 1000s of lives in His 3 years of ministry, but He focused on 12. Who can you focus on this year? Just one person or maybe just three. Whatever. We don't have time to do this later. We must do this now. The gift we each have within ourselves, the Holy Spirit -- He must be shared. He is the gift. He is the One who leads us in this life. Share Him. Again, we don't have much time.

The enemy is stealing our time. A lot of us have the best of intentions. We want to meet with others. We know we need to, and we even want to, but time slips away.

We have to take time back.

Relationships are what matter. 

Proverbs 11:24 says, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller." 

This isn't just about money. We are generous or stingy with our time too.

People understand if we don't show up. People understand if we cancel. People understand when schedule conflicts come up. But maybe we need to say, "No!" to allowing things to cancel those things that are important. Maybe we need to tell people "No" when something is scheduled during Bible study time or church time or that weekly coffee meeting you have with a friend. 

Maybe we need to be firm on this. I realized this this morning after reading that verse above in Proverbs. Yesterday, someone scheduled a meeting for me to attend for one of my kids but it conflicted with a Bible study I am putting on for a handful of people. The "nice" person in me said, "Oh, you can reschedule the Bible study," and I almost did. But then I thought, "No. If I cancel and try to reschedule it isn't going to happen."

I am so glad I made that decision. And I made another commitment to a friend -- a commitment we've been trying to honor for a long time, but life has gotten in the way. This morning we said, "No more" to life letting it cancel that very important commitment. 

The enemy and the world love to keep us too busy to work on relationships. This is not from God. Busyness is not from God. Endless activity is not from God. Real change comes through relationship. Real change doesn't come through lots of activity -- that activity is often just distraction. 

We gotta make commitments to spiritual things and stick to them. We don't tell our supervisors at work that we have to cancel the work day because something else came up. Work is important, but is it more important than people or God? 

I am speaking to myself too. Don't let activities get in the way of those times that will deepen relationships in your life. Sure, God uses activities, but often it is the time with others after the activities, times of reflection, when God uses them. 

Let's tell the world, "No more!" when it comes to missing church or the Bible study or the visiting time. 

(By the way, this is a form of spiritual warfare.)

When I was younger I'd loved being on the stage. I loved acting and dancing and singing (if my nerves didn't get the best of me). I even started college as a theater major. Was I any good? There were moments you could say.

The problem with acting is when it becomes a part of regular life. We've all done it. Pretended we were something we weren't. Maybe we were trying to impress someone; maybe we were showing off for friends. Maybe we were scared to be ourselves because we were afraid of rejection. Maybe at times we can get away with this, but it is no way to live a life. Shakespeare said the whole world is a stage and we are all actors on that stage. This is true in the sense that people watch our lives. Jesus, in one sense, supports the practice of watching lives, our own and others -- we are to watch and learn. We can learn about God by seeing how He enters our lives and what He does in other people's lives. Oh boy, I am not getting my point across.....Let's start over.

This morning I read Exodus 29:46 which says, "And they shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God."

Do you see what I see? God brought them out of the world (Egypt stands for the world's system in the Bible) so He could live with them. God offers Himself. The world offers itself. We can't have both. Often we have one and play act the other. The Apostle John says it like this:

"Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world -- wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important -- has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out -- but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity." 1 John 2:15-17

The world is full of distractions and noise. God has to cut through all that at first to show us Himself, to offer us a different way. His way of life and Himself. There are people who might say they choose Him by attending church and going through the motions that the world says is what a Believer does, but if it isn't what is real inside, then those people are just play acting. And there are probably people who are actually God's but have walked away from Him for a while. Maybe they are dabbling in the world's ways but their hearts aren't really in it. These kinds of lives are not authentic and a person can't grow if he/she isn't authentic. We gotta choose. 

God has chosen us. He says, "Be still and know that I am God." Jesus offers us His gentle and quiet ways. He says in Matthew 11, "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you."

In Revelation Jesus tells us He wishes people were hot or cold toward Him -- not lukewarm. All in or all out. 

God doesn't say we need to choose because He is being mean or controlling. There is just no way we can have a relationship with Him if we choose the world's ways and doing this for ourselves. It is doing life for ourselves or doing life for Him. He's given the invitation. We just have to accept it. 

What do you have to lose? Choose Him and you gain it all. Choose the world and the more you choose the world the more you lose your very soul. In Him is where you become alive within. The world can't give that no matter what it promises. 

I feel like I've forgotten something really important. Like I forgot to do something that needs doing. This is probably just one of those random feelings that are floating through my brain. I tell my youngest when she gets feelings floating in her brain that aren't good she should just let them float back out. We don't have to succumb to a feeling that chooses to suddenly show up. 

But I still feel like I've forgotten something . . .

Maybe it's the lack of sun. How do people survive in rainy climates? Gray climates? Some people must be wired from birth to thrive in those places. I am looking forward to our lilac season. They will bloom in June for a few weeks and I will pick them and place them in Mason or Tostito nacho cheese jars (we have a matched set of Tostito jar glasses we use daily) all over the house. Shannon and I pray in the mornings together usually (unless he's way behind schedule and needs to get to school quick). We prayed about my forgotten-something feeling (it's still here, but I am thinking it will float away eventually). 

Have you prayed today? Prayer frightens some of us. It shouldn't though. Eugene H. Peterson writes in his devotional Bible, "Prayer is elemental. It is the means by which we get everything in our lives out in the open before God." 

I guess that is a scary thought if you don't realize how good God is. He is, as the song says, a "Good, Good Father (Listen to it here if you haven't before or haven't in a long time or need reminding)."

Psalm 121:5 says, "GOD's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you."

Psalm 124:8 says, "GOD's strong name is our help, the same GOD who made heaven and earth."

Psalm 125:2 says, "Mountains encircle Jerusalem, and GOD encircles his people -- always has and always will."

Speak aloud the verses above to get their truths deep into your heart.

Psalms 120 - 134 are called the Psalms of Ascents. Peterson explains, "These fifteen songs were likely sung, possibly in sequence, by Hebrew pilgrims as they went up to Jerusalem to the great worship festivals . . . The trip to Jerusalem acted out a life lived upward toward God, an existence that advanced from one level to another in developing maturity."

We can do the same thing. It is a really good thing to incorporate scripture into our daily lives, into the ordinary moments, into chores and into prayers. 

If the sun has been hidden where you are as it has where I am, continue to praise God for the moisture and praise Him for the sun. It will return and the farmers will get in the fields. Things don't happen according to our timetables. Things happen according to God's plan.

"Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon." Psalm 31:24

They looked dead. I almost threw them away thinking they were contaminating the other ones, but I didn't. And now they have wings. One has crooked wings and the other seems kind of stupid. They are painted lady butterflies in my little butterfly cage. The caterpillars are ugly. A picture of the painted lady caterpillar is pictured below:

I received the Uncle Martin Butterfly Habitat and then ordered the caterpillars. When they arrived I was disappointed at their appearance. But as I already wrote, so far two have transformed into butterflies. The other four are still caterpillars not even seeming to be interested in making their chrysalises. But I've found with this process things seem to be dead and then suddenly they aren't. 

When the two butterflies were still in their chrysalises their chrysalises fell. They were just lying their amidst the other caterpillars. I thought maybe the caterpillars would eat them (they didn't). That's when I thought they were dead. 

So, you can imagine I was quite excited to see two butterflies seemingly suddenly.

But they aren't acting like I thought butterflies would act. I thought butteflies courageously fight their way out of their ugly chrysalises and then spend time waving their wings back and forth to dry them. And then they'd fly off.

Nope. This isn't happening. Not at all.

They have moved around their little habitat, but they don't seem too bright. They fall into the sugar syrup and just lay in it. Twice I coaxed one of them out of the syrup. I mean that can't be good for their wings to be coated in sticky stuff, could it? Often, the butterflies look dead. So I blow gently on them and get them mad and they flutter around (Shannon gets after me. He says, Would you want a giant blowing air on you?). One of them has crooked wings. I didn't think she'd be able to fly, but I've seen her fly. 

I didn't even know I had butterfly expectations. I've been thinking there is something wrong with them because they aren't acting the way I thought they should. 

But there is nothing wrong with them. The fault lies with me. I didn't understand butterflies. I still don't, but I've learned a tiny bit. I have to give them time to become the strong butterflies they need to be before they are released. 

Don't we do the same thing with people? With children? With friends or fellow Believers? With authority figures? We have expectations of how they should react or respond, and when they don't, if we don't look at the situation carefully, we find fault in the other people and not in us. 

We need to do what God calls us to do in other people's lives and leave the results to them and God. He won't tell us usually what He is doing in their lives because we don't need to know. When I was in the Army I had a secret clearance, but even with a secret clearance I didn't know all the secret-level intelligence. It was on a "need-to-know" basis only. If there is something we need to know in someone else's life, God will make sure we know it. Usually though we want to know more than we need to know -- that's when we get kind of nosy and intrusive. 

Just because someone looks "dead" from the outside doesn't mean God isn't doing some great things on the inside. 

If you live in my area and I didn't see you this morning at church, I have to tell you you missed out on a great Sunday School Lesson. What a great time we had. I love good conversation about the Bible and Jesus and living out this faith! If you are local and don't have a church home, I invite you to come to ours next week. You won't regret it (but if you do have a church home please attend there. You will really encourage your pastor by showing up). 

What a word -- expansively! I think of taking a huge breath, filling my lungs full and opening my arms wide to embrace all of life, all God has for me. Sorry it's been a long time since I've written. It's been like two weeks! I received a wonderful card in the mail yesterday from one of you. Thank you!! It means so much to me to know this blog does something good out there in the world.

This is what I read this morning:

"Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!" 2 Corinthians 6:13

That's how God has called us to live, to live with true freedom. Feeling free within to just be who we were created to be.

The day I am writing this happens to be my 51st birthday. And I am thankful. I am thankful for the place God has brought me. I am thankful He never gives up on us. He continues to lovingly guide us and teach us to learn how to live free. All the years it feels I wasted in worry or in fret, but life is a process. And nothing is ever wasted.

Do you want to do something for God? He loves that desire. Ask Him to give you an opportunity. He will. We don't have to fret that we aren't doing enough for Him. There are times in life that are quiet when it comes to activity. Our society is addicted to activity thinking the more stuff we do and are involved in means we must be important. This isn't God's way at all. Don't get sucked into that. Do what you know God has called you to do -- Love Him and People and let Him lead you in that love. 

 I believe I've mentioned it before, but I'll mention it again so you know what I'm talking about -- I am Vine Reviewer for Amazon. What this means is that I have a queue of items I can choose from to review. I get to keep the items but I also pay tax on everything I review so I am careful these days on what I choose because the tax adds up. Last month I had reviewed a blank album/journal thing. It was really cool, but I knew I wasn't going to use it. I felt like I was supposed to give it to someone but I didn't know who so it sat on my dresser (along with a pile of clothes, a container of loose change and a humidifier -- my dresser top is usually very messy). And then I heard someone speak and I got this crazy notion of giving the album to this person who I barely knew. When I get these impulses, I don't know if it is me being impulsive or God. I usually go with the impulse hoping it is God. In this case it was. It was miraculous. That album/journal was exactly (I mean exactly) what this person needed. It was amazing. I felt and feel so honored to have been part of that transaction. It had nothing to do with me, and all to do with God knowing what His kids need every moment of life. 

Okay, there have been times where I have gotten an impulse and followed it and it was definitely just Jane being weird and not God. In these times I probably felt a bit silly, but who cares. Life goes on and you can laugh about it later. Oh, I gotta tell you something that is hilarious I did that was so stupid it was funny. And it still makes me laugh (and unfortunately I am not a humorous writer so the funny might not come through). A couple of months or so ago a group from our church were at another church along with other volunteers packing up bags of food. I was in one of my very energetic moods (which usually means it is a hypomanic mood and I can get a bit crazy in a fun way -- at least for me). In these kinds of situations I talk to the people I don't know trying to help everyone feel comfortable. One young man was helping. He had a name tag on. I don't remember his whole name but it was something like "Elder Smith." So of course I called him Elder. What a cool name I thought. Every time I spoke to him I said, "Elder." When we use each other's names in conversation it makes things so much more personal. 

After we left, Shannon informed me that the young man's first name was not Elder. That was his title (like Pastor). Here I thought I was being friendly. And I was. But I totally got it wrong in a very loud way. That young man probably thought I was just a crazy middle-aged church lady!

I don't know what is going on in your life today. You might be dealing with some really rough stuff. We all have rough stuff eventually happen. It is this life -- tragic, beautiful, frustrating, joyous, desperate, lonely. When we accept Jesus He doesn't take this stuff away. We still have to live this finite life. What He does promise is that He is with us in all of it and He will help us deal with anything this life gives us -- good or bad. He will be our best friend. I mean the best kind of friend. Don't you need a friend like Jesus? That is what it is about. In Him everything in our lives has meaning. Nothing goes to waste -- the bad, the good, the betrayals, the disappointments, the victories -- all of it God will use for His purposes and when He does it is amazing. He can even take your past and rewrite it in such a way that you can thank Him for those awful parts. The past isn't changed on the outside, but the past is seen with new eyes -- He can show you where He was right when something bad happened. 

Last week Shannon and I traveled to see his grandma in Des Moines. She was dying. Oh, we had a glorious time saying goodbye to her. Before we left I asked if we could pray together. Shannon's cousin, his mom, his grandma, and we held hands and Shannon prayed out loud. After we said Amen (which means Yes -- maybe we all ought to start saying yes after prayers -- it would totally change things I think) his grandma said, "I never thought you'd ever be a preacher." 

Neither did any of us! What a journey God takes us on. 

This week we will travel back to Iowa for Grandma's funeral. She had a wonderful life. She was able to say goodbye to her children and grandchildren. And we know she's in heaven. 

Thank you for reading! Sometimes even I sit in my house and wonder what God is doing. My days are often quiet with Hawken. Some days I see no one but my family. And that's just fine. Everything we do has great worth -- even changing diapers and holding someone when he has seizures. 

You are wonderful (yes, you, the one who is reading this). You are loved. Father God is so good. He loves you so so so much. Talk to Him today. Talk to Jesus. Talk to the Spirit. Oh, He has plans for you. And they are very very good.

​

Can you picture him or her? That difficult person in your life who is hard for you to love? 

That person was put into your life by God specifically to teach you how God loves you and how to love others like God loves them. 

Those people who are easy for us to love don't teach us tons about how to love because it comes so naturally. In fact, we might just be loving them with just our natural human love. Anyone can do that. I expect the worst, most evil person on the earth loves someone like that (if it is only him or herself). 

The difficult people in our lives (put there by God) show us how to love wholly with God's agape love. It's hard to love someone with abandon and with enthusiasm when just the moment before that person was nasty to you and you know in a few moments he or she will be nasty to you again. But that is how we are to love! That's what God does with each of us. He knows how much we've sinned in the past and He knows all the sin we will commit in the future. But He loves us anyway!

Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."

That is how we are to love everyone, especially the people who are difficult to love. That person very likely knows it is hard for you to love him or her so when you love him or her like this, he or she will definitely see Jesus!!

We all have people in our lives who are difficult to love, not because we humans can't love, but because God is doing all He can to teach us to open our hearts and love like He does. He knows it doesn't come naturally. His kind of love is the kind of love we need to learn how to do. And in learning how to love a difficult person, we also learn more and more how deep God's love is for us. 

And that dear children is something we can never exhaust. We will never get to the depths or heights of God's love for us. It is so vast our minds cannot comprehend it. 

"(Nothing) fazes us because Jesus loves us. I"m absolutely convinced that nothing -- nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable -- absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." Romans 8:38-39

Christian Artist Elva Frye visited our area last week. I heard her speak and sing at a women's dinner. Something she said stuck with me. She said, "This is what we're doing right now."

What does that mean? you might ask.

Think of Jesus. Think of Jesus talking to you, being part of your life. Maybe you're in a rough patch right now. And you don't know how to deal with it. Jesus says to you, "This is what we're doing right now." 

That rough patch (or that good time or that mountaintop experience or that bland time or that challenge or you fill in the blank) isn't forever, but it is what is presently and Jesus is there with you. That is a promise He gave us all. If we let Him into our lives, He will never ever ever leave us. He will never ever reject us. In Matthew 21:20 He says, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

We've heard of the promises of God (and there are many). Biblegateway says there are 5467 promises in the Bible for us. The one that stands above the rest of the rest, the one that is the one we can cling to in every situation and in every moment of our lives is that Jesus is with us through everything. 

Who doesn't need a friend? A real good friend? 

Have you ever had a real good friend? Jesus is even better than that friend. He is our best friend. A friend who will listen and cheer us on; a friend who will comfort and not condemn; a friend who loves us always even when we are at our very worst. 

All of us will deal with tragedy. The ones who love us will want to fix it for us, but mere humans feel pretty helpless in those kinds of times. They can sit with us (and that is very good). They can cry with us (and that is very good). They can be there for us. Again, that is very good. But, they can't go deep into our grief, into that secret place inside. But Jesus can. Jesus will go way down deep into our souls and spirits where no one else can possibly go. 

Why wouldn't you want Jesus in your life? Don't judge Him by Christians you might not like (there are some badly behaved Christians, but there are a lot of great ones too). Don't judge Him from the opinions of others. Meet Him yourself. Give Him a chance. Don't discount Him because of things you've heard. Don't discount Him because of possible bad or shallow past church experiences. That wasn't Him. 

Meet Him. Your life will be so much richer because of Him. 

(And Take time to listen to Elva sing. God has blessed her with a talent and a passion for worship.)

Are you really you? 

Do you know what I mean?

Are you true to who you were created to be or are you letting others define you?

My eyes opened this morning at 4 a.m. I wanted to go back to sleep, but my mind was awake. It traveled to all sorts of memories, good and bad. I thanked God for the man I married because I remembered men from my past I could have married, and I know for sure I would have been put into a box, a cage with my wings clipped.

Now, another person cannot take away our freedom within unless we let him or her. But sometimes we forget we have a choice. Sometimes we want someone's approval so bad we act the way we think they want us to act. This is not what Jesus wants for any of us. God created us to be free within. To be ourselves. To be the people He created us to be. 

In The Message Devotional Bible, Eugene H. Peterson writes, "Each of us is seen as a being created in love and for love. Each of us is seen as a personality who isn't defined by our mistakes and sins or by other people's wishes and fantasies but by God's love for us, free to respond to his creative word to us.

"The gospel shatters the stereotypes that confine us to uncomfortable roles. Paul put this together in one of his famous sentences: 'In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal' (Galatians 3:28). And then he went on to draw the conclusion: 'Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.' (5:1)."

Peterson also comments on what crowds can do to us (there's a reason God calls us sheep). Peterson writes, "Any time we turn over part of our lives to the crowd, we become less human, less alive. On the other hand, every time we retrieve a part of our lives from the crowd and respond to God's call to us, we're that much more ourselves, more human."

The world needs us to be us. The world, your community, your family, your friends, your co-workers, your employees, your church family, your acquaintances need you to be you in all your humanity. It takes courage to be who we were created to be, but it is so worth it (and feels so good). 

I do a lot of reading, with Hawken and by myself. I review books for Amazon so I end up reading all sorts of stuff. One book I just finished was about displaced people throughout the world. There are like 68 million of them -- people who had to flee their homes because of poverty or violence or war or all of these combined. Most of these people it seems just want to go home. They want to belong again. They want a place they can just live their lives. 

And it's possible even while we might not be in the place we want to be to belong to something that is bigger than us, something that isn't about us; something that will give us peace, a sense of purpose and freedom to be ourselves without the stress of thinking we have to control it all. It's such a relief when we give up control to God. Trying to control our lives and our worlds is a big thing that adds stress to many people's lives. When we realize it's not about us and we don't have to control, what a joy this is. If you have't ever done this, please do. Please seek out Jesus Christ and give Him control of your life. When you do that He takes the wheel (like in Carrie Underwood's country song) and we can sit in the passenger seat and enjoy the ride.

We all want to feel wanted and belong and purposeful. Being part of the Body of Christ can give us these feelings and purpose. Eugene H. Peterson's biblical translation The Message speaks to this with clear, every day language in
​1 Corinthians 12:

"What I want to talk about now is the various ways God's Spirit gets worked into our lives . . . God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can . . . God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. . . Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit and to all kinds of people!

"You can easily enough see how this kind of things works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts -- limbs, organs, cells -- but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one body. It's exactly the same with Christ. By means of his one Spirit, we all said goodbye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything.

"I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, 'I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body,' would that make it so? If Ear said, 'I'm not beautiful like Eye, transparent and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head,' would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could you hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.

"But I also want you to think about how this keeeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own.

"The way God designed our bodies is a model for underrstanding our lives together as a church; every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

"You are Christ's body -- that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your 'part' mean anything."