Blog Archives

That Darn Thief and that Lovely Woodle

6/30/2014

The thief comes in many forms.

And it isn't always the spiritual enemy. The thief could be our own emotions or thoughts.

Recently I've found myself not quite content. I couldn't tell you what was wrong because nothing was wrong but my insides. I wasn't dwelling on anything in particular. I was just existing. Kind of stir-crazy. Kind of in a funk.

Do you ever get that way?

If you do maybe you are allowing yourself to be stolen from by a thief (either the devil or a thief or our own making).

Jesus tells us in John 10:10, "'The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.'"

I wasn't experiencing that life abundance.

It wasn't because I didn't have an abundance of blessings.

I do. My life is overflowing with blessings:

I have six incredible children (Maggie lives in heaven now but I cannot say I have only five when I know she is happy in heaven).

My yard and land is full of green! Wow. God has blessed us with rain this year and the green is so good for the soul! And the weather itself has been lovely!

I have these really nifty plastic clothes pins that work great on my clothesline. I don't hang out all the laundry but when I do it is lovely. I always think of my dear friend Sue (who also now lives in heaven). She used to tell me she loved to hang out laundry. I do too now!

When I recently flew off my horse I didn't get hurt. I didn't even get one bruise!

I have coffee.

I have food.

I have a loving husband and three cars that work.

Gosh, I could go on and on. And I bet you could too when you begin to think about the blessings in your life.

A verse that came to me years ago when I felt lost and sad was John 16:22c. In it Jesus tells His disciples (and us), that "no one takes your joy away from you."

That is a powerful truth. If our days have no joy then we need to find that joy. No one took it. We just personally have misplaced it.

To the left is a woodle. I love this little woodle. It seems so carefree and happy and joyful. It is floating through life happy to be a woodle and happy to be alive.

Life is serious but not as serious as we sometimes make it out to be. And sometimes the reason we misplace our joy is because we take ourselves just a bit too seriously.

I do anyway.

May you be like a woodle today -- joyful just to be alive.

2 Comments

Are You Tasty?

6/25/2014

0 Comments

September 12, 2012 -- that is when I first posted what I will share with you today. Wow. So much has happened since then but what I wrote still applies to life. God is God is God is God. He never changes. Neither does His Word.

"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple. Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing." Luke 14:33-34 (The MESSAGE)

We go flat, we lose our flavor if we hold to tightly to things and people in a grasping kind of way. We are no good for the kingdom if someone or something is more important than going and doing what Jesus calls us to.

Is something or someone stopping you from doing God's will?

When God calls God equips.

When God calls you just say yes and go. Leave the consequences to Him.
- See more at: http://janehinrichs.weebly.com/home/category/salt#sthash.7OpUOfHZ.dpuf

0 Comments

Most everything can wait

6/24/2014

2 Comments

Most household chores are patient.

They will wait for you till you get there -- like dishes, laundry and cleaning.

And sometimes we need to let them wait no matter how loudly they seem to remind us of their existence (though that sounds like they aren't patient. Maybe we ought to call them enduring....IDK!).

My hands and fingers are causing me trouble, especially my right hand. Here it is:

When you compare it to my left hand you can definitely see the swelling. I'll post my left hand below:

I'm trying to take it easier than I typically do.

I'm only doing the things I must do.

I see a rheumatologist Friday I've never seen before. Shannon says my hand pain is God's way of telling me I really need to go. I tell Shannon God changed my attitude about it two days ago.

There are no coincidences in life. I guess God could possibly sanction something like some inflammation if it means it will cause me to do the right thing. Maybe. God is Creativity. He never violates who He is or His principles but sometimes He does things in ways we wonder about. Sometimes we think God won't act a certain way because it goes against what we think how He should act or it goes against our own made up religion.

The only thing I know for sure all the time is God loves us so much. In fact He sent His only Son so we could spend eternity with Him. That's love. I don't think I'd do that with one of my kids!

God never violates His love for us.

God is always God.

God is always Love.

God is always Compassionate.

God is always Righteous.

God is always Just.

God is always God.

2 Comments

Don't Miss Summer

6/21/2014

0 Comments

It's easy to do. You still work during the summer. You're still tired after work. So, you do the things you do the rest of the year. But wait.....before you know it it will be fall, then winter, then Christmas! Don't miss summer!

Many think you need money to enjoy summer. Fairs cost a lot of money. Any activity that requires payment costs a lot of money these days -- especially if you keep adding kids.

But you don't have to have money to enjoy summer blessings. And even if you don't like warmer weather you can still enjoy summer.

I enjoy sitting outside under a tree. The shade, the sunshine, the birdsong. It's all beautiful.

And I know there's beauty where you are. Getting outside will make you healthier. Going barefoot is a good thing (just don't step on sharp objects). God gives us so much beauty in the summer. Don't miss it all.

Here's a few pictures I took this morning with the iPad from my porch:

See the dead tree above?

I spent some time watching it this past week, and what I found was amazing.

It is greatly loved by many birds -- doves, robins, finches. And I'm sure there are others. I don't know them all. It isn't going to be cut down until it absolutely has to be cut down. I only saw all these birds when I stopped and watched for a while.

One of the best ways to enjoy summer is to slow down and listen and look. That's it. It's good for your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.

I even took a 20 second video so you can hear the sounds I hear in the morning. It is loud outside early morning here. Wow. I had to come inside to get some quiet. I love it! The video is not great quality picture-wise but you'll be able to hear the birds. Find some beauty today. Slow down. Be thankful.

0 Comments

Is this your life?

6/17/2014

0 Comments

Jesus gave us a description of what life is suppose to be.

Does this describe your life?

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."
John 10:10

0 Comments

Sometimes you do it for other people

6/16/2014

0 Comments

When you're part of a family sometimes you do things for your family members you wouldn't do for yourself.

Like go to the doctor.

I'm not against doctors in any way. In fact I hope one of my children becomes a medical professional!

But sometimes when it comes to my health I think it is just a waste of time. What could a doctor do anyway? Yes, when something needs cutting out a surgeon is the perfect person to see. When an infection is present that needs medical attention, a doctor can use medicine to bring healing. But when it is a slow deterioration what can anyone do?

This past Sunday I had someone squeeze my hand too hard. It was just a typical handshake but my hands are kind of fragile these days. They hurt while I type. They hurt while playing piano. They hurt while writing. They just plain hurt.

My main squeeze thinks a doctor will help.

I don't think so.

But I am going because he wants me to go.

I'm going because when you are part of a family you realize your health affects the other members of your family. We have to stay as healthy as we can for our kids, for our spouses, for those who love us.

Maybe that is why we need to eat better and exercise and put good things into our brains and generally do the best we can with what God has given us.

"For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;" Romans 14:7

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;" Romans 12:9-10

0 Comments

Is He Asking You?

6/12/2014

2 Comments

God really doesn't pay attention or give value to the things our world does.

He doesn't think someone is more qualified because they have all sorts of letters behind their name. He looks at the heart and what you have hidden there.

He's not against education of course, but it isn't necessary for everyone.

And some degrees are necessary because we sure don't want surgeons being self-taught or bridge building engineers to eyeball their project and just wing it!

God can and will use anyone He chooses to get His message out in the world.

Is He asking you to go?

Is He asking you to speak up?

Is He asking you to preach the Word?

Amos knew all about this. The king called him a prophet (because Amos was prophesying), but Amos denied it. He said, "I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me . . . and said to me, 'Go prophesy to My people'" Amos 7:14-15

Sometimes we put limits on ourselves or others. We might think he can't do that. He's not qualified. He doesn't have a theology degree. She can't do that. She isn't a preacher.

God doesn't believe in these limits. He doesn't even acknowledge them. He calls who He calls.

Ask the original disciples. Pete was a fisherman. Matt was a tax collector. None of them were priests.

"but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" 1 Peter 3:15

2 Comments

It's Perfectly OK To Change The Why

6/5/2014

0 Comments

It's perfectly OK to change the Why.

What the heck do I mean?

When we start a new chapter in our lives or learn a new skill or begin a new activity we often have reasons why we start these things.

It is okay if those reasons change.

It is called flexibility and flexibility keeps us strong.

Almost two years ago I began to draw daily in the hopes of becoming a children's book illustrator. I love Quentin Blake's work and would love to open up some picture books and see my work. What a gift that must be.

And that still could happen. I really don't know.

But, I've found a new reason to draw and I'm so thankful for it. It is an activity that is good for my brain, good for my emotional and spiritual states; and just plain fun. Maybe when I began this was the reason for it. Or, maybe God has more plans I am not aware of. Whatever it is, it is OK.

God is in control.

Do you have things you began in hopes of one outcome but then that outcome was replaced with another?

Often we are on roads of self discovery. Creativity and flexibility can bring freedom into our lives. It's a matter of sticking close to Jesus, letting Him lead and being open to change. We serve a mighty God, a loving God, a God who knows us better than we know ourselves.

"Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.'" John 8:31-32

0 Comments

Study yourself

6/2/2014

2 Comments

Think about this morning.

When you got up and started into your morning routine where did your mind go?

What did you think about? Dwell on?

What started that brain motor going?

Was it God?

Was it how great He is?

Was it about how wonderful this life He gives us is?

If not (and mine wasn't) look at what that issue is that took your brain right away. That issue might very well be the issue that God deals with you often about. That might be the one issue that is the place God has the deepest lessons for you. And if that is the case, when you learn them you will experience a freedom unlike any this world can comprehend.

Think about it.

2 Comments

That Darn Thief and that Lovely Woodle

Are You Tasty?

Most everything can wait

Don't Miss Summer

Is this your life?

Sometimes you do it for other people

Is He Asking You?

It's Perfectly OK To Change The Why

Study yourself

Who is Jane Hinrichs?

Categories

Archives