The joy of creating


“Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

Sometimes all we need to do to find peace is to go back to that one activity we have loved to do from an early age. You know what it is…..the one that makes you smile without even realizing it, the one that makes you forget everything else, the one where you find yourself whistling or humming along with it.

It could be re-painting a fence, digging in the garden, puttering in the shop, baking cookies….But this simple thing, when lifted up to God can become an act of worship, consecrated, blessed. Then when we do it for someone else He smiles because He knows we have found the secret.

It is healing, it is cleansing, it is good for the soul. It is the joy of simple work.

When we create, God joins in. He can’t help it, it is part of His character and ours and it is how the whole world started! My act of worship today will be chocolate chip cookies…..I will send them with a prayer and a smile, knowing a bit of God’s love goes along with them.

What act of creation brings you joy today?

Earthen Vessels

“For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

“What do you do when you are always comparing yourself with other people? What do you do when you always feel that the people you talk to, hear of, or read about are more intelligent, more skillful, more attractive, more gentle, more generous, more practical, or more contemplative that you are? What do you do when you can’t get away from measuring yourself against others, always feeling that they are the real people while you are a nobody or even less than that?” Henri J. M. Nouwen, Genesee Diary

Sometimes I am surprised to know that successful people who have accomplished what I consider great things have the same feelings I have and I confess, it makes me feel better! Sometimes I feel like I have two selves, one that I concieve in my mind, the way I would like to be and react to people and things, and the real one, the one I actually see living my life. It’s crazy. Sometimes being human makes you feel crazy.

I open my Bible for a sanity check, I need God’s reality not my own. I read: “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 and then in verse 18, “For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.”

Our world system is set up to disappoint us. It is a system masterminded by the enemy and will throw us into turmoil every time. There is always another who is smarter, better looking, more talented, one who does everything wrong and still gets rewarded, even one who seems be be more favored by God. But God’s kingdom has knocked Satan’s system off it axis for good. Everytime we try to live by that “old” system we get discouraged.

So today I bring you Good News…..you are a unique individual fashioned by God Himself and you are perfect! Nobody can do the things you do exactly the way you do them! Don’t fight the Potter, praise Him for His excellent workmanship instead! He has given us the honor of placing His precious Holy Spirit in our humble vessel, this humble clay jug, filled with Heaven’s light.

Forgive me, Lord for comparing myself to anyone else!

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

The Bible, fair and balanced….


I read a fictional book recently called Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury. The story revolved around two young people haunted by a decision made when they were young, one with dire consequences. Now years down the road, both are trapped by the past and can’t seem to move on. One couldn’t forgive herself and the one who abandoned her in her time of need, and the other refused to accept his responsibility so he buried his secret and hid behind an image he wanted the world to see. As a result they both lost their faith in God because they both blamed Him as well. Isn’t that just like human nature?

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Genesis 3:10

We all have a past, and God knows all about it! “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1

Does that mean we are automatically sinless from that point on? No, we will fail because we still have that old sin nature we fight with, but thankfully, now we have the Holy Spirit who is stronger than that “old nature.” That’s why the Apostle Paul says this: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12,13

Note that he said, “work out”, not “work for.” The more I read and study the Bible I am amazed at just how perfectly balanced it is. It resonates with hope! We no longer have to dwell on the past, we can embrace our future with confidence, knowing we are forgiven. When God looks at me, He sees Jesus!

Our future home…..

Grounds, Mt. Angel Abbey, St. Benedict, Oregon

What is the thing you most look forward to about Heaven, other than eternally being in God’s presence? For me, I think it is that there will be a sense of being totally “complete.” There will be a sense of rightness about it all. In this life we are always confronted with something that is just not fair, not right; there is a sense of something out of balance, even when things are right in our world, they are wrong for someone else.

I know people who are extremely happy about the immigration bill that just passed and some who are extremely upset by it. Some think it is “just” and some think it is “unjust.” Until we get to Heaven that is our reality on this earth. But here is true justice, there is a way we can all go to Heaven, because God is just!

Jesus made it possible. He took all that was wrong and made it right, permanently. This is not wishful thinking this is fact……”And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3

Lord, I pray for people to find hope in You today. Circumstances change, but You never do. Thank you for the light of Your Word and Your Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, comforts us in our distress and magnifies our joy. I pray that where there is confusion and darkness, Your light will shine forth as the noonday sun! In Jesus name, Amen.

Water and the Word…..

I continue counting blessings today…..
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth, and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater…… #282

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. #283

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. #284


Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” Isaiah 55:10-13 #285

Not too long ago I read a commentary over at Musings of a Minister about these passages that really deepened the meaning of this Scripture for me, so thank you Cliff! Hop over here to read it! So many times reading this passage I thought of it only in terms of God’s word going out and producing fruit, but the deeper meaning is that God is comparing the word to water that permeates the ground that nourishes all of creation. It is in all and through all. So that everything we see is part of that Living Word “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1 #286

So today, I lift my gratitude to God for His Word, the more I read it the more it comes alive to me. Behind every desert bloom, and every sunrise it speaks for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. Thank you Lord, for without You I never would have seen it!

#287 Cool mornings, #288 quail’s plaintive cry through open windows, #289 the bloom of new life in the desert, #290 taking God along on my morning walk!

Keeping the gratitude alive, along with Ann and many others….
holy experience

All photos provided by Google….

Sometimes silence is best


Went out to dinner last night and three young people came in and were seated close by. One of the guys proceeded to talk non-stop for a solid hour about himself and his particular way of eating. It was obvious that he thought his way was superior than everyone else’s and it seemed like he was trying to convince his audience of two, well, four if you count my friend and I. He proceeded to tell them about the evils of things like red meat, as his friend, unfazed, went ahead and ordered a rare steak.

It was an interesting evening.

Have you ever went out with someone and had them talk non-stop about themselves?

“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” Proverbs 17:28

The King of Peace

Grounds of Mount Angel Abbey, St. Benedict, Oregon

Good Morning, Lord! I thank You for Your Presence, Your sweet peace that rushes in when I truly open my heart, confess my fears. Your Spirit takes my sins and holds them up to the light, exposing them for what they are and yet You still love me! It humbles me more than I can say Lord, so I let my tears speak instead. Forgive me Lord, for the fear that have I have allowed to rule in my heart. Fears that have been magnified in my mind by the enemy, forgive me for giving him that control. I release them back to You, Lord once again. You have taken my fears and turned them once again to peace. Help me to not take them back……In the name of Jesus I pray all these things, Amen.

“We must carefully examine ourselves to see which virtues we are in most need of, and which we find the hardest to acquire. We should also take note of the sins that we most frequently fall into and what occasions often contribute to that fall. It is in our times of struggle with these areas that we can go before God with entire confidence and remain firm in the presence of His divine Majesty. In humble adoration, we must confess to Him our sins and weaknesses, lovingly asking for the help of His grace in our time of need. In this way, we will find that we will partake of all the virtues found in Him, even though we do not possess one of our own.” Brother Lawrence

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossions 3:15

Every day is Earth Day


God loves the earth…..
He created it, He died for it, and
He is coming back to re-create it!
Yes, we need to love it, and be good stewards of it, because He loves it.

“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.” (Psalm 65:9-13)

We will not destroy it, we don’t have the power! How can He create a new earth if we have already destroyed the old one? The Earth still belongs to Him, it is only on loan to us.

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Psalm 24:1-3

The earth is not over-crowded, we just have too many in certain areas. We are not running out of open land, just come to Arizona, or Montana, Utah, or the California desert for that matter, and see for yourself!

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)

Jesus is at the center stage of everything, including our earth! So to me, every day is earth day because every day belongs to Him!

Love Mercy

Love Mercy, by Lisa and Ty Samson

Going from a life of plenty in Suburban America to a life of “serving others.” This is a book I recommend whole-heartedly. Lisa Samson has always been one of my favorite fictional authors, but this true story is one that you won’t soon forget. It chronicles she and her daughter Ty’s experiences in Swaziland, the AIDs capital of the world.

They are not prepared for what they see. Expecting to minister to others, they soon figure out that “the others” will be ministering to them….

How do we in America handle the poverty all around us? We don’t have to go as far as Africa to find it. I can go about 2 blocks away and I can see its effects. Is just being thankful for what we have enough? Is sending a check to World Vision enough? This is what I asked myself this morning when I was reading from Isaiah…..

The kind of fast God wants……”Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.” Isaiah 58:7,10

Lord, help me to not close my eyes and my heart to people you might send my way to help. Help me see those opportunities as gifts. May I not be so blinded by my love of safety and security that I no longer see the world outside that You died to save. I have built walls to keep the dirty, troubling, smelly world out, Lord. Help those walls not be so unyielding, Lord. That is the best I can do for now.

Lord, I so love your Word, but at times I find it troubling. Help me to be open to what it speaks to my heart, Father. Amen

Secret Places of the Heart

Mount Angel Abbey, St. Benedict, Oregon
The basic response of the soul to the Light is internal adoration and joy, thanksgiving and worship, self surrender and listening. The secret places of the heart cease to be our noisy workshop. They become a holy sanctuary of adoration and self-oblation, where we are kept in perfect peace if our minds be stayed on Him who has found us in the inward springs of our life. And in the brief intervals of over-powering visitation we are able to carry the sanctuary frame of mind out into the world, into it’s turmoil and fitfulness. Powerfully are the springs of our will moved to an abandon if singing love toward God; powerfully are we moved to a new and overcoming love toward time-blinded men and all creation.

Thomas Kelly 1893-1941 (Excerpt from A Testament of Devotion)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:7-10