Musings and Marvelings on my Jesus Journey

  I am musing about.... ALIVENESS! Aren't these little balls of yellow fluff adorable? Who doesn't think baby chicks are cute? There is something so indicative of Spring and new life in observing a baby chick. The empty shell from which it hatched creates a wonderful metaphor of the empty tomb from which Christ burst forth unto new life! But in regards to the image on this post, as you may or may not have wondered, those chicks are not real. I found them on Amazon and thought they would be cute to give to the grandkids:) But the fact that they look so alive and real despite the fact that they are not, made me think..... As children of God we are blessed with an amazing, humbling and exciting reality.....Christ is alive inside of us!! But how alive are we allowing Him to be? His power is unlimited! His might beyond fathomability. It is there. But are we tapping into this wonderful source of power to it's fullest? Is He as alive within us as He can be? Or is it as if He is as...

  I am musing about.... Traffic Lanes We just got back from a beautiful road trip to the sunny south. Traffic was a part of life for awhile...and it got me to thinking.  About the traffic lanes of life. Sometimes we find ourselves on a road well traveled, and at other time we are on a more isolated, possibly lonely albeit scenic route. We need to be aware of those around us, to be looking out for their wellbeing, as well as our own. Sometimes we are in the fast lane, so to speak and things are clipping along smoothly and quickly. But while there, we may find ourselves almost on cruise or auto-pilot, going through the motions, but not taking in the beauty of our blurred surroundings. At other times, God places us in a jam of sorts. Our patience is tested. Our own desires are circumvented, but with the right attitude, we have time to look around and take in what is around us. Sometimes the view will be something beautiful and breathtaking and we will be thankful we are there. Ot...

 I am marveling  about the Body of Christ Have you ever struggled a bit with knowing just where you fit in the body of Christ? Of maybe you have compared yourself to another member of the body and felt inferior or less needed or used? God created the body as we know, with a variety of functions, to work for the good of the whole. To make the body of Christ a testimony of love to the nations. To the neighborhoods. To the workplaces, the schools, the marketplace. There are those that are the brain.....great thinkers, organizers and analysts There are the hearts...full of caring and compassion, true givers The ciculatory system....keeps things moving, gets things going, movers and shakers The hands.....the makers and the distibutors, the creative, practical ones The legs and feet....those that go, that are sent, that share the Gospel and the love of Christ The connective system......keeps us united and working together The kidneys.....proclaiming purity and accountability The arm...

I am musing about.... Wrapping Arms Around. So yesterday in church we prayed that God would "wrap His arms around" those that were hurting. And it got me to thinking. Do we not all love those times when we can feel God wrapping His loving arms around us? Those times when we sense His presence in a personal and supernatural way? We just know He is with us. His presence is palpable. We can almost hear His heart beat as His divine love pulsates through our circumstances. But let's be honest. There are many times when that is not the case. Yet, we go forth, stepping in faith, trusting in the Truth of His Word, as well as the Ebenezers of time's past, and we just know. That He is there. Because of faith. Then there are those other times when God wraps His arms around His beloved child. Like..... That time that Mary brought her a meal. The time that Tom sent her a text. The time that Cindy picked up her groceries. The time that Leanne raked her leaves. The time that John sp...

  I am musing about.... Sundowners. So have you heard this term before? Working in a nursing home environment, I hear it mentioned fairly often. It is a term signifying the state of confusion that people with dementia often find themselves in after the sun goes down. For many, there is something about darkness and night time which affects their mental status. What is it about sunshine that lifts our spirits so? Is it not true that things always seem better in the morning? As the sun comes up, so do our hopes and dreams, our ability to cope with life's challenges. So, I had to think about this term this evening. As the days grow darker and more evil surrounds us, are we the church experiencing "sundowners"? Do we find ourselves confused or depressed? It can be easy to be. For the world is getting darker by the day, as the prince of darkness gains followers in the immorality and antibiblical perspectives that abound. So what is our answer? May we continuously look to the So...

  I am musing about.... Awakening to Wokeness Are you woke? Have you awakened to the realization that there is a new, or at least renewed momentum in our country dealing with historical racism, its interpretation and where that reality presently has us and is taking us? Are you aware that Critical Race Theory is gaining momentum, even in the church? Do you know what Critical Race Theory is? Are you ready to admit that we all have things to learn, that no one has it all figured out, that deception is real and knocking at the door and that God's grace and Spirit is available to help us navigate these tumultuous times we are in? So, where do I start? With a prayer. "Dear Lord, please give me your wisdom and grace. Guide my words and my insights. Give me kindness and compassion. Help me to discern correctly and to always point back to you and Your Kingdom message. I realize I do not have this all figured out. I know I do not need to. But I have figured out that You are the answer ...

  I am marveling about ---above and beyond Have you ever had a day that just kept getting better and better? I had a day like that today.  Today was special. A day of transition. A day that marked an end to an era and the beginning of another. I had looked forward to it for awhile now, with mixed feelings.  I knew I would miss what I had known and so enjoyed. Yet, I felt excited and ready for what lay ahead. I knew it would be bittersweet. I knew it would be emotional.  But I did not know how sweet it would be.   I was thankful for God's peace which had lovingly pushed me forward, letting me know the time was right. But I did not expect such kindness. Such validation. It was a day full of surprises. First this happened, and then that. And then something more. I felt humbled, thankful and blessed. Then this evening our son had planned a Zoom call. Unbeknownst to me all the kids, spouses and grands were there celebrating the day! Party hats, smiles, congrats!...