Musings and Marvelings on my Jesus Journey

I am musing about... Colors! And why God made them. And more specifically, for now...the colors of Autumn! I mean, fall is just lovely, don't you agree? The warm glowing golds, the rich lavenders and maroons, the violets, reds and yellows.  The sky seems more blue, the clouds more white. The crisp air accentuates the boldness of the hues around us, and the chilliness adds to the warmth of fall's color palette. The colorful landscape about us, has a way of making us feel cozy. Happy. I mean, how often, this time of year, do I hear someone (often strangers at the gas pump, or fellow hikers, whomever...) say "I just love this time of year!!" It is like God is giving us a big hurrah before he ushers in the drab browns and grays of winter.  And in thinking about Winter, I know I am, colorfully speaking, giving it a bad wrap. I think C.S. Lewis would agree. After all, what did he say about Winter? Something about Narnia being a place where it is "always winter and neve...

  I am musing about... How Our Car Went Berserk! This past week I was out in Indiana visiting our daughter and family. It was a fun time doing fun things with the grandsons. At one point, I had a couple of them in the car with me. We had just enjoyed ice cream at the park and they were loaded back in their car seats. As I stepped on the break and pushed the ignition button, it acted wierd. Didn't start. Strange lights came on. Then went off. On again. Off again. Hmmmm. I tried again, Same thing... A small voice came from behind. "Grandma, did you think about praying about it?" Good idea. We did. It started. "Thank you Jesus." And we were off for our next adventure. Well, honestly, I did not give it any more thought after that. I must have passed it off in my mind as a "fluke." Until last night. It happened again. In our church parking lot. It went berserk again. Lights flashing. Strange vibrations. Couldn't get it to start. Strangely (humbled to ad...

  I am musing about... Hills Recently, my hubby and I took advantage of a gorgous fall afternoon and hit the Kankakee River Trail on our bikes. It was lovely. It meandered through cool woods and along the river, through a state park, over a suspension bridge, past a camp ground. It was not your typical rail to trail ride (which we also enjoy), but provided more diverse scenery and landscape appeal. And it had hills. Not that many. Not that bad. Really. But it was not, well flat. And about half way through, my left pedal broke. Fell off, almost. Other then the bar part. So I could still ride it, but it was somewhat uncomfortable and not as effective. I am one of those riders that prefer the flat grade. When whizzing down a hill (yes, its fun!), I am aware of the reality that I will need to climb it on my way back. It kind of has a way of stealing the thrill a bit, you know? I think most of us appreciate it when our life is rolling along smoothly. No hills to climb. No big challenges...

  I am musing about... Christians and Gaslighting. What is gaslighting? We hear that word tossed around quite abit these days.  Gaslighting is a mental trick of sorts, a  "playing with someone's mind". It is an approach that makes someone in the right feel like they are in the wrong, It is a means of making the oppressed feel like they are the oppressor, of making the victim feel like the victimizer. It is hard to explain. It is tricky. And it is real. When it comes to Christians expressing their beliefs, the society and culture we are living in, can make us feel hesitant to express our opinions, making us feel like we are self-centered, lacking in understanding, one-sided and even unkind. We need to take a deep breath. We need to stop and consider. What is it that we are expressing? How are we expressing it? Are we, God forbid, being rude, unkind or violent in any way? It is so important that we exercise humility, kindness, love and compassion as we step out with bold...

I am musing about.... A Spoon-holder.  Yep:)  When we travel, I like to purchase something that is practical, something that I can use, and as I use it, it can remind me of a sweet and memorable time. And so, recently I purchased a ceramic spoon holder; it is coming in handy, easy to wash, works well... But on that spoon holder (written in colors that go with my kitchen, yes, I am a little OCD that way:) )....it says, "Give it a rest, Right here". A place to lay down my spoon, soiled from the workings of stirring and blending, a place to let it rest... I know. We are talking about a spoon here. :) But, I think you know where I am going with this. Where do we take our busy lives, soiled by the stirrrings and blendings of our day to day interactions and commitments, and "give it a rest"?  How blessed we are that we can lay them at the cross. Give them all to Jesus. Our ups, our downs, our joys, our concerns, our questions, our supposed answers, our dreams, our hopes, ...

 Looking Up! There are times we feel down. Burdened. Concerned.  Look up! See the glorious blue sky. See the radiant light shining through.  Looking up is a hopeful thing to do. It is where the light is. Where it comes from.  It is where our "help comes from".  ( I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from where my help comes from, my help comes from the Lord  Psalm 121:1-2) Up is a place of hopeful vastness that ushers in peace, perspective and assurance! Why? Our omnipresent God, whose Spirit dwells within us, occupies the Heavens. And it is He to Whom we "look up to". He can take our sorrows and our times of challenge or confusion or misunderstanding or brokenness, and shed light upon the situation, in such a way, that we find redemption and beauty, potential clarity and understanding. Because of His love. It does not mean that we will not still hurt, or carry burdens and concerns.  It does not mean that we may have work to do, real life to live, hur...

  I am marveling about... Sourdough Bread Our daughter has been caring for her sourdough starter for over three years. It is a process of dicipline and love in a way; love for the the taste and enjoyment of the bread itself and a labor of love in providing and caring for her hubby and  their three growing boys! I have to hand it to her. It has required ongoing care and attention; "feeding" it, providing appropriate storage, timely "stirring". And then, there is the part where she continues to seek out ways to use it, ways to enjoy it and to consume and share it. She is often looking for different recipes, trying new things, all under the "sourdough umbrella". So, now, how is this somewhat over-the-top writer of random analogies going to apply this all today? This is what the Lord has laid on my heart... We, as His children have been provided the living Holy Spirit. It resides within us. It is the "starter" as we are unable to be saved without the...