Musings and Marvelings on my Jesus Journey

  I am musing about... When life is hard. Really hard. There are dear ones who's lives are hard. There is no other way to put it. At times, I think about those who live in third world countries, or in slums, or the ghetto, or crack houses. Those who were born into poverty and pain. Those involved in addiction, maybe trafficking, sickness, heartache and despair. It is real. It sounds beyond hard. It breaks my heart. But not enough. There are those who appear to have good lives in a middle or upper class situation. But their lives are  full of challenges, confusion and sadness. There are those who things just do not seem to go well for. They suffer rejection and disapointment time and again. There are those who find themselves reaching for things they know they should not to try to heal the hurt. Even those who have reached for the Great Physician and have come to know His love and grace, and still they succumb and fall. And the layers of hard deepen. I recently listened to an a...

 I am musing about... Malls, Nostalgia and God I know. Random, right? You just never know what the Lord will lay on my mind to share. But this time...it has to do with shopping malls. Have you been to one lately? I do not know how it is in your "neck of the woods" but around here they seem to be a thing of the past. Their glory days have come and gone. I remember being in Jr. High and all the excitement over the building of the Northwoods Mall in Peoria. It was a big deal. It became the shopping experience of my generation. Heading to the mall for a fun outing with friends! And you have to admit that it was a convenient way to get multiple purchasing tasks done. But thanks (or no thanks) to the arrival of Amazon and digital shopping, the brick and mortar retail industry is on an obvious decline. At least around here. The mall nearest us (not Northwoods) is just sad. One after another, the anchor stores have closed. It has been quite awhile since I have been there, but honestl...

  I am marveling about... The Touch... Of the Hand of God. The other morning I looked out the window and once again was touched by the beauty of the dusting of fresh snow on the row of evergreen trees in our back yard. It was just a touch, mind you, a feathering if you will...but it transformed those trees into something so picturesque and lovely. I had to reflect on what a difference God's touch can make. Just a touch from the Lord... -can turn a disapointment into a stepping stone, -a challenge into a milestone, -a heartache into an ebeneezer, -a detour into a fresh journey, -a question into an understanding, -a time of confusion into a time of surrender -a fear into a victory. Often, it takes time. It is not something that happens overnight, like a winter snowfall. At times, His touch looks more like a peaceful sense of calm as He provides strength and hope in the wait.  There is no mistaking the effect of the touch of God on our hearts. We all need it. God's touch. Every d...

  I am musing about.... wishing you all, my dear readers, a... Happy New Day  AND  a Happy New Year!! There is something about the marking of time that reigns significant within the human spirit!  I think we all appreciate a new opportunity, a chance to reflect and evaluate, an obvious way to acknowledge the passing of time. There is something redeeming about a new year. A new chance. A time to "start over" if you will, to approach life afresh. But there is where I want to take this, dear readers. Are not God's mercies new every morning? Is His grace not there for us each and every day anew?? How good He is! How understanding and generous as He promises, we His struggling creation, to be there for us, time and again, with an outpouring of His "steadfast love" and an abundance of His available help and grace!  He does not give up on us. His love never runs out. It is fresh every morning (actually every moment). It is there for the taking. We just need to humble o...

  I am musing about.... Preparation! I have a feeling that most of you moms are like me...in preparation mode! Preparing our homes for family festivities; planning menues, prepping food, wrapping gifts, making lists, washing linnens, baking goodies, shopping (by car or by click), adding decorating touches here and there...the list goes on. We prepare with excitement and anticipation as we look forward to our door swinging wide open as we welcome our dear ones home. Our minds may be in overdrive and our "candles burning at both ends", but we are motivated by the joy of having our family assembled together once again. So as I take a break from the wrapping, and sit down at my laptop, my mind goes to this idea of "preparation". Am I preparing my heart daily for the time to come, when our King, our Heavenly Father will swing open the glories of Heaven and welcome us each home, into the joys that He has been preparing for us. Does not His Word share that "In my Fath...

I am musing about... Seeing through "newborn eyes"! What is it about the wonder and joy of watching a newborn open his eyes and look around, taking in the world around him for the very first time. It grabs at your heart with sweet intensity, it awakens awe.  We just got home from California and being with our son and his family as they welcomed their third child, a precious little boy, Oliver. As I held his cuddly little body (swaddled so tightly and lovingly by his mother), and gazed into his sleeping face, I couldn't help but stare. And stare some more. Just taking it all in. Feeling the love swell inside for this newest member of our growing family! His sisters were taken in as well, oohing, and aahhing, kissing and smiling. Baby brother was here! As I watched his innocent little face, it would contort into the funniest expressions at times. It made me smile and sometimes, even chuckle out loud.  And then his eyes would flutter open, only to quickly close again. A seco...

 I am marveling about.... A Man named Jason. A man who had a big heart. He had a love for Jesus that was palpable and a concern for others that was undeniable. His life was hard. Really hard. But it was blessed. Really blessed. He knew his parents' and family's deep and abiding love, and he knew the support and friendship of many, oh so many! Back during his teen years and early twenties, he was care free. Enjoyed his friends. Partied. Then came that fateful day. He and his friends, out on the Mackinaw. Doing what they had done often before. Diving from a tree limb into a deep area of the waters. For some reason (well, he said he was showing off) he attempted a flip which took him beyond the deep area and landed him on a sandbar. And it broke his neck. Life would never be the same. He became destined to life from a chair. Unable to walk or even use his hands and arms like they were meant to be used. He became dependent on others to care for him and see to his most basic needs. ...