Of Barns, and Babies

Out of my walks I've been noticing beautiful barns in the snow.

Somehow they are so much more beautiful surrounded by snow then on other days.


Some barns are still in use, and some are just a symbol of the farming days of the past.

But all remind me of Jesus who gave up the comforts of heaven came to be God with us and be born in a barn. These barns look so clean and tidy right now, but we all know what is in a barn. Living conditions in a barn would be unpleasant, at best. So why did Jesus choose such a lowly place? Most kings are too proud to associate with the most humble people on earth, but not Jesus, the King of the Universe. He comes out of love, to all who will welcome Him. Only the owner of a barn gave Jesus a place to stay 2000 years ago. Only the heavenly knew of his arrival. Only shephards and distant foreigners were listening close enough to know to go search Him out in a smelly, dark barn.

Often my heart has been as filthy as a barn, stuffed with selfishness and sin, with all the resulting woundedness and brokeness. Jesus, would you really be born there? You ask to come in? Yes, I gladly welcome you in and give you full control. Bring your peace-be-still to the chaos that swarms therein. Clean, remove, cover and whiten all that is impure. I'll have no other gods before you. There is room in the barn in my heart for you.

Light Dawning

I'm fascinated with light and color. Two days ago I was out walking near sunset and there were little cotton ball clouds up in the sky. Between each one there was a bit of deep blue sky. As the sunset show started orange and red started to light up the sky and then it hit the cotton ball clouds and set them aflame. It was as if their closest edges really were on fire. It felt like a burning bush moment. The kids and I had to be still and know that the face of our Creator still can be seen in the face His creation, even after all these years of sin's destruction.

Last week God's light came shining in through my window at sunrise, and I was there at the right moment to see it. As I stepped into the kitchen for the first time that morning, a purple etched vase caught that light and the light caught my attention. I had to stand gazing at the light as if I'd never seen it before. There was something special about it this morning.

God's light is always shining on the world. Just like the rain, He gives us light's warmth and color even though we have done nothing to deserve it. He sends it down on the good and the bad, because His love is not based on our goodness or our badness, it is based on His unending love for everyone on earth. Oh, if we would just let Him rescue us, just as He rescues the lost sheep in His gospel parable. He longs to cultivate the hard soil of our hearts, and cause the seed of love to grow and flourish in the place of rock hard selfishness. He shines His light on us so we can see the truth about ourself, that we really do need saving, that even with all our trying, and pretending.

I'm thankful for that light. It draws me back to Him, helps me feel my need for His transformation, brought about by His Spirit. And then His light is all I can see. I loose sight of my self, and He becomes much more important that me. His Spirit causes fruit to grow, the good fruit of His good character. I die to self and let His light shine through me. My heart fills with joy. And others get to savor the precious light of Jesus too. And the light of His character is even more beautiful then when the sunrise shines through purple vases.

Coral Root Orchid

Coral root Orchid, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washinton
"The life of Christ in you produces the same fruits as in Him. Living in Christ, adhering to Christ supported by Christ, drawing nourishment from Christ, you bear fruit after the simlitude of Christ."

The Desire of Ages, page 668

Sew Crafty Friday - Quilted Table Runner

I do have one more item for Sew Crafty Friday. I made my first quilted table runner. I've made large quilts that require much patience, because it takes so long to finish. But this table runner took me just part of a day! It was so much fun. I purchased the blue and white snowflake fabrics, and then was able to finish it off with fabrics from my stash. At one point I was ready to make a run to the fabric store, because I didn't have the right fabrics to go with the pattern. But then I decided that I'd rather make do with what I had, and I'm glad I did. I changed the pattern to work with the fabric I already had. It turned out great! It was fun to piece, and easy to machine quilt. I wanted the snow flakes to match the winter theme. But also to remind us of how God wants to make our hearts whiter then snow.

P.S. Yes, after I looked at the pictures, I did find a piecing mistake. Isn't it wonderful that our salvation is based on the perfection of Jesus, and not our own?

Beautiful Dawning

There are benefits to getting up early, when the house is still quiet. There is often no time in my day more important then early morning prayer for the purpose of communion with Jesus, and study of the Bible for the purpose of knowing Him better.

Sunday morning, scenes of glory, to beautiful to describe crossed the sky, and only I was awake to enjoy it. The peaceful quiet soothed me. The air outside was crisp and cold. Snow covered fields reflected pinks, orange and red. I opened the door just enough to poke my telephoto out, and then wrapped back up in my blanket on the couch to enjoy the whole display.The love of God in the book of Deuteronomy on my lap amazed me. I had never realized that there was so much love from God in this Old Testament book. God loved His people long before He gave us John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." He didn't start loving people just when Jesus came to earth. He was loving us long before, and He wasn't afraid to say it.

The word "love" is found 29 times in Deuteronomy. Here are some of my favorite verses I found there.

"What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to Him." Deuteronomy 4:7

"Because He loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength" Deuteronomy 4:37

"...The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the people on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. But the Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous then other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a might hand and redeemed you ...Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep his commands." Deuteronomy 7:6-10

"There in the presence of the Lord you God, you and your family shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord, your God has blessed you." Deuteronomy 12:7

"...the Lord your God loves you." Deuteronomy 23:5

And from the Gospel of John
John 16:27
"...the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." John 16:27

This morning there was more snow. The sky was the same color as the snow. The sunrise colors are gone. But the love of God remains and warms my heart.

May the beautiful dawning of God's everlasting love brighten your day, much as it did mine. He is near you when you pray. He has redeemed you. He has made a covenant to keep loving you. You are His treasured possession.

The Baptism of Emily Rose

This weekend, our precious daughter was baptized as Jesus was, by immersion. We are so happy, as her parents, that she wishes to live her life with Jesus as her all the time friend and Savior.

After church friends came over for lunch and a special blessing for Emily Rose. I allowed her to choose the menu (haystacks and apple crisp), and to do the inviting of the people herself. About 25 of her favorite people were here, most of them adults that have special meaning in her life. Ten family members from out of town came an spent the weekend with us.

When lunch was finished, we gathered everyone together. I had earlier given them a chance to use paper and stickers to make a little card for Emily Rose with an affirmation, blessing and or Bible text on it. At this time everyone had a chance to share their thoughts with Emily Rose, and then she got to keep the cards they made for her.

On Thursday my husband and I had written out a prayer of blessing for her, printed it out and framed it. In Bible times people such as Abraham and Isaac blessed their children on their death bed. We have decided that we wish for our children to walk in the blessings of the Lord all their life, so we decided to take this opportunity to make a formal prayer of blessing for her. We placed our hands on her, and my husband read the prayer. Next we gave her a symbolic gift, a nativity set, to remind her that Jesus wants to be born in her every day. A friend gave her a little lamb to go with the set, and a wooden stable to place it in. She said that sometimes when she feels like her life is hard or bad, she remembers that Jesus was willing to leave heaven to be born in a dirty rough stable. So she takes courage that Jesus would be willing to be born in her too.

At the end of the day, at tuck in time, I asked Emily Rose about her feelings concerning the day. She said, in a quiet, awe filled voice, "It was special." And how does she feel after the day? "I feel loved."

It was good, so very good.

Come and Reflect a While

I don't know what is happening in your life today, good or bad. But I do know that there is no better time to stop hurrying around, sit down in a quiet place and spend some time alone with God. Time alone with God, T.A.G. Time, is so important, because the Christian life is not based on what you know or have achieved, but rather on who you know. Jesus wants a personal relationship with those He has come to save.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3 NIV

There is no better way to know someone then to spend time with him. And the more time you spend with someone, the more they are reflected in your life.

If you have been forgetting your T.A.G. time. Here is a simple way to get started again.

1. Start with heartfelt prayer, talking honestly with God about your life.

2. Read one chapter or passage out of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, or another part of the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discover the answer to these two questions as you read. Write your answers in journal or notebook. Look for more then just the right answer. Sit and be quiet long enough to hear what God is telling you in His Word.

• What does this passage teach me about Jesus?
• What is the principle found in this passage that God is calling me to apply today to my life?

3. Pray again and allow the power of God's Word to start transforming you.

Focus on the Lamb

Sunset at Rosario, WA

I have been thinking much about worship with my children lately. It seems there is precious little time to teach them about Jesus. Soon they will be grown. I've let so many chances to pass when I could have led my children in worship. I get so busy doing things and thinking about things. And when I do make time for worship, the question of what to do or say weighs heavy. It seems there are so many books, songs, and activities you can do on a spiritual topics. What should I choose? Am I choosing the best?

I shared my thoughts with a respected friend who has college age children. Her experience, wisdom and living walk with Jesus means so much to me. She was able to simplify things in such a meaningful way.

She reminded me of the Hebrew system of worship when they were out in the desert with Moses. Morning and evening they would gather, and the whole focus was on the Lamb.

And isn't that the way it should be? Morning and evening coming together to thank the Lamb of God, Jesus, for dying for our sins?

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations."

Psalm 100:4-5