God's World, My Lens

God's World, My Lens

black & white sketch of open book, eye glasses on top, a throw and a mug beside

My Lens: God's Lens: Your Lens:

Encourage women to enrich their relationship with the Lord
by seeing themselves through His eyes and
hearing and seeing Him from your heart

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God's World, My Lens

black & white sketch of open book, eye glasses on top, a throw and a mug beside

My Lens:         Encourage women to enrich their relationship with the Lord
God's Lens:    By seeing themselves through His eyes and
Your Lens:       Hearing & seeing Him from your heart

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Phyllisducey

shows an actual spider web with the spider in the center

lessons from a spider

2025, blog /

As is my habit every night to take my dog, Oliver out to do his business before bed, tonight was no different.   We go out between 11:00-11:30pm.  I like being out at that time.  Tonight was not as nice as normal.  Smoke from Canadien wildfires filled the air giving the impression of fog…but not, it’s smoke. My lungs aren’t fond of it. Tonight was a quiet night.  Few stars, no frogs trying to win over new mates, coyotes must have filled stomachs as they too were quiet.  My friend Mr. Toad was there to greet us as we walked out the door.  One of my favorite creatures are toads.  They are not slimy like frogs.  They actually can eat up to a 1,000 insects in a day and up to 10,000 in a summer…yes, those numbers I have double checked!  You can see why I like them so much.  A night without seeing Mr. Toad seems sad (and filled with bugs). I have a raised flower bed that I wandered over to check out as Oliver followed trails to find some animals who had dared to wander around our yard during the day.  The flowers are as pretty at night as in the day…some more so.  My wheelbarrow sat next to the garden.  I was just about to move it but stopped. There was a magnificent spider web attached to it.  Maybe about 2 feet in circumference.  It was perfect.  Each layer of the web was impeccably weaved to perfect distance from the one before it.  Not only was it beautiful, it was also effective.  Several unsuspecting bugs were enticed into it.  Considering the size, I thought it would be a huge spider who was so creative, but this was a small spider.  Not too threatening at all.  I attempted to take pictures but all I have is my phone. Though it has taken some amazing pictures, it could not capture the exquisite details of the web.  I cannot be outside without being in awe of our Creator.  Think of the simple (dreaded to many) spider.  God instilled in him the ability to create not only its intricate web but to be able to use it as a food pantry.  Amazing…who would think to do that?  Only God! It encourages me to know that our Creator thinks even more about me.  He made me in His image…I am here to worship Him and reflect His love.  Unlike the spider who instinctively knows its role; I have to stay in close connection with my Creator so that I too (in conjunction with Him) may weave something beautiful out of my life. I instinctively knew there was a Creator God when I first held my baby in my arms. (How could something so amazing be a fluke of atoms colliding?) So I sought Him out, studied His Word (the Bible) and much as I was when I viewed that spider web, I was enthralled with the beauty, complexity and love of our God.  The God who created the universe containing millions of galaxies, thought so highly of me that His Son came to earth to die for my sins.  Jesus paid the price so that I may be able to be a child of the Most High God.  My heartfelt wish is that my life may create something as beautiful as that spider’s web to bring honor and glory to God. But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this. In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10

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picture out of car front window of highway with construction

Construction

2024, blog, book - Reflections of God /

When I lived in the Chicago area it was said that there were only two seasons: winter and construction.  The same is true of Minnesota.  The summers are shorter here, so construction starts as soon as possible.  At least two weeks beforehand they put up signs stating the date the roadwork will begin.  A week in advance of that date the barriers were dropped on the sides of the road awaiting placement.  A few days before the scheduled start, they added more signs for speed limit changes and detours.  On the start date everything was in place and we all understood the new course the road would take.   I don’t think I had ever thought about it before but this construction season I was kind of impressed by the preparation not only in how they planned it all but in how they prepared our minds to understand and be aware of the changes. I’m not sure about you, but I see this as an allegory for our prayer life.  How?  “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of My people.” Isaiah 57:14 (Another one of my favorite verses.)  I have learned the importance of preparing the road in prayer.  Prayer removes the obstacles in the spiritual realm.  If I am working with a committee, prayer becomes especially important to aide in keeping us on track and of the same mind-set.  In one meeting I was in, no one agreed on how we should proceed with an issue. I suggested we stop to pray, and when the conversation continued, a recommendation was made that we all easily agreed upon.  I have also been in meetings where God was not invited in and hours upon hours were spent trying to come to a consensus.  When I know I have places to go, I will often pray that if God creates an opportunity, I will be ready to share or pray with a person. (Those unexpected God appointments are always the best.) It seems to me that when I don’t think to pray, those special appointments don’t happen.  Though I’m sure the MN Department of Transportation did not intend to give us an example of Isaiah 57: 14… they totally did! “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of My people.” Isaiah 57:14

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Painting of rows of grapevines with no leaves or grapes. There are two hands with pruning shears pruning the grape vines

without me

2024, blog /

“I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.”           John 15:5 NKJ “Without Me”… “Without Me”… God has given me several different assignments ranging from praying specifically for a total stranger, praying specifically for married couples, to writing 30 poems in 30 days, then several months later to write 30 devotions in 30 days…but none I could do without Him. One day I called this woman (I will call her Gretchen which is not her name) to arrange to have her speak at a non-Christian event I was working on.  When Gretchen answered she sounded very upset.  I asked her if she was okay, and she said no.  I have this horrible habit of asking probing questions of people and on this occasion, I did not fail to do so.  Turns out Gretchen’s son-in-law had just committed suicide the day before.  I immediately (without consulting the Lord) asked her if I could pray with her.  Gretchen blew up at me.  She yelled something about us Christians always trying to proselytize and a few other things.  I felt horrible… not about the offer to pray but about butting into something I had no business to do so without consulting with the Lord. I’m not saying I was wrong to probe (though since I did not know her very well, it was probably not a good idea) or to offer to pray, but it was wrong that I did it without my Lord.  As soon as I heard her voice, I should have been in prayer asking the Lord to guide me. But no… my pride (because if you boil it down…it was pride) thought I could handle the situation on my own.  I went into compassionate Phyllis mode which has no value without God.  It is not unlike a clanging gong.  Maybe that is how Lucifer fell…his pride that he could do everything on his own and probably the thought he did not need God led him to be kicked out of heaven… I certainly don’t want to be barred from heaven due to my pride. Upon hanging up I turned to the Lord who gave me wisdom how to email an apology to Gretchen which she accepted.  Next time we saw each other she profusely apologized to me as I did to her.  We hugged it out.  All is good.  But that all would not have happened had I not turned to God for wisdom in emailing the apology.  And I venture to say that none of it would have happened if I had invited God into the original conversation.  Because without God I can do nothing! “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.”           John 15:5 NKJ

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Beach and ocean. A ray of sunlight streams down on a woman in the distance

send me – a confession of my heart

2025, blog /

In the Bible chapter 6 of Isaiah, the Lord asks, “who shall I send?”  Isaiah responds, “Here I am, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)   I am in awe sometimes of that simple statement.  “Here I am, send me.”  I’m not sure I could say that with all my heart.  Often, I would say here I am send me…with the caveat of when its comfortable and convenient for me to go.  I have lots of excuses to not put myself out of my comfort zone.  I need to be around for my husband, I’m not feeling all that well today, I think that maybe I question if that is really what You, Lord, want me to do.  I could continue on and on with excuses.  But Isaiah just said, “here I am, send me”.  Sometimes I think…if You, Lord, visited me directly, surely, I would respond as Isaiah did.  (Hmmm, could I be blaming You, Lord, for my inaction instead of owning my lack within.) I sit here while typing on my computer saying to You, God, I am willing.  Just hit me with it.  I’ll follow through…but tomorrow in the light of day, will I feel the same.  Or will I get busy with laundry, cleaning, gardening or a game on my tablet and not give it another thought. I guess I’m writing a confession to You, Lord.  Forgive me for allowing myself to be distracted or numbing my mind with TV or games.   Forgive me for allowing myself to appear as such a “good Christian” when I am truly just a sinner…no different, maybe worse than others.  At least with many others they wear their sins as a proud badge to be seen by all.  But me, Lord, my sins sink deeper and deeper as I grow in my relationship with You.  Because as I work to be more like You, what was once an innocent sin now becomes big…because I know better.  I see You and the purity of who You are which makes my impure self become a pitiful sinner.  (John 3:16) Lord, being so pitiful, the only way I can come before You is through Your Son Jesus.  He has borne all my sins…past, present and future…creating a way that I may come before You. (Psalm 51:12) Lord, restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  Because of Jesus, I can come confidently before Your throne. (Hebrews 4:16). I truly don’t deserve such a privilege.   And I do not deserve the privilege of representing You to others…of being an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).  Lord, I am willing…teach me to be fully given over to You.  Not just given wholly to You but to be given with a joyful heart in all I do.  (Colossians 3:23) Amen & amen “Then I heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send?  And who will go for Us?”   And I said, “Here I am. Send me!”   Isaiah 6:8 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”   Psalm 51:12 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”     John 3:16-17 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.”     2 Corinthians 5:20a “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”     Colossians 3:23

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Raised garden bed with wheelbarrow and shovel

weeds

2024, blog, book - Reflections of God /

Several years back, my husband built a raised bed to plant my vegetables in.  I love it but to my surprise it was inundated with weeds this year. (How does that happen when I’ve kept it weed free each year?)  I’m sure if I had weeded it early in the season it would have been less of them.  A little less than a month ago I spent several hours (on different days) pulling out stray grass and weeds. This year I only planted peppers and tomatoes. There was a good size clump of daisies growing in it (where on earth did that come from?) which I chose to leave because I love their flowers.  Today, my dog Oliver and I went out to tackle those weeds…again.  I pull them and Oliver sneaks them away, chomps on them for a minute or two then leaves them strewn on the lawn.  I suppose I should be annoyed about it but I find everything he does funny…almost.  As I’m sure you know, new plants starts come in those little plastic 4 or 6 packs.  When I finish with the plastic pack, Oliver will sneak it, chew it to pieces and leave those strewn on the lawn too.  One day I did not find this amusing.  I told him to pick them up and put them in the wheelbarrow.  And guess what?  He did!  Of course, he gets incentives…a tiny treat for every piece that made it in. Sorry about that rabbit hole, I will go back to my weeds.  As I was pulling them out I had to admire the tenacity of their roots.  I like to talk with God as I work in the garden.  I asked Him if there was any lingering weeds rooted in my soul.  No answer to that so I went on to discuss the beauty of the daisies and other flowers in my yard.  But tonight He (God) reminded me of several different weeds that still had some roots to pull.  (Bummer, I thought I was doing good.) Probably the main one was that I never want anyone to know that I don’t have things under control and don’t want to show my vulnerability. (Is that a pride issue?)   I realize that is an issue with many people but that does not mean it is not a problem for me.  If I am going to give myself fully to the Lord, I need to be humble and vulnerable before Him.  Here’s what I find for me…I think I give myself fully to the Lord but then He shows me where I am holding back.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I find that giving myself fully to the Lord is an ongoing process.     Any time I think it’s a done deal…the Lord steps in and says “Child, we have more to work on”…more weeds to pull.  Just like my raised garden, I think the soil is cleared of weeds but there is a root somewhere I missed, and it starts growing.  I wonder if I will ever be totally clear of problem roots. I suppose it will never happen this side of heaven because only Jesus was/is totally weed free. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 NIV

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Prophetic picture of three faces representing our Triune God with a cross over them

the one, true constant in life

2025, blog /

I often wonder if every generation who ever lived on this earth felt the turmoil of their world.  It never seems to stay the same.  Things are ever-changing.  Reading through the Old Testament, there were almost always wars.  Victories went from one nation to another.  Israel could have had peace forever if they stayed obedient to the promises (covenant) that they made with God.  But they didn’t.  Just like us in today’s world they were tempted by other gods.  For the most part, we don’t call them gods.  But anything that becomes more important than the Lord is a god…like cars, houses, money, video games, etc. I wonder too before all this instant communication if some people lived in peaceful bliss not knowing what wars or turmoil the rest of the world was facing at the time.  I could imagine living in the woods or a mountainside never knowing how other people were faring.  But as I think about it, maybe that was not all that peaceful and idyllic.  After all they’d have to hunt for food, find pure water and fight the climate in order to grow crops. So even for them life probably was not simple…just different kinds of stresses and worries. For the times we now live in, the instant communication is incredibly stressful.  Anywhere in the world that a war is happening we know about it.  If a volcano explodes we know about it.  When there are wildfires and earthquakes we hear all the details almost as they are happening.  If rulers of countries go into negotiations, we know while it is happening if it is successful or a failure.  If a shooter enters a school or workplace we see live video footage of the incident. And if that is not enough, all these disasters are played over and over again on the news and internet.  The instant communication undermines our peace.  The constant barrage of disasters steals our security.  It’s no wonder that anxiety, mental illness and suicide are so prominent in our culture. The biggest thing I wonder about is how does anyone survive without God in their life?  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life…whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.  We will die; this world will pass but God is forever.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  He is our Rock.  For me, to have Him to cling to, knowing I will have eternity with Him, gets me through my days.  When I focus on my Triune God, a peace that surpasses all understanding comes over me.  I know that no matter what happens in this world I have a relationship with the God who not only created me but created all of the universe.  Isn’t that amazing?  I am truly grateful that Jesus entered this sinful world and died a horrible death in order to pay the price for my sins so I could have eternity with Him.  I am grateful in this ever-changing world, I can always rely on the one true constant, my Triune God…the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. “I the Lord do not change”  Malachi 3:6 “Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.”      James 1:17 “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”     John 14:6

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shed with wooden American flag centered between the windows with Oliver, golden doodle sitting in the foreground

The flag

2024, blog, book - Reflections of God /

A summer or two ago we bought a beautifully crafted 3-foot by 2.5-foot wooden American Flag. Deciding where to put it was a no-brainer for us. We have a shed with two windows that face the street. The windows give it the appearance of a tiny house. Even more so when we centered the flag between them and planted sunflowers amidst wildflowers to give it a homey look. My son-in-law decided it needed a light shining on it in the dark. He secretly bought a solar one, crawled up to the shed (so our dog would not bark if he saw him) and strategically placed it to light up the flag at night. What a sweet surprise it was! Especially on breezy nights when the flower’s shadows dance silhouetted by his thoughtful gift onto the flag. ​It is one of my favorite views on my nightly stroll with my dog. Tonight, it was not illuminated. The day was overcast with little to no direct sunlight. As I was staring at it, I told Oliver (my dog, who happens to be a good listener when I ramble on about things) that it was to be expected since the sun was so scarce today. ​ Then it struck me, aren’t we a bit like solar lights? If we don’t make time for the Son (Christ) in our lives daily, we won’t be able to reflect Him. If my day is so filled with…? (I’m not sure I’d like to admit some of my useless time wasters.) And if I only take a few minutes to pray as I’m falling asleep it is as a cloudy day is to solar power. When I have not made time for my Lord, how can I expect to be a light to others? The solar lights shine brightest with constant, unobstructed sun. We too shine brightest in this dark world when we have focused unobstructed time with the Son, Jesus. When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

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painting of a path amidst woods. Trees leaves are oranges and gold with a blues sky.

Paths

2 Comments / 2024, blog /

Paths were created to be followed which we learned one year when the Girl Scout troop that I led ventured off the beaten path.  For some reason my husband, Danny, came with us on this specific field trip to the Girl Scout camp.  That was unusual as was his approach to hiking.  Being a fairly hot day, while mistakenly taking a relatively long path, we were all dragging.  Not being sure how far our campsite was, increased our mental fatigue.   Danny announced the site was just over the hill.  The only problem was that there was not a path leading up the hill.  We split up, he took several girls and I kept several with me following the path.  Shortly after they headed up the hill, I heard a scream, and another and another.  There was a ground nest of wasps that they had walked on.  I ran over to grab the girls…it was like running in slow motion.  Every step seemed to take minutes at a time.  Danny and two girls had already crossed the nest, which left two girls just entering the wasp zone.  Positioning myself between the remaining two and the angry wasps, we ran back to the path. (Amazingly I did not get stung).  I yelled to Danny to take the girls up so they would not have to back track over the ominous nest.  Fatigue disappeared as the adrenaline rush set in.  All the girls who were with me now picked up their pace as we sprinted back to the camp… to safety, to medical care.  Surprisingly there were only a few stings and thankfully no one was allergic to them. (FYI, Danny’s group did get there much faster than us.) Paths…God created paths for us to follow too. (I bet you knew where I was going with this.)  My trusty (?) internet browser tells me that in the ESV translation, there are 84 Bible verses with either the word path or references to it.  I know that whenever God repeats Himself in His Word, I better pay attention to it.  So, with 84 references, there is no doubt I need to take time to dwell on the concept. Though I have read the Bible cover to cover several times, I have yet to focus on all 84 references (I do think it will make a great study).  But from those I have read, I see I must focus on the Lord; listen to Him to hear His direction; and boldly move forward in the path He has set before me.  How do I know I am on the right path?  I see fruit and receive blessings as I walk with the Lord.  I feel a peace inside, and I consult with God as I take steps forward.  Asking Him to shine His light on the path He chooses for me.  Because I certainly don’t want to stray off His path and get stuck in a wasp’s nest. “Do not turn right or left, keep your foot from evil”   Proverbs 4:27 “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”  Proverbs 4:18 “Your words are like a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path” Psalms 119:105

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Silly lama head & neck with blue background

the power of one

2024, blog /

The phrase “the power of one” has been rattling around my brain for a week or two.  It started with an obnoxious mosquito.  I realized that one little mosquito could totally take me from peace and relaxation to annoyance and aggravation.  It could ruin a whole night’s sleep by buzzing around my ears.  And thus, the words the “power of one” began taking root in my head.  So, when I decided to sit at my laptop and write, I googled it. (I’m sure using that term will age me in a few years.) There are numerous books, movies and articles with that title.  Most books were in the new age, meditation type genre.  Most movies seem to have low ratings and I did not bother checking out the articles.  There are very famous people who were committed to God (maybe delegated by God is more appropriate) and moved forward changing the world around them.  The Apostle Paul, Mother Teresa, Billy Grahm, and in spite of a lifelong battle with depression, Charles Spurgeon. Many more I could list.  I am sure some people would challenge my choices but the only people that really count are the ones who have shown God’s love and changed people for eternity. In comparison to these great servants of the Lord, I feel like a little, tiny speck in the universe…in God’s plans for mankind.  But what pulls me out of feeling so lowly is that I know Christ died for me.  I know God has a purpose and a plan for my life. (Obviously, so far it has not been speaking to thousands or living in poverty with the poor.)  I know that He has given me gifts.  If I follow the path He has laid out for me, use the gifts He has given me, and keep my focus on Him, I will be living into the purpose and plan He has for me.  It seems that my life is unessential in this world, but I refuse to doubt my Creator God who made me unique and special. I may be one small piece of a puzzle but without that piece the puzzle could not be complete. Isn’t it amazing that the Creator of the Universe loves me so much He gave me my own assignments to follow for Him.  Because of that I plan to use whatever gifts He has given me each day for His glory.  So though I’m just that tiny puzzle piece I know I am empowered to complete that puzzle.  And I have (or am) the power of one because my power comes from my Lord.  (Does that mean I really have the power of two?) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

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