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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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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Fog

2024, blog, book - Reflections of God /

I really don’t like to drive in the fog. Especially in an area called ‘Thompson Hill’ on route I-35. Because it is higher ground the fog is denser on the hill where there is no lighting for a long stretch. I usually pray there will be taillights of a truck or even a car in front of me to give me an idea of where to go. I’ve not been in an accident or driven off the road, but it makes me extremely tense. Fog is usually caused by water vapors in the air and/or tiny dust particles called aerosols (I thought that was a brand of shoes). I know this is true from personal experience. Aside from driving in it, I am out with Oliver (my dog) at night even in the fog while armed with a flashlight that has good size beam (always on the lookout for coyotes). Because I am who I am and see things a little differently than most, one day while playing with the flashlight, I aimed the light towards the sky. I was fascinated by what I saw. Swirling through the beam were tornado-like aerosols. I watched them for so long I started getting dizzy. Once again, I was in awe of God’s incredible imagination to come up with zillions of tiny particles to create fog. Now every time I go out in the fog, I am enraptured while watching the tornado-like swirls dance in the light beam. (Though I still don’t like driving in it.) I got to thinking if I was able to isolate a tiny aerosol, I’d probably need a microscope to see it. But collectively those tiny aerosols can block our vision of things. It has caused accidents. Prior to current technology it caused ships to be rammed into rocks, planes to crash and has wrecked all kinds of havoc. I wonder if sin could be like an aerosol. An isolated little sin, maybe a white lie, seems like nothing. Not enough to even think about (everybody does them) but after weeks, months or years each tiny sin can collect into a sin fog. The sin fog could become so dense it blocks the view of God. Just like in a true fog, you’d only be able to see what is right in front of you. And right in front of you are the taillights of this world. A dark world that values self, fame and fortune and has no room for God. That thought makes me realize the importance of not ignoring the little sins in my life. It reminds me that I need to let in God’s light by confessing my sins and turning away from them. When I start feeling distant from the Lord, could it be I started creating a sin fog…something to think about. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:8-9

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MY HOME

2024, blog, book - Reflections of God /

My Home Cambridge Dictionary: noun Home Someone’s or something’s place of origin, or the place where a person feels they belong. When I think of home I think of my safe, comfy place. A place where I can relax, veg-out, and be me. My husband is there, and he is what makes my home special. We’ve been married over 53 years. He brings me comfort, safety and is always an encouragement (and he cleans the toilets…like the best husband ever…right?). Then there is the golden doodle that makes us laugh even when we are crabby. And that is what makes my house a home. But there is still a restlessness, it’s a spiritual restlessness. There is a song that resonated with me from the first time I heard it. The chorus is: All I know is I’m not home yet This is not where I belong Take this world and give me Jesus This is not where I belong * The French philosopher Pierre Tielhard de Chardin once said “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” This I think explains song lyrics like the ones above; explains why people are always searching for meaning; and explains deep desires that can only be filled by a relationship with Christ. Those of us who have chosen Christ and who are children of God have dual citizenship. I think it’s kind of awesome to know I am home here and when I leave this world, I will be home too. But that time I will be home for eternity. “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1​

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Glitter

2024, blog, book - Reflections of God /

It’s a cold brisk night though sadly no snow. 2024 is a strange winter for the northlands. Last year at this time I was struggling to hoist the shovel over the 4-foot banks of the pathways. ​ Each night, closer to midnight than to 11 pm, I venture out with my dog Oliver, so he can do his thing before bed. I hesitate in opening the door, I look at him and say “Let’s see what God has for us tonight.” He’s a smart dog but I don’t think he catches the gist of it and just gives me an impatient look questioning why I haven’t opened that door yet. I delay because I love that sense of wonder…Will there finally be snow? Will the stars be out? And the moon? Or will it all be clouded over? We don’t stay out long but it is enough time to enjoy the majesty of the God who created me. Tonight the ground was packed hard, grass was dead, and patches of dirt soon to be mud when the weather warms greeted me. I shine the beacon from my flashlight and smile. What could have been an ordinary winter ground had turned into thousands of tiny little reflections. It looked as if God had shaken glitter all over the lawn. How can you not be in awe of a God who cares so much for you that He glitters the lawn to make you smile? And then I look up. The moon is hiding behind some trees, but I find it. The stars are radiant against the black sky. And once again I smile in appreciation of my Creator whose mind I cannot fathom. I kind of feel sorry for Oliver because his nose is to the ground sniffing for whatever animals have crossed his path. He doesn’t look up to see the delights in the sky. But then maybe he feels sorry for me that I can’t explore all the scents produced by creatures he may never meet but knows in his unique way. So now you may wonder what happens when the door opens, and the clouds hide the lights in the sky and glitter is not sprinkled on my lawn? I walk out and smile because I know that behind those clouds, my stars and moon are still shining. And I know behind the millions of stars and galaxies is my Creator God! This is a comfort for it reminds me when things in my life aren’t going how I want and I wonder where God is, I can reach back in the recesses of my mind to the cloudy nights remembering my Loving God is always there. He may be blocked by circumstances for a time, but I am reassured of His love because He never leaves me or forsakes me. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

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