A Weekly Walk in the Word

A good friend gifted me a hand cut wooden cardinal ornament with this poem attached….. HELLO FROM HEAVEN

Seeing a cardinal can feel like getting a little hello from heaven, especially when you’re missing someone who’s passed away. It’s like they’re popping in to say, “I’m here, and I’m okay.” They show up just for a bit, usually when you’re feeling down, as if they’re sent to lift up your spirits. It’s a comforting thought that they’re not really gone, their spirit is still around keeping you company. So next time a cardinal crosses your path, pay attention to its sign. It may have a message for you or a blessing to align.

On Thursday morning with my cup of coffee in hand, I paused from Christmas baking to look out over the freshly fallen snow. Two cardinals flew by. They were easy to spot with the glistening snow covering our yard. And then there were more. I am not sure what you call a group of cardinals, but this flock of red birds began landing in a small scrub tree right outside my window. FOURTEEN cardinals! They lingered most of the morning, flying in and out of the tree. It felt like they were looking in the window as I watched with a smile on my face. God is good. Even in the hardest times. Where have you seen God this week?

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

God has given me words to write for almost ten years on this blog. Today there are no words, just tears.

http://www.hofmeisterjones.com/obituary/seth-playter

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The days are growing cooler and the nights are growing longer. As I settle into a new cozy winter routine, it is the perfect time to reflect on all I have to be thankful for. Even though this year has brought struggles, God has seen me through to the other side. And for that I am extremely thankful. God is good. This week, all of my children will be home to celebrate Thanksgiving. A blessing I do not take for granted. I am thankful for each one of them.

What does your thanksgiving list include? Or, better yet…. Who does your thanksgiving list include? Sing praises to God as you give thanks for all the blessings in your life. Share your gratitude with others.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give thanks for all of you. Thank you to my readers who show up every week to read the words God has placed on my heart. Your loyalty and encouragement mean the world to me. I thank God for you!

1 Timothy 5:3-4 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

It is a privilege to care for family. My dad moved into an assisted living facility after mom passed away. I talk to him regularly on the phone, but there is nothing that can replace a big bear hug from your parent. I visited dad this week just to get one of those hugs. He beamed as he introduced me to his friends in the complex. He smiled ear to ear while I cut his hair. We enjoyed eating burgers together. We shared stories from the past. I went to care for my dad, but I was the one walking away blessed. I drove back to Minnesota with a heart full of love, looking forward to the next time I see my dad. Caring for the widows is a gift, not an obligation. How are you caring for the elderly in your life?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

This time of year, I start planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, parties and preparing the house. In years past I was so proud to do it all myself. I wanted everything to be baked, dusted and hung before any of our guests arrived. I have since changed my thinking. When I was making applesauce this fall by myself, I reflected on the days when Mike’s aunt peeled the apples, I cooked the apples and his mom blended the apples into sauce. I learned so much during those days and felt blessed to be invited to be part of their annual sauce making day. A crowded kitchen is a holy place.

This year at our house, guests will bring their favorite side dishes. We will enjoy a Christmas baking day. And I might even talk the kids into helping decorate the tree with all their favorite childhood ornaments. God created us to work together. By sharing the load, we aren’t only dividing tasks, we are multiplying joy.

Luke 10:29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

An expert of the law asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. He answered his own question in verse 27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Then he asked Jesus for clarification to justify himself. “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus continues by telling the well known parable of the Good Samaritan.

We have a Good Samaritan in our neighborhood. I spent many hours this summer painting a barn quilt on two pieces of 4ft x 8ft plywood. After several coats of polyurethane over the painted star, it was time to hang the 8 foot square quilt. Our neighbor showed up, like he always does. He brought his boom truck and carpentry skills. Within an hour, we had the new addition hung on our barn. When I tried to pay him for his time and equipment, his response was “I am old school. This is what neighbors do.” What an example!

And who is your neighbor? How can you help the young couple across the street or the widow next door? Your outreach doesn’t stop in your neighborhood, but reaches to anyone in need throughout the world. How will you care for your neighbor?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:30-37 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going Dow from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver counts and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

When we follow God’s will and not our own, amazing things happen. I never set out to be a writer or a blogger, but God did. He had a plan for me. It took a few years for me to slow down enough to listen and follow. This week I received cover designs for my second book, “Women Walking in the Word”. I can feel God working through my writing as I work on the final edit. I can’t wait to share this book with my girlfriends. God’s will is so much greater than anything I could have ever imagined.

James 5:13-16 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

God is good! Prayer is a powerful thing. Our world was turned upside down a month ago when our son-in-law was diagnosed with testicular cancer at 27, just 2 weeks before their first anniversary. We were devastated by the news to say the least. The day we received the news, my knees hit the floor. The prayer circle for Josiah grew and grew to every corner of the country. Our kids were humbled by the number of people praying for Jo’s healing as they felt a peace that passes all understanding from those prayers. A GoFundMe page was started to cover medical expenses two days ago. Over 100 people have donated, exceeding their expectations. This week during Jo’s second round of chemo his doctor performed a tumor markers test. The numbers came back extremely low. The treatment is working! God hears and God heals. Praise God for the gift of powerful and effective prayer.

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, whe took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

We picked apples at our neighbor’s orchard yesterday morning. Their trees were loaded with plum ripe apples. The orchard made me think of Eve’s temptation in Eden as I picture the one perfect apple on the forbidden tree. Today we are bombarded with temptation that is easy to obtain with just a click of the keypads. And then we are onto our next big yearning. Eve learned, and we need to as well…. that Jesus is the only one to fill the ache in our hearts.

Jan Richardson writes Taking the Fruit in her book “In the Sanctuary of Women”. I hope you enjoy it.

The First Apple – Each desire in my life leads to another desire that lives behind it or beneath it or within it. In the midst of paying attention to them all I sometimes wonder if I’m addicted to longing.

The Second Apple – The Sufi poet Rumi says that our longing is the answer to our longing – that our capacity for desire is the reply to our desire. Some days I find this comforting, but on other days it doesn’t give much satisfaction.

The Third Apple – Desire finds its way into a lot of my writing so I’ve had to stock up on my synonyms. Longing, yearning, and hunger are useful; and hankering is fun. Ache comes in handy if it’s a hard desire, as some of mine are.

The Fourth Apple – Maybe Eve left Eden with a seed tucked under her tongue and rolled it around in her mouth and in her memory when she was in danger of forgetting the wisdom she had nearly left untaken.

The Fifth Apple – Every now and again I try to remember to stop and ask, “Are there any lines I should be crossing?”

The Sixth Apple – Cooper Edens writes, “Longing, far more than it haunts you, reminds you of your true name.” What’s yours?