Category: Relationship

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Get the Right Focus

Several months ago I was able to purchase a new camera. It isn’t anywhere near top-of-the-line but it’s the best camera I have ever owned. I so appreciate a friend, Scott, who knows more about these things than I and he gave me some excellent recommendations.

I was determined to learn to use this camera to the best of my ability. I even sat down several afternoons and watched YouTube tutorials, with camera in hand. And then life happened.

Things got busy and we headed to the mountains for the summer. What I didn’t realize when we left is that our internet service would be as limited as it is and I wouldn’t be able to rely on that on-line instruction and training that I wanted to learn more about aperture, shutter speed, manual focus, etc.

I know having an understanding of these things will aid me immensely in creating better shots. However, I am lacking in knowledge and experience. I have found that the best camera setting for me at this time is “IA” mode, which means intelligent auto mode. Basically, with that setting the camera takes over for me and gets me the best shots available because of my limited knowledge. I am content with that.

It keeps me focused. Obviously the image I used this morning is one I took trying to use my own settings. It’s blurry!

Isn’t that the way it is with life?

There is so much that can distract us, lead us off course and blur our vision. More education, a newer house, a different job, retirement, more fulfilling relationships. Our mind’s eye dashes here and there trying to focus on what is most important and how to achieve it.  There is really no matter greater to trust with the  “intelligent auto” setting for our lives than the Lord.

“Your eyes are like a window for your body. When they are good, you have all the light you need. 23 But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. If the light inside you is dark, you surely are in the dark.” Matthew 6:22 CEV

The Apostle Paul was very aware of this. He had so many things happening in his life he had to be reminded to stay focused.  He was responsible for the teaching and care of thousands of new Christians, he was being persecuted in nearly every town he preached in and finally he was imprisoned in Rome for the teachings of Christ. He was focused on the finish line.

“I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.” Philippians 3:14 ERV

When we walk with the Lord and learn to depend upon His word our skills will improve and we will be able to utiltize more of what the Lord has available for us. However, we never want to lose focus of what should be at the center of our lives.

“But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 CEV

Stay focused on what’s most important, everything else will fall into place.

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It’s A New Day

For the past two weeks, you know, Dave and I have been under the U.S. Forest Service evacuation order for the Apache Sitgreaves region. At noon yesterday we were granted permission to return to our campground at Big Lake, as were all the other camp hosts in our region.

I had no idea that my reaction would be so strong. The campground that has been our temporary location was very nice and we loved the wildlife and the camaraderie we experienced with the other hosts but as Dave pulled our 5th wheel up the road to our campground, Rainbow, my heart filled with joy. We were home!

I could only imagine how some of you have felt living in areas that are effected by tornados and hurricanes. Living in the western United States all of my life I have never experienced that kind of devastation or threat of destruction.

“Your way is perfect, Lord, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help.” Psalm 18:30 CEV

Our afternoon was filled with all the little chores of settling in; connecting to power, water, sewer, making sure we were level, cleaning inside, putting things back in place, setting up the awning, putting out chairs and grill.

Happy to be home.

This beautiful sunrise greeted us yesterday morning, it was as if the Lord was saying, “today is a good day”. When we took one of our granddaughter’s camping with us this last winter she and I would walk out side at sunrise and say “Good Morning Sun”. As a four-year-old, it’s something she remembers as a special time.

Today we prepare for the return of campers. A few will come in today with many more coming over the weekend. We will be so glad to hear the sounds of laughter in the campground. Families enjoying each other away from the distractions of the city. Families making special memories like Kristine and I have shared, maybe they’ll even see the sunrise together.

The Lord gave blessings to the Israelites right before they entered the Promised Land. Since we have a relationship with God, the Father, those promises are also our inheritance.

“If you will obey the Lord your God, all these blessings will come to you and be yours: 3 “He will bless you in the city and in the field. 4 He will bless you and give you many children. He will bless your land and give you good crops. He will bless your animals and let them have many babies. He will bless you with calves and lambs. 5 He will bless your baskets and pans and fill them with food. 6 He will bless you at all times in everything you do.” Deuteronomy 28:2-6 ERV

When this summer started we really had no idea of what the Lord was going to do in our lives. We just wanted to be obedient to His leading. This is beyond anything we expected.

Look for the Lord’s leading and follow it! Today is a new day, a day filled with blessing. Good Morning “Son”!

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The Sound of the Bugle

As I sat here this morning the quiet was broken by the sound of an elk’s bugle. It is an amazing sound.

It’s piercing. It’s regal. But it also sounds lonely.

Yesterday driving to town, we encountered many cow elk along the way but we have yet to see a bull. I’m hoping that is something I am able to capture before the summer ends.

The bugle let’s me know they are close. They are majestic creatures.

I’m intrigued by the mind and creativity of the Lord.  This summer has been interesting, to say the least, with the number of wildlife we have seen. The elk and the moose are large, strong animals. Close in size but so different in confirmation.

Each day we watch the chipmunks and the squirrels. Again, similar but different. The chipmunks scurry through our camp looking for bits of food that may have dropped from the griddle. The squirrels dash through but rarely stop.

A grouse is a common visitor to our host campground and each day we see the woodpeckers, the crows and the robins. The wild horses graze just yards from our RV and the black tail deer come nearly every morning to the area adjacent to our picnic table.

These are only a few of the world’s many creatures that were designed and created by our Father. Each has a purpose. Each has individual distinctions. God knows them all.

More than that He knows us!

Our DNA and our fingerprints are unique only to us. All designed and established by our Father, the Creator of heaven and earth.

“You are the one who put me together   inside my mother’s body, 14 and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous!  Of this I have no doubt.” Psalm 139:13-14 CEV

He knows each elk that bugles, and He knows each voice of His children that call out to Him.

“’Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:3 NLV

We are not an afterthought. We are not alone. We are each created with a specific purpose. Our Father has designed us. We are uniquely His!

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Letters From Home

Just a couple days ago I was reading the Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy. Timothy was a young man whom Paul considered a son. Timothy was now preaching the Good News of Jesus to many new converts and it seems he was running into some resistance because of his youthfulness. Paul sent him a letter to encourage him to keep going and not be bothered by what people were saying about him.

“Don’t let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity. 13 Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don’t stop preaching and teaching. 14 Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you.” I Timothy 4:12-14 CEV

When I read those words I remembered what it was like to get letters at Summer Camp. After lunch, we would all gather round and the head counselor would do mail call. Everyone stood waiting for their names to be called.

Letter from home were such an encouragement!

While I was in college, the letters kept coming. And there were the care packages too. Boxes sent for nearly every holiday, stickers covering the outside, and inside were her cinnamon rolls, kringla (a Norwegian cookie), chocolate chip cookies and more. I would take the box to the Student Union and after dinner my friends and I would open the box, and everyone got to enjoy a treat from home.

Letters from home were comforting.

Some of you know that my Mom passed away about five weeks ago. She finally got to go to heaven. She was 97 years and 9 months old. She loved us but she loved Jesus more.

Yesterday I went to our Post Office here in the mountains and there were three envelopes in it. A letter from my brother, one from a friend and one from my sister. In my sister’s envelope was a letter from Mom…

Mom knew she wouldn’t be here for my sister and my birthdays this year, so she wrote our cards early and she asked my sister to make sure she mailed mine.

Letters from home were filled with love.

I can’t help but see the correlation between the letters I have received all my life with the one the heavenly Father wrote to us over two thousand years ago.

“Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!” Matthew 25:21 CEV

Jesus was talking to his disciples about their faithfulness and obedience in doing what the Father had asked them to do. He called them good and faithful servants. And that will be His welcome to all of us when we enter heaven.

“Well done”.   His instruction is that we feed the hungry, clothed the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned. Encourage those who are depressed. Telling all that Jesus has paid our debt of sin and the Father loves us unconditionally. We are to bring His letter from home to the world.

Letters from home bring salvation.

Share heaven’s letter with those around you. There’s nothing better than a letter from home!

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A Harmonious Outcome

For years I lived by my daily planner. The person who invited the “Day-Timer” was my hero.  Everything needed to be written down, each appointment recorded. That’s how I kept life organized and on track.

It wasn’t just the business, school and medical appointments. No, I put in trips to the grocery store, which day I would do laundry, time in my yard and for a while I even had the week’s menu in my planner.

I knew how each day should play out and it made me feel accomplished.

Gradually I found myself releasing control. Less and less do I reach for my planner with pencil in hand and it isn’t because we are retired and have less to do. I am learning to enjoy the moments, every day unexpected encounters with life.

“Trust the Lord and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. 4 Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire. 5 Let the Lord lead you and trust him to help. 6 Then it will be as clear as the noonday sun that you were right.7 Be patient and trust the Lord. Don’t let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things.
8 Don’t be angry or furious. Anger can lead to sin.” Psalm 37: 3-8 CEV

Waiting patiently was not something either Dave or I were good at. We were the ones to do the planning and if something needed to be done you could count on us to jump in with both feet and take care of the details.

How you heard the expression “burning daylight”? That was us – we didn’t tolerate what we considered wasted time.  But our way has changed.

We are learning to relax, rest and enjoy all that God has for us. We are seeing the Lord remove stress and frustration from our lives and we are loving it. There’s a line from one of our favorite westerns that says, “Slow down, you’ll get a more harmonious outcome”.

When we slow down, we are more likely to experience the Lord’s little blessings. If we’re in a hurry, we often miss them completely. Yesterday morning after posting the blog Dave and I drove past three doe standing at the edge of the road. He slowed way down so I could get a picture. We almost stopped completely. They were in no hurry; they were content to stand there and eat the meadow grass.

It occurred to me that the animals in nature are really in no hurry at all. They just wait on what the Lord has provided. They eat quietly and lie down to rest in the shady spots. The only time you really see them “rushing” is when they feel they are in danger.

Kind of reminds me of Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd, He leads me by still waters and in green pastures, He restores my soul.

If the sheep can learn to relax and the doe can be still, shouldn’t we follow their example as we wait and trust in the Lord?

“You, Lord, are my shepherd.  I will never be in need. 2  You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water,” Psalm 23:1-2 CEV

Enjoy this day.  Let the Lord minister to your heart!

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Plan Your Day

Monday…a new week is starting, what do you have planned? 

It’s possible that you already have important meetings scheduled. Doctor’s appointments, business meetings, interviews…the list goes on. Or maybe you are getting ready to start your summer vacation and have so many last minute preparations – shopping for the small things, reservations, get the car packed, close up the house.

Does your list seem endless?

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17 TLV

What – do ALL – yes all!

God is so practical and He wants to be involved in every area of our lives. He just makes things better when we partner with Him in every project.  I recently told you how I would pray over my grocery list and I have found that cleaning goes much faster and better when I set my mind on singing songs of praise as I dust and vacuum.

There was a time when doing those things left me in such pain that I would need several days to recover so I have plenty of reason to sing now that I have freedom of movement.

Today, I will be baking in my RV oven for the first time. My experience with other ovens similar to mine was they didn’t bake well. The ends of the pan would be under cooked while what was in the center of the pan would be burnt on the bottom. So I’ve prayed for a good baking experience. I want to share cinnamon rolls with my neighbors.

“Commit whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. The Lord works everything out for his own purpose…” Proverbs 16:3-4 TLV

There’s that word again – whatever. Any thing, every thing, whatever we do commit it to the Lord.

Years ago, forty plus years, I sat on a hillside under some live oak trees and heard an old cowboy preacher say that he was thankful that the Lord had planted those trees 30 years before that so we could enjoy ourselves, in the shade, on that very day.  That old preacher saw God’s hand in every good thing. I determined that I wanted to see things in the way he did.

May I encourage you today to look for God’s hand of blessing in everything. Whatever you do, commit it to Him and let the Father cause your plans to succeed.

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Another New Lesson

It’s possible that you have seen the news about the wild fires in Arizona. We are in the mountains of northeast Arizona and there are a number of fires here. None of them are imminently life threatening but yesterday the Forest Service asked us to evacuate the campground where we are serving as camp hosts for the summer.

We spent most of the afternoon talking to and reassuring campers. Many of them left yesterday. Today the remaining campers will leave and we will close the campground and relocate with the other camp hosts while we wait for the summer rains to do their job of bringing moisture to the dry forest and meadowlands.

We are praying for the firefighters who are working endlessly to contain and suppress the blazes. We are safe but this afternoon we will be moved until the danger is over. We were told yesterday that the internet connection and cell service is weaker where we are going than what we have here so I’m not sure I will be able to continue with the daily blogs. I’m praying I can.

When we started this adventure this summer our prayer was “Lord, take us where you can use us.” and here we are!

Now you know why I wrote to you about God’s Hand of Protection in yesterday’s blog. The Scripture I shared with you was the one the Lord gave me to share with our fellow camp hosts.

“The Lord will protect you from every danger. He will protect your soul. 8 The Lord will protect you as you come and go both now and forever!” Psalm 121:7-8 ERV

It is such a blessing to have the Lord speak into our life’s situations. He is always present to encourage, reassure, strengthen and direct.

Pray for us today. There is still much to do. Campers may need assistance with packing, they will certainly need encouragement and smiling faces. We will have buildings to close and property to secure. Then we will move.

We are confident that the Lord has great things ahead! I’ve never been through something like this before so I am trusting the Father to protect and provide for all of us as we experience this together.

“You, Lord God, are my mighty rock and my fortress. Lead me and guide me, so that your name will be honored. 4 Protect me from hidden traps and keep me safe.” Psalm 31:3-4 CEV

Pray for an open channel of communication. I will look forward to sharing the adventures with you.

The Father knows the way and we are eager to follow His leading. The same applies for you – no matter where, no matter when, no matter what – the Lord is always faithful to His word and to us, His children.

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Protected by God’s Hand

Last night I went to bed thinking about how many times and in how many ways God protects. It filled my thoughts all through the night.

Some people step off a curb and break their ankle or hip. Others make a simple drive to the grocery store and have an automobile accident. Kids who are healthy and strong play a backyard sport and are injured. And yet most of us go through each day not knowing that we have been protected from these things and many others.

“The Lord will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. 8 The Lord will protect you now and always wherever you go. Psalm 121:7&8 CEV

Each morning I pray that I will experience God’s protection and be open for his leading. Each day I pray over my children and grandchildren that they will be covered by the Lord’s loving protection. Each day I am thankful that I don’t need to be afraid because I know that He will keep His word and protect me in all my ways.

The Lord made me this promise long before I was born and I will trust Him to keep His word.

He protected Daniel in the lion’s den, the three Hebrew men in the furnance. His protection covered the Israelites as they crossed the Red Sea. The Lord gave David strength to defeat the giant and Paul was protected in the sea after his ship wrecked.

“You can go to God Most High to hide. You can go to God All-Powerful for protection. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust in you.” 3 God will save you from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases. 4 You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield. 5 You will have nothing to fear at night and no need to be afraid of enemy arrows during the day. 6 You will have no fear of diseases that come in the dark or terrible suffering that comes at noon.” Psalm 91:1-6 ERV

What kinds of things cause you to fear? Trust in the Lord – our All-Powerful protection. He hasn’t failed to keep His promises yet and He isn’t going to start now!

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In His Hands

As I sit here praying this morning, there are many of my loved ones that I haven’t seen in quite a while. My heart aches some days just wanting to hold their hand, look into the eyes and feel the warmth of their embrace.

It’s hard being away from the ones we love, isn’t it?

Can you imagine how the Lord must feel? He created us out of His love and His desire for a close relationship has never changed.

This weekend I watched as hundreds of people poured in the campground to celebrate with their fathers. I watched the children playing on the roads, riding bikes, going fishing, walking hand in hand with their dads.

Adult children have been arriving and fathers’ having been telling me “this is my daughter, this is my son” as they check in. The joy on their faces can’t be erased.

Our heavenly Father must feel the same! He desires to give good gifts to His children, to us, and the greatest gift He gives is His love.

He gives strength to the weak, healing to the broken hearted, peace to those who fear, rest to the weary, comfort to the lonely, joy to those who mourn, salvation to the lost and love to the abandoned!

“I look up to the hills, but where will my help really come from? 2 My help will come from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let you fall. Your Protector will not fall asleep. 4 Israel’s Protector does not get tired. He never sleeps. 5 The Lord is your Protector. The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you. 6 The sun cannot harm you during the day, and the moon cannot harm you at night. 7 The Lord will protect you from every danger. He will protect your soul. 8 The Lord will protect you as you come and go, both now and forever!” Psalm 121 ERV

Thank you Father for loving me and being the Best Father, ever!

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Stand Tall

I’m praying that you stand strong and tall today.

While reading in I Corinthians, I found the Apostle Paul’s instruction to us. He didn’t want us to be like the Israelites in the wilderness who complained about God’s provisions and who worshipped the idols of Egypt.

“Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall. 13 You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations. 14 My friends, you must keep away from idols.” I Corinthians 10:12-14 CEV

One of the biggest temptations they faced was discontentment.

We are susceptible to the same temptation. Murmuring because we think things should be better; we’re being mistreated; everyone else has it better than us. They also worshipped idols. We face that same temptation as well. No, not the gold and stone statues that they crafted but the idols of fame, success, pleasure, education, relationships.

Any of these can draw us away for serving the Lord.

However the good news is this. God knows about these temptations and He has given us the power to resist them and escape their grasp. Jesus didn’t come to make us miserable – not at all.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, ‘Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?’ 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. 34 Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself.” Matthew 6:31-34 CEV

Our Father promised to provide all for the Israelites as they journeyed to their promise land. He still promises to be our provider. God is always present to provide as we journey to our promises land. He promises to never leave us or abandon us.

When we spend time on our knees in prayer our Father will reassure us of His promises. With confidence in God’s Word we can stand strong and tall just like the Apostle Paul said.

Take the Father at His word!

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