This morning when I woke up, I didn’t think it would be a very good day. I felt yucky from allergies and tired from a busy week, but thankful for an extra hour to sleep in.  The past few weeks have been hard as I have watched my dad’s mobility and appetite decline, and his motor skills are likened now to a three year old’s. He can barely walk with support and help now. He hardly gets outside at all. I went outside and video taped the garden so he could see his big beautiful leafy bean plants growing. Even though it is quite close to our back door, he hasn’t been able to climb the tiny hill up to it for the past two years now. Last time he tried, I found him crawling to get up. It’s so sad, but I know God is in control, and that He is long suffering, not willing for any to perish, but all to come to repentance. I look at my dad and I see a lostness in his desperate, child-like eyes. I want to help him, but I’m not sure what else to do, or if there is anything else I can do except trust him to Jesus.  I remember when he was strong and worked in the garden all summer, and I watched along side him thinking he was great to know how to “make things grow”.  I remember when he would come home from work with a cold ”mellow-yellow” just for me on “special days” because it was my favorite soda as a child. I remember when I would wake up afraid at night and he would somehow be waiting for me in the hallway, to pick me up and carry me into the kitchen, telling me a funny story and sit me on the table to administer a special remedy for bad dreams- a spoonful of pure honey. It’s funny how I thought he never went to bed when I was a little girl. He would always be awake when I went to sleep and awake or already gone for the day when I got up. So, in my little brain, daddies never needed sleep. They stayed up all night protecting people. [What an amazing picture that paints of our Abba Father, and He truly does not slumber or sleep. He invites us to come rest, and hide if need be inside His mighty feathers. How peaceful and safe it is in His presence! If  earthly fathers, being evil know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more...]  I remember how my dad would let me put all my hair barrettes in his hair and he even went to the grocery store like that once! I miss him, and sometimes I find myself stopping by his room in the middle of the night just to listen to him breath. I suppose it may be one of the hardest things in life for a daughter to lose her daddy, no matter how gradual the process. We spent Father’s Day doing the things that he can still appreciate- breakfast from Hardeez, a goody bag with his favorite treats, supper at Dairy Queen, and a nice ride around our little town. Obviosuly, he’s never been a healthy eater. Thank You, God for memories, and for Your amazing grace and for time that has not yet ran out. Thank You for another day with my dad, and my mom.  I am blessed. Though I’d love to see my dad’s health restored on this earth, my greatest desire is to see his heart right with God before he goes. I believe God will honor that request- one that I have petitioned for, for as long as I can remember.

Later this evening, after spending time alone with the Lord behind the abandoned barn that my grandfather built with his own hands many years ago, I felt restored so I decided to pick more cherries. This would be my 4th major picking in a week! I find it relaxing and enjoyable, and of course, rewarding! We’ve been freezing them for cobblers and pies and other goodies during the winter. God has so blessed all of our fruit and vegetable crops so far this year. Those cherry trees are older than I am and I have never seen them as laden with beautiful, huge, plump, bright red cherries as they are this year. Some branches are so heavy they have broken off! My aunts, uncle, cousins, neighbors, strangers, and myself have all picked and picked and picked… and still there are loads of cherries on those four little trees! How good God is! And how often we take for granted the gifts He scatters all around us. How easily we forget Who provides our every need and “every good and perfect gift”. We have not found one worm in the cherries as we have pitted them…not one! That is definitely a first! For some reason, the birds don’t seem the least bit interested in them this year either, and they have never been sprayed with anything except sunshine and rain. Oh, precious Lord! Thank You so much for life! Thank You for those beautiful cherries for our enjoyment! Thank You for the rock wall that is so conveniently placed just under the trees so no ladder is necessary. Thank You for the way each supple, plump, juicy cherry felt in my hand as I plucked it from it’s stem. Thank You that I have eyes to see the gorgeous colors of scarlet and leafy greens against a powder blue sky, and hands to pick, and legs and feet to walk and climb, and balance to stand and reach. Thank you that while filling my bucket, I could see in my mind’s eye another day and another time when there are little ones about me helping me pick, and we break out into a “cherry fight”.  Thank You that you lift the needy from the ash heap, and cause the woman who has borne no children to keep house as a joyful mother- Praise ye the Lord! (Psalm 113:7) Thank You Lord for the things that we usually don’t even think about thanking You for! Thank You for the bright golden blooms on the squash plants and the delicate white blossoms on the beans. Thank You for the beautiful fragrance of the basil and dill as I pass by it in the garden. Thank You for the sun and the breeze on my face. Thank You for the wild apple tree I discovered in the woods a few days ago while taking a stroll behind the house. Thank You for the faithful “angel wings” in my flower garden that return and bloom pink heart shaped flowers every year!  Thank You for homemade pesto and homemade bread and the joy I find in making it.  Thank You for natural sourdough bread starters containing “wild” yeast so I don’t have to settle for instant yeast, but can use what You give me instead with a little water, rye flour, and patience. (Hoping my precious little sis across the miles is reading this ). Thank You for the majestic roses in our yard and for the wonder of the bee hive in the garage ceiling (that was much more wonderful and beautiful in the picture I snapped AFTER my uncle removed it from the garage… ha!) Thank You for the rain that You so faithfully water our crops with and the sunshine that comes with each new day, just like Your mercy. Thank You for summer nights with hollering frogs, and a sky that looks like millions of diamond chips against a deep velvet canvas.  Thank You for a bed to lie down in and rest. You, Lord Jesus had no place to lay Your precious head and yet You grace us with such luxuries! Oh praise Your Name Lord for ALL You are, and ALL You do for us every, single day!! Thank You for the “little things” that really aren’t that little at all. Please teach us to be more grateful. We owe our entire life to You, and You alone.

Summer came hard and sudden for us this year (though it’s not officially summer quite yet) in the mountains of SW Virginia.  Though springtime was often unusually cool, June came in with record temperatures. It’s been in the 90s for several days now. We had a huge thunderstorm on Friday night. Crops are growing exceedingly well and quickly. Birds are singing cheerfully (even at night!) Cicadas continue  to buzz like sirens. The sky is as clear blue as the purest ocean. Apple trees, cherry trees, grape vines are flourishing all around us. All creation seems to groan as a woman in childbirth for the second coming of the Lord. The sun seems to cast a different looking shadow, and it is as if all living things are harmoniously coo-ing in a silent song, “Come, Lord Jesus”.

Veteran farmers in the area declare that the loaded fruit trees, vines, and bushes mean a harsh winter is in store. The continued moral decay of the world around us as well as the “church” drops to a new level of “all time lows”.  What anguish in the heart of God this must bring about. May His anguish be our anguish, and may we run the race to the end, not growing weary in well doing. . .

As we see all these things happening, and the love of many growing cold, we must remember that we entered through the NARROW gate and not allow the enemy of our souls to confuse us or mislead us.  While no one knows the day He will appear, we are able to look around us for signs of “labor” and we are to be busy at work in the harvest until the “birth” takes place.  Jesus told us to “WATCH and PRAY… always” (Luke 21:36). He has already told us what will happen. We can take comfort in knowing that we are daughters of the One who is in complete, utter control.

Today, I saw some teenagers while I was out, teenagers who supposedly came from a Christ-centered home. My heart sank as I watched them behave as if they didn’t know Who Jesus was at all-as if He had no rule over their lives whatsoever, with attitudes that matched the world’s attitude to a ”t”.  

We are living in a time where righteousness is a definite minority, and few if any will praise or encourage your endeavors to be holy as He is holy.  To be like Jesus will never be an “accepted” or admired quality, and if you are serving Him with a pure heart, you will most assuredly be persecuted in some way.  This is where all of those who say with their lips that they are serving Jesus, yet taking the world’s apporach to some or all things come to a crossroad, a fork in the road where there is no option to chose a little of both or walk in the middle. There is simply no place for lukewarmness before the Throne of a holy, just God  (Revelation 3:16). So, with an urgency in my heart and a grief over what I observed today, I ask the following questions first to my own heart, and then extend them to those of you precious sisters who are reading; Who is first place in your life? If you’re not sure, it’s usually who or what you spend the most time with.  Do you allow your every thought to be held captive in obedience to Christ? What is the state of your heart today? What kind of attitude do you have? Do those around you, and in your home see Jesus shining out of you, or do they see an attitude that looks a lot like the world’s? Do you talk like Jesus? Are your words richly seasoned with grace and laced in love? Are the fruits of the Spirit evident in your life to ALL you come in contact with? Are you serving and witnessing with JOY or are you huffing and puffing and complaining? Are you rebelling against authority in your life in “little” areas? If so, let’s remember what God gave the Israelites when they complained without avail about the manna He had blessed them with.  Let’s also remember, that He is a God that is RICH in mercy and full of grace, and when He sees that we no longer wish to abide in a lukewarm state, and we actively strive for holiness, He promises to not leave us there! He will come to the rescue! Can we obtain holiness on our own? Of course not! But we must be willing to come before His Throne, and ask Him to strip every incling of worldliness out of us that has crept in so subtly (not because we’re legalistic, but because we DESIRE to please the One who gave His own life for us and has purchased us for Himself with His own precious blood, and the more we get to know Him, the more we DESIRE to be holy and pure before Him), and to mold us back into the woman He created us to be, for His glory and His Kingdom.

Dear beautiful sisters in the Lord,

It is so easy to get off track, to lose our focus and vision, and therefore lose our sense of purpose. If we’re not focused on Jesus at all times, then we become confused about who *we* are because our identity is in Him.  If we make something else too important, even something good and wholesome, then it can easily become an abomination, an idol. Jesus *must* remain first place in our lives and in our hearts. We must take better care of our spirit-man than we do of our natural man. Every time you dismiss the Spirit’s tug on your heart or ignore His conviction, you are hardening your heart and dulling your sensitivity to His Voice.

I urge you to examine every tiny detail of your life. Offer it all to God and if there is reason, repent with all your heart. He will be faithful and just to forgive you, to wash you anew, and to rescue your soul from drought.

The song of the cicadas has migrated from one area of our county to another, many times remaining in more than one area at once. It started a few weeks ago. Early farmers started finding hundreds of “shells” on their crops. People thought the grass in their yard was actually “alive” because it was moving with thousands of these winged insects! At first, I thought these very loud, buzzing creatures were “locusts”, but found they were not. They are called Cicadas, and they are the type of Cicada whose larvae live in the ground for 17 years before hatching!! Can you imagine a gestation period of 17 years? They are so loud at times (usually loudest in the heat of the day), that you have to hold your ears in order to think clearly when outside. Their song is somewhat deafening indeed.  They have transparent wings and red eyes. Very interesting looking. Thankfully, they are harmless and do not bother any of the major crops in our area at all.  They are truly amazing creatures. As I think about the cicada, I can’t help but think of what God has been whispering to my heart lately. The message is the same: Things that are hidden, that I can’t see, are being worked out in secret by the hand of God. These bugs have been hidden underground for 17 years! Who would have imagined they were there other than the GOD who created them?! Who would have imagined something growing underground, so slowly, so long, so “dormant” could burst forth so lively with such an INTENSE, LOUD, IMPOSSIBLE-TO-IGNORE song?! One day, they were so loud, we thought it was a fire truck siren!

When it’s time for a new season in our lives to begin, we will know it.  Holding tight to the hand of our God, it will be undeniable and un-missable. He *will* fulfill His purpose for us (Psalms 138:8)! The key is laying down *our* plans and ideas and surrender to His whether we know what they are at the moment or not. 

I can’t help but wonder if the song of an “ordinary” cicada is as robust and profound as those who have waited 17 years to fly.