Category: Challenge

Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Listen, Music, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Rest, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Worship, Yield

A Full Stop

Approaching a stop light have you ever struggled to come to a full stop before the light changes? Maybe going a bit too fast or not paying attention to the signals? More and more people around here seem to think the light signals do not apply to them. They make no attempt to slow down or stop. The other day one vehicle nearly collided with me and other cars when it went blazing through an intersection. Several of us laid on our horns to voice our displeasure. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

The full stop I am most thinking of is the difficulty I have at times to turn off the flood of thoughts and just stop. Have you struggled with that? At our house we sometimes call it mind racing. Yesterday afternoon it felt like the torrential floods after the monster rain storms that have been occurring. We mostly see videos on the news. Yep, that was my brain.

Even my meditation and devotions were a struggle this morning. Turn it all loose, Molly. Open your hands. If I clutch topics and people in my hands, I know I am not free to receive what the Lord wants to place in my hands next!

So far the month of August has been very, very tiring. I know that is a large part of the problem. How I could think that my concern about a situation could ever change or effect it? Well, in clear, more sane moments I realize that is just nonsense. The Gospels tell me point blank Do Not Be Anxious.

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

Anxiety mentioned five times in just a few verses. Brother Lawrence taught me that useless thoughts spoil everything. Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells me I am to take every thought captive to Jesus. I read that as I am to turn every thought over to Jesus. I am not to try to wrestle that thought, tie it up and deliver it to Jesus. Just give it to him, the One whose thoughts are not my thoughts, Whose ways are not my ways. (Isaiah 55:9 NIV)

And even this moment my concentration is shattered, splintered. Like the dog on “Up” I holler, “Squirrel!”

So I closed the blind over my office window next to my computer. I have experiential knowledge that the Lord God Almighty will meet me in the stillness. I choose even now to be still. One moment at a time.

There was another praise chorus that came to me years ago. It says, “Spirit of God within me, rise up. Spirit of God within me rise up. Take ascendancy over my body. Take ascendancy over my mind.”

Steve Green sang a song that asked, “You want to. Now Will you?”

I had to struggle to remember Isaiah 30:15 in the night. “In returning and rest I am saved, in quietness and TRUST shall be my strength.” And the zinger at the end, “But you would not.” Lord, I do not want to be one of those who would not.

All of that is still true this bright, sunny, hot and humid morning. It was true in the night. It will be true tonight and tomorrow. I need to cling to the source of my life and rest. Just rest in the truth that is my Lord. Even so, Lord, come.

I have decided that if there is a struggle today, I will require every thought to stop and state their business. If the business is not of God, I will require a toll of singing praise to the Lord God Almighty. If there is refusal to sing those praises, then the offender can simply turn out in the lane provided for dismissal. Nope, not welcome to come at this campground. Time for some rest.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Humor, Nature

Rabbit Fascination

The opening photo is the front flower bed right outside my office window. If you have followed this blog you likely know my fascination with the neighborhood rabbits. I was so relieved to see a baby bunny in the garden a few weeks ago. I did not even get upset that it was nibbling on the plants.

My attitude has changed. The bunny has sheared the leaves of many off the nasturtium plants. None of the ones in the front flower bed, thank Goodness, just out back.

Bunny is center left in photo

There is a music group in Puerto Rico called Bad Bunny. I should be grateful this Bunny does not eat EVERYTHING!

Naughty hungry bunny

Those particular nasturtiums are not likely to ever bloom! I know I am to be sharing with nature. Maybe I should plant twice as many next year?

–

Posted on in Aging, Art, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Memories, Music, Nature, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Surrender, Thanks, Yield

A Place

Grateful Living posted Thomas Merton wrote, “In a world of noise, confusion and conflict, it is necessary that there is a place of inner silence and peace; not the peace of mere relaxation but the peace of inner clarity and love.”

Remember my post about where daughters go to die? I shared it with a new friend. She is quite talented with poetry, photography and music. She took my barely understandable tune on staff paper and sent me an audio file through messages where she sang it back to me. (Ain’t technology grand?”) I mean it. This was unthinkable a decade ago! She was at the farm in Adams County at the time. There are cicadas and crickets in the background. I am absolutely delighted. I played it often these past few days to keep myself centered in surrender and the Presence of God.

When she returned home she sent me an audio file with the piano added.

I am trying to learn how to upload these so each of you can hear it. Not making much progress with Sound Cloud which WordPress says I should use. Grrr – old dog, new tricks. I finally found another way to convert it.

And the piano chords? Well, only the singing loaded so far. On to other writing and stay tuned for updates!

Thank you, Joan. Sincerely, thank you!!

Posted on in Aging, Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Memories, Obedience, Prayer, Rest, Trust, Yield

The Daughter’s Tombstone

Years ago, after I dropped my son off at nursery school I drove around enjoying some quiet with God. I wound up in a cemetery I had never been to before. I had been praising and singing a good part of the morning. I came up the steep curved driveway and much to my surprise there was this huge tombstone with a simple word daughters.

photo taken more than 45 years ago

I had been studying William Law and the idea of dying to self. I was struck with the idea that this is the place where daughters come to die. As a daughter of the King of kings, the will of God is more important than my will. I was at the place in my walk where I realized that obedience to the King is more important than what I want in any given situation.

That same morning I heard a worship chorus. It goes, “Total surrender brings total power, Spirit of Christ in me, totally yielded to Thee every hour, until Thy will I see. Death to my passions and every desire, living wholly for Thee, have Your own way Spirit of Love, totally flow through me.”

Recently, I drove to the same cemetery and the headstone is terribly discolored.

photo August 3, 2025

I decided to return and try and clean it. Online it said to use vinegar water with maybe a drop of dish soap in it and a soft brush. My husband went with me. We took a gallon of water and scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed. It did look better when we were finished, but still discolored.

August 4, 2025 Prior to second scrubbing

Recently, we’ve had some family trouble. With all the stress, I was having difficulty concentrating on writing, so I decided to return to the cemetery and scrub some more. This time I took a baking soda solution, another internet idea. On the way there I remembered the chorus about total surrender. It was so fitting because in this family situation I have no influence and no control over the outcome. Once there as I got my supplies out of the car and climbed a little hill to the headstone, I began singing the chorus. I was reminded once again that this place of surrender to God is the healthiest and happiest place for me to be.

I will go back tomorrow take another photo and see how the daughter’s grave is looking. In the meanwhile I will do my best to stayed yielded to God my Father and Mother.

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
But you refused Isaiah 30:15 NRSVUE

And Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as in obedience to the voice of the Lord?
Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice
    and to heed than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22 NRSVUE

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” John 14:15-17 NRSVUE

After second scrubbing
Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Illness and Health, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender

Our Age Group

I am entering my mid-70s. Bob is two years older. We are finding that what his mother told us once is too true. As we age more and more of our friends are falling ill and some die. She said eventually she got to the point where she knew very few people anymore. She was not one to try to make new friends as she proved when it was necessary for her to move into assisted living. She went to a few meals, but basically isolated herself.

There are two we know of who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Another one died of same disease in the last five years. One is undergoing cancer treatment for the second time. One died from cancer recently and one a few months ago.

The woman down the street was in a treatment center with Alzheimer’s disease. She passed after a couple years there. The other neighbor lady with Alzheimer’s and heart disease passed about the same time. Another friend died from early onset Alzheimer’s.

One man has heart issues. He also suffers from allergy or asthma? Some sort of breathing difficulty. Now they say he needs back surgery.

Suffering, diseases and death. How can we keep our faith fresh and lively in the midst of all that? One verse says, “My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.” Another verse “even to old age and gray hairs you are with me.”

Even to your old age and gray hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV

There is so much turmoil here that some of us are willing to openly express that we are looking forward to graduation into the arms of God.

Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16 NIV

Revelation says there is no more death there, or suffering or crying.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:4-5 NRSVUE

Yes, there is great value in accepting aging and the limitations that can arrive with that aging. We are told to keep our faith strong and ready. We are to be sober, vigilant, and aware that our enemy prowls about like a roaring lion seeking the ones he can devour. I do not want to be one caught in those evil jaws. These admonishments seem to take on more significance the older I get. As I tire more easily it would be easy to just relinquish hold of those precious promises and quit. I pray for strength to fix my eyes upon the author and FINISHER of my faith. I do want Jesus to find faith on the earth when he returns. Even if mine is the only faith to find.

Tough stuff, but we need to cling to the positives and stay as cheerful as possible.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 121 NRSVUE

Do you part to cling right to the very last breath!

Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Prayer, Surrender

Every Moment Holy, Even the Ones with Anxiety

At the end of a very long and lovely liturgy called For One Suffering Anxiety, Every Moment Holy suggested writing this out or memorizing it to use in times of anxiety. I had no idea at the time I would need it on so many days!

So meet me here, O Mighty God. Meet me
in the midst of my disquiet. Meet me in
the seat of my anxiety, and bid this storm
within my soul Be still!
	Now calm my heart, O Father.
	Now soothe my mind O Christ.
	Now breathe your peace, O Spirit, upon me.
Release me from my cares, O God,
as I release my cares to you.
Amen. Every Moment Holy Volume 3, Page 243

And God did. Enough said.

Thank you, Douglas Kaine McKelvey.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Nature

Buggy Day

For the fourth time this summer I am battling ants in the kitchen pantry. These are those tiny little ‘sugar’ ants. It was hard to find an online photo as they are SO small.

It is not unusual to find a few exploring in early spring. I got rid of those. Then while we were on vacation my Grandgirl found them in a cookie tin. (I had to wonder if the lid was left askew?) She killed them off and cleaned up the pantry.

We were not home two weeks when they returned to the pantry. I sprayed, cleaned got rid of them. Yesterday I not only found them in the pantry but in that same cookie tin with the top firmly affixed. HOW?

Reading up on safe ant repellent sprays I mixed blue Dawn soap 50/50 with water and put it in a spray bottle. It was also said they hate lemon so I mixed lemon juice into the sprayer. I sprayed the suspected tiny crack where the footer boards meet inside the pantry. I sprayed the baseboard they were traveling upon. As the website said, it made for easy cleanup wiping up Dawn solution!

I am not afraid of bugs, but I do not like them IN our home. There is a spider living under one bathroom cabinet. I have only seen it once or twice. It leaves a pile of dead pill-bug carcasses on the floor beneath the edge of the cabinet and I know it has been well fed. I leave it alone.

Last night as I was about to take my blood pressure I spied a spider on the rug next to my side of the bed. I tried to capture it but it literally jumped away under the bed frame. Drats. I do not like spider bites. As the blood pressure cuff was inflating I spied a tiny ant walking across the base of the floor lamp. I am literally outnumbered! Yes, this is the same wall area as the pantry. https://www.science.org/content/article/how-many-ants-live-earth says Counting ants is a bit like counting grains of sand on a beach. But six researchers have proved they were up for the task. They’ve come up with the latest—and most comprehensive—estimate of the number of ants in the world: 20 quadrillion. That’s 12 megatons of biomass—more than all the wild birds and mammals taken together. Yes, we are seriously outnumbered!!

Good news is that while the ants and spider aggravated me, my blood pressure was nice and low.

Now, to go check that pantry for any possible invasion!

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6:6-11 NIV

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Beagle, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Humor, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Thanks, Yield

Summertime

Not liking the humidity this summer, we still need to walk this feisty beagle 4 times a day. The only time she will pee in the yard on her own is if she did not go out the night before because of thunder and is desperate in the morning. Then we simply tie her out early as her only option. Maybe we should get hard heart-ed and make this a new practice!

I was complaining to my neighbor about having to walk this dog. Then I began to notice the evening sky. I would have missed these sights had I not taken Lucky outdoors.

“The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.” – Psalm 104:2

The snapdragons have kept me entertained as the other plants bloom and wane. This guy was an extremely busy bee!

He is in
He is out
Exploring for more bounty
Take a rest little fellow!!

Year before last I bought a Mallow shrub. It did not survive the winter. Sadly, I could not locate teh receipt to return it for a refund. Last autumn, I bought another mallow and kept the receipt just in case. It survived the winter and is starting to amuse us with saucer-sized flowers. What a strange delight.

Enjoy your summer, whatever the weather where you abide! Keep your eyes open for those treasures in plain sight!!

Posted on in Challenge, Faith, Focus, Illness and Health, Music, Prayer, Rest, Spiritual discipline, Worship, Yield

Back to Basics

Sometimes I have to just return to home. The home plate with my Father.

I am easily distracted and must withdraw from the many distractions if I am to maintain equilibrium. The Audience of One, the Holy One who loves me, that is where I find rest and restoration.

Daily I need this. When things are too busy I need this more than once a day. Do you have a similar practice? When you get tired of all the outgo, how do you open the faucet for inflow?

This can be especially difficult when my physical being flares up in pain or distress. Why is it so very difficult to ignore the flesh and flow in things of the Spirit? That will be one of my most pressing questions in heaven!

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord,one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

Posted on in Art, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Listen, Obedience, politics, Trust

Live Joyfully

Those who have served in countries less privileged and less developed than America always seem amazed at how joyful the people are. I have wondered if the Americans think those people should be sad they do not enjoy the ease of our wealth? The truth is more likely the quote below.

Perhaps the most radical act of resistance in the face of adversity is to live joyfully. Ari Honarvar

The poorer people of other countries seem to have grasped something the others have missed. IF your hands are full of things, it is more difficult to lift them in praise. If you think you possess all you need, it is hard to give thanks for the lesser things that are out of your control but can still bring you joy.

When we are in situations that demand that we empty our hands and look up to the heavens we can begin to understand that even in the face of adversity, we can live joyfully.

In New Mexico I bought a new t-shirt. It shows a Native American Indian and simply says DISOBEY. The site, myartbroker.com comments about the popular OBEY piece saying,

Shepard Fairey’s OBEY campaign, launched in 1989, has become one of the most iconic and influential symbols in contemporary street art. Originating from a simple sticker, OBEY evolved into a bold critique of authority and social conformity. Fairey combines graffiti, pop art, and political commentary to create a visual movement that transcends art and challenges viewers to question established structures of power.

So to me the Native American Indian with the word Disobey says even in this political society of distrust and division, if we choose to live joyfully we have won a contest. While disobeying the fear tactics and often repressive decisions, we can participate in the radical act of resistance.

In the World War II concentration camp psychologist Victor Frankl discovered that those who survived the longest had a capacity to not let others have control over their minds. “They kept a place of living within themselves that was not available for repression.”

 “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Viktor Frankl

What decisions are you making for how you live in today’s political climate? Is there a place within you that is not available for control by others? Are you in a mindset of obey or disobey? Paul, the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and Daniel all resisted and disobeyed those in authority over them. Jesus refused to stop working miracles on the Sabbath. The disciples continued preaching even though the Sanhedrin told them to stop.

“In short, civil disobedience is allowed — and possibly required — any time the commands of men contradict the will of God,” writes The Daily Declaration from Australia. So when we are told to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8) that will likely require that we disobey things like the tearing down of the structure to make our lives more aware of diversity, equity and inclusion within American society. (DEI)

but my righteous one will live by faith.
    My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.”
But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls. Hebrews 10:38-39 NRSVUE

We need God’s help to persevere and not shrink back. Holy Spirit strengthen our faith to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you.

For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8 NRSVUE

We have much work to do! We are made in the image of God. He does not rate one person as more valuable than another in his Kingdom. He sees us with diversity, equity and inclusion. Can we see each other in the same way? God does not show favoritism or partiality. Romans 2:11