Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 NIV
The Way © Molly Lin Dutina
May He who is the Way Keep you in the Way As you seek to find your way Through this journey. May He who is the Way Guide you in His ways Each and every day As His pilgrim. This is His holy Way To walk in all His ways Which are higher than our ways Understatement. May He who is the Way Become your only way As you conform to His ways Abundant joy.
Death came early in my life as so many relatives were much older than me. My mother gave birth to my sister and I late her life. In childhood the “holy cards” from funerals became some of my cherished possessions. I remember as a teenager pinning them to the wall near my bed. Even today, I have a few to help me center during my prayer time.
We are not only packing, but as we were readying to show the house we stripped away all sorts of things from our lives. Molly, do you really need all of this stuff? Is this part of that 2021 ‘Transform’ word now being experienced? Less and less of me and more of You Lord! Had to put away those cards.
Now I need to hold fast to my Lord without those images to center me. He is love and grace and mercy. There is no image that can comprise all of His attributes. I must simply let Him guide me and keep hold of my hand.
Lead on, O King Eternal.
Likely ten weeks until we are moved, unpacked and beginning to settle again. Lord, continue to keep us well, I pray. Over 500,000 deaths in the USA due to Covid-19 and still counting with new variants looming.
Talking with Tony about packing made me realize anew how many open containers of cleaning agents I have and I need to pack. Will we really leave things for him to do or go into a frenzy doing packing ourselves? And then our energy runs out. Help us pace ourselves for Your work and kindness towards each other.
I feast upon Your word, chewing on Genesis, ingesting Psalms, pondering the Gospels, reflecting on the Epistles. I do this because I need Your light and guidance.
Before I know it, I am led into meditation. As Your Spirit leads my heart and mind, the food of Your word rises up in revelatory moments within me. You show me the path.
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105
When difficult situations arise, You give me Words for the weak and weary. You draw them from the memory bank we have built, You and I together as I feasted upon Your Word. Help me to lay up these lovely treasures in my heart and mind. I feast so that I have a Word to share in times of need.
The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
Isaiah 50:4
If you have been fearful about sharing your faith or insights gained through your personal struggles, perhaps feeding upon the Word of God will help you know how and when to give a Word in the right season.
Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:12
This housing market is nuts. An impossible prayer request, I prayed we would know who should live here next. 17 showings on Saturday. 4 on Sunday. 8 offers. Yes, I was wiping down door knobs and other likely touched surfaces. At our realtor’s suggestion we even printed a sign that read “Please leave all the lights on for the next showing.”
Since I had NO clear direction as to which buyer, we sat with our realtor Sunday late afternoon reviewing all the offers and decided what offer would be best for us. Ended with cash offer, no inspections and no appraisal. No more people traipsing through our house!! No waiting. Done deal.
Monday morning we were both absolutely exhausted from the stress and excitement. (Also, 2 old people without their naps for 2 days. Ugly.) Kidding, but we are still tired on this Tuesday.
We have the signed contract. A relief that this part is finished. The idea of making our home look like a sterile Air B & B for weeks was daunting!
Yes, we had absolute faith that this house would sell. No, we had no inkling for how much! The neighbors are delighted! Their property values just went up. We are moving in about 8 weeks. Today is writing, mundane errands and more rest from the real estate market. Then back to packing and planning.
Thanks for your prayers! As the crocuses begin blooming and the first daffodil opened this morning we are continuing the process of saying good bye to Siesta Drive! Letting go of these flower beds and lovely shrubs is difficult, sigh.
Meet Tripp Hampton, brother to Taylor Hampton Phillips. I found this to a huge blessing! Wonderful way to pause in worship without having to look up the lyrics! Take a 5 minute praise break!
Want to subscribe to a daily gratitude quote? This is the place for you! They also send out a monthly newsletter with things to challenge your spiritual growth.
Since we have been cleaning and packing I have been paying attention to things that I had not thought about in a long time, like dovetail joints on our furniture.
A recent quote read:
| Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into behavior. It almost always makes you willing to be of service, which is where the joy resides. |
| ANNE LAMOTT |
Makes you think doesn’t it? Barring the pandemic, why are we not more likely to be of service when that is where joy resides? And who doesn’t want more joy?
David Steindl-Rast is a Benedictine Monk and major motivator at Gratitude.org. Once he posted a challenge to write out 100 Gratitudes, not only numbering the items (What) but also asking that you detail the WHY of your gratitude. It was an interesting challenge. The first few I was more prolific on the whys than the last few. Guess I found it too hard to have to detail why I was grateful. What a spoiled brat!
Gratefulness and gratitude cannot be overstated. The practice reminds us that we are not in charge, no matter how much we want to be!
Bob and I got our first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. It was a relief to get the process started. After a drive through cone at Dairy Queen we decided that since it was a pretty day we would go see if there was progress on the new construction. We hoped the slab had finally been poured.
Were we ever surprised! Yes, the slab had been poured, inspections done and framers were hard at work.
The crane is in front of our garage where the driveway will eventually go. The boards sticking out of the side of the house is the Master Bathroom. Other window is in the guest room..
Boards in this window locate the office for you. We will have two windows looking out on the street. The man with the orange ladder is standing inside our front entrance. Obviously, no door yet.
We went back the next day to take the guys some donuts and the roof trusses were on. Monday, March 1 the shingles were to be delivered. Hoping the weather will hold for them to get it shingled this week without getting drenched. We had 2 inches of rain yesterday! It is supposed to be drying out.
After that most progress will be hard to record in photos. The interior work from drywall to flooring will take the bulk of the next 10 weeks.
Today is the first showing of our home to one family who is here from out-of-town for a family emergency. Then we board the dog on Saturday and Sunday, the 6th – 7th, and let the public make appointments to see it. The housing market here is so tight that most properties go into a bidding war and sell within 48 hours. (We could not find a house to buy. That is why we chose to build.) The only stickler for our property is we are rigid about no occupancy by them until May 28.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Psalm 127:1
Thanks for joining us on this wild ride!
Have you ever watched autumn leaves falling? Didn’t it seem rather miraculous that one week they were offering you shade and the next they were colored as if by crayon and tumbling through the breeze? The February snow reminded me of the leaves.
I had been complaining about snow that fell and melted in just a few hours. Once in Wisconsin it had been a delight to watch snow fall at the rate of an inch an hour. Then we had snow in Ohio, upon older snow upon piling snow until there was an accumulation of about 14 inches that did not melt but stayed!
After two weeks of constant snow cover, birds that do not usually come to the feeder were suddenly eating the seed we put out. There was nothing else available except for a few bugs under tree bark.
Fourteen days in I was more than weary of wading into deep snowbanks. Sinking into deep snow while walking this dog who still refuses to ‘do her business’ in our yard was giving me a workout. Irritability was growing. At least I had long zip up boots instead of having to lace up ankle bracers!
My husband and I had been daydreaming about not having to bundle up against the arctic cold to walk the dog. We even mused about the time we could just grab her leash, hook her on and head out the door!
And then there began a slow but gradual thaw. At first there was only a tiny border around the base of the trees. Then on the hill patches of brown leaf detritus with birds hopping around, turning over leaves looking for lunch.
This miracle of melting snow, the return of rocks, grass, and soil – a marvelous discovery. Today I walked the dog amongst snow banked on the sides of the road. The melting was a constant sound as the water flowed out of the yards, across the seams in the sidewalk and down into the storm sewers. Gurgling water, not created by a man made fountain!
It was as if I was watching a holy transformation. Suddenly we do not require boots, scarf, hat, and gloves. Today it was 50 degrees! Tomorrow’s forecast is 51 degrees. Then almost every trace of snow will have vanished. One more of the many miracles of our God.
By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
Job 37:10 ESV
Out walking on 2/27/21 there were still patches of snow!
The Slave’s Ear© Molly Lin Dutina 2020
Oh Malchus,slave of the High Priest When your ear was cut off and began gushing blood Were you startled? In anguished pain? When the Lord Christ restored it Did you then refuse to go with those who Came to arrest Him? Did you ever believe He was the Christ? He healed you and what was your response? Jesus, besides being saddened that The slave’s ear was cut off Did You heal him to keep Your disciple out of trouble Knowing that harming the slave of the High Priest Would bring that disciple harm? Or did You heal him on the principle That hurt and wounded things Are Your specialty? Did he believe when You restored him I want to know the end of that story Many times I have lashed out at others Not with sharpened sword but Words or actions as sharp as swords And You delivered me You made it right Offered healing to those I have hurt Keep me from myself Help me to give You glory To my last day and dying breath I pray
We can experience physical pain, emotional pain and mental pain. When the three arrive simultaneously our tipping point can occur.
When that happens it is time to withdraw from one thing or another to preserve our ability to cope.
Are you nearing the edge of your tolerance?
Can you see where and how to preserve your coping self? What might bring you solace and relief, what might raise your shield of defense? Lord, You are our shield and Mighty Deliverer. Lead and guide us in Your ways.
500,000 people in the United States dead from Covid-19. Sad history being made in our midst.
I just cannot comprehend that much loss, that much death in one year, that many families grieving. I was in shock March 21, 2020 when the numbers were 24,000 deaths from Covid-19 in the USA.
I understand grief. I understand death. Recently Marvin died, Jay died, Art died and Gary, too. Most were ill. Some were older than others. My brain struggles to get around 500,000 people dying from one disease in one year. It is very likely that I have not even met 500,000 people in my entire life. Internet statistics report the average American knows about 600 people and may meet upwards to 10,000 in a lifetime. 500,000 is difficult for me to even conceptualize.
National Geographic published the article below to help us get a grip. It was comforting to read “our brains are not wired to comprehend this much loss“. They end the article saying “These figures do not include tens of thousands of deaths that may have been related to the virus but were not recorded as COVID-19 deaths, such as deaths before testing became more widely available.”
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/graphics/what-500000-united-states-covid-deaths-look-like
Stay strong. Wash your hands. Keep your distance. Wear your mask, or two. Get your vaccine when available and stay grateful for the many, many blessings which overflow our lives.
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 