Thursday, August 31, 2017

Joy! What a treat!


© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
Taste and see that the Lord is good … (Psalm 34:8)



I’m trying out a new knitting pattern. Parts of it are quite challenging at first glance and I have my doubts whether I can even do it. Uncharted territory. Sometimes I’d rather stick with what I know. When I first started knitting, all I made was mittens. Safe. Comfortable. Familiar. Confident. Then the “dare” to branch out. To know more than I know. And then to experience the greater joy in that “more”.

 So, I read through a section of the pattern. And read it through a second time. Then read just the first phrase. Dissected it. Visualized it. And slowly comprehended it. Before I knew it, I’m knitting it! Each step started making sense. Each additional step added more joy and confidence in what I now knew.

The same technique can be applied to bible reading. Yes, it’s comfortable to read the same favorite, familiar passages over and over. But what joys are we missing? It can look challenging at first glance. You may even doubt you can do it. But are you ready, wanting, willing to know more than you know about God and His love?

Read through a section.

Read through it a couple times.

Read the opening phrase.

Dissect it.

Visualize it.

Taste and see …

Then continue on with the next phrase.

 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:11)




Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Little bit o' faith


© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14)





A man is healed by Jesus – and he doesn’t even know who Jesus is … (John 5:13)

 Another man said, “But if you can do anything – take pity on us and help us. (Mark 9:22)

 Sarah has a baby in her old age … (Genesis 21)

 Jesus calms a storm … (Matthew 8:26)

 Lazarus is raised from the dead … (John 11:43)

 Look at these people! Ordinary like “you and me” people. Big faith. Little faith. Didn’t even know about faith? Yet God did a miracle in their lives. In order to leave a most profound story, testimony, witness of the greatness, the power, the love of God. Will anything ever seem impossible ever again?

Don’t worry about your little, humble, fear-filled prayers. But glory, rejoice, and be glad in the One Who hears and cares.

 So, do you believe? How far? What is it you think God can’t do?

 Everything is possible for the one who believes. (Mark 9:23)


Friday, August 25, 2017

Unchangeable


© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God … (Jeremiah 42:6)



I was curious. So I went back and looked at the first real post on my blog. It was about sending and receiving cards in the mail and my mom calling it “good mail”. (October 9, 2012)


Times sure have changed! The world and all its fast-paced technology …

 But I haven’t changed. The world hasn’t moved me from my Godly calling. Sending cards.

 I know they are appreciated (because people stop and tell me so)

I know they are treasured (because people tell me they save them)

I know they are of God (because people tell me “it was the perfect verse” and “just what I needed to hear that day”)

 Snail mail is becoming a thing of the past. There aren’t many who join me in sending notes to others who need to hear a good word from the Lord – hold it in their hands – press it to their heart…

 But I can’t stop following where the Lord leads me … whatever the world thinks of the latest, quickest technology for communicating – I will keep sending out the Word of God and His love to the ones I know need encouragement. In a card.

 Are you battling with your God-calling and the world?

Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God … (Jeremiah 42:6)






Thursday, August 17, 2017

Big things, little things


Now I have given up everything else—I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought him back to life again … (Philippians 3:10 TLB)






O God, You are so very big and I am so very small.

There is just too much going on.

Too much for me.

How about if You take on the big stuff?

Everything from rude, crabby people to downright hate and violence.

How about I take on the little things?

Like smiling.

Sending a card.

Buying groceries for the food pantry when it’s 10 for 10 at the store.

Letting someone merge without a worry.

Making a phone call or text that’s let’s someone know they mean a lot to me.

How about I take on the simpler things?

Ahhh …

Thank You, God.


Monday, August 14, 2017

Claiming the Triune God


(photo found on Pinterest)
I believe in the one, true Abba Father God, Who lovingly created me and all things good.



I believe in His precious Son, Jesus, my Lord, my Redeemer, my ever-present lifelong companion. Who gave His life for me, that I may have forgiveness; Who reconciled me to the Father, that I may have peace; and Who was raised from the dead, that I may have hope.



I believe the Holy Spirit lives within me; to lead, guide and direct me in all my ways, that I may become the godly woman I am meant to be.




Sunday, August 13, 2017

Morning prayer of blessing


© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved
Another Celtic practice I learned about while on my retreat was the prayer of blessing – over what we would call, “every little thing”. Morning blessings, washing dishes, making the bed – praying over the sleep of loved ones, the food God sent our way … etc. A heightened awareness of God’s presence and provision. We were asked to sit in silence and think about how our day starts. Here is my morning prayer of blessing:



Thank You, God, for this morning

As my body slowly awakes.

My soul also stirs in greeting

Awaiting its quiet time with You.



So, bless, O God, the coffee perking.

Bless, O God, the pills I must take.

Bless the kitties purring

And the scratching of ears they insist I partake.



Then be with me this hour

As with coffee and bible in prayer,

I seek Your direction and guidance

And surrender every care.








Friday, August 11, 2017

God is all around you


© 2013 Julie Crane All rights reserved
Just got home from a five day spiritual retreat on Celtic Spirituality. Time to learn and grow using all my senses about God and His created world. Time to reflect on this created world all around us. God’s very presence. Wrote this poem:




God’s hands, God’s hands.

Drawing the flower bud up from the stem;

And moving the long grass with a nudge to the breeze.

The sun is hidden.

The sun shines forth.

By God’s hands, God’s hands.



The sky is blue.

The ground is black.

And God waters tumble over God rocks.

Somewhere majestic mountains.

Somewhere crashing seas.

Somewhere painted deserts.

By God’s hands, God’s hands.



And I bow low and lowly

In awe of all this splendor.

With thanks and praise and adoration

To God, the Maker and Keeper of all things.

Yes, I bow low and lowly

As upon my head – my blessing.

By God’s hands, God’s hands.