My Highlight of 2022

Every year usually has a highlight in it for me. This year, it was my trip to California. 

Looking back over 2022, a major highlight for me was seeing these initials (the first two letters in my name) carved into a eucalyptus tree by me as a girl when living in Santa Barbara, California. 

Under that tall, eucalyptus tree is where I trusted in God’s great love and atoning blood for me. 

Near that tree is where I gave my life to the Lord at the age of 11. At that age, I meant every word I said to God - and I still do today! 

To visit that special place in Santa Barbara behind our old home and to discover “anew” those initials carved by me, left me speechless. I forgot I even did that - but I did! 

According to a Google search that I did back in June when I was there, those initials are likely there “to stay” for the entire life of that tree - a forever marker of the girl who loved to spend hours in prayer there with her Heavenly Father. 

No one can ever take those precious memories away from me. I’m so glad I discovered those initials. I cried happy tears in June, and I’m crying happy tears now. God loves us so much!

If you don’t know God, personally, or if you are not walking with God anymore, please know that God loves you more than you could ever dream. Please, give your life to Him. 

Nothing in this world can ever fully satisfy our heart. The only One Who can fully satisfy our heart is the One Who created it - something I discovered at the age of 11. God created us for Himself. Without Him, we are lost in every way. 

In Him, we have everything we need. 

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4 

A small daisy in the place where I gave my life to the Lord
in Santa Barbara, California. 
Photo taken on June 9, 2022. 

That tall eucalyptus tree in Santa Barbara, California.
Photo taken on June 9, 2022. 

Rachel’s Tears - The Hope of Christ's Birth

The details surrounding the birth of Christ in the Bible are known by many today. This story has been read and shared for hundreds, even thousands, of years. This story really happened 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, Israel.

 

The birth of Christ was so glorious, God must have wanted those details recorded in His Word. Even though December 25th is likely not the day Christ was born, I'm thankful for the reminder every year. To think that God sent His only Son as a tiny, helpless baby into this world through the womb of a young, virgin woman is beyond incredible! I would love to have heard that heavenly, angel choir sing over the skies of Bethlehem, Israel on the night that Christ was born! 

There are several events in Scripture when I would have loved to have been a silent observer. The night of Christ's birth is one of those events. 

I wish I could have been in Abraham and Sarah's tent when their promised son, Isaac, was born. I wish I could have observed their incredible joy, and even laugher, when 90 year old Sarah held her firstborn and only son, Isaac, in her arms. Another incredible event that really happened. 

Watching Rebekah give birth to her twin boys, Jacob and Esau, after she and her husband, Isaac, waited 20 years for them would have also been quite something to observe. No doubt, joy filled their hearts!  

I would’ve especially enjoyed witnessing Rachel give birth to her son, Joseph, after waiting such a long time for children. Even though Rachel was not as old as Sarah, her joy was likely the same as she held baby Joseph in her arms. 

There are, of course, other events in Scripture that I would’ve loved to have been an eye witness to such as the children of Israel crossing the Red Sea and Christ's resurrection from the dead! Those events would have been something to observe! 

Many of the events in the Bible that I wish I could have observed are around birth. Though painful (something I've never experienced), birth is a glorious thing! The Bible records many of them. 

Perhaps I am drawn to these women in the Bible because I can relate and identify with them, especially Rachel. I am 40 years old and still have no children of my own. 

Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel all waited a long time to have children. However, Rachel is the only one the Bible records who wept for children of her own. Rachel not only wept to have children, but later, the Bible says she wept over the children she did have. Who is this woman who shed so many tears over her children? 

The Bible doesn't tell us a lot about Rachel. We don't even know what Rachel looked like other than the Bible says she was beautiful. (Genesis 29:17) 

Rachel was the second and beloved wife of Jacob in the Bible. Rachel was the mother of two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Sadly, Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. The Bible says that Jacob buried Rachel near Bethlehem. 

Bethlehem is where the Lord Jesus Christ, our Messiah, was born. 

Rachel is mentioned in the story of the birth of Christ.

In describing details about Christ’s birth, Matthew writes about Rachel: 

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."

Matthew 2:16-18

These are familiar verses that I've heard and read many times. I cringe when I think of King Herod's attempt to kill baby Jesus, something he did not succeed in doing. Sadly though, Herod's soldiers did kill many baby boys in and around Bethlehem - a tragic part of this story. That also really happened 2,000 years ago. I can hardly grasp such horror.

What does the murder of those baby boys in Bethlehem have to do with Rachel weeping? I understand that the mothers of those boys would have wept tremendously. That's not hard to understand and is to be expected. But why is Rachel weeping over them? I confess, I've struggled to fully “connect the dots” in the past. 

This year, in reading about Christ's birth, I decided to read the entire prophecy from the book of Jeremiah that Matthew was quoting:

    "Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border." Jeremiah 31:15-17 

Reading the original prophecy gave me a much deeper insight, and with that, the birth of Christ took on a much deeper meaning, more than it ever did before! 

Allow me to share some brief history from the Bible. After King Solomon reigned over the twelve tribes of Israel, God separated the tribes. God separated ten tribes into one group and two tribes into another group. Ten tribes were in the north of Israel, and two tribes were in the south of Israel. The larger group was called the “House of Israel” and the smaller group was called the “House of Judah”. This is Bible truth. When reading my Bible years ago, I thought those were interchangeable names that God used for Israel, but years later, I discovered that is not the case. They are two distinct, separate groups. Having a basic understanding of that helps when reading God's Word.      

As a girl, I remember hearing that story at church in Sunday school or at home in my Bible class for school, and I remember not liking that story. Israel was a family with many tribes, and I didn't like the idea of them being separated. Nonetheless, it happened, and God had a purpose in it. 

The tribes of Joseph, Rachel's son, became the leading tribes of the larger House of Israel. Judah became the leading tribe of the smaller House of Judah. The Jewish people today come from the House of Judah. Jew is simply a nickname for Judah. The tribe of Benjamin, Rachel's other son, was with the House of Judah.

About 700 years before the birth of Christ, the larger House of Israel left their homeland, Israel, and went into captivity. Why? Because of their disobedience to God. That is the context behind what Jeremiah wrote about “Rachel weeping for her children”. Rachel had numerous offspring through her son, Joseph. The tribes of Joseph, namely, Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Rachel’s grandsons) were the “birthright” seed of Israel. Many of them were taken away into captivity away from the land of Israel. They were lost and scattered. 

Rachel died many hundreds of years before that event happened. Could Rachel see her offspring from heaven to weep over them? Growing up, I was taught that people, after death, can’t see loved ones on earth from heaven. This passage of Scripture makes me wonder otherwise.

Rachel had other offspring, through her son Benjamin, still living in the land of Israel with the House of Judah during the time that Christ was born on earth. 

Many of the baby boys who were murdered in Bethlehem would have been from the tribe of Benjamin, thus making them, indeed, Rachel's children. Understanding that, I was able to “connect dots” about Rachel weeping. Many of those baby boys were Rachel's offspring. Apparently, Rachel was able to see them and wept over her dead children.    

I think any mother would cry if their child was lost or murdered, and rightly so.  

What was God’s response to Rachel’s tears in the book of Jeremiah? 

"Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border." Jeremiah 31:16-17

God comforted Rachel and told her that her children, lost, scattered, and dead, would one day return home to their border - the land of Israel. God filled Rachel's heart with hope. 

How was God going to bring Rachel's children (her descendants) back home someday? 

Through the birth of Christ, His Son. 

Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, God was going to bring redemption to Rachel's children, Rachel's numerous offspring. 

Many of Rachel's children went into captivity because of their sin. Some of Rachel’s children died innocently, namely, those baby boys in Bethlehem. 

The birth of Christ and His promised redemption is what gave Rachel hope in the midst of her tears. 

I know there are many people today, men and women, who weep like Rachel did. We weep over lost loved ones. I have a friend who lost an 8 year old son to Leukemia this past Sunday. I can only imagine the grief that she and her husband and other children must feel. But they know their son is in heaven today with Christ. They have hope because of Christ.  

The hope that filled Rachel's heart when she refused to be comforted was fully realized when Christ was born, and later, when He gave His life and shed His blood for the sins of His people, Israel, and the entire world. 

Now I understand why Matthew shared that prophecy about Rachel weeping for her children when writing about Christ's birth. Rachel would finally be comforted. 

Christ had come. Redemption had come. 

Christ's birth gives us the same hope. 

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Throughout my 40 years of life, I've discovered that life is a paradox, meaning that, my life has been full of incredible joy and deep sadness. This past Thanksgiving was a reflection of that.

I wish I could say that Thanksgiving day dawned as bright and beautiful as it always did when I was a girl, but that wasn't exactly the case this year. I slept through the sunrise that morning. I had a debilitating headache for several days last week, and I slept hard the night before. I didn't see the sunrise at all that morning, although the day turned out to be a very beautiful one. I was disappointed I missed the sunrise because, in recent years, I've come up with my own tradition on Thanksgiving morning. I like to get up early, often around sunrise, to cook turkey bacon. I love turkey bacon, and the smell of that sizzling in our kitchen on Thanksgiving morning is such a fun way to begin the day. Not this year. I woke up late. I was grateful I woke up without a headache though, and I felt better than I had in days! I was so thankful for a good night of rest! 

We have a tradition in our home of having a brunch on Thanksgiving morning before enjoying our larger meal later on in the early evening. Our Thanksgiving brunch usually includes: scrambled eggs, bacon (or turkey bacon), cinnamon rolls, a specialty bread, and hot, mulled, apple cider simmering on the stove. Quite often, our Thanksgiving brunch is served around 10:00 a.m. Not this year. This year, our brunch was on the table earlier, so much so, I wondered if it should have been called Thanksgiving breakfast and not brunch. I was a few minutes late joining the table for breakfast. And the turkey bacon? I hadn't cooked any yet. During our "brunch", I was like a "Jack in the Box", jumping up every two minutes or so from the table to see how my turkey bacon was cooking on the stove. Thanksgiving breakfast (I mean brunch) isn't as enjoyable or relaxing when you're trying to cook while eating.

I helped with food preparation the evening before Thanksgiving, and my mom had help from one of my sisters with the clean up after breakfast. I was able to spend some time with the Lord after breakfast that morning which was nice, but as the day went on, things went south. I won't proceed to share details of things I face in my home at times, but as the afternoon approached, I decided to go for a nature walk. 

Going for a walk on Thanksgiving day isn't something I usually do; in fact, I'm not sure I've ever left our home on Thanksgiving Day. Usually, I find something to do at home. But, since everything for our meal was well under control, I decided to go out. I took my Bible and my small 10 string Davidic Harp along with me. A harp is not something I usually take with me on a walk, but I decided to bring it along this time. It was, after all, Thanksgiving. 

I was glad to be outside, alone with God, my Bible, and my little harp. The nature area was quiet, naturally, being a holiday. I was glad for that. I didn't want anyone else on the trails to see my blood shot eyes and tear stained face. 

I found a quiet spot by the water and read part of a Psalm of thanksgiving out loud to God. My heart echoed the Psalmist as I thanked God for all His numerous blessings - too many to name them all! It was just me and God out there, and I could no longer hold my pain inside. My tears came forth in a flood as I literally wept into the ground and cried out to God. My heart then echoed the Psalmist’s grief and tears. 

Joy and sorrow. Sickness and tears. Such is life, even on Thanksgiving day. 

I cried while praying and walking back to my vehicle, and in a way only God can, I felt Him strengthen my heart and give me tremendous peace. I was amazed, and I decided not to drive home quite yet. I wanted to walk up a steeper path, a path still covered with some snow and one that overlooked the beautiful river flowing below. 

As I approached a certain spot, I saw a cleft in the rock. I decided to sit there, overlooking the river, to sing and play a hymn of praise to the Lord: 

"For the beauty of the earth, 

For the glory of the skies, 

For the love which from our birth, 

Over and around us lies. 

Lord of all, to Thee we raise, 

This our hymn of grateful praise." 

  

My heart felt even more strengthened after praising the Lord, and the view was hard to beat. God was meeting me in my brokenness and tears. 

To remember my special time there with the Lord, I decided to snap a few pictures. The cleft in the rock brought to mind another hymn I've known and loved since I was a girl. 

"A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, 

A wonderful Savior to me. 

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

Where rivers of pleasure I see."     

Rivers of pleasure? No way!

There was a river flowing beneath me! I was nearly speechless as I continued to think about the words to the chorus: 

"He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, 

That shadows a dry, thirsty land. 

He hideth my life in the depths of His love, 

And covers me there with His hand, 

And covers me there with His hand." 

~ Fanny Crosby 

A dry, thirsty land? That was there in view too! 

I stood there in awe of God. God was reminding me of His love, His depths of love for me, and His hand over my life. His presence met me there by the cleft of the rock, the river of pleasure, and the dry, thirsty land.

I was overwhelmed by God's presence and love! 

Later, I added the words from that hymn to the picture I took on Thanksgiving.  

This past Thanksgiving is one I won't ever forget, not so much because of my tears and sadness, but because God met me in my affliction. In exchange, the Lord filled my heart with His peace and joy and gave me a song to praise Him with. 

Like a verse from the book of Isaiah says, God comforts His people in their affliction and brings them joy enough to sing. 

“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.” Isaiah 43:19 

Thanksgiving 2022 is one I will remember. 

Another Recording!

This is an exciting post for me to share! I'm delighted to announce that, Lord willing, sometime in the future, I plan to make one more harp recording! This future recording will almost certainly be my last, but a very special one.

How did this come about? There's a small story behind it.

With my last harp recording, Thou Art Worthy, I was convinced it would be my last. I even wrote on the inside cover that it was "likely" my last harp recording. 

After that recording was released 5 years ago (2017) stating that it would be my last, I had someone say to me: “Don't say that!” Others echoed that same sentiment. I shared with them that: “God is the One Who gave me the inspiration to record my albums, and He hasn't given me anymore to record.”

  

Knowing that I've recorded six harp albums, someone made the statement to me: “You know, seven is the number of completion in the Bible.” Their comment made me laugh. 

I played around with the idea of another recording, and I even shared the idea on a previous blog of mine. But another album looked overwhelming to me. I had no inspiration to do another album. I finally decided that no. Not happening. Though I loved recording each of my albums, they took so much time, work, and money. (not to mention attacks from the evil one!) I decided my recording days were done.

Since then, I've learned to never say never. Because if God wants you to do something, He'll bring it around when the time is right. God did that this past spring when I was working for some friends of mine in California. 

During an afternoon chat at work about Godly music, favorite songs and hymns, my harp albums, and the joy of learning to play the harp and other instruments, I casually mentioned this album idea I had floating around in my head. But it was one I didn't think would happen. I mentioned that the inspiration for all my other albums always began with a title, and I didn't have one for this idea.  

Sometime that afternoon God gave me a title. It was so clear, I knew it was from God. There was no question. And it stunned me. In all of my years of playing the harp, why did I never think of this as an album title before? 

I realized that it wasn't God timing then. But now, God was giving me the title. And with the title, always comes the inspiration.   

The title for this future recording will be: 

The Lord is My Shepherd   

This will be album number seven for me, the number of completion. (wink, wink)

What kind of songs will be on this future album? The Psalms of the Bible. Just the Psalms, nothing else. Psalm 23, Psalm 34, Psalm 91, and Psalm 103 are a few that I have in mind. 

This will be another harp and vocal album. I plan to play only my smaller harps (not my large one) for this album and sing with them just like David did when playing his harp to the Lord.

 

I plan to play some familiar melodies as well as melodies that I may try to write myself to the Psalms. There is nothing like the Word of God, and the Psalms are loved by so many. The Psalms were divinely inspired by God. 

The story behind this future recording doesn't end here.  

You see, in the past two years, I sold five older harps to purchase a new large harp, one that will likely be my harp for life. It's the only harp standing in our living room now which makes me happy. 

In selling many of my older harps, one of them took much longer to sell. I finally sold it this past summer. After paying for my new harp, I was going to have some money left over. I was planning to use that extra money to go on a road trip to Pennsylvania to pick up my new large harp, but I had that harp delivered to me instead. So, what should I do with that extra money? I decided I would use it to pay some bills on my vehicle. But, working for friends in California this spring helped me pay for all my vehicle bills. 

I sensed God wanted me to do something special with this extra harp money. But what? 

I had my eye on a small Davidic Harp made by Marini Made Harps. But I already have a 10 string Davidic Harp made by them, so I had no need for another one. But their Davidic Harp with scrolls (rather than the standard, pointed tips like I have) caught my eye many years ago. I thought about a 12 string Davidic Harp with those scrolls. 

After calculating the cost, it seemed like a perfect fit. I decided to place an order for that 12 string harp this spring, and it has been completely paid for. It will be made in natural cherry wood, just like my first harp was in cherry wood. This will likely be my last harp, although never say never, right? (wink, wink)  

How many harps will I have? Five total. One large harp, one small harp, and three very small harps.  

When I was in Israel in the spring of 2018, I had the privilege of visiting the “City of David” in Jerusalem. It took my breath away when I walked down some stairs into what archeologists believe was once King David's palace. I stood among ancient stones and marveled at the scrolled column on display. 

Inside the City of David, Jerusalem, Israel, May 2018. 

Inside the Israel Museum, May 2018. 

I was amazed because the scrolls on these ancient stone columns looked nearly identical to the scrolls I saw on Marini Made Harps Davidic Harp with scrolls. When I returned home from Israel, I emailed Mrs. Marini of Marini Made Harps mentioning to her how similar they were. She emailed me back stating that God gives her husband ideas, and he makes them. Wow! Mr. Marini hadn’t even seen these scrolls from King David’s time, yet they were nearly identical. 

My new 12 string Davidic Harp will have these scrolls,
will have levers, and will be made in cherry wood. 

I've been blessed to visit Israel three times in the past. If I never visited Israel again, I would be fine with that. I am satisfied with all that I've gotten to see and do there. 

But if I ever went back, I would love to spend more time in the City of David, which is ancient, Biblical Jerusalem. So much is being uncovered there right now. Jerusalem has a glorious future!  

My 10 string Davidic Harp under an olive tree in the
City of David, Jerusalem, Israel. May 2018. 

Lord willing, I believe that, sometime in the future, another trip to Israel will happen. I plan to use my new 12 string Davidic Harp on the covers of this future album, and I hope to take pictures with that harp inside the actual City of David.

This future album will be dedicated to the Lord God of Israel, the one, true God, the only God, the Creator of heaven and earth - the One to Whom King David sang his songs to. 

This album probably won't happen for at least another year or two. I don't have the money to record right now, and I don't even have the song list yet. God will also have to provide for this album. But, the inspiration is there, just like it was for all of my other recordings. My last recording, Thou Art Worthy, took about 12 years from the time that God gave me the dream and inspiration until it became a reality. It took a long time, but in God's timing, it happened. 

I also hope to dedicate this album, The Lord Is My Shepherd, to my son someday, whom I dearly hope to name David. This recording isn't the only dream God has given to me.

Three years ago this month, in November of 2019, I had major surgery. Two days after surgery, my pain got out of control, and I had to go back to the hospital where they gave me morphine for the pain. Three days after surgery, on the morning of November 22, I woke up at home with one of the most incredible dreams I've ever had. I never had a dream like it, nor have I since. In my dream, someone was handing me a beautiful baby boy, a baby that looked exactly like me (and my Dad as a baby!) in baby pictures. My dream was so special, I shared it on Facebook. 

Where did that dream come from? I believe it came from God.

I believe God gives us dreams that He might fulfill them in His way and in His time. I've seen many God given dreams become a reality. They often happen much later than I expect, but in God's time, they have a become a reality. 

The Lord Is My Shepherd is an album I look forward to recording in the future, God willing. 

God's Beautiful Creation

This fall season has been one of the most beautiful autumns that I can ever remember where I live. The colors of the leaves on the trees have been truly magnificent, even breathtaking at times, reminding me that this is, indeed, my favorite season!  

The splendid show began where I live around the beginning of October. Many trees in our neighborhood caught my eye as I went for walks. I couldn't help but take pictures with my phone.   

These trees started a magnificent display of changing colors! 

A short time later, I saw one of those trees turn into a beautiful, bright, rusty red color! 

The yellow leaves are always so beautiful too! 

This one stopped me in my tracks, literally, on one of my walks in our neighborhood! On my phone, this tree is an even more, vibrant red color! Simply spectacular!   

This tree caught my eye on one of my walks as well.
It looked as though the tree was "glowing" underneath.  
Late afternoon or early evening light effects, I suppose? Just so beautiful!  

Our neighbor's tree, directly across the street from us, was a delight to see as well! 

This picture gives you a small glimpse of my newly painted bedroom - as well as a glimpse of the brightly colored tree
in our other neighbor's yard, looking through the window. 

This picture shows a better view of the amazing colors
I saw through one of my bedroom windows.

For my birthday this month, I wanted to do something special, especially since it was my 40th birthday. Those only come once in a lifetime. But what should I do? I was racking my brain for something special to do that day and couldn't think of much. I've been so blessed to do so much already in the 40 years of life God has given to me. I decided to pray and ask the Lord if there was something special I could do that day, because I couldn't think of anything. I decided that the things I normally like to do on my birthday were good enough, even for my 40th. 

On my birthday, I decided to drive to a natural, outdoor area not far from my home. I'd driven by it many times and was intrigued, but I could never figure out where I’d park my vehicle. On my birthday, I decided to drive by there and, hopefully, find some place to park. When I got there, I was delighted to see that brand new parking places had been designated for this area. Yay! 

As I began walking over a bridge and onto a trail, I thought something like... 

"How can it be that we have lived here for 24 years, and I have never been here before?" 

This place is no more than 7 minutes from our home. And I discovered it on my 40th birthday! 

With a paved bike and walking path, dirt trails, and a beautiful river flowing by, it is now my favorite outdoor place to go to! I relished in the beauty all around me.      

So serene. So peaceful.  

One view of the river. 

Soft, delicate pink flowers growing along a path. 

There were so many, I decided to pick one.

A dirt trail through the trees with the sound of the river flowing nearby. 

I found a stump of trees, and I couldn't believe it when I found a painted rock there with pink flowers painted on it, like the flowers I had just picked! Chance? I don't think so. 
God had someone paint that rock and place it there for me. I'm sure of it. 

More views of the river flowing by. 

God felt so close to me on this nature walk. It was then that I realized that God had answered my prayer - for me to do something special for my 40th birthday! Discovering this place was God's birthday gift to me! With happy, grateful tears, I thanked Him! 

Of course, after discovering this beautiful place not far from our home, I had to go back a few days later. And when I did, I snapped this picture (below) on my phone. Once again, the colors are more vibrant on my phone. 

God's marvelous creation! 

God's creation is so beautiful in every season. But this time of year, His creation seems a little extra glorious to me! Truly, all of creation gives tremendous glory to the One Who created it all.   

Age 40 - Celebrating the Goodness of God

Tomorrow, October 17th, is my 40th birthday. 

I'm amazed how quickly age 40 comes! I clearly remember my 10th birthday. I also remember my 20th birthday like it was yesterday. (well, not quite yesterday, but you know what I mean.) My 30th birthday arrived not long ago. The decades come and go very quickly. 

I've always enjoyed having a birthday in autumn, right in the middle of the fall season when the colors of the leaves on the trees are usually at their peak where I live. 

 

I love having a birthday during my favorite season of the year. 

For some reason, I tend to remember my life in decades. For almost the first 10 years of my life, I lived in Michigan with my family. Those were my childhood days. Happy memories! 

For a little more than half a decade, I lived in California with my family. That time holds precious memories, along with some not so pleasant memories. I did a lot of growing there, physically and spiritually. I gave my life to God during that time (very special!) , and I went from being a girl of almost 10 to a young lady of 15 when we moved. Homeschool days. Sewing lessons. Piano Lessons. Track and field. Cats and kittens. Rubber stamps. The beach. Outdoors. A broken arm. Big changes. Major growth. That kind of defines my life during that time.  

The last two and a half decades have been spent where I live now, a considerable length of time. 

My mid to late teen years hold memorable things for me: new, Godly friends around age 16, learning to play the harp at 17, harp lessons at 18, and graduating (after taking a GED test) at 19. Those are some big memories that stand out in my mind.  

My 20's hold huge memories for me, both joyful and painful. I began working when I was 20. I learned to drive in my 20's. I purchased my first vehicle in my 20's. More precious friendships happened. During my 20's, I purchased 5 harps and professionally recorded 4 albums. My first trip to Israel (and Egypt) happened in my late 20's. Big things happened in my life during that decade. I look back at all I did in my 20’s, and I’m in awe of God. 

My 30's also hold special, lifetime memories, along with some extremely painful ones. During this decade, I purchased 5 more harps and professionally recorded 2 more albums. I went to Ghana, West Africa for 3 months, and God blessed me with two more trips to Israel. I went on road trips, alone, in both directions of the United States. Lots of travel! During this decade, I sold 7 of my harps - five of them to purchase a large, 40 string harp that I'm still in awe is mine. During this decade, I underwent major surgery. (not fun!) I was blessed to help with 8 different harp books for the 10 string harp during this decade. I spent lots of time in prayer, in worship, and in deep study of God's Word. Truly, this past decade is one I won't forget. 

Those are brief descriptions of each decade of my life thus far. I could definitely elaborate more. 

Years ago, I used to dream of recording two harp albums at the most. God has allowed me to record six albums - triple the amount I dreamed of. 

Years ago, I used to dream of visiting the Holy Land just once. God has allowed me to visit Israel three times - triple the amount I dreamed of. 

God has given me far above what I dreamed! I’ve told a few people that I’ve gotten to do everything I’ve wanted as a single woman. 

My only reason for sharing all of this is: 

I have seen God’s incredible goodness in my life. 

Tomorrow, I enter a new decade of my life - my 40's. 

The number 40 in the Bible is a significant number. That number is connected to different people in the Bible. The number 40 in the Bible often symbolizes a period of testing. The children of Israel were in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Although testing isn't always enjoyable, testing can be a very beautiful thing because it reveals who we truly are and what is inside us. Our faith isn't quite as valuable until it has been tried and tested. 

I admit, my life looks nothing like I would've imagined it to be at this age. I would've expected to have had a family of my own by the age of 40. I never would've thought I'd still be single, living at home with my parents at age 40.  

What would I like for my birthday this year?  

I don't desire any material thing. I just desire a family of my own - something I've prayed for, for a long time. 

Growing up, my siblings and I used to enjoy watching something called "Little House on the Prairie". (my parents tried to be very careful what we watched) There is an episode I've always loved called: "At the End of the Rainbow" In this episode, Laura (the main character) finds what she thinks is real gold with a school friend at their fishing spot. Expecting to get rich from all the gold they find, they discover later that it is nothing more than fool's gold. Heartbroken, Laura and her friend, Jonah, dump all the fool's gold back into the creek. Later, Laura's "Pa" finds her there alone. Their conversation is one I've always loved. To quote them, they say:

Laura: "Oh Pa, I was going to give you so much... I was going to give you a big house and everything, and now look at it."  

Pa: "Half pint (her Dad's nickname for her), you listen to me. You give us everything we want every single day of our lives. You give us love, and respect, and joy. There isn't enough gold in the whole world to buy those things."  

That last quote from her Pa is profound to me. In essence, Laura's Dad was saying that the love and joy that comes from having a happy family is worth more than gold. I love how he says it.

Celebrating my 40th birthday with a family of my own would have been the best birthday gift of all. 

Many people tend to not like turning 40 years old. They're old; they're “over the hill” now they say. I could have that attitude.

But I'm not celebrating my 40th birthday with that attitude.  

Life is a gift! Life is to be celebrated! God has blessed me with 40 years of life on this earth, and that is something to celebrate! I will celebrate God's goodness to me. 

What do I have planned for my 40th birthday? 

Nothing too spectacular. It will likely resemble birthdays in years past. Simple, but special.  

I'll go out for lunch with my Mom at a cute, little place near our home. I might do something outside in nature during the day. Soup and bread is on the menu for supper. (my favorite!) I was going to try making a new soup recipe I found online this summer using zucchini and other vegetables. (I love zucchini!) But who wants to cook on their birthday? Not me. Like last year, I decided to have Panera Bread's "Autumn Squash" soup (which can be purchased in grocery stores) to just heat up on the stove. I'll garnish the soup with pumpkin seeds, and serve sourdough bread and butter with it. Yum!  

For dessert? I enjoy trying new things. About a month ago, I decided I wanted to make an applesauce cake this year with cream cheese frosting and walnuts pieces sprinkled on top.  

Autumn squash soup and applesauce cake - a true fall meal. 

My 40th year? Bring it on! I look forward to seeing what God has planned. 

The Lord is my Shepherd. I’m looking to our Shepherd to lead me. 

Why Do You Love Israel So Much?

When people get to know me, they discover that I love Israel - not only the land of Israel, but also the people of Israel. Why do I love Israel so much? 

Because Israel is the land of the Bible and the people of the Bible. 

The Sea of Galilee, Israel

You simply cannot separate Israel from the Bible. Throughout both the Old and New Testament, Israel is central to the Bible.

If you grew up in a Christian home and heard lots of Bible stories like I did, most of those stories took place in the land of Israel and with the people of Israel. 

 

I've been privileged to visit the land of Israel three different times. On my last trip to Israel in 2018, the group I was with had a tour guide who talked to our group through a microphone while we were riding in a van. Hearing him talk and point things out while riding through the land was a real treat! Something our tour guide said stuck with me: 

"About 85 percent of the Bible took place in the land of Israel."     

Wow! I didn't realize that much of the Bible took place in Israel.

I think every Christian should visit Israel at least once in their lifetime if they can. Our Savior died and rose again in Jerusalem. Christianity began in Jerusalem on the Biblical holiday of Pentecost. Whether Christians realize it or not, Christianity is very much tied to Israel. You cannot separate the two, although many Christians try very hard to do so. 

The entire Old Testament of our Bible was originally written in Hebrew. Most of the writers of the New Testament of the Bible were Hebrew. The Bible is a Hebrew book with a Hebrew culture.

Culture is a unique thing. There are so many different cultures and people groups around the world, and the Lord God made them all. I think it's fun to see what different cultures are like. 

Nearly 10 years ago, I was in Ghana, West Africa for three months. Their culture is very different from mine. I enjoyed the opportunity to see and learn more about their culture. Before going, I was informed that, in Ghana, you do not eat or give money with your left hand. To them, the left hand is considered the "dirty" hand. (I won't go into detail what that means) Being left handed, I was glad to know that before I went. If I hadn't known that, I could have easily offended someone there, and I certainly didn't want to do that. Thankfully, I was able to eat just fine, eating “finger food” style, with my right hand. But when paying for things in Ghana, it really took some concentration for me to use my right hand. My left hand is more natural for me to use. 

Once again, culture is a fun thing, but each culture is unique and often different from our own.  

I find it fascinating that some Christians do not want anything to do with Hebrew or Jewish culture when the very culture of the Bible is Hebrew. I think that likely stems from some Christian pastors teaching that, although Israel was God's people in the Old Testament, God is done with them now. God has cast them away. That is not true. The apostle Paul makes that very clear in the New Testament, in Romans, when he wrote: 

"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." Romans 11:1 

The Word of God, in the New Testament, also says that the very gates of heaven are inscribed with the names of the 12 Tribes of Israel. In describing heaven, the apostle John writes: 

"And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." Revelation 21:12 

The apostle John was Jewish along with most (or all) of the 12 disciples. Our Lord Jesus Christ was also Jewish and had a Jewish Name, Yeshua. This is something many Christians forget, I think. 

Why do I love Israel? 

I love Israel, not only because it is the land of the Bible, the people of the Bible, and the culture of the Bible, but I also love Israel because God loves Israel. 

In speaking to Israel, consider what God says in these beautiful and familiar verses:

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 

Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel..." Jeremiah 31:3-4

God's love for Israel, and His covenant with them, is everlasting. 

The Eternal, Unchanging Word of God

There are some things that I think about for awhile. Sometimes, I’ll think about something for weeks, months, and occasionally, even years. 

My title for this post is something I've thought a lot about this year, particularly this past spring and summer - the eternal, unchanging, Word of God - called the Bible or the Holy Scriptures.

I grew up hearing Bible stories at home, at church in Sunday school, and during Bible class in my homeschool program. I memorized Scripture for school and for our Wednesday night “Awana” children's program at church. As I got older, instead of hearing Bible stories, we took turns reading verses in a chapter (or chapters) of the Bible for family devotions in the evening before bed. Growing up, my life was filled with the Word of God, something I'm very grateful for. (my family used the King James Version, the version I still read today.)

God used a small, simple verse from His Word to draw me to Himself when I was an 11 year old girl:

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Psalm 66:18 

God's Word is both precious and powerful.

This past spring, during a conversation with some other Christians, I said something like: 

"The Bible, God's Word, is the truth, and that is our final authority." 

Later, a comment was made in reply to mine: 

"Yeah, well, everyone says that."  

Inwardly, I thought (and desperately wanted to say but didn't): 

“Are you saying the Bible isn’t the truth or final authority?” 

“If the Bible isn't the truth or final authority, then what is?” 

To avoid contention, I didn't say anything because I knew: God's Word is the absolute truth. 

God Himself, the Creator of all things, says so in His Word: 

"Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." Psalm 119:160

The verse below clearly says that God's law is the truth: 

"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth." Psalm 119:142

Jesus, the Son of God, prayed and declared this to His Father: 

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17 

 

God's Word says that He has even put His Word above His Name. That is how high God values His Word. 

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." Psalm 138:2 

The nice part about this conversation is that it gave me a lot of time to think about God's Word being the absolute truth. 

There are some people in this world who say that: "There are no absolutes." 

My reply to that is: "Yes, there are. God's Word is the absolute truth. Not only that, it is also eternally true."  

Psalm 119:89 says: "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." Psalm 119:89

I find tremendous comfort in all these verses. God's Word is the truth. It is eternal. It never changes. It is a solid rock on which we can stand. This should be foundational in the life of every believer. 

God's Word should be the standard and final authority of every Christian. Sadly, there are so many different Christian denominations today who disagree. I believe the statement made by this other person (mentioned above) came from this fact. Since so many Christians see things differently, does that mean that God's Word is not the truth or final authority? Of course not. 

God's Word is true and always will be. It stands firm. The Scriptures make that very clear. God's Word does not contradict itself. Why then are there so many different denominations? 

I’ve thought long and hard about this. 

There are Christians who, though they see the Bible as the truth, do not see the Bible as the final authority. Sadly, their church leaders are their final authority, not God's Word. I know of churches like this. 

There are also many Christians who, though they see the Bible as the truth and the final authority, do not read or study their Bible. I believe there are many Christians who are ignorant simply from a lack of study. 

I believe this is why we are encouraged to: 

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 

We are to rightly divide the word of truth. How do we do that? By studying God's Word. 

I don’t consider myself to be a huge book reader, although, if you saw my stash of books, you might think otherwise. If I have a good book, I enjoy reading. It all depends on the book. There are definitely some amazing books out there! I’ve even seriously considered writing a book myself. (I’ve been told by others that I have a gift for writing. Whether or not that’s true, I don’t know.) I do enjoy sharing, provided people are interested. So although I’m not a huge book reader, I will admit, books are fun! 

Recently, I went through some books of mine that I decided I might not need anymore and may decide to try selling them on eBay sometime. 

Going through my books, made me think about the Word of God again. That’s a book that never changes. It is always relevant, and the Author is God Himself. That’s pretty phenomenal if you stop to think about it. 

I remember hearing once that, in our world today, we have more Christian self help books than any other time in history. Yet sadly, we seem to have more problems than previous generations. We need God’s Word.

In recent years, I’ve come to treasure God’s Word more than ever before. I frequently share verses on my Facebook page and WhatsApp status. I’m sure there are some who may get a little irritated, thinking that they didn’t sign up for their daily or weekly Bible verse from me, but I can’t help but share at times. God’s Word is precious. It is powerful. It is from God. God’s Word has all the answers we need. I personally believe the greatest thing Christian parents can teach their children is the Word of God.

Though I have some great, inspirational, Christian books, none of them compare to the Bible.  

God gave His people something very precious and very simple to follow - His eternal Word. 

Summer Days, Summer Projects

Summer begins at our home when our rose bushes begin to bloom, usually in early June. This year didn't disappoint; most of our rose bushes bloomed in abundance! 

I love the summer season and the beauty it brings from God! Like last year, this summer has also been very hot. It felt like someone hit the "repeat" button on this summer, although, I'd have to say that last summer was worse. We have enjoyed some sporadic rains showers this summer, and lately, we've been enjoying cooler mornings, a sure sign that fall is coming. We're not sure why the last two summers have been relentlessly hot. (much more than what we remember in previous years) That being said, I still treasure and love and thank the Lord for summertime, even with incredibly warm temperatures.      

Unfortunately, Covid went through our home again (a second time) during the month of July. (one of my sisters tested positive with it) Thankfully, it wasn't quite as bad this time, but I dealt with a lack of energy for a couple weeks. (the heat didn't help) Praise God! We recovered just fine and are feeling normal and healthy again. God is so good! 

Here are some pictures I took this summer that give a glimpse into my summer days. 

A soft pink rose from one of our rose bushes.

Clusters of roses from one of our bushes! 

An abundance of roses in front of our home! 

Cheery, yellow roses in our backyard. 

Delightful, peach roses in our backyard. 

More lovely flowers from an evening walk in our neighborhood. These are yellow “Columbine” flowers with pink “Evening Primrose” flowers.   

Delicate “Evening Primrose” flowers. I love these!  

Of course, summer wouldn't be complete without visiting our nearby river! I now frequent this river often, especially in the summer. 

 

So serene. So peaceful. 

So picturesque. 

Whenever I'm here, the outside world, with all its problems, seems so far away. I love to be here.   

Another day, another visit to the river. (see below) I felt led to pray on a particular day for our nation and our leaders as we're told to do in Scripture. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) This seemed like a nice place to pray.

I love flowing water! 

While I was praying, I spotted a large bird. Is that an eagle? I got closer and snapped a picture! Yes, it was a bald eagle! A few minutes later, when I wasn't looking, he flew away. I decided to continued praying, and while doing that, I looked up and saw three or four bald eagles flying above my head! I could hardly believe it! A coincidence? I don't think so. The eagle is our national bird.

A bald eagle! 

Back to my little happy place at the river one evening. 

As usual, the skies have been so beautiful this summer! 

Magnificent clouds one evening.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come!"   

On one of my evening walks, I turned around to see this brilliant sunset!  

Colors of gold, yellow, and orange in accents of gray! 

I love summer sunsets! 

A beautiful, full moon one evening in July. 

This large, full moon in August truly looked like a "honey" moon to me.

I always enjoy the abundant fruits of summer such as: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, and peaches!   

Sliced strawberries with popcorn on a Sunday night! 

Rainer cherries are my favorite cherries! A rare treat. 

My mom had these hydrangeas that she purchased on our kitchen table recently! I absolutely loved them! A reminder to me that summer is still here. I’m glad. 

This summer, I planned on doing two projects. One project was taking down wallpaper in my bedroom and painting my room.  

The wallpaper that is in my room right now has been in there for exactly 20 years. (since 2002) I was 19 years old when my sister Cheri and I wallpapered our room. We had so much fun helping a friend of ours put it up! We were even more delighted when we found quilts (at JCPenny) that matched the wallpaper perfectly. 

In our previous homes, Michigan and California, we never had wallpaper in our bedrooms; we just had white walls. In our little home in Michigan, my parents could've done whatever they wanted because they owned that house. I guess they decided plain white walls worked well in the bedrooms. Because my parents rented our home in California, they were very limited on what they could do. We couldn't wallpaper there. When we moved to this house, my Dad became a homeowner again, and we could do whatever we wanted to our home. My mom was delighted! 

I remember telling my mom in my late teen years that, if I could have a wallpapered bedroom, I’d want it to look like an "Anne of Green Gables" room. When we found this wallpaper (through friends of ours here in Colorado) it was exactly what I had envisioned. The wallpaper was blue (my favorite color) and white striped with a small floral design going down the white stripe. My sister, who used to share a room with me, loved it as much as I did. We were so pleased with the finished result. It was everything I wanted in a wallpapered bedroom. God gave me my heart's desire. 

To this day, I still love my wallpapered bedroom. My mom loves it too and says that it’s her favorite room of the house. Since my sister no longer lives at home, I have my room all to myself, although her bed is still there (no pillow on it) for when she comes home to visit. 

My bedroom

After 20 years, I decided now would be a good time to take down my wallpaper. I needed a new quilt (my quilt is thread bare and has enormous holes in it!) and it can be difficult to to find a quilt that matches wallpaper. Paint is more versatile. 

I wanted to do it in summer while the weather is nice enough to air the room out while painting. It doesn't work as well to paint inside when it's really cold or hot outside and the house is shut up with the heat or air conditioning on. (neither one works well upstairs in my room anyway) That leaves a narrow window of time in the spring, summer, or fall when the weather is nice enough for the windows to be open. Late summer/early fall seemed like a good time to do it! 

 

In July, I went to a local Sherwin Williams paint store to look at paint colors. 

So many colors to choose from! 

I went to the far right, middle section. An ivory or light cream color paint is what I had in mind. I took along one of the tie backs from the curtains in my bedroom to help match the color I was looking for. I love the curtains in my room, and I wanted the paint to match them. With the help of an employee there, I found one that was exactly what I had in mind, a color they call ivory lace. 

Paint cards are fun! 

I took some paint color cards home, narrowing down my final decision to: Creamy or Ivory Lace. I decided on their Ivory Lace color. I wanted something soft, warm, and inviting. This color is also very versatile, I think. I even like the name they gave this paint color.  

Both colors went well with my curtain tie back. 

I now have two gallons of Sherwin Williams “Ivory Lace” paint in my bedroom, waiting to be used. 

To my delight, I found a new quilt online at Walmart (for just $40!) many months ago that was what I had in mind and will go very well with the paint color I chose. (this quilt could almost go with my wallpaper, but I'm ready for paint again) 

My other summer project was going to be sewing some new dresses - new jumpers to be specific. But rather than sewing, I've been browsing the internet all summer for a nice jumper pattern.    

Over the years, I've worn many different dress and jumper patterns. On rare occasions, I've worn a skirt, but I don't like elastic around my waist, so I don't usually wear skirts. I believe in dressing modestly, and I like clothing that is comfortable and flowing, so I wear dresses or jumpers. Jumpers are my favorite. They work well to slip on over a shirt or a blouse, but currently, I don't have a good jumper pattern. 

Occasionally, I'll find a jumper that I like in a store, but it’s rare. I love being able to sew my own. Fabric shopping is so fun too! (I like soft, sweet, gentle, small floral prints. I also love beauty and elegance. I don't like big, bold, bright prints and colors quite as much.) 

Thanks to some tips from a friend who is an excellent seamstress and is also excellent with patterns, I'm hoping to have a new jumper pattern soon so I can begin sewing! 

What I wanted to be a “summer” sewing project will likely turn out to be a “fall” sewing project instead, but that is okay. “To every thing there is a season...” Ecclesiastes 3:1 says. 

Each season is a gift from God. For now, I'm continuing to enjoy summer while it lasts.