THE TREE

9 Dec

“For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Matthew 25:35-36

After living my whole life in a large city, we moved to a small northern Arizona town, where houses sat on 1 acre lots, or larger. From stoplights every 2 streets, to 2 stoplights in the whole town. From helicopters and sirens all night long in the surrounding neighborhood, to a siren every few months, or less. It was a welcomed change, it was a time to slow down and enjoy life.

About 3 months later I had to make a business trip back to the city. It didn’t take much time to realize how quickly I had acclimated to small town life and how overwhelming the big city could be.

Highway travel with cars darting in and out, merging, volleying for position, and set on getting somewhere as fast as they could. I set my car in the direction I needed to go and focused completely on getting there. The feeling of being overwhelmed ceased, but the realization that in all this scattered and tempered movement, no one went anywhere quickly, at least not during rush hour.

After a long day’s work, I decided to try the inner city streets to get cross to the highway. It went rather smoothly across the city, until I had to take the major street that would connect me to the highway. I had no idea that the turn I was about to make would shock me.

The time I saved traveling across the inner city was lost in the creeping traffic of the main artery streets that crossed the city to accessed the highway; streets that business people travel night and day to get to the large corporations, legal offices and medical specialist complexes; where a large group of people become invisible to the eye of daily life. It was a group of people I knew existed, but I never “really” saw. A group of people that walked the streets where I had lived; slept in the parks where my children had played; there on that street lay the homeless.

It took moving away to see the pain and desolation of these displaced people, lying on bus-stop benches and along the sidewalks. Groups huddled closely to stay warm; people walking down the sidewalk moved from side to side to avoid the extended arms and outstretched legs of the sleeping. Commuting people stepped over dirty backpacks and encrusted duffle bags, people walked by, never making eye contact with those they stepped over.

I looked around at the other drivers, many were accustomed to this daily trek, with papers across the steering wheel, cell phones to their ears, paper bag dinners being consumed. They weren’t looking to the side. They weren’t seeing the people on the side. They had an agenda.

I cried out to God, asking why I had not seen these people before. Why did my heart break now, but not when I lived close enough to have done something? At one time these people represented a threat that I had to protect my children from – perhaps an unrealistic threat, yet one that seemed so real at the time. I had seen them as a group instead of individuals, each with a set of circumstances and events that placed them where they were, or encouraged them to choose this lifestyle.

I stopped at a convenience mart to get a cup of coffee and a snack; the homeless sat and lay all around the perimeter, some stood together near the building. One man, close to my age, stood near the door. I made my purchases and as I approached the door he opened it. He smiled a broad smile, teeth missing, in need of a bath, layered in clothes to break the cold. I smiled back and thanked him, he gestured back and went about his business.

I sat in the parking lot a long time, taking it all in. I was overwhelmed by the needs of these people; I was overwhelmed because there was nothing I could do. I felt hopelessness for them; I felt hopelessness for me. I was ashamed for not seeing the reality of life before my eyes in the 30 years I had lived in the area, 2 of those years less than a mile from where I was this day, 3 years in a similar area. Why hadn’t I seen?

I made my way back onto the street filled with creeping traffic. Tears filled my eyes, my heart broken. There were homeless on both sides of the street for miles. I asked Jesus to forgive me for the heart I had hardened toward these children of God. I began to pray and intercede for their lives, their health, their safety, and their salvation. I cried out to God to send laborers to the fields; fields cluttered with a hungry and dying group of people with no where to call home.

Night was falling quickly, as did the temperature. Blankets surrounded several to increase warmth. Their lives went on as usual, they as unaware of the travelers on the streets as the travelers were of them.

My last prayer was for God to show me that He was there, that these people were as important as I was. I needed to know that those lives were not wasted. I needed to regain the faith that God was in control, even in the dismal situations that lined these streets.

As I reached the freeway entrance and made my turn I spotted my answer on the very top of a cold dark sky-scrapper. On that January night, when all corporations had closed and the lights dimmed, there stood a Christmas tree, lights twinkling in the night sky, a bright white star at the very top. A small symbol of Christ and His birth – accidentally left turned on.

Jesus, never let me forget that we all start our lives as babies. We grow to face events and circumstances that guide our paths. Let me never forget that everyone born must have hope, true hope that could only come by knowing Christ. Let me be a bearer of the light to all I meet. Let me be the star at the top of a Christmas tree on a sky-scrapper on a cold dark night when someone looks up to find you.

By Linda J. Humes

Written 2-1-04

**The Emmaus Road”

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Prophecy Is A Living Word

8 Dec

“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:41-42 KJV

As I was in prayer this morning I was thinking about the prophetic words that I had been given over my Christian walk. Some I have copies of, some I have brief notes of what I could remember, and some are just a brief memory of something spoken a very long time ago.

During my recent move I came upon the front pages of my very first Bible, the one that disintegrated after a few years from being read and read and read and only having a paper cover with a glued binding. I thought I had kept the entire Bible, but I only found the front pages. The treasures of those years were encapsulated there; the date I dedicated my life to following Christ, the date I was baptized, the date I received the Holy Spirit, and four notes about prophetic words that I had been given during that period of time. What a precious gift of a time far past and quite faded in my memory.

I transferred the information into my big study Bible – the one with all the underlining, notes in the margins, sticky notes peeking out of the pages, the 10 book marks of special passages, the folded prayers stuffed between, and the pictures of my kids with prayers written on the back. Yes, that Bible. We all have one of those. That one thing that we always know where it is, just in case of a fire, because that will always be the one thing to surely to go out the door.

As I was talking to the Lord this morning I was pondering those old prophetic messages and the subject they discussed that I haven’t continued with over the last 10+ years. I wondered whether I had lost the chance for those words, spoken 30 years ago, to every possibly come to be now. Had I lost my chance with the passage of time. Had I lost my chance with tarnished skills? Had I let God down by not heeding what He had encouraged? Then Hebrews 4:12 came to me:

”For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 KJV

I asked God if the Prophetic Word was only for a season, or if I was truly receiving His word and His thoughts with the full intent of my heart, would it for a lifetime? For my lifetime? Or is it only for specific settings, for instance the setting it was given in, or does it adjust itself to whatever setting God has sent me into? I know that the words of the Prophet are given to them then the Holy Spirit fills their mouths with the words meant for the receiver. I know that the words of God are never null and void, but will accomplish the task given, IF the receiver will step forward in faith.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 KJV

It came to me that God’s Word, spoken by the prophets, are Living Words, intended to come into fruition. As long as the receiver will continue to believe those words spoken over them – they will remain alive. I am so thankful that we have a God who cares about us so deeply that He never tires of us asking and questioning and wanting to know the full truth of all that He has for us – if we will only ask.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3 KJV

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Written 12-8-2021

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Intercession to Destiny

25 Nov
16 Prayer Quotes — Quotes About Prayer

“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 (KJV)

How often do we wish we could glimpse into the mind of God to find out why events happen, if we’re on the right track, how long we must endure a trial, and if we’ve heard his voice correctly?

Esther lost her parents at a very young age and was sent to live with her cousin Mordecai, a Godly Jewish man who sat within the gate of the King.  Did Ester question God as to why she was orphaned?  Did she feel lost and small and useless?  Did she wonder if her life would ever amount to anything?  Did she wonder if she would ever have a husband and a family of her own?

Mordecai taught her all of the Jewish customs and behaviors befitting a proper young lady.  When Esther was called to the palace for preparation and training to be Queen, she kept her humility and honored her family and their customs.  Did she have any idea that she would be crowned as Queen?  Did she have any idea that one day the future of the Jewish nation rested on her decisions, words, and actions?

Esther, her very life at stake, challenged her family and servants to fast and pray.  In her hands, and the prayers of her people, not only rested her very life, but that of every Jew.  For 3 days Esther and her people sought God for wisdom, peace, correct timing, and the correct words to speak to the King.  Esther didn’t realize that this night was critical, not only every living Jew in the kingdom, but to the very lineage of Jesus. 

On a smaller scale, I think I can understand how she must have felt.  I recently lost my job of many, many years and everything in my life immediately changed.  It took me several months to find another job, four hours away from where we lived.  Our new journey began.  As my worldly security diminished, my spiritual security increased.  Now our daily needs could not be met by my own abilities, they were being met by God.  I had to completely rely on God and His will for my family and I.

Like Esther, I have questioned God about why I am here, at this place and time.  What plan could God have for me here?  What sort of destiny could I have in a small town of non-Christian believers?  How can God ever use me here?  What can God’s will be; did I miss it?

At the hands of a young maiden who was crowned Queen, Esther saved the Jewish nation and was able to initiate a decree that destroyed all of the enemies of the Jews in the kingdom.  I don’t know what my destiny is here, but if it involves the salvation of just one soul, then all of the turmoil and change will be worth it.

Thank You God, that You use weak and imperfect vessels to touch the lives of Your children.  Thank You for using me.

Written 11/23/2011

Little Lady, I See You

13 Oct

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 (KJV)

The perception of purity grieves me for a number of reasons, not only for the scriptural reasons, but for the women, young and old, caught up in the belief that they must adhere to an immoral cultural standard to be accepted and loved.

The problem really exploded in the 60’s with the Vietnam War. The youth believed that someone was going to drop “the bomb” and we were all going to die. I had friends who vowed never to marry or have children because we were “all going to die soon.” The Haight-Ashbury Park was constantly on TV; free sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll; party and do what “feels good.” Thank goodness I didn’t get caught up in that culture.

I recognize that purity has been a problem since the beginning of time, if it hadn’t been it wouldn’t have been mentioned in the Bible. However, I suspect that with today’s media, our young people are bombarded and confused about what is morally right and acceptable.

In the last 5 years I’ve found it nearly impossible to find reasonably priced clothing in a modest style. Low cut tops and high midriffs, with tight low-cut pants, sends a sexual message, intended or not, that the wearer is available. After clothing stimulation are the TV shows where it is normal to have sex after a casual meeting with music in the background playing “I want to sex you up.” No wonder people are confused.

The culture doesn’t just affect the secular world, the children raised in church face the same issues. We teach them good values and then they have to live in a world where they look so out of norm. Kids tell them they are freaks and if they have to dress that way they don’t want to be Christians. Our kids feel caught between 2 worlds and most gravitate toward their peers.

When a person does step out of the secular world and comes to church, giving their heart to Jesus, a new dilemma arises – condemnation! What was acceptable clothing and behavior outside the church is an offense inside the church and they are torn between the pain of the world and the condemnation of the church.

Before we can teach a person about honor, strength, wisdom, commitment to Christ, fruitful lives and Christ-like intimacy, we have to help them understand who they are in Christ and the preciousness God sees in them. Until they realize that they are accepted, they will not be willing to change their lifestyles.

If the women and men of the church could encourage them in some area of their life, then they will work harder in that encouraged area and the Holy Spirit will work inside of them. The church can’t expect overnight change, they didn’t get where they are in a day and they won’t get out in a day. The more we encourage and spend time with them, the more they will want to model our walk and leave worldly behaviors behind. It takes the older, spiritually mature women, to guide the younger women in the right path; same with the spiritually mature men and young men. Love and respect will be the catalyst for true and continued growth.

The key for the church is mentoring, consistency and love. Once modesty is understood, the other areas will fall into place. You can’t teach honor, wisdom, spiritual strength or a fruitful life, but you can model it. If church representatives dress seductively, the newcomers will become confused and leave. If leadership doesn’t set boundaries for worship teams and platform attire, how can we expect the congregation to be modest? People will follow the area of your life that they see honors Christ. They will want the peace and the joy you have and will see how you attain it. They will read stories in the Bible and see how change in people’s lives brought about a change in the world. They will want to make a difference too. We teach by our walk, our love, our encouragement, just like Jesus did with His disciples. That’s an okay thing; maybe that’s the PERFECT thing.

Father God, please always let me see the person inside, and not what is hanging on the outside. Let me see others with Your eyes.

Written 3-11-2010 / Published 10-13-2021

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When Your World Stands Still

26 Jul
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After retiring, and then developing a debilitating chronic illness, I realized how very difficult it was to continue any sort of a “normal life”. When you spend 50 years up at 6am, off to work by 7am, home by 6pm, meals to prepare, chores to do, kids to help, events to plan, meetings to prepare for, go, go, go, go – and then all of the sudden – STOP – you get lost. You lose your purpose. You don’t know why you are alive anymore. You fall into depression.

This article is about how to continue to feel useful. It’s about how to make purpose out of your non-working life. It’s about realizing how very important your days, hours, minutes and seconds are; not just to you, but to so many other people who have been waiting for someone like you, someone who cares.

After I recognized how to pull myself out of the “why should I even get out of bed” syndrome I noticed that I wasn’t the only “mover and shaker” lost in the transition. Not everyone was a retired person, some were people who had lost jobs, graduated from college and didn’t have something to shift into right away, became ill, or had children and chose to stay home to care for them. Each battled an “importance” in their lives that had to be developed by retraining what was REQUIRED of them, to what was NECESSARY for them to feel their value.

This is a list of things that helped me, and I hope will help you, to restart your time clock to your new “normal”. These steps will help you find focus, purpose, and a new way of seeing your value. I encourage you to take the time to read and consider these suggestions.

How Do I Get My Life Back:

  • Set your alarm – get up by ______. It doesn’t have to be 6am anymore, but it has to be a time that you are accountable to adhering too. I found that I was usually awake early by habit because of my years of working, so I made that automatic wake up time my alarm time. Laying in bed leads to overthinking and depression.
  • Make your bed. Once your bed is made it is harder to just climb back in and lay there thinking about what used to be. Make it and walk out of the room. Go have coffee at the kitchen table or in the living room; anywhere but the bedroom.
  • Change out of your pajamas. It is so easy to live for days in those soft wonderful PJs, but it is hard to not think of returning to bed or vegging on the sofa when you are wearing them! Get dressed. Wear something that you would wear if you were heading to town. Start your day with deliberate anticipation.
  • Eat breakfast by _____. Just like when you worked away from home, you need that most important meal of the day – Breakfast!! Get up and eat. You will feel more determined when you are ready for anything that may come. A good breakfast will give you the energy and soundness of mind to tackle whatever chore you have placed on your calendar.
  • Computer time. It’s great to get on the computer and connect with folks from far and near, but it isn’t okay to spend all day surfing memes and accomplishing nothing! Determine a time for social media. Determine a time for research. Determine a time for game playing. Determine a time to turn the computer off. The computer is a tool that can become an addiction if not monitored carefully. You are the only one who knows what is a healthy time and what is not. You may be on the computer more than others if you have decided to write a book, or research a whole new area, or ???? But you need to decide what is enough and set a healthy boundary.
  • Contact and encourage people in their best way. Each person relates to other people in different ways, and each of your friends relates to you in different ways. I was homebound, not allowed to be around people for many years (immune system problems), and I had little to no phone service. The best way to stay in touch with me was to email or text me. Each of your friends have a different preference, be sure to reach out in the way that they relate to the best. You don’t have to contact people every day, but find a day (or days) of the week dedicated to reaching out. I have several people that I text every day, first thing in the morning, to encourage them. Some people I will send a note, or an email of interest, or a snail mail letter as often as once a week, or as rare as once a month.
    • Email
    • Text
    • Messenger
    • Phone call
    • Visit in person
    • Mail a card or a letter
  • Eat lunch by _____. Don’t let the day go by and realize that you have forgot to eat because the folks you usually ate lunch with aren’t there. Make an actual lunch, not just a handful of chips!! Make a lunch date once every week or two, nothing better than spending 45 minutes to an hour visiting with a friend over a meal. I have found that setting alarms in my phone for stopping for a meal, or exercise, or ??, truly helps.
  • Read – Write – Study. Set a time for yourself to accomplish these areas and write what you have accomplished in a calendar or journal. Don’t rely on your memory to keep track of everything, there are just too many distractions in a day. Write it down and every once in a while, go back and see what you have accomplished.
  • Learn something new every day. Doesn’t matter what it is, it keeps your mind young and your memory strong. It could be as simple as the color of a particular flower, to a process of accomplishing a chore, or to the history of the American WWII fighter pilots. Write it down!!
  • Volunteer at least once a week at a non-profit or church. You have valuable skills that others need. There are so many agencies that need help and so few volunteers. You age isn’t usually an issue, it’s the helpful attitude that makes the big difference.
    • Animal shelters need people to love on animals, take them for walks, give them a bath, even read stories to them.
    • Senior Centers often have kitchens where you can prepare meals, deliver meals, cook, or wash dishes. They also generally have a thrift shop where you can help sort items and price them for sale.
    • Libraries have story hours and are always looking for people to read to the children.
    • Men’s and Women’s shelters need people to help clean, encourage, and research for resources for the people in their care.
    • Food banks always need volunteers to stock shelves, fill food boxes, deliver to the shut ins, and pick up special donations.
    • Churches always need people to help clean and prepare the rooms for classes, services, and special projects in the community.
    • Many companies have on staff Chaplains that are volunteers. They help with employees experiencing life changing events.
    • Hospitals have needs for volunteers to help patients get to their area of care. Directing people, pushing wheelchairs, comforting a spouse or child dealing with very difficult emotions from the loss of a loved one.
  • Eat dinner by _____. Just like when you worked, dinner is the “end of the day meal” that makes the break from “Work” to “Pleasure”! Set the table, make a full meal, sit down, take the time to relax and reflect on your day, just like you have always done. Don’t grab something cold out of the refrigerator and hang over the kitchen sink to eat it. You are more important than that. You deserve the extra time for a favorite meal with soft music and candle on the table. Set a time – not just whenever!!
  • Visit others. Remember when you wished you had the time to go visit a relative far away, but you never did? Schedule a time. Make plans and have an agenda for when you get there. Pick up those travel brochures for the area they are in and make plans to visit a number of sites each day. Make it a special event, not just a drive by, say “Hello!” and off again. Make it special.
  • Take a class. What have you always wanted to learn but never had the time to go to a class to learn it? Drawing, painting, a foreign language, auto mechanics, computer skills, gardening, animal husbandry, so many other subjects are out there to choose from. Go online and find where they offer those sorts of classes. It could be a college, a library, a business that offers evening classes, it could be online classes. There are so many options. The more you challenge your mind, the younger it stays.
  • Start a hobby you always wanted to try. Wow, that’s such a huge base, I wouldn’t even know what to suggest. In my case I wasn’t allowed to exert myself, so I started to watercolor. I tossed a whole lot of paintings in the trash at first, but now I actually sell some! I learned from online tutorials and purchasing my supplies online that were delivered to my door. If you really want to do something, you will find a way to make it happen.
  • It’s ok to watch TV, as long as it isn’t taking over your day. Set a boundary for yourself for normal day viewing. There are always those stormy weekends when you want to curl up in a soft blanket and binge watch something. That’s okay, as long as it isn’t every day. I don’t turn my TV on until after 6pm. It keeps me from losing focus on what I have set for my daily practices to keep myself strong mentally and physically.
  • Go to the library, museum, bookstore, and/or school. I always wished that I had more time to go to these places. Grab out your calendar and plan a day a month, or a week, to go enjoy. Learn as you explore. Journal what you found and how you felt when you were there.
  • Invite friends and family over to play board games. Pop the popcorn, make the Kool aide, clear the table, get ready for a few hours of laughter and challenges. I have found the greatest joy in board games. Everyone just becomes themselves – vulnerable and silly!!
  • Invite folks over for a meal. If you think that you are the only one who wishes that they had someone else to talk to for a bit, you are sadly mistaken. Many wonderful friendships have developed over a hamburger and French fries!! Having people to your home requires planning, setting up, and preparation. If you can only invite one person because of financial constraints, then just invite one, or you could organize a monthly potluck where everyone brings something. The more the merrier! Provide the place for people to gather. You will be surprised at how many people are looking for others to spend time with, just like you.
  • Meet a friend for coffee. If you don’t have a local friend, make a new friend at a coffee shop, or a safe place. It may be brief, or it could start out as a short visit that turns into a life changing event. Offering encouragement or listening to someone going through a difficult time is such a blessing for both of you. You may be listening this time, but next time you may be the person who needs a listening ear.
  • Bake a dessert for a family or someone who is shut in. This is something that has almost been lost over the generations. I remember when I was a child that people would bring us a dessert when we moved into a neighborhood, or when one of the family took ill. It doesn’t take much time to bake something, and if you aren’t skilled in that area, there are lots of desserts to choose from at the grocery store. The important thing is that people will realize that you care and are willing to be there for them when they feel so alone. What better feeling is there than that.
  • Send cards and letters to folks who mean something to you, or even a stranger that someone has made you aware of that is going through a difficult time. The years of Birthday Cards and Christmas Cards through snail mail are almost gone. I paint cards for people to say thank you, bless them in an event, or just to let them know that I am thinking of them. I always receive a wonderful response, it blesses me as much as it does them.
  • Start a blog. It isn’t that hard and there are folks who can help you get it going. Share your story. Your story may seem unique to you, but you will be blessed and surprised at the responses you get from others who are going through the same or similar situations. Share the wisdom you have developed over the years. Teach through your blog. Encourage through your blog. Offer questions of intrigue on your blog.
  • Write a book. It isn’t as hard as you think. It could start with your blog, then compiling the blogs into a format that others would enjoy. You could probably take a class that could help you develop the skills to share the story that has been in the back of your mind for years and years. It could be a paper book or an eBook or a coloring book or a children’s book or a book of your photos or illustrations. But it will never exist until you take the time to sit down and write out an outline and then fill in the gaps with the journey and characters and unique storyline that only you can share.
  • Plant a garden and can the overflow. I love gardening and have always had something growing. At some of my homes it was small. At some of my homes the plants grew so well that I had to give away fruits and vegetables, and in a few places I was able to can my fruits and vegetables for sale and storage.
  • Raise chickens and ducks and sell the eggs. This is one of my favorite things to do. Those little lives all have their own little personalities and quirks! Plus, I made a good income from the sale of fresh cage-free eggs. Double benefit!!
  • Find something you are interested in and learn everything you can about it. Visit it, write about it, teach about it. Find your passion. I know that I have repeated this several times in this article, but it is critically important. What makes you excited to get up for? How can you share and teach that excitement to others? You used to HAVE to get up, now you need to find something that makes you WANT to get up. What is it???
  • Drive to a lake to reflect and journal. I love doing this. Just finding a place of peace to review where I am in life, how it relates to where I have been and where I want to be. Journal your thoughts.
  • Go on a hike. The time it takes you walk has so many benefits. Physically it helps you stay in shape and strengthen your lungs and heart. Mentally you reflect on what you are seeing, how it relates to where you are in life, where you can go to build on the desires you have had, but never had time to do before.
  • Find an accountability partner. This is the best thing that I have ever done. Someone who keeps you accountable to the things in life you want to accomplish, and those that you don’t want to fall back into. Your accountability partner could be the person you have lunch with, coffee with, invite over for dinner, or email when things get tough. It is someone that you trust with your dreams and your failures. It is someone that you give permission to correct you, or encourage you, or turn you around when you are heading in the wrong direction. My closest friends and family are my accountability partners, but who you choose depends on your personality and who you feel safest speaking too. It could also be a counselor or a priest.
  • Join a gym. You definitely need an accountability partner here! Someone to challenge you and make sure that you don’t skip out on your scheduled time to exercise and grow. Plus, we all feel so much better after getting a good workout. Warning – it could result in the purchasing of a new wardrobe! Nothing wrong with that!!
  • Find a group to join that meets at least once a week. Find a subject that you want to know more about and find a group that meets about it. You will find people of like minds in subjects that you can share your expertise in and that you can learn from. What a better way to make new friends with your same interests and desires.

I hope this writing has encouraged you to take control of your life when things around you seem to be crashing down. You can make the changes you need to find your purpose once again. You can make the change to start a new career, or begin a new endeavour that you never had the time to begin before. You can find a reason to get out of bed every morning with enthusiasm for what you are about to encounter and learn. I believe in you, believe in yourself.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences about your journey to your “New Normal”.

—

By Linda J Humes

written 1-2-2021 Republished 7-26-2021

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The Evil In Man

20 Jul
Ram's Head

“The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.”     Deuteronomy 28:43 (KJV)

There is a common saying, “The eyes are the window to the soul,” and it is absolutely true.  A lot can be seen spiritually and emotionally when looking intently into the eyes of another. God gives us glimpses of the depth of a person’s weakness, pain and spirit. Every once in a while God takes us a step past the eyes and He shows us the demons that torment.

I remember, so vividly, the first time I saw the demon that controlled my father.  My grandparents had come to visit and as we children went off toward bed the adults left the house.  Not long after a storm kicked up, a strong desert wind storm.

I was 9 years old; my brother would have been 7, my sister 3, and the baby just a few months old.  When the storm kicked up the electricity went off and all of us kids drew together in the bedroom that I shared with the baby.  My brother and sister huddled against the wall as I rocked the baby in the rocking chair.  Within the howling wind we heard a loud “crack” and a main branch broke off of the tree at the back of the house.  My brother and sister were crying and holding each other as I did my best to quiet the baby.

Just a short time after I heard a tapping on my bedroom window and my name being called, “Linda, Linda, open the door.”  The voice was that of my father, but when I pulled the curtain back what I saw terrified me.  Instead of my father’s face I saw the head of a Ram with glowing red eyes on a very large body of a man.  Its lips were moving as I heard my father’s voice again, angry.  “Linda, open the door.”

I screamed and ran across the room, all 4 of us huddled against the wall crying.  This repeated with my father’s voice becoming more and more agitated.  Then I heard the voice of my grandfather, “Linda, it’s grandpa, we forgot the key, open the front door and let us in.”

I ran to the window and opened the curtain.  There was the face of my grandfather, always kind and gentle.  I laid the baby in his crib and ran to the front door, unlocking it.  In came my family, drenched from the rain.  My father was still very angry that I had delayed, but the creature I had seen in the window was gone.

I don’t know why God shows us the evil inside of others.  I don’t know why we see it at some times and not others.  I don’t know why some people can see the evil and others cannot.  I don’t understand how some people can stand up to evil and quench it with a few spoken words and the voice of authority.  I don’t understand why people are drawn toward evil and wicked ways more than they are drawn to the church and the laws of God, when the true power lies in the authority of scripture and death is in the path of evil.

I really don’t understand it all, but I know it is real; I have seen it myself.  I do understand that we are called to do greater things than Jesus did in His time on earth.  I do understand the authority we are given if we will draw close to God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  I do know that we were given the ability to stand up to the sort of evil that torments a young man to the extent that he would walk into a school and kill 26 people, mostly young children.

Spiritual warfare can turn the evil before the demonic becomes so strong in a person’s life that they no longer hold life precious – their own life or the life of another.  We must fight the Spiritual battle for the souls of the hurting before the soul is eternally lost.

This generation is the generation of Spiritual Warriors.  A Warrior can only fight if they have the tools and they know how to use them.  Jesus commanded us to teach – help me to teach these Warriors who they are and what authority they can possess.  Help me to teach them to fight for the lost soul, the innocent children, and the evil that desires to destroy everything in its path.  Please, help me.

“Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:”   – Psalms 144:1 (KJV)

By Linda J. Humes

Written 1-1-2013

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What Are You Going To Do About It?

12 Jul

Well, Did You?

Revisited 7-12-2021

So, I am going to share a little of my point of view. Folks are sharing posts saying that they believe the Rapture is almost here – I disagree. I firmly believe Genesis 50:20 –

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Yes, these times have been hard and even a bit unfair – but God!!

  • How many times in years past have you said that you wished your family was all together for meals? Able to spend time together playing games and just talking? This gave you that opportunity – did you take it?
  • How many times have you prayed to God for more time to pray, seek, read the Bible and study? This gave you that opportunity – did you take it?
  • How many times did you say that you wished you had time to try new recipes or start canning or make a bunch of different sorts of desserts? This gave you that opportunity – did you take it?
  • How many times have you said (or thought) that you wish you had more time to connect with distant family and friends – send a card, send a letter, start a texting conversation? This gave you that opportunity – did you take it?
  • How many times did you wish that you had time to start a backyard garden or re-pot house plants or start a new hobby that you have always wanted to start? This gave you that opportunity – did you take it?

I understand the oppression and depression that has come with this time of our lives, I really do – I fell right in with everyone else. I had to stop watching the news on TV. I had to block pages on my FB that was FB spamming all sorts of negative things. I had to tell myself to get out of bed and make a difference in this chaos!

What can YOU do? Get out a piece of paper. Make a list of all of the things that you wished you could have done in the past, but never had the time to do.

  • If you don’t have the supplies for some of the, post a note on FB or the Online Yard Sales for supplies for – for instance – painting. Make a note that you needs inexpensive supplies – I bet folks will send them to you for free or for very little. You would be surprised at the number of people who will step up along side you – because – well – they are in the same pandemic as you !! Also, the dollar stores always have a small section of crafting supplies for really cheap – then as you get better you won’t mind spending a little extra on good supplies.
  • Send an encouraging email – or MEME on FB – or a text message to someone every day! Doesn’t have to be the same person, just pray and see who God puts on your heart.
  • Read a new book – lots of your friends will give you suggestions of great books to read, I have seen it over and over again lately.
  • Bake that dessert!! YUM.
  • Google a recipe for something you have always wanted to try – you will get a dozen hits! Read through to the ones that find your fancy and give it a shot.
  • Build that tent fort in the living room and gather the family for story time or desserts or old fashioned kids songs or ??? Well, just take a nap!!
  • Get that Bible out and a good Bible Study (hundreds are online) and a good “read the Bible in an year plan” – And Get Started!!
  • Your Turn: Put suggestions in the comments below – be “G rated” please.

What are you waiting for? What if you find out that there are actually wonderful things you can do while locked in at home. Yes, it is scary at times. Yes, financial burdens can be overwhelming. Yes, it isn’t always fun being alone.

SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?!?!?!?!

I am praying blessing over you. I am praying an enhanced imagination over you. I am praying peace over you. I am saying “Seize the time!” Refuse to live in fear. Refuse to live in depression. Refuse to live in oppression. Make every day count.

—–

Original Written 7-12-2020

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Musings From A Princess Bed

6 Jul

I was awakened by a bright light coming through the curtains. It was the moon, brighter than I had ever seen before. 4:00 AM!

“Good Morning Lord! Speak to me, why have you awakened me with the moon?”

“It’s time to write My daughter,” He said.

We shared a sweet time of prayer and reflection. I walked outside, the scripture echoed inside of me, “To him that made great lights: for His mercy endureth forever. The sun to rule by day: for His mercy endureth forever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for His mercy endureth forever:” Psalm 136:7-9

His Mercy Endureth Forever!! Selah!!

 We all begin new journeys. Some journeys are amazing. Some journeys are enlightening. Some journeys are very difficult. All journeys help us grow, in one way or another. We can grow spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and (ahem!) physically!! And some journeys are . . . well . . . adventures in disguise!!

I have been on so many journeys in my lifetime. I like to believe that we all begin a new journey every year on our birthday, those are the journeys of home and growth, entwined with dreams and planning for the future. But then there are those journeys that sort of begin without warning and take you to places that test you to the very core. I started one of those journeys several months ago; walk with me for a while!

The Journey Begins

I sold my home in Snowflake, AZ in March of 2021. I felt that I had received a fair price for my home, I had taken very good care of it and it was on a nice piece of land. I had to rehome some of my farm animals; I won’t kid you, that was very hard. I had all of the possessions at my home moved to Chino Valley, AZ where I planned to purchase another home and settle into the last home I will purchase (Note: I told myself that on the last 2 purchases too). What I didn’t understand was that the homes in Snowflake were much less expensive than the homes in Chino Valley and surrounding cities, and to purchase a home here of the quality I had there would be $100,000 more than I received for my home there. 

I hadn’t found a home to purchase before I left Snowflake and there weren’t any meeting my needs up for sale. My time was fast approaching to leave my home in Snowflake and go . . . where??  I posted on Facebook and asked everyone in the area to keep their eyes open for me as I was soon going to be in quite a predicament with 4 dogs and a 20 pound cat and only my van to stay in.  All my possessions were in 2 storage lockers, one in Chino Valley and one in Snowflake. 

A dear friend contacted me and said that I could stay with her. I kept reminding her of my fur family and she said it was okay. As the days approached I would text her every day and ask again if it was ok, the answer was always yes. I really don’t think she understood exactly what she was getting into. All of my animals are rescues and very nervous with change and new people. They sleep as close as they can get to me and never leave my side during the day.  Thankfully, since they have all been in shelters and around a lot of other animals they were good with the new environment and the additional cats and dogs when I arrived. What a blessing that was. 

My new temporary home was a 10’ x 10’ bedroom, minus a door. There was plenty of room for the floor blankets and suitcases and 2 pet carriers. The interesting part of the room was that the only bed was a princess bed. Yep, hand built by the lady of the house for her young daughter. This princess bed was to be my place of rest for the next several months. 

I learned a lot while sleeping in that bed! Let me share some of those “Musings” with you. Place yourself in that setting and smile with me on this journey.

The Unique Qualities of Sleeping in a Princess Bed!!

There is a definite stacking order when getting fitted into the princess bed. Largest participant should be first (that’s me), then the next sized participant (that’s my 20 lb cat), and then the smallest – my little 4 pound dog, Joseph Moses! He often gets moved around until we all fit like puzzle pieces, and once installed NO ONE MOVES;mostly because we don’t want to squish Joseph Moses. There are railings all the way around the Princess bed and there isn’t any chance of anyone falling out! I guess that’s good – right?? Poor Joe.  **sigh**

When you have dogs they always want to be right next to you – when you eat, when you watch a movie, when you write and especially when you sleep. It is complicated enough to get out of a princess bed at my age, let alone have the only exit blocked by 3-4 dogs at any given time! **sigh**  All Princess Beds should come with servants to help you get in and out!

I think I need a big Princess hat (the pointy one with tulle dangling) and Princess shoes (the ones with the curled up toes)! Wait! Uummm, maybe not – Scratch that!!

When you climb into a princess bed you can feel every bruise, scratch and “ouchie” on your hands, wrists and knees. Being the graceful grandma that I am, face-planting is not unusual! I have lots of experience in yipping “ouch” with every inch across the bed to the top. **sigh**  I think I need to consider a bubble-wrap suit.

Pain is still pain in a Princess bed. It isn’t better, it isn’t worse, it just is. Physical, emotional or psychological pain doesn’t give way to how fancy your bed is, it just doesn’t. I guess that’s just for the fairytales!

I have discovered that trying to sleep with all those pillows in the corner of the Princess bed is not as easy as it seems it might be. I start out on top of all the pillows and end up underneath them all. Not sure what happens in the middle of the night to end up with that result. I generally wake up early in the morning (blame the dogs dancing around) with a Trump hairdo!! Yay! Actually, he wears it much better than I do. **sigh**

I went to get my haircut so it would actually look nice and found out that all hair cutting personnel are not created equal!! In this area of the world it took 2 different hair stylists and 3 tries, to attempt to make something of my mop. The first one did such a bad job that the second one threw up her hands after a half hour and said “That’s the best I can do!” Note to self, may be time to look into wigs for such a time as this!!  **sigh**  I am definitely not princess material!!

Dreams don’t change in a Princess bed. You don’t dream of Knights or castles or dragons, or even of a handsome prince. You still have the crazy dreams you always had that rarely made sense. But, if you blame it on the bed others will likely nod in agreement, because, most likely, they don’t have anything to compare it to. I guess that can be good! Right?

There’s a silver cherub face glued to the wall opposite the wall with the Princess bed. It appears to be blowing silver stars across the wall. If you shine a flashlight on it in the dark it reflects up and the stars glow on the ceiling. That makes me smile every time. Why do I have a flashlight in bed? Because the light switch is on the same side of the room as the cherub face. **sigh**

If you think changing sheets on a regular bed is a pain, try changing sheets on a Princess bed where the mattress is wedged in so tight that you have to really manipulate the sheet to get it to go between the rails and the mattress. Consequently most of the sheet and covers lay on top of the mattress and on those “toss and turn” nights (everyone must turn in unison) all the covers end up in a big pile in the middle of the bed. Poor Joe – he’s usually at the bottom of the pile somewhere.

Must I even bring up the issues of drinking too much water before bed and having to get up and visit the “facility” in the middle of the night?!?!?! **sigh**  I didn’t think so.

One nice thing about sleeping in a Princess bed is that you actually have 2 roofs over your head! So in the event that we ever get rain (it is Arizona after all) and it leaks through the first roof, I have a little more protection! Maybe. HHHmmmm????

Getting in and out of a Princess bed is the biggest challenge of sleeping in one. There are 2 possible methods: Crawling across on your hands and knees and scooting across on your behind. Crawling can be hard at this age, but scooting can be quite embarrassing if you aren’t careful (literally). I generally crawl. Enough said!

Shiloh, my biggest dog (130 pounds) has always awakened me by licking my toes, which generally stick out at the end of the covers. One morning was quite cold and I had pulled up into a ball to stay warm under the covers. Shiloh “had to go!” What’s a dog to do??? In she hopped and started digging in the covers to find my toes! Nothing like slimy toes at 4 in the morning. UUGGHH!! Plus a quick retreat to the yard to solve the original issue. Really looking forward to a yard with a fence and a gate! **sigh**

Sleeping in a Princess bed doesn’t automatically make you a Princess. If it did I would have control of the Mariachi music playing at 2am almost every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If it did I wouldn’t have to do a daily pooper scoop of the dog doo!! If it did I wouldn’t have to do any chores. No, sleeping in a Princess bed definitely doesn’t make you a Princess. I still think it should come servants. 

What do I love about sleeping in a Princess bed? I get to be close to my dear friends. I get to look for my new home in person instead of online. I have a place to live and have all of my dogs and Cat (that’s his name – Cat) with me. And most of all, I get to attend a church that I have missed so much for 10 years and it is still so on fire for Jesus that you can almost see the flames on top of the church building. And that makes sleeping in a Princess bed all worthwhile.

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MARCH FORTH

18 May

By Tim Farmer

 “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”  Zechariah 2:13

                        March 4th?                  March 4th!!                  March Forth???

I sat down in my usual spot on the sofa in the light of the morning sunrise thanking God for another glorious day. I was sitting still, pausing to let the sunlight warm my face before opening my daily devotional.  I remembered that Mario Murillo sent out an online invitation to the pastors of California to attend a lunch he was hosting in Manteca, California on March 4th. Today. The event was to pray, heal and encourage the pastors to reopen all of the churches in the state. The response to his invitation was amazing. Instead of a hundred or so, as Mario had anticipated, over a thousand pastors had responded.  I prayed that God would provide all that they would need to make the lunch a success. I thought about how interesting it was that the event was happening on March 4th.  Was that intentional?   There are no accidents.

Many of us have been praying, in hopeful expectation, that today would be a day of a great event in Washington, DC involving our Presidential leaders.  We shall see.  I finished my prayer for the pastors lunch and sat in silence again in the bright sunlight.  This is my daily quiet time with God. Silence. Today’s date was repeated in my mind.  Once. “March 4th.” Silence. I waited. I am learning patience. Then the thought struck me, it wasn’t the date I was hearing, that still small voice was saying “March forth.”

Recently I have been wrestling with my being a disciple. How could I best share my faith and help others to know Jesus?  It was easier 30 years ago when Janet and I were newlyweds and active members of the local Presbyterian Church.  Still energetic in our early 40’s we were involved with several popular ministries at the church.  Janet’s servant heart and smile could light up a room. She was my great encourager, advocate and nudger. She quickly taught me to be courageous with my faith.  

Janet was fearless.  Everyone loved her.  Sadly, Janet went home to be with Jesus early in 2018.  The last few years of Janet’s life were very difficult. Chronic pain in many areas of her body made it difficult to sit in church.  She stopped attending.  After a while I attended less as her condition became worse, then I became a “sometimer.” To say I miss her is an understatement. Now, I believe she shines brighter in Heaven than she did on earth.  

While making plans for her memorial with our senior pastor,  I made a promise to return to Sunday worship.  Even though I aimed the promise at my pastor, it was really to my Lord and Savior. 

Fast forward to 2020 and Covid-19.  Just before the quarantine began, I had started weekly sessions with a Christian counselor in Pasadena to help me in coping with depression and Janet’s  passing.  Before the second session the quarantine went into effect, so our sessions were on Zoom.  Attending church and bible study were also conducted on Zoom.  Better than nothing, however the fellowship is not the same. 

The tender greetings and the hugs of encouragement were gone.  But God found a way.   Not being able to go to work actually became a blessing. A huge blessing. This alone time gave me the desire to be in the Word, study the Bible, connect with old friends on social media, and fellowship with Believers.

My mid-week Bible study was helping boost my confidence, as was my alone time with the Lord in the mornings. During the days I couldn’t get motivated.  Tired and frustrated with myself I became lazy and watched too much TV. 

November of last year I turned 70.  I have had a very active lifestyle during my adult years but being static during the lockdown has added to new physical issues. My motor skills were declining. What had been easy was now difficult. Alone, without Janet, I have become less confident in my actions. I am too worried about making mistakes.  I feel ill equipped for the many tasks that used to be second nature to me. The idea and responsibility of discipleship seems daunting, overwhelming, and unreachable.  It has been hard enough trying to get through each day. I needed motivation, accountability, a task, a project to build, something! Then a friend called.  She needed a special box built, something small that could hold a Laptop, and a way for it to adjust to different heights.

After the call ended I thought it would be a fun little project. I knew the materials I needed were at work.  All I had to do was start; and I did. Less than a week went by, still incomplete but usable. I took it to my friend’s apartment, so that she could try it out and see if there were any improvements that I might need to add. She ended up keeping the box for two weeks, it was working great! I went over to pick it up and brought it back to the shop.  All I had to do was add some handles and put a clear finish on it, then return it.  She was very happy.  So was I.    

Those few hours working on that little box gave me a purpose. I prayed about that purpose for days. Several other projects popped up that I was able to complete. The old juices were flowing.  My  friend Ken would say, “Tim, you’re in the flow.”  But I recognized something different about this; Jesus was in it.  He was always there but my eyes were now open to see it.  And, this morning my ears had opened to hear Him again -“March forth.”

My devotional book belonged to Janet. I use it every morning and treasure the little notes that she had written along the edges of the pages. Today’s devotion had two scripture references, the first was Luke 12:25-26.  In my rush to get to the passage in my bible I started reading at Luke 11:5, then realizing my mistake I decided to read both chapters in sequence.  The teaching of Jesus in these chapters had greater significance for me than ever before.  After reading it again I believe that “March forth” was my special encouragement from God. It was for me to step out in faith; to stop being fearful of making a mistake or looking the fool.  It might even be a trumpet call to the masses.  I don’t know for sure, but I am certain it is mine.  

Perhaps I am to join with those better equipped than I as they “March forth.”  There may never be a more important time in history to do exactly that. It is time for me to step up, join the battle line and become a soldier for Christ.

I treasure the time Janet and I spent together.  Our meeting was a miracle unto itself,  but that is another story.  I know we will be together again. Love lasts forever. Today I will March Forth for both of us.

MARCH FORTH and ALL GLORY BE TO GOD.

March Forth!  How Great Thou Art Lord!

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Tolstoy Would Be Happy

24 Apr

By Linda Halfpop – Guest Writer

“The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.” Proverbs 19:8

The other day during ELA class, we were having what we call a Jigsaw interaction with the students where they break into groups and collaborate their work. This particular exercise was to tell each other about a true story they each had just read in short story form. This is how students learn to comprehend what they are reading and then explain or summarize it to others. Each participant had different stories so they were not explaining the same story to their group.

While roaming the room and listening intently to their conversation, I happened upon a book on one of the desks. It was “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy. I stopped in mid-walk and picked it up, “Who is reading this?” I asked. One girl raised her hand and all I could do was look at her. I probably should have genuflected!

These are 6th graders, not high school or college students. This particular book is required reading in at least high school or college. I read it as a junior in high school…all 1,225 pages that I agonized through one summer.

I walked over to this child and proceeded to interview her:

Me: “You really are reading this?”

Student: “Yes, Mrs. Halfpop.”

Me: “Have you read ‘Anna Karenina or Crime and Punishment’ “?

Student: “No, not yet, but they are on my list.”

Me: “Sweetheart are you aware these are usually required reading in at least high school level?”

Student: “Yes Mrs. Halfpop, I wanted to get ahead of it so that I would have a start once I reach high school.”

Me: “Okay, might I suggest you google the summary of this book first so that you can follow along with the storyline since it involves 5 families and over 580 characters that populate this story.”

Student: “Yes, I know, it’s the second time around that I am reading it.”

Note: This book has been called “One of Humanities greatest Treasures”, and involves 5 families against a background of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. This is heavy reading. This child is in 6th grade…

Don’t let anyone tell you that the present generation is not up to par or able to do great things in their future. I am surrounded by tiny Einstein’s and enjoying every moment of it!

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