Tag Archives: Arizona

Crumbs

3 Oct


And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.   Matthew 15:27

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Living in rural Arizona you see a lot of amazing sights. We frequently come face to face with antelope; I give them the right of way! We have wild flowers that take over barren fields. Chickens, cows, sheep, goats and horses fill the yards as we travel around town. It’s a quiet place, a place to slow down and breathe; a place of reflection.

Working in the city is such a contrast to the area where I live; life is so fast paced. There are different types of survival means in the city, overcrowding, people losing homes, scarcity of food and yet the only portion you can really see are where the homeless line the streets. Survival instincts of the animals in the country seem clearer and easier to recognize, perhaps because of the wide open spaces of the country. Coyotes and mountain lions come closer to the farms when the food is scarce. I find myself much more aware of my surroundings at that time of the year.

One afternoon we passed a small farm where the horses had just been fed. The master had put the horse food into a big blue plastic barrel (a large oval cut into it) that tied sideways to the top cross-rail of the fence. As the horse munched away little bits of grain fell from its mouth. The goat, outside of the corral, got down on its knees and crawled under the blue barrel and fence post, head tipped up, trying to catch the bits of grain as it fell. The goat was hungry and willing to do whatever it could for a morsel of food.

We are so spoiled by instant TV evangelists, instant radio preachers, CD worship music, Ipod sermons, Podcasts; even electronic Bibles. Oh, that we could be so hungry for God that we would put ourselves in danger for just a morsel. What a sweet refreshing that taste would be.

God, open our hearts for a driving hunger that can’t be quenched by any means except time at YOUR feet. God, please take away our “fast is better” mentality. Blow away the chaff, the noise and the distractions of daily life. Silence the words spoken in Your name that have nothing to do with You. Search me Lord. Call me Lord. Help me to come.

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Written by Linda J. Humes

9-29-09

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Whose Flower

13 Sep

“. . . Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”   Matthew 6:28

I’m God’s favorite; I just know it.

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There it was, a beautiful purple Aster, growing all alone in a dry, brown field. Drought had hit Northern Arizona and the normally green fields and trees were brown and brittle. Yet there it was.

Its green leaves were brilliant against the brown. The purple flower faced diligently toward the sun, soaking in the warmth. I knew as I enjoyed its delicate beauty that God had sent it – just for me.

We had just moved to a small town, far from our church family of 10 years. I felt small in a large empty land; alone. All my years of ministry seemed to be sitting on a shelf and I was seeking God to know why He had planted us here and what He wanted us to do next.

There was His answer – in a barren field. Bloom where you’re planted. Become a flower in the desert with your eyes only on the Son. There I can use you to touch My hurting children.

Thank you Father, for never forgetting who we are. Thank you Father that you love your children so very much. Thank you Father for gifts, physical and spiritual – just when we need them. Thank you Father for planting me where You need me most. Let me always remain your humble servant.

My, My. Whose flower will I be?

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Written By Linda J. Humes

11/25/2002

**The Emmaus Road**

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WHOSE FLOWER?

23 Sep

“. . . Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”   Matthew 6:28

I’m God’s favorite; I just know it.

There it was, a beautiful purple Aster, growing all alone in a dry, brown field. Drought had hit Northern Arizona and the normally green fields and trees were brown and brittle. Yet there it was.

Its green leaves were brilliant against the brown. The purple flower faced diligently toward the sun, soaking in the warmth. I knew as I enjoyed its delicate beauty that God had sent it – just for me.

We had just moved to a small town, far from our church family of 10 years. I felt small in a large empty land; alone. All my years of ministry seemed to be sitting on a shelf and I was seeking God to know why He had planted us here and what He wanted us to do next.

There was His answer – in a barren field. Bloom where you’re planted. Become a flower in the desert with your eyes only on the Son. There I can use you to touch My hurting children.

Thank you Father, for never forgetting who we are. Thank you Father that you love your children so very much. Thank you Father for gifts, physical and spiritual – just when we need them. Thank you Father for planting me where You need me most. Let me always remain your humble servant.

My, My. Whose flower will I be?

Written 11/25/2002

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RISEN HEROS

20 Jul

Prescott 19 Hotshots

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Recently 19 Hotshot Firefighters went home to be with the Lord. Most of them just beyond voting age. All of them were courageous and deeply loved.

In the hours that followed the recognition of the horrible tragedy that had just taken place, Yavapai County, the State of AZ, and the Brotherhood of Emergency Responders pulled together to comfort these families and attack and extinguish the fastest moving fire in AZ history. It was a true example of the love of God manifested in the little town of Prescott, AZ.

I knew one of the young men and consider his family to be dear friends. Between my 3 boys, we knew 6 of the 19 who perished. Social Media helped us to stay updated with the community events, news stories, videos, shared memories, fundraisers, the Memorial Wall around the fire station, where there was a need and where needs had been met.

It showed us what needed prayer and where prayers had been answered. It showed us the pain and the helplessness of the families, but it could not take us close enough to hug them and hold them as they cried. I was so thankful that at this most challenging time for these families, that God rose up an arm of caring people to be His hands and feet. God sent people to comfort. God sent people to clean homes. God sent people to provide meals. God inspired people to offer rooms for those who came to help. God sent people to fill out forms and complete paperwork that the families would have had such a difficult time completing. God sent people bringing thanks and honor and respect. God brought an army of Angels to be His hands and feet.

The families will continue to struggle with “Whys” and ‘Hows” for a time, but they will never wonder about how much love God can send to them in their hour of pain, they have already experienced that.

Jesus, please keep me always mindful of the pain and the needs of others. Every life in crisis, no matter the cause, needs to be touched by Your love, by any means you have placed in our hands. We won’t always be able to solve the problem, but we can always offer a prayer, speak a word of encouragement, give a hug, listen, and sit with them as they cry. We can be Your hands and feet of compassion to a hurting world.

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