Monthly Archives: March 2023

Todays Writing Prompt

What’s something most people don’t understand?

Most people in our country today do not understand the Bible and the truth it holds. Actually they know nothing to very little of it. As such, simple, basic truths cannot be known, much less understood.

For example: What does Easter celebrate? How many Apostles did Jesus have? Name the four Gospels?

Why my concern anyway? Your truth is your truth, mine is mine, what is the issue? The issue is simple, truth is eternal, truth is timeless, truth stands on its own. It is not “mine”. It is far greater than puny, little me. We do not own truth. We simply either live it out or deny it. Truth does not need defending, it need only be proclaimed. It defends itself.

Because most folk don’t read the Bible anymore how can it possibly be understood?

Know what I used to do? Now I’m confessing. I used to read the Bible and tell myself, ‘Yeah! My husband needs to read this! He needs straightening out!’ or how about this, ‘If only my sister (co-worker, friend) would read this we would get along a whole lot better!’

Then something awful happened. I clearly remember one early morning ‘seeing’ a finger gently pointing to me with the impression on my heart that said, “I am talking about you.”

Me??? I am the problem?? How can that be? I’m practically perfect in every way!

It was a paradigm shift in my life. It is hard coming face to face with oneself. Scripture describes these two character traits as pride and humility. Scripture tells us pride comes before a fall, humility before honor. Boy, was that humiliating.

Perhaps that is why people do not read The Bible? It is not fun coming face to face with oneself. I can tell you – everyone else likes me better!

Are you up for a self-check with Truth? A little time in Scripture will reveal Truth to you. Are you up to it?

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Story

Attending the Highland County Maple Sugar Festival this past weekend has become a fun, yearly family outing.

Maple sugar camps are open for tours. Maple doughnuts, candies, and cotton candy are delicious! We buy our supply of good Virginia maple syrup there at the local sugar camps.

While waiting in a long line for lunch, my daughter-in-love and I decided to look into a recently restored lovely, old home now a destination for over-night guests.

While heading up the stairs, the young girl told us a most interesting story. “Be careful, the top of this newel post is loose.” Our puzzled look brought the answer. “It was the hidey-hole for their illegal liqueur during Prohibition.”

We had never seen that nor heard a story like that before!

Worse than Instagram!

Our entire afternoon was spent in front of the computer looking, looking and placing bids. We had a great time! What held our time, attention and potentially our money so long?

An auction. Not just any auction. This sale of household items was of a large, local estate.

Passing by the property on trips to town brought questions of the layout of the house. It was not typical. Well set from the main road and up on a small rise of land, the property has a commanding view of the countryside. The layout of the house was rather hard to figure while passing by. I often wondered about it. That all changed with the passing of the owners.

Household contents were recently auctioned off. Two days were set aside for visiting the property to view the items, though the entire sale was on-line. I excitedly joined my friend for viewing the items. I was finally going to see this house.

What a fun time we had in this fine, grand home. It seemed no expense was spared in building it. Marble floors, high ceilings, padded fabric wall treatments, lovely millwork, and elaborate custom drapes were second in comparison to the magnificent circular staircase. It formed the centerpiece of the home.

From a beautifully finished ‘basement’, it wound gracefully around the first floor, up to the second floor. Rooms opened into the well-lit circular hall that completely surrounded the staircase. Behind a door on each level waited an elevator prepared to assist those unable to traverse the staircase.

It was interesting to see the items that we had been bidding for on-line in person. Even great photos cannot compare to real life. Some items were dropped from our list, others were added. We went home and glued ourselves again to the computer.

I had been bidding for days on several items, thinking I won it! However, the final minute of open bidding was the most intense. A bidding frenzy starts in that final minute for a much desired item.

“This is worse than Instagram, AND more expensive!”, I laughingly told my friend.

We both won a few bids, and visited that house one more time to pick up our items. Auctions are fun, but they are not for the faint of heart.

Going, going, GONE!!

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Choose

I did choose very well eighteen years ago today. Casey Creek Farm in Kentucky was an adoption farm for abandoned nurse mare foals. We were adopting a beautiful, tiny one-month old buckskin filly. I choose her from a pile of photographs they had posted on their website.

Never having had any experience in raising a foal without its momma made it a scary yet exciting adventure to undertake. High Hope seemed the perfect name for her and me.

I could write pages about how High Hope has touched and blessed the lives of so many people in her eighteen years of life. She is a fine mare and one of the greatest joys of my life.

The photo I choose High Hope from.
Happy foaling day today, High Hope! Eighteen years ago today, March 10, 2005!

Write 28 Day Challenge—#28 Stewardship

My husband and I are stewards. We run our household, domestic concerns, rents, and keep accounts of our properties. We take our stewardship seriously. Truth is we are all stewards over something or someone.

We have been called to stewardship in Scripture. God instructed Adam to tend the Garden (Genesis 2:15). Joseph was given stewardship over all of Egypt, answering only to Pharaoh himself (Genesis 39:4-6). The king appointed Daniel over his entire kingdom (Daniel 6:1-3).

He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit. And he who cares for his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18

We also answer to our governments, local, state and national in regards to our stewardship. However, not everyone is responsible in equal ways. “The poor” Jesus said, “will always be among you.” Just the same, our caring for our personal concerns, household and personal accounts are our responsibility.

I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley. We have a large Mennonite community in our area. They live very differently from us, according to their Christian beliefs. It is wonderful. One belief that is different is in regards to the poor. They help one another in many admirable ways. Yet they believe that, though one may be poor, it is no excuse for being dirty, nor sloppy around their homes and farms.

My sisters are professional real estate agents. They say they have often seen neater, tidier mobile homes than some of the largest homes in their area. That, gentle reader, is what stewardship is all about. Taking good care of what has been entrusted to us.

So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12.

Write 28 Day Challenge—#27 Favorite

Who at my age, having grown up with Julie Andrews and The Sound of Music, does not think of her singing ‘My Favorite Things’ to the frightened children? Remember? The thunderstorm and her singing this song to comfort the children?

I have carried her advice from that song ever since she cheerfully sang it:

When the dog bites; when the bee stings; when I’m feeling sad; I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad!

I wonder if she had any idea just how much her song would influence so many folk. It encouraged us to count our blessings in the midst of our pain (when the dog bites) or real fears of life. Recall the children went to her for fear of the thunderstorm.

The Sound of Music is one of my favorite all-time films. Filled to the brim with all the hope and joy available to us all, if we choose. While not leaving out the fears, doubts and sad disappointments we also experience in our real lives.

The ultimate win against evil as a result of their bravery and working together to gain that win makes it the best family show I have ever seen. Little wonder it is one of my favorite things.

I think it is movie night tonight. Guess what is on the play list? 😊