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Posted on March 17, 2020 by beverlyeash

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Did you know this holiday celebrates the life of Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland? It commemorates Patrick’s life and is celebrated on the anniversary of his death which is thought to be March 17, 461. Excuse my ignorance, but I just thought you were supposed to eat corn beef and cabbage, drink green beer and Irish whiskey. But I didn’t know the origin of the holiday!

When I gardened, I tried to plant something green on March 17. Some years it was quite successful. Other years, not so much! But green is the color of the day, for sure!

Arriving home from Florida yesterday, I immediately noticed that my green plants were frightfully dry. Now, mind you, I only have plants that are drought tolerant for this very reason. I’m just not a house plant lady. But, I dutifully watered my desert plants and noticed the most curious phenomenon. My Christmas cacti are covered with blossoms waiting to grace me with their hues of pink and red. I guess a 5 week drought pushes the blossoms out. I have another plant that is beautiful and green with bright waxy leaves. And it does nothing. It doesn’t appear to grow and it certainly doesn’t bloom. But today, there is evidence of new growth. It also seemed to benefit from the extended drought.

As I pondered this, I wondered if a “drought” isn’t also good for me occasionally. I admit, I like to stay home – I am a home-body. It is what I choose to do on many days. But I realize that when someone else imposes that on me, it feels different. Something inside kicks up and I feel a bit claustrophobic. Suddenly, I need to get out of the house.

Most days I choose to stay home because it is what I want to do. I like it. I thrive in it. Social distancing requires me to think about you. It isn’t just about what is good for me, it’s about what is good for you AND me. I guess my love for others might not be as genuine as it could be. And that is something for me to think about.

Don’t be selfish…be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Philippians 2:3-4

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Romans 12:9-10

I guess what I’m telling myself is this: social distancing isn’t about what I want. It’s about protecting both of us. Who knows what will blossom and grow from this time of social drought?!

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Posted on March 16, 2020 by beverlyeash

During my five weeks away from home, I started watching a Netflix program entitled, “Call the Midwife.” While it does have some peculiar elements, the aspects I appreciate the most are its clean themes, references to the Lord, and the restoration of relationships in so many episodes. As I watch today, I am reminded that throughout history, there have always been interruptions in community due to illness, plagues, viruses, diseases.

I am filled with gratitude for those who work tirelessly to find cures and comforts for those who are overcome with illness. Professionals in the medical field, scientists looking for cures and treatments, compassionate caregivers.

Have I expressed that gratitude to anyone? Or do I keep it selfishly to myself, concerned with how my life is disrupted? What can I do today to ease the burden of someone around me, while expressing gratitude for the way they add value to my life?

Let’s try it and see if we can start a whirlwind of good will!

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

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Posted on March 15, 2020 by beverlyeash

This is one song that comes to my mind so often during difficult times. It is sometimes the oldest songs that comfort! Take time to listen to these words and be enfolded in His loving arms today!

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Posted on March 14, 2020 by beverlyeash

Thursday morning I woke up with a bit of a cough. It didn’t bother throughout the day and I didn’t think much about it. By evening, my voice was gone. Not because I overused it or coughed unendingly, it just gave out.

Friday was a quiet day. At least for me. Talking took a lot of effort to project loud enough to be heard. It was easier to not talk. It surprised me how much I use my voice in the simplest things. I couldn’t interact with my 9 week old granddaughter except with smiles and nods. My three-year old looked at me oddly many times throughout the day and responded with a whisper to my attempts to communicate with her. The 9 month old responded to smiles and squeals and I could still do that.

Sometimes when the things we use the most aremissing, it upsets our basket. I found myself almost relieved that I couldn’t talk. It was okay to have a quiet day. I find these verses to be a great point of meditation on this introspective day.

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9

No matter what you might be facing today, the God of peace is still on the throne. He is waiting for you to come to him with all your cares. Fix your thoughts where they belong!

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Posted on March 13, 2020 by beverlyeash

Be alert. Not alarmed.

My niece shared this excellent advice with me. It is so true! We need to be alert, but not alarmed.

Alert: to be quick to perceive and act.

And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!

Mark 13:33

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 

1 Peter 5:8-9

Alarmed: cause (someone) to feel frightened, disturbed, or in danger.

It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit — “depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].

Deuteronomy 31:8

I scrounged scripture, looking for anything that said I should live in a state of alarm. I couldn’t find it. I am commanded to be alert and ready, but not alarmed. Alarm comes with its companion fear and fear is not my friend.

While there is so much fear around us right now, I recommend turning in faith to the only one who can keep us safe. My heart is heavy for anyone who feels the strangling grip of fear.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

Fix your thoughts on Jesus and his constant provision for you!

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Posted on March 12, 2020 by beverlyeash

I have to set the stage. It was evening after a fun day at the pool, long naps for the girls and dinner at an amazing restaurant. Returning home, I lounged while my daughter and daughter-in-law tried to resolve a problem with our rental car.

I watched Harper, the 9 month old, crawling around, exploring every nook and cranny. A small chirp from her caught my attention and I glanced over to see blood on the floor around her while she looked at me completely perplexed. Reaching down to pick her up, I exclaimed, “There is so much blood! Lots and lots of blood!”

Her mother, my oldest daughter, is an RN and so is my niece, who spent this week with us. They immediately dropped what they were doing to respond to the catastrophe of “so much blood” around Harper. They hurried over, skidding to a stop when they saw the blood.

And then I was scolded. Scolded for calling four drops of blood “lots and lots of blood!” They described it as a scant amount, perhaps even a skiff of blood. But not lots and lots.

Poor Harper’s finger still dripped from a little cut under her fingernail. It seemed like a lot of blood to my untrained eye.

I intentionally avoid many topics in this blog that would be inflammatory or otherwise upsetting. There are enough outlets for that kind of information. I want to help my readers step out of the chaos, not into it. But as I experienced that scolding from my daughter, my mind went to the recent panic, if I might call it that, over the coronavirus. And I heard these words:

The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe.

Isaiah 8:11-14

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Isaiah 26:3-4

I overreacted to the cut on Harper’s finger and the amount of blood on the floor. Yes, she cut her finger and there was blood on the floor, sofa, my arm and shirt. I bandaged her finger to stop the bleeding. But it was not worth my panicked proclamation “There is so much blood!”

Truth: there is a new virus in our midst. We should wash our hands and practice good hygiene. If we get sick, we should stay home.

But we should not panic. We should trust and not be afraid. He will keep us in perfect peace when we fix our thoughts on him!

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Posted on March 11, 2020 by beverlyeash

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

We do this {live with endurance} by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

Hebrews 12:2

In life, there is an adversary; an enemy of my soul who wants me to fail. He uses any method to turn me away from my goals. And sometimes, I am my own adversary. I rehearse all the ways I could fail and then remind myself endlessly.

I also have those who love me, who want my best. Like Finley! She only sees the ways that I enrich and add value to her life. She can’t wait to see me succeed.

Listening to Finley guarantees courageous, confident living. Her love and enthusiasm for me allow me to achieve objectives beyond my wildest dream.

But it is so easy to listen to an adversary rather than to my friends. I get discouraged, demoralized and slip into a place of vulnerability. Losing hope in accomplishing anything worth value, I quit.

This week I want to challenge us to be aware of the voices that guide our actions. Are we listening to and encouraged by those who are for us? Or are we listening to and discouraged by the voices of those who oppose us?

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Posted on March 10, 2020 by beverlyeash

I am privileged to spend a part of my winter in Florida. This is my last week and my daughters and grands are joining me for one last week of hurrah!

FaceTiming Finley today, I asked what I should write about and she promptly said, “Me!”

For the last week or so, I have been pondering this challenging question: If I received a letter from someone who really loved me, what would it say? I had to think about Finley. If she had the vocabulary to completely express herself, what would she say about me? This morning I asked her. It went like this:

Me: How would you describe your grandma?

Finley: Good! And I love you!

It sounds like Father’s words to us through Isaiah the prophet. He says:

…you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.

Isaiah 43:4

Too simple? Maybe. But why do we make it so difficult?

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Posted on March 9, 2020 by beverlyeash

In the last six months, I learned a new card game. It is a rummy style game called Five Crowns. There are eleven rounds and the game can be played in an hour or so. Easy to learn, it seems there isn’t much skill involved in playing the game. The cards are dealt at random, you choose one and discard one every turn, and you can’t control what you get in the initial deal or at your turn. So, completely random.

As we played last night, one player observed that you can’t control the cards you get, but you do get to decide how to play them. That is an amazing observation of not only the card game, but life in general.

Life, and what comes my way, feels very random at times and, admittedly, a bit out of my control. So while I may not be able to change what comes my way, I do get to choose how to respond and “play the cards” I am dealt.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Today is a great day to remember I have a choice what I do with the cards I hold. What will you do with the hand you have been dealt?

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Posted on March 8, 2020 by beverlyeash

As I write this, I am listening to Maple City Chapel Livestream on YouTube. Pastor Jay is talking about accepting one another. Essentially, loving them for who they are and where they are in life. What keeps us from being able to do that well? FEAR!

Fear keeps us in a perpetual state of protecting, defending and putting up barriers. Love allows us to lower our defenses and embrace one another in spite of our differences.

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

Romans 15:7

Why should I accept others? Because Christ accepted you. And that’s a pretty powerful reason!

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