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 I let another week go by without sending a blog post. I guess it's going to take some time before I do it regularly! I appreciate all of you who read it, and promise to try and do better in the future! 

We meet with a small group from our church on Wednesdays. The other day we were talking about HEAVEN and the wonderful hope we have of our ultimate future. I’ve been thinking about the work we will be doing on the New Earth and concluding that this would be joy, and not duty…we will be all that God has created us to be, totally fulfilled in His purpose for us. What might that be for me?  Some people say working in the garden; some say cooking, baking, being hospitable, etc. I believe that I would be in a library; and if doing what I loved best, I would be writing.  My thought was that for me, writing is the supreme joy, but I put it off until all the “duties” are complete; cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands…all the things I think I should be doing, saving the joy for later, when I have “free time.”  Maybe that’s backwards! 

      I have been cleaning out files and looking through old papers over the past few weeks.  So it’s no surprise, then, to find the following poem I had saved.  No idea who wrote it, how I got it, or when; but this week it spoke volumes to me!  Hope it touches you, whatever you find to be your joy. 

The Need 
What would I do, if I couldn’t write?
If ominous circumstance some nameless night
removed all paper and pens from my sight…
What would I do? 
If I couldn’t share my joys and my tears,
give words to my glee or unspoken fears
and tell how I feel to my soul’s listening ears…
What would I do? 
For I’d seethe inside from unpenned desire,
but if I had no means to extinguish the fire
that burns fierce and true…
I know what I’d do: 
I’d find me a stick and a sharp piece of stone
smooth patch of earth that was all of my own,
then watched by the world or strictly alone, 
I’d write. 

Thank you all for reading my words; for listening to my heart, giving me an opportunity to do what my whole soul longs for!  I bless you in Jesus’ name.  

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit’ says the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6

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Greetings! I owe you all an apology. Having neglected my blog for the past couple of months, it is difficult to begin, to explain, because I don’t know what has choked my writing lately. I am aware that finishing the book pretty much sapped my energy and exhausted me. I also spent some time in the hospital in early March with another TIA and scary elevated blood pressure. The doctors told me I had to slow down, so I did…slowed down to a stop! Just couldn’t accomplish anything. We are still monitoring the blood pressure closely, but I am much better. 

Fortunately, the book is doing very well. Every day, it seems, someone writes or calls to encourage me and I so appreciate it! My sister advised, “Lois, you rest. Let your book work for you!” I confess that’s about all I’ve been doing. 

I wrote the verse above because I am very mindful of its truth as I look back. Four times I was privileged to speak at luncheons to which I had earlier committed. Physically I was depleted, one week out of the hospital, and as I entered the venue I muttered to my friend, “Whatever happens today will be all God, because I have nothing left.” And oh, how He showed up in all His power! His Spirit completely filled me, filled that room. One of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had behind a podium. And it happened with all of the rest of the events. I am so very grateful for the fulfilment of His promise to bolster my weakness with the strength of His Spirit. 

In late April we were excited to be able to fly to California to witness our grandson, Joel’s, graduation from California Baptist University in Riverside with a Bachelor of Science degree, Magna Cum Laude. It was a grand weekend. Not only for the big event, but we were also blessed by friends from San Diego who drove up to see us, whom we hadn’t seen in 42 years! So much joy and celebration. 

So, with all that behind me, I am taking a self-imposed sabbatical to try and put myself back together, knowing it will only happen by His Spirit, by learning to hear His voice more clearly, trying to lessen the stress and draw closer to the One who loves me and cares for me in ways I am just beginning to comprehend! The sweet thing is that He offers the same to each one of you. We try to do things in our puny might when it just doesn’t work! It doesn’t need to! How wonderful is that! 

See you next week. I promise.  

Love, Lois 

Greetings, dear friends!

I’ve had some computer issues this week! My computer is very old and I plan on getting a new one soon. But in the meantime, it’s so frustrating to be robbed of its use. I’m sure you all agree it brings us up short when we can’t depend on a machine that is supposed to be reliable.

 I have been thinking about dependability lately.  We have certain things that in life we have come to depend upon.  For instance, the weather.  It’s winter, so it’s supposed to be (here in Washington) cold, gray and rainy. We also depend on the fact that spring will come, bringing beauty!  We depend on a lot of other things as well, usually until they let us down or disappoint us.  I’m sure we can think of a lot of instances that require a dependence on something we consider tried and true. 

So I’m sure you can guess where I’m going with this!  It strikes me this morning, just how completely dependable God is.  How we depend on Him for everything, really, even if we don’t acknowledge that we are doing so.  And He never fails.  Behind the scenes, in the front and center of our lives, He is working. Whether or not we see or sense it, He is on the job.  Don’t we all know this at some level in our thinking?  Yet, let’s pause for a minute and ponder the blessed reality of the truth.  We can rely on Him.  Besides trust and dwell and abide and wait, there is “rely”.   

Leaning. 

Apparently this is not the first time I have pondered this subject!  Looking back through my first book, Psalms From The Pathway, I found a meditation I had written a long time ago.  I’m sending it as a reminder, to myself as well as to you.  It is called “Leaning”. 

One never leans
with expectation of falling;
the very act of leaning
is one of faith and trust. 

I want to lean on God.
My head tells me He will not fail
but I don’t seem to let go and lean.
From where comes my fear of falling? 

From where comes the tightness of the grip
that says holding on to this world
supports me more completely than God? 

I think there is no way to learn to lean
than simply to lean. 

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”  Deuteronomy 33:27. This precious verse is inscribed under my signature in each copy of my new book! It is one of my “life verses”.

Oh, how blessed we are to know the One whose everlasting arms are underneath us.  Rely. Rest. Lean.

I am intrigued with this photo of a broken, decrepit barrel, about to fall over! Of no use, really, but as a reminder of how important it is to have something dependable on which to lean.

I’ll be back next week, or plan to be if I can depend on the repaired computer!!

Love,

Lois

Greetings Faithful Ones!

      Occasionally I find a real nugget of truth in The Message version of the scripture, so I am using it with this post.  I have been lately trying to find rest in my life; discovering what is important and what can be set aside. I’m challenged once again by this meditation written some years ago. I think it’s an issue I need to address…still! I don’t think I am alone…

THE LIST 

“I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28-29 

This morning I made a list. It seemed like a necessary thing to do. Tasks awaited and I needed to make myself focus…or so I thought. But I heard a Voice say, “Learn the unforced 

rhythms of grace…let go of your list.” I pondered what this would mean…letting go of my list…and couldn’t understand why it is something I must do. 

Then I realized that I depend on a crossed-off list as a sign of my usefulness and purpose. 

I cried out, “Abba, how can I dispose of my list and still accomplish what I must do?  You know me, the scatterbrained woman You have created; must I really make a paper airplane out of my list and sail it heavenward? 

And I hear Your answer… “There is nothing wrong with a list; but do not let it define you.  Let it be a tool, not a thermometer that determines your worth in your own eyes.” And I see how the rigidity of my incessant list-making accuses me and discourages me.  I use it as a whip when it should simply be a reminder. Your Matthew scripture says to come to you, learn from you, and you will give my heart rest. 

So Father, though I am overwhelmed this morning, and though my list seems daunting, I am reminded that You are the Overwhelmer Overcomer! Okay, I’m laying down my list! I am willing to learn. Amen.

Greetings, my friends!

I am really trying to be regular in posting on this blog…but I find the days slipping by at an alarming rate, and here it has been 2 weeks, instead of 1 since I last posted. Things are calming down after the mad dash that characterized November and December! Book sales are still happening, and affirmations and encouragement abounds. So, I thank you, all of you who take time to let me know your thoughts and experiences.

I wrote the devotional some years ago, but was reminded quite recently of God’s powerful protection. Twice I have fallen in the past month; one a face plant on the garage floor, and the other a tangle with the counter stools where I lost my balance and landed on the floor with the stools on top of me. It boggles my mind, but in neither fall did I really hurt myself! Nothing broken, and at my age it is a rarity to fall so hard and not break anything. Honestly, I attribute it to God’s protective angels who catch me, in a way, and let me down easy.

So, I remember this day, the day I met one of His angels. It really happened just this way…

HIS ANGELS

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11

I am so grateful for His angels. Actually I think I met one today! Leaving home this morning, my feet a bit unsteady in my dress-up shoes, I caught my heel against the concrete step, and knew in an instant that I was falling. But I was immediately righted, my balance restored. It happened so fast that my conscious mind did not register it.

But as I lay in bed tonight I was awakened several times with that sensation of panic earlier felt, followed by the absolute knowledge of giant hands holding me, setting me back on my feet, followed by this verse ringing in my ears.

I was breathless, filled with praise, as the perception washed over me again and again. Headed out to what God had called me to do, speak to a group of women, He beautifully affirmed that calling by sending His angels to catch me so I would not fall. I wonder, how many times He does that for us. Thousands of situations of which we are not aware surely call His promises of protection into play.

Gratitude should pour from our hearts…I know it does from mine, because for me that morning, Scripture HAPPENED!

Thank You, Father, for Your angels. May I learn to be more careful, more intentional, in my steps, but trust You to send Your ministering angels when necessary. Hebrews 1:14. Amen.

Yes. 2023 is here! Everything feels new, and fresh possibilities abound. Or at least that’s how I feel. Although I wonder about that sometimes. I’ve had a frustrating morning, struggling with a stubborn computer all day trying to put this blog out!

This morning I began once again my reading the Bible through. That would be Genesis, of course! I did notice something new in these first few awesome chapters. One thing that struck me was the word “let”, and the other is the phrase, “it was so.” It fascinates me to consider how some word or phrase that I’ve read 100 times can strike me anew with truth. Thus, my New Year thoughts:

IT WAS SO

“Then God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’ Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament, and it was so.” Genesis 1:6-7

In Genesis 1, the little word “let” appears 13 times. I was considering what an ocean of meaning there is here in this context of creation. “Let”, “allow”, “permit” all carry the idea of Someone, with authoritative power, granting something desired. After granting an act of creation, wherein God speaks, “Let there be light,” or “Let there be a firmament,” etc., the scripture says, “and it was so.” Our sovereign God opens His mouth, speaks “Let it be…” and it was so. His power, His Word are unfathomable to us as humans, yet we believe it, and we cling to the truth of that sovereignty, so that when we hear Him say that we are His and He will never allow anyone to snatch us out of His hand (John 10:27), His power is absolute and He can say “I will never let anyone take you away from Me,” He means it. Just as He put His stamp of approval on His creation. He spoke…and it was so! I know when I may feel lost and deserted and alone, I can rest on His promise…You are Mine. Because, It is so.

A great promise with which to begin a new year. He is sovereign. Trust in it.

Hope to see you back here at Love Notes next week!

Love, Lois

Greetings!
Welcome to a sort of re-birth of my website! I am committed to making this work, to be consistent in posting and sharing what is on my heart. I have just released my fifth book, CRADLED, and as I was looking through some of the things I have written over the years, I found the piece below. I wrote it when I sent the manuscript to the publisher for my first book. But what I realized is that these feelings were much the same as I experienced when I hit the “Send” button for my fifth.

So, I am sharing them with you, to describe some of the emotional impact of writing this book. And I hope you will subscribe to the website and come back and visit again!

Love, Lois

Birth of a Dream

Painfully, slowly, the process begins.
A fulfilled dream is being born;
I am releasing it; I have finished my part—
from conception…the words breathed into my heart;
through gestation…the dream taking shape,
becoming an idea,
growing into a goal, then a plan
as it burgeoned inside me.

Now it is time.
Words, thoughts, prayers have formed
into pages, a cover, a name, all held tightly within me.
It has been mine.
But it is not mine to clutch anymore.
God has asked me to give it to Him
and so I am editing the final proof,
beginning the birth pangs.

Tears wash my eyes—tears of joy,
of grateful praise.
Sensing that as a mother’s body
nurtures a child, so I have
nurtured this book within my heart.
I am swept away with remembrance
of the times God has met my need,
breathing His words to me,
and Hallelujahs break forth in my soul.

Yes, it is time, and I am ready.
I dot the final “i”, seal the envelope flap
and with a final push into the mailbox,
I birth my dream.