Karla's Korner

I DID IT... 13.1 Miles!!

I can hardly believe I did it... but I did! I walked the Girlfriends Half-Marathon
last Saturday and lived to talk about it!! 4 hours 4 minutes!

These were some of the girls from my church that partipated.
I'm the oldie but goodie in the center and I walked with my granddaughter
Alexis to my right (3rd from left in photo) and my sis-in-law/love Cindy
who is 2nd from the left in the photo. The other girls were all runners!

I know I would not and could not have finished without the love
and encouragement of Alexis, Cindy and my darling daughter
who, sad to say, could not run that day because she was sick.

What did I learn?
1. This old body is capable of doing more than I thought it could!
(I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Psalm 139:14)

2. We need each other... to be cheerleaders for one another!
(Encourage one another daily Hebrews 3:13)

3. It would have been much less painful if I had trained for it!
(The fruit of the Spirit is self-discipline Galatians 5:22)

4. It feels good to run for a cause bigger than yourself!
(Look not only to your own interests , but also to the interests of others Phil 2;4)
Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Thank You Lord for giving me the strength and endurance to walk this race! There are more parallels between running/walking a race and our walk with You than I have time to talk about today but the greatest thing You showed me from the Half-Marathon was how much we need Girlfriends... how much we need each other to cheer us on in our faith in You and our faith in who You created us to be. It made me think of all the women in the world who have quit running the race with You because they lacked cheerleaders. Lord Jesus, teach us to be better encouragers... to think not only about ourselves but about those who need a good word today! Fill us with Your overflowing love. Amen.

PS... Extra bonus... I got to check it off my 58 Things List... sweet!

A Well-watered Garden

All this talk about gardens and gardening... I wondered...
did I ever tell you I lived... and gardened... in Alaska for four years
and three of those without running water?
We couldn't afford to drill a well so, in order to water the garden,
I would have to haul water from the community center in 55 gallon barrels
and hand water each and every plant individually.
Every day each one of those plants received my loving, undivided attention!
I knew when something was "bugging" them and could care for their needs.

What a glorious picture the Lord painted for me from that experience.
He reminded me that He, the Master Gardener, knows each of our names.
He knows what's "bugging" us... where we are wilting and weak.
He knows when our heart-soil is dry and parched and why.
And He's always there for us with watering can in hand to pour out His love
on us... and care for our every need.

I'm just like you... sometimes I get so spiritually dry I think I'm going to die.
And even worse, is that sometimes when that happens...
 I run from the Master Gardener rather than to Him! 
You probably never do that though, do you?
But when I stop long enough to just sit in His presence and let give me His
loving, undivided attention... my roots grow deeper down into
His life-giving love and I can hear Him say once again...

The Master Gardener is calling you by name today!
Have you let Him water the precious petals of your heart today?

Love you...

He Turns Our Sorrows Into Joy

Do you need a little encouragement today? This is for you.

Two days ago a serious thunderstorm roared through Grace Acres with a vengeance. As we stood at the kitchen door, we could hear branches crackling as powerful winds bent and broke a few along its path. I never gave thought to my beautiful peony bush protected only by a sweet picket fence in the garden.

This was its most beautiful year ever with humongous buds full of promise and potential. Michael had staked it up for me one day when I wasn't home because the buds were so heavy, their weight pulling them toward the earth below. I thought the staking would insure the longest and most spectacular display of pink flowers this bush had ever seen.

I was busy when the buds began to open and barely noticed them from my car as I drove in and out of the driveway several times... that is, until the morning after the storm. The careful staking had not braced them against the fury of the winds and rain. They had not bowed down on their own but most were bent or broken, most touching the muddy soil with their exquisite beauty. My heart broke as I gazed with sorrow from afar.

Last night, with a slight mist of rain filling the air, I donned my rubber boots and headed for the garden on a rescue mission... to seek and save what had been lost... if at all possible. As I lifted their heads, weighted down with water and mud, I was filled with hope that not all was lost. I gathered up more than twenty stems laden with blossoms and buds and brought them into the house. After spraying the mud from their petals, my sorrow was turned to joy to discover that none were lost but instead I was able to fill two large vases with beautiful bouquets... one to love and enjoy... the other to give away.

God used this experience, as He often does, to remind me of the beauty and blessings He promises to us. Oftentimes the fury of the winds and rain of this world leave us broken and bent over with great heaviness and sorrow. Our eyes become downcast, our heads... our minds become muddied with thoughts of despair, depression, or discontentment and we lose hope as we are not able to lift ourselves up and out of the pit we're in. But there is hope... there is always hope as we call out to our Savior God. When we put our hope back in Him, as the Lover of our souls and the Master Gardener of our hearts and lives, He reaches down from heaven and gently, lovingly lifts up our heads, washes us with His Holy Spirit and Truth, and He carefully places us in a vase with other broken people... church bouquets... for our own blessing and to be given away... giving ourselves to the world who needs to see what great things God has done for us... in His love and for His glory!

Thanks for letting me share this with you... it truly ministered to my heart and I hope it has for you as well.

God says...
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:13

Thank You Father for being the Lifter of our heads... for turning our mourning into gladness... and our sorrow into joy... the joy of knowing, loving and trusting You. And thank You for using my broken peonies to paint such a beautiful picture for us to see. Amen.

Monday Musings... Cedar Springs Retreat!

I can't move into June without taking a few moments to reflect back on May and the beauty and bounty of God's blessings that I was not able to share with you along the way.

I was privileged to be the retreat speaker for a beautiful group of women from Family Bible Church of Whidby Island, WA the weekend of the 15th-17th. The retreat was held at Cedar Springs Retreat Center up near the Canadian border and the theme of the retreat was "Down a Garden Path" which could not have been more fitting for the beauty of our surroundings...

 
Just like the gardens of Cedar Springs are dedicated to the GLORY OF GOD,
we are to dedicate the gardens of our hearts and lives to HIS GLORY.


I was so taken with the beauty of the reflection of the trees in the lake...
I couldn't help but think about how we are to be reflections of Christ in the world.


Swans are so graceful... especially surrounded by such glorious color!
God is more concerned us being GRACE-FULL than graceful... good thing, eh?
He fills us with His grace when we surround ourselves with His glory!


Did you know that a baby swan is called a cygnet?
They are adorable and heart-warming?


That mama is watching over her babies like God watches over us!
Sweet!


There were paths everywhere... you could walk up the garden paths
and down the garden paths... to incredible places of love and joy!


And there were sitting places tucked quietly into the landscape... places to rest
and be still in the Presence of the Lord and the beauty of His creation!

Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

Won't you take some time today to be still? Lay aside your busyness and find a
quiet place to sit with God, whether it's in the garden
or in your favorite chair by the window.
Look into His Word... ponder His beauty and the depth of His love for you.
Dedicate yourself anew to His glory, and when you leave your quiet place,
the world will know you have been in the presence
of the Master Gardener of your heart!

Where is your favorite place to be still and sit with the Lord?
Please take a moment to let me know where and why it's so special to you.

Be blessed my friends... in His love and for His glory...
Karla
 

Problem Solving... Creative Day #3

I knew when I started the painting I've been showing you that the canvas was warped but, since I'm new at painting this style, I honestly didn't think I'd end up liking it anyway so it was no biggy. No biggy until I did end up liking it so what was I to do about the rock and roll warp? "Aha", said I, as I looked at my dilemma through creative eyes. A backer board would do it. 

So my precious and talented husband built me a board just 1.25 inches larger on all sides than my canvas.  I painted it layer upon layer upon layer until I got the look I wanted. Once screwed to the board, (as you can see he had lots of help!) my canvas had no choice but to straighten up and the result was fantastic!

When faced with a problem we can see it through the eyes of defeat or we have the opportunity to view it through the lens of faith and creativity and see beyond what is to what can be. This principle is true in every aspect of life. Consider what the Apostle Paul says...

"Therefore we do not lose heart. 
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:16 & 18

Heavenly Father, help us to look at the problems we face in our lives here on earth through eyes of faith and creativity. Give us wisdom to solve, resolve and overcome the things we can and the faith to trust You with those things that are beyond our control. Remind us to look beyond the border of this earthly dwelling and look toward eternity in Your Presence with utter delight and abandon. Love You Lord! Amen.

Catch the Wind and...

Don't you love it when God goes above and beyond your own expectations?

A few days ago I went to the beach to do some research on kites and kite flying for a new digital art kit I'm creating and, even more importantly, to seek the Lord for insight into the spiritual implications of this theme. I had a start in my heart but knew He had more to show me. He did not disappoint me!  I think I came away with enough insight and inspiration to write a book... seriously!  And... He truly used this kite theme to speak deeply to my own heart so I am confident He will yours as well! 

I want you to envision your heart as a kite...
colorfully painted with a rainbow of all your hopes, dreams, plans and purposes.
Now imagine yourself standing in a field holding the string to your heart.
How high is your heart flying? Is it soaring with the wind of the Holy Spirit,
or is it earthly bound, being held back by the tension of earthy circumstances
or a fear of the unknown?

While I was at the coast, God showed me a particular fear in my own heart that keeps me from trusting Him... keeps me from letting go of a length of my own heartstring that holds my heart back from something I know He's been tugging at me to do for a long time... and He's still tugging... and He'll keep tugging until I loosen my grip and let Him have His way. I know that about God.

I also know that the Lord  is tugging at all our heartstrings, calling us to catch the wind of His Spirit and fly higher and more freely than we could ever have imagined.

He tells us in Isaiah 40...
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles."

O Lord... we are so thankful that You created us to soar and oh how we long to. But as we look at this verse it seems that our ability to soar is dependent on our willingness to put our hope in You. Father, show us where we have been putting our hope in places and people other than in You and keep tugging us toward You. May we soar to Your glory! In the glorious Name of Jesus... amen.

Thankful for the Name of Jesus!

I recently received a devotional that told how a roomful of elderly men and women in a dementia and Alzheimer's nursing home care unit had responded to a well known song. Only a few voices had been heard during the earlier singing, as would be expected in such a place, but when the closing song began, a most remarkable thing happened... the voices in the room got louder... and those who had not sung earlier began to sing along. The song?  "Jesus loves me, this I know". Jesus... there's just something about that Name!

Reading this reminded me of a letter I received a few years ago about a similar experience... as you read it, may your heart be encouraged... in the Name of Jesus...

Dear Ms. Dornacher,
Three years ago my mother was severely depressed at age 79 and attempted suicide. Knowing that God's best is the only solution, I flew up as soon as I was allowed to see her and brought along your book (Down a Garden Path). My mom was a wonderful gardener as we grew up, and I thought your book would be a beautiful, simple but comforting way to lead her mind back to peace and joy that only the Lord can bring.

I just loved on her while visiting her in that horrible place and she told me she had had a nightmare the night before about a black gate. As we sat in a parlor and I read the book to her, a woman wandered around the room with a blank stare, not speaking and apparently had not spoken in the 3 months she had been there.

The moment I read the word "Jesus", the woman came over and touched the book, and spoke the word "JESUS!!!" My mother looked up at her and smiled (!) and said, "Yes, Jesus! He loves you and He loves me!" With that the woman sat down next to my mother, and my MOTHER began to read the rest of the book to her!

The next morning when I went to visit my mother, she told me she had had a dream about a white picket fence, and that my father was standing there waiting for here. (He had died 15 years earlier.)

I was humbled and blessed to know God used my book as a way to make Himself known in that place, but it was the Name of Jesus that fanned the smoldering ember in the fading hearts of these women and brought His healing touch of peace and joy to the mother of the woman who wrote me this letter... a remarkable testimony of God's great grace! The mother lived another year and was at peace with the Lord.

Thank You Father God for Jesus and His Mighty Name!  One day every knee shall bow and tongue confess that He is Lord... and there is no other Name by which we can be saved! May we bow our hearts and our knee today to the Blessed Name of Jesus.. and speak His Name boldly that others may hear and be touched in a way only possible through the power of Your Holy Spirit!  We love You Lord Jesus... in YOUR PRECIOUS NAME we pray... Amen.

A Fruitful Moment...

As I was picking raspberries this morning, I was admiring this cluster and began to think about the fruit that God produces in our lives.... the fruit of godly character and good deeds... and I just want to share this quick thought with you...

As I looked at this cluster and saw that there are berries at every stage of development from very not ripe to ready for the picking... I couldn't help but visualize the same thing is true of the fruit in our lives. We are constantly growing and maturing and not all that God wants to do in us and through us ripens at the same time... but if we are faithful to water, weed & feed, and wait on Him, the fruit of God's will and works in our lives will ripen in His time for His purposes.

And I thought... when I reach up there to pick a berry, the ripe ones just easily fall off the vine whereas if I tug on one and it resists, then it's telling me it's not ready to be picked... it's not as sweet as God designed it to be.  We can so easily grow impatient, beating ourselves up if we're weak in a certain area or maybe we're wanting to do a particular ministry or use a particular talent or ability and it's not just happening. Sometimes we want to produce the fruit before it's time... sometimes even trying to force it.  but if we do... it may never be as sweet or effectual as if we waited on the Lord to mature us on the vine and then use us at the perfect moment to bring a taste of His goodness to the world around us.

Oh Lord... we want to be fruitful!! If only we could see the fruit on the vine of our lives...not just the juicy ripe red ones but the tiny ones... the green ones... the ones that are just turning pink... maybe we wouldn't be so impatient with ourselves... or others... or You God. Give us eyes to see and hearts to wait on You Lord Jesus... and bear much juicy fruit for Your glory! Amen.

Dripping Wet!

Okay... first off... no laughing at my poor short corn! I told you we had a very wet spring and I finally decided better late than never. Besides, I'm counting on a late fall so I should be showing you my corn on the cob mid September or so!!  Anyway... there's a story behind me sharing this photo and it's not about the corn at all.

If you've ever read my "Down a Garden Path" book, you might remember that because we had no water on our property, I had to haul water in by the barrel and hand water each and every plant in the garden.  I built little reservoirs around each plant individually and was very careful, as I watered, not to waste a drop. I am so thankful today to have running water and so often have to remind myself not to take it for granted! Well today, as I weeding and watching the irrigation system drip... drip... dripping, I was again reminded of my Alaskan experience and was thinking about how with the irrigation system we don't water the paths, the places where fruit-bearing plants don't grow... not even the leaves of the plants. The water is focused fully and wholly on the roots.

I was reminded that God is not concerned if we are a late bloomer, if we've had struggles in our lives that have stunted our growth or caused us to appear to be at a disadvantage... He's not concerned if we're the biggest plant in the row or the shortest... He's not looking to see if we're perfect... but His focus is on us putting down roots deep into the soil of His love and truth... not wasting one drip of His precious Holy Spirit. If our roots are well-watered... saturated in His grace, than our branches will be fruitful. The more we know in our hearts how much God loves us and how much He sacrificed for us, the more His love will flow in us and through us... we truly will be like trees planted by rivers of water... bearing fruit in all seasons. (Ps.1)

Are you dripping wet today?  Oops... I think I need to go get under the faucet!

Father God, thank You that You are our irrigation system and Your water never ceases. Draw us near to Yourself... to spend time with You... meditating on Your promises... saturating ourselves in Your Word... and Your promise is that You will draw near to us. Work in the soil of our hearts that our roots will grow deep and our lives will be fruitful for You. We pray in Jesus precious Name... amen.

A Sweet Smelling Fragrance!

 

I am so thankful God is allowing us another year here at Grace Acres! (I'll tell you more about that later!) A couple of years ago I planted a border around my veggie garden of buttery yellow daisies and this lovely english lavender and this year they are so beautiful and full it just makes my heart sing to still be here enjoying them!!  Oh for the grace of God!  I was able to harvest this container full and you can't even tell it by looking at the plants... so I may just have to go back tomorrow and snip a little more. I know you're supposed to hang lavender to dry but for now it is just too pretty overflowing this containter... which just happens to be a silverware and napkin holder put to good use!

The bold fragrance of lavender always reminds me of how we are a sweet smelling fragrance to the Lord as we allow Him to work in us and through us. As pleasing as the smell of lavender is to me, I can only imagine how pleasing our lives must be to God as we pour out the love of Christ to those around us. I don't know about you but I can so easily get caught up in my own world, that I can forget all about the needs of others.

"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ..."
2 Corinthians 2:15

O Lord, fill me up with the fragrance of your grace and goodness today... so much so... that it is diffused through my life and brings a sweet smell of You to others. Amen and amen.

Hmmmm... I was just thinking... I haven't painted lavender before... and it does have a great message to tie to it... I think I may just pick up a brush and capture it's beauty and design as well as it's fragrance!

Grasping for Grace!

I think time flies faster during the holiday season then any other time of the year... wouldn't you agree?  And for me... with speaking at Christmas events, having my studio sale last weekend and trying to stay on top of increased holiday shopping on my webstore... I think time flapped its winsome wings and flew away!

I'm not complaining though... I love this season and almost everything about it... especially the increased opportunities I have to share Christ and the joy of Christmas everywhere I go!  My Christmas message this year is about looking in all the wrong places for Christmas joy, when the joy we seek the most... during the holidays and all year long...  is found only in Christ Jesus.  And the joy He gives us lasts long after the tree comes down and the cookies are all eaten.  I pray for you to have this joy throughout the rest of the Christmas season... but it's yours only by keeping your eyes firmly fixed on the Reason for the Season... taking the time to worship and adore Him!

Also... I was SO BLESSED by all of you who listed your Thanksgiving lists and can only ask for grace as I know you are still waiting to know who won! I have been going almost non-stop for over two weeks now and have only a moment tonight to share and then I'm off in the morning to Pendleton, OR to speak for a Christmas Tea there... adorned with over 200 wonderful women!  So... my priority on Monday is to catch up on all the Thanksgiving postings and choose the winner... maybe even two!  You guys are awesome!

Okay... I have so many things I want to share with you and catch up on... please don't give up on me yet!  I'll be back!

Christmas blessings and hugs to you all!

Joy to the world the Lord has come!

Heavenly Father... thank you for filling the stores this time of year with Christmas carols that proclaim the Name of Jesus to the world and declare the tidings of comfort and joy you came to give us all through your Son.  Fill us with joy Lord that we might stand out as lights in the darkness this holiday season... shining brightly for you!  Bless you Lord.

The Lord's Face Shines on You

During my time with God this morning I was reading about how much God wants us to know the immensity of His love for us and I couldn't help but smile thinking about how He smiles at me.

Our God smiles at you... did you know that?
His face shines upon you! He delights in you!!
Isn't that remarkable?
The Lord of Glory is the Lifter of your head so when you look up...
there He is... smiling down on you!
What amazing grace!

In Ephesians 3, the Apostle Paul is praying that we would be able to know... not just with our brains... but with our hearts... how long and wide and deep and high God's love for us really is. But that isn't always easy, is it? Sometimes, if you're like me, your thoughts and emotions can get caught up in what others think or say or feel about you... or bogged down by life's circumstances... past, present or future! So if you're feeling downcast today... may I encourage you to take a moment to refocus... turn away from the thoughts that are not from God and look up into His wonderful face... maybe even pick up your Bible and read Ephesians chapter 3:14-22 and be reminded that God's heart for you is huge and when you see His smile... it will make you smile... just like it did me! And when we smile... He is glorified... and we are blessed.

Heavenly Father,
I pray for my friend that You will fill her with the joy of the Lord as she considers the truth that Your face shines upon her and Your smile envelops her. May she be reminded that Your grace is sufficient for whatever concerns her today. And may she delight in You as much as You delight in her... in Christ... Amen.

Soccer Anyone?

Have you ever seen a bunch of 7 year olds playing soccer? Michael and I never had, so as grandparents... it was quite a treat to watch Jessica out there kicking the ball around! What fun! And what energy!  Oh to be young again! They didn't always know quite what to do with the ball and on occasion it would accidentally end up at the wrong goalpost but no one seemed to care and the game went on. How refreshing!

I think we could all use some of that childlike perspective at times. Wouldn't you agree? I know I could.

Sometimes we just don't know what to do with the circumstances... the soccer balls of life... that come our way. Do we dribble or lightly kick it or give it all we got? And what happens when things don't go in the direction  we want them to... especially if we're the one who kicked them into the wrong goalpost?  I know there are times I hang my head in shame and defeat.. or beat myself up verbally for being so stupid... or spend days wondering what I could have... should have... done differently... when God is saying "get up... shake it off and just keep playing the game!" 

There will always be times when, just like a seven year old, we will learn the most from the mistakes we make. Or... maybe our mistakes weren't mistakes at all... but an opportunity for someone else to be blessed! Hmmm... just something to think about.

Heavenly Father,
Help us to see the circumstances in our lives through your eyes and not just our own. Remind us to not dwell on our mistakes and let them overcome us... but teach us what we need to learn from them and let us be overcomers!

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

Thankful Thursday!

God invites us, in Psalm 100:4, to...

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise"

and sometimes this comes easy when things are good... but sometimes it's more of a decision... a choice we make... to look up into the face of God rather than focused on the things of this earth.

As I awoke this morning... the verse that popped into my mind was "this is the day the Lord has made... I will rejoice and be glad in it!" My life is good at the moment... not without challenges... but good... rejoicing will be easy I thought. And yet this Psalm doesn't tell us to rejoice because life is good but because God is good and He is the one who made the day! He created this day and then gave it to us as a gift. How my day will unfold is known only to God. But I'm encouraged to rejoice and give thanks to the One who holds my future... unfolding it before me one step at a time. I want to live with my focus on God's goodness which is always good... rather than the goodness of life which fluctuates with every turn of circumstances.

I know life's circumstances can be difficult... even painful at times... but aren't we glad that we belong to a God who can lift us up above our circumstances and show us a whole new and heavenly view? I know I am. Today... I'm thankful for this day... and the God who made it!

Heavenly Father,
As I enter Your gates today... and come into Your courts in prayer... I choose to come with a heart of thanksgiving and praise.. thanking You for the precious gift of this day. Go before me Lord and prepare my way so that I can follow You step by step. Lift my eyes up from my circumstances... good or bad... so I can see You... and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus... the Author and Finisher of my faith. For your glory... Amen.

Western Workshops

Knowing how full my life had been this past week, a friend posed this question to me... "if you could ask God to take away any one thing in your life, what would it be?" After not much thinking, I responded... "nothing. I love what I do. I would instead ask Him for more hours in which to do what's already on my plate." Okay, I know God's not going to add two or three hours to every day just for me... how would you like to start saying it's 13:30 p.m. or 14:15 a.m? And I do confess that God is weeding and thinning in the garden of my daily doings... pruning some overly busy places... but I also know that there will always be seasons of busyness in each of our lives when we all have to pick our priorities with God's guidance and do what is at hand with all our heart and strength.

That's what happened last week... that's why you didn't hear from me for a week. My priority was preparing for the two workshops I taught at Western Seminary in Portland at the HeartTalk Conference. This is the place for aspiring writers to come together and be encouraged to follow the dream... and the message... God has written upon their hearts. I gave one workshop on "Writing and Designing Gift Books that Make a Difference" and "Product Potential Beyond Your Book." The better title for the second workshop might have been "Ministry Potential Beyond Your Message" but I thought of that one too late for the brochure! It was a lot of work preparing for the classes but it's always good for us to share with others the wisdom, knowledge and experience in whatever ministry we're in... and that's what last weekend was all about... giving away what God has so generously given to me.

What wisdom, knowledge and experiences has God given you? Are you giving them away?

Lord, you've called us all to be ministers... and the ministry you've blessed us with is called LIFE. Would you help me see those opportunities you've appointed for me to share Your love, wisdom and knowledge with others today... whether it's at the kitchen table with my kids or in the church or at my job. Help me Lord Jesus to prioritize my time and use it wisely... giving away what You have so generously given to me... with all my heart as unto You.

How Salty Are You?

I couldn't resist these sweet little chick salt & pepper shakers at my nearby vintage resale shop... especially with spring at our doorstep and Easter right around the corner. Aren't they adorable? I am of a mind that these little fellows do not want to be set on a shelf somewhere and just be admired. I truly believe they long to serve by doing what they were designed to do... being vessels who not only hold within them... but freely pour out... salt & seasoning wherever they're needed! 

I love the picture Jesus paints of us being salt shakers!  In Matthew 5:13 He said, "You are the salt of the earth."  We were never designed to sit on a shelf and look pretty but to be vessels of God's goodness in the world!  I've heard it said that we are not only called "to be good, but to do good."

We have been filled with the love and grace and knowledge of our Lord... not to hold within ourselves but to shake out on the world through our our words and actions. There is much to be said about salt and its seasoning affect on the world around us but the one thing that comes to mind this morning is how... just like salt sometimes falls beyond the food it was intended to season... so can grace. What an extra blessing to consider that someone we're not even aware of may be watching or listening as we shake out some of God's grace on a friend or neighbor or even a stranger... and that person afar off may have a grain or two of God's grace touch them in a way that could possibly be life changing... and we may never know until heaven.  Just something to ponder.

Oh Lord, I don't want to be a woman who sits on the shelf and looks pretty... set me upon the table of your service and don't let me miss an opportunity to be used of you... to be a vessel, ready and willing, to shake out some love and grace for your glory.