Early this spring, I noticed that before the leaves are formed, the seeds are created for some trees. A tree prioritizing seeds before any other growth is meaningful. Interestingly, the name of this tree is tree of heaven.
Hold God's Hand
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Seeds and God’s Love
Friday, January 3, 2025
He is Singing Over You
The day after Christmas, my kids and I went on a walk. While we were walking, we saw a lot of birds. Birds flying around, chirping, and singing after storms have past are happy and cheerful. I told the girls, "Look how happy the birds sound!" My daughter said, "They're happy because it was Christmas yesterday!" I thought that was cute.
As we were watching the birds, one of my children asked, "If people get married, why don't animals get married?" What a thoughtful and adorable question. We talked about how some birds are faithful to each other their whole lives. In the moment, I only remembered swans, ducks, and geese. I told the kids that birds communicate and that maybe they agree with each other to stay together their whole lives. When we got home, we looked up which animals mate for life, and found that 90% of all birds mate for life. Wow! Other mammals that mate for life are wolves, coyotes, foxes, beavers, mice, and gibbons. Gibbon apes have a song that they sing to each other. They sing the song when they take care of each other. When they are apart, their partner sings their song to orient them back home to them. Over the many sounds of a tropical forest, they can distinguish the voice of their partner. That is amazing. God is singing over each of us to help us orient ourselves back to home to Him.
One of my favorite songs is Matt Redman's "The Father's Song."
The Father's Song
I have heard so many songs
Listened to a thousand tongues
But there is one
That sounds above them all
The Father's song
The Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart
Heaven's perfect melody
The Creator's symphony
You are singing over me
The Father's song
Heaven's perfect mystery
The king of love has sent for me
And now you're singing over me
The Father's song
Jesus explained, "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 Can we hear the Lord's voice and distinguish it from all the other sounds and voices?
One of the things that helps me hear his voice is to express gratitude for Jesus, for who He is, for the many things He has done for me, the miracles and blessings throughout my life.
Jesus is the Creator's symphony over us. Jesus descending to the deepest places of pain and suffering for us and overcoming through his love is His melody, His song over us.
The Creator's symphone over us is also in nature. When you see flowers swaying, or hear a river's calming sound as it tumbles over rocks, or hear the birds joy in the morning that they survived another night, remember that they are all part of God's symphony, his song of love over you.
Our song to God is to place ourselves in His hands and do His will. Your love for God, your trust in placing yourself in his hands, with whatever challenges that are yours creates a beautiful melody for Him.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Wild Olive Trees Testimony of Jesus
A few days ago I was discouraged. I went on a walk. The only person I don't feel bad about burdening with grievances is the Lord. He understands perfectly and He gives the wisest, most unexpected, and perfect advice. Whenever I am a tangled mess and come to Jesus for help, He gives me peace and understanding. When you feel his Spirit speaking to you, that is His voice to you. He is closer than we realize. Jesus is truly the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace that Isaiah wrote about.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there is no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice henceforth even forever." Isaiah 9:6-7. I like the last sentence of Isaiah 9:7 from the New Living Translation. "The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!" Jesus has a passionate commitment to each of us.
I stopped to see a small wild olive tree, a russian olive, that was reaching its branches out to the walking trail, almost like the tree wanted to be noticed. A couple years ago, I gained a love for wild olive trees after observing they have thorns. Plants with thorns are usually protecting some unique, special gifts. I didn't know wild olive trees had thorns- it felt like there was a message here. The wild olive tree reminded me of Jesus' crown of thorns, and his prayer in an olive grove for us. I began looking for wild olive trees, and nibbling on the edible little fruits that are sweet and tart. Then, in the spring, I learned wild olive flowers are yellow and shaped like a star or cross. The flowers are also sweet to eat- at least this particular variety is.
The flowers reminded me of Jesus. Yellow symbolizes hope. The star or cross shape also reminded me of the star when Jesus was born and of the cross that He would die on for us.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
God Knows Every Leaf and Every Bird
Several years ago, I was driving to work in a confused, worried state. Earlier that day my husband and I had been to the maternal fetal medicine specialists, I was pregnant. They told us of the serious problems they were seeing and the lifelong ramifications for our baby. It was fall, and the mountains were covered with large patches of trees turning orange, red, and yellow. As I was driving to work, feeling worried and overwhelmed, the thought came to my mind, "God knows each leaf, their colors, and every line in every leaf. He knows the baby you carry and every part of her and will take care of her." I took comfort in that thought, God knows each leaf and every line in every leaf and seeing the colors of the leaves on the mountainside. It was a pivotal moment for me, where fear was beginning to be replaced with trust in God, at least in this one area of my life. That was several years ago, and our daughter is doing wonderfully, even though she is still affected by conditions from her birth. She has been taken care of by God even before she was born, and will continue to be. We all are cared for by Him. The Lord continues teaching me to trust Him more in every area of my life.
My Dad has taught a birds class for the last 3 summers to the grandchildren. It is rewarding to learn about birds, their songs and calls, and how they nest and raise their young.
How wonderful it is that God created birds in all their varieties. Some birds migrate thousands of miles every year. How mind boggling and awesome it is that God provides for birds throughout their migration journey- food, shelter, water. Each bird has unique ways of nesting and different foods they eat, and yet God takes care of all of them! Even with the changing world- the increasing pollution and building, God still provides places for birds to rest and regain energy along their journey. God provides for me and you in our life journey too- wherever we are!

While on a walk, I was thinking about how miraculous God's detailed care for birds is when I saw a birdhouse. Seeing the birdhouse of plywood and nails made me pause. The birdhouse was sturdily made but held no comparison to God's miraculous provisions.
Nests are made by birds to fit the number of chicks they can raise and their body size, and the nest is positioned at the right height so that their young can be protected from predators but also survive their first flight/fall from the nest. I feel like a bird that grew up in a birdhouse, and now I'm being taken care of by God, and it is so much better! Some of me misses the structures I grew up in, like the people that knew my name, and gave me positive feedback when I came in my best clothing to church. It is different being away from that structure of support.
Knowing that the Lord takes care of us, wants to be close with us, and speaks to us directly is a treasure, more than I knew was possible. Having a close relationship with the Lord is within our reach!
Sometimes I think that as long as I'm healthy, and my children are healthy, I'm OK. Or as long as we have a stable job and income, we'll get through things. Or as long as I have a good group of friends or community to go through life together, I'll get through whatever comes. If my family relationships are good, then I'm doing well. Yet only God is 100% worthy of being the center of our faith, trust, and love. He is the center of our life. Whatever we place our trust in other than God will eventually disappoint us. God finds ways and experiences to teach us that our trust should be in Him, instead of any other thing, person, or belief.
When we face confusing, difficult situations, only the Lord has the perfect love and wisdom to give the best answer. God is who our life questions should be directed to. Other people may have special training, education, callings at church, or have gone through similar situations, but only the Lord knows everything about you and your situation. He knows every detail about you even before you were inside your mother's womb, and every experience you've had since. The Lord is who we should look to for answers.
I have heard church leaders say, "Write down your questions and bring them to general conference, and you'll receive the answers you seek." They are standing in the way of people asking God directly, placing themselves in God's place. We lack faith, we sin way too often, we are too focused in the world and its trappings, and it can be hard to hear the voice of the Lord or his Spirit talking to us. Instead of teaching church members to look to the leaders of the church for answers; what should be taught is faith, repentance, and developing a personal relationship with the Lord. Only the Lord, and a relationship with the Lord will carry us through any challenge. Another leader asked, "If you leave the church, where will you go?" The question itself reveals a lack of faith in God. We can all go directly to our Creator, God, to Jesus without intermediaries. The one who created the leaves and the mountains, and who provides for each bird is anxious to talk to you and help you directly.
I am thankful that people find peace and comfort wherever they can in these difficult times, in a church, outside in nature, or in music. We all need more peace and guidance. If where our peace and stability comes from has anything that isn't true in it, it will crumble and fall eventually. Jesus is the only one 100% worthy of our faith and trust, and being the center of our life. Jesus waits for us to come to Him directly- the source of all truth. He has given everything to bridge the gap between us. No one is more invested than Jesus is in your happiness and growth. He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, no one comes to the Father except by me." John 14:6
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Passover Thoughts
It is interesting that Jesus is the Lamb of God and also our Shepherd. He knows about being a lamb and about going to slaughter. He knows about afflictions and sorrows. He knows how to counsel and help us because of what he went through for us- the perfect Shepherd.
"For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned- every one- to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:1 ESV
Everything wicked and terrible found its complete opposite and answer in Jesus. Jesus turned upside down the evils that were done to Him. He also turns upside down the evils that we may experience. Unlike the world that wrongly judged and condemned Jesus to death, Jesus did not come to condemn, but to save- to give new life. Instead of facing a trial of false accusations alone, like Jesus did, Jesus is our Advocate before the Father. He pleads for mercy for each of us with his own life- though there's plenty we've done wrong and could be accused of.
Instead of giving us the rightful punishment for our sins, He takes our pain and punishment to bear himself. He took on himself the consequences of our sins and gives us freedom and a new life. He is merciful to those who believe in Him and follow Him. He is full of love, light, mercy, and justice.
When Jesus prayed, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven," He was the beginning of the answer to that prayer. Jesus brought the Father's kingdom and will to earth through his selfless sacrifice for us. In Jesus' humble willingness to take on himself our sins and forgive us, we see how Heaven operates. It is entirely different and opposite from the selfishness, pride, and evil corruption so present in our world and its leaders today. Jesus is our perfect example.
Last fall I was making grape juice. The grapes went into the process perfectly shaped, beautiful blue globes full of sweet juice. When they came out, they were entirely spent, all the juice had been taken out of them. Jesus told us about grapes and wine, to tell us how far his love for us would take him.
In our mind, we know the Lord gave his life for us. Yet when challenges come, feeling distant from the Lord, and maybe forgotten is so easy to fall into. The Lord compares our relationship to him as that of a bridegroom and bride- close, protective, watchful.
It is instructive to see pairs of geese or ducks, and how loyal and protective they are to their partner. A few times I have observed male ducks standing on guard, and protecting their female duck while they eat. They stand watch- looking in all directions, ready to warn of any danger while their mate has her head down, eating. It is tender to see so much courage and dedication in a small duck or bird.
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Peace in the Fire
Friday, August 25, 2023
Consider the lilies
I frequently need the Lord's help- trouble seems to be all around us, and it's hard keeping the trouble in the world from getting inside me. Walks are good times to talk to Jesus. He is generous to help me every time I come to Him all knotted up inside- which is often. Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace, it is true! Sometimes I try to speed up a bit as I walk, embarrassed that everyone is passing me. Then I hear the Lord tell me, "Slow down! You're going too fast!" There are answers to prayers in the slower moments, I need those moments of understanding. The Lord created meaning and beauty everywhere. We are literally swimming in a deep rich ocean of the Lord's creations. As we walk every day, you and I are passing stars and galaxies in miniature forms. Much of the time we are oblivious to the beauty the Lord created around us. Too hurried, too busy with our lists of things to do.
I watched a video about a gardener that made a beautiful garden and opened it up for the public to enjoy. He said that the best way to experience the garden was alone, and that it made him thankful to see people thoughtfully enjoying his garden.
A couple years ago, I was praying over a family trial, job loss. Thanks be to God, everything has worked out. Noticing how trees handle loss- a broken branch, made me think. I wrote about it a couple years ago here.
When pine trees lose branches, the wound causes the tree to reach down to its roots to draw on the healing properties deep inside it. It oozes medicinal pine sap, which heals its wound. Pine sap can be gathered, heated, and mixed with oil and beeswax to make a healing salve for wounds. The tree's wound brings forth healing properties from the depths of the tree's roots. The difficult things in our lives make us reach deeper to our roots for healing, for Jesus, our Master Healer, the Balm of Gilead. We find Him there- waiting for us, in the hurting and the praying. The trial becomes part of our healing if it brings us to know the Lord better. For some people, their challenge uniquely prepared them to understand and bless others in similar trials. They are kinder, more thankful, and more generous after having gone through a trial.
When branches are broken off of the aspen, the aspen tree also heals its wound. The shape that is left in the aspen's bark where a limb was broken is an eye. The Lord showed me that where there is a loss, is the opportunity for eyes to see more clearly. To see more of the Lord's hand. To reach upwards more than before. Our trials make us see God moving in our lives. In the trials we see that He has been there all the time. Unbelief is more easily peeled away from our eyes when we are praying for the Lord's help to survive a trial. We see with more faith. We see others with renewed appreciation for the trials they have gone through.
On a hike with my kids this summer, we noticed a maple tree with an irregular hole in it where a branch broke off the tree. There were other spots on the tree where the bark had completely grown over a broken limb, and the tree bark was already beginning to close this hole too. A rock was sticking out of this particular hole in the tree. I explained to the kids that eventually tree bark will cover up the hole, and that rock will be in the center of the wood. It will make a weakness in the tree, making it more vulnerable to break in wind storms, and die from bugs and disease. I looked up at the tree branches, some branches were already dead while others were alive. My son reached up and started trying to pull the rock out of the hole, it hadn't occurred to me to try. After a few minutes of struggle, we got it out. Behind it was another rock, then another. Close to 20 rocks had been stuffed in the tree- some pebbles, others the size of mandarin oranges. The hole reached the center of the tree, and it was packed with rocks. We were able to get most of the rocks out.
Like the tree, we too can have a hole in our heart, maybe from loss, or from being worn down and joy sapped from our life. It might be the trials loved ones are going through, or seeing the wicked state our world is in. The enemy of our spirit, the devil, can make these things become bitter, like a rock in our hearts. Sometimes it is many bitter rocks in our hearts, taking up a big part of our energy. The bitterness can make joy and the fruits of the Spirit hard to feel. The rocks in our hearts have to come out, the bitterness rejected and expulsed. Jesus is waiting for us to give him the burdens, we weren't intended to carry them all. If we ask, He can help us understand what happened, I wrote about an experience with that here. Jesus' love and forgiveness can heal the wounds in our hearts. He replaces the bitterness with his love. We can ask him to do that. "Lord, please take this bitterness out of my heart. In the hole that is left behind, please fill it with your light and love." He is the one who gives us healing, joy, and hope. Time and time again Jesus is willing to do that for us. What a wonderful friend we have in Jesus!
Wild olive trees along a trail have drawn my attention. Their branches were reaching out, wanting to interact with the people who passed it by. In the winter I first noticed the thorns on the wild olive branches. They were more visible because the leaves were gone. The thorns reminded me of Jesus' crown of thorns. For our sake, he was crowned king of the cursed, king of the sinners- me and you. In a grove of olive trees, he suffered for our sins. Crushed for our transgressions, like the olives are crushed to make oil. This spring for the first time I saw the yellow flowers that emerged with the olive tree's velvety sage-green leaves. The yellow flowers are in the shape of a cross. One of my kids said the flowers look like the star of Bethlehem. Yellow has always meant hope- which Jesus is to us. He is why we have hope. Jesus is the personification of love and forgiveness. At his core, Jesus is so purely love and selflessness, that he was able to conquer sin and death- our enemies. He gave his life for us! Because of Him we can be forgiven and forgive others. With His stripes we are healed! The wild olive tree testifies of Jesus!
In turning our hearts to Jesus, we begin to see that He has been caring for us even in the smallest details in our lives. In the spring I saw a tree with delicate tiny pink flowers and leaves that were so tiny, I couldn't see them until I used the zoom on my camera. Each flower is about the size of a chia seed. They were perfectly made miniature bouquets. I used an app to look it up and it is a tamarisk tree.
Matthew and Luke record Jesus saying "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? . . . But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:28-30, 33. Other translations of that verse say, "Learn from the way the wild flowers grow." or "Think about how the flowers of the field grow." Matt 6:28. The plants have something to teach us.
Why would the Lord make the tiniest flowers so perfect, when most of us can't see the details? Maybe it's because He is a God who is in the details- all the little moments that no one else notices. The Creator who made those tiny flowers notices every detail about you, your hair, your fingerprints, your smile, what is in your heart, because you are His child- you are more loved than the flowers. You are a priceless treasure to Jesus. There is nothing too small for Him to notice when it comes to His children.
All of nature praises God. He is a wonderful Father giving gifts when we least expect it. He answers prayers in His own way and His own time, always in ways that benefit us most. He doesn't forget our prayers, though they may take years to be answered, they always are! He cares more about the state of our heart and spirit than the physical worries that we can be consumed with. Growing our faith, love, humility, patience, and repentance is where He works, helping us know Him better, even if it takes trials. What a loving Father He is! There aren't enough words to tell of how wonderful our Heavenly Father is! Even all of nature with its many forms of beauty and perfection isn't enough to tell of Jesus' love for us. Like the garden that is best experienced alone, coming to know Jesus is an individual experience. His love must be experienced personally, with Him as the guide. What a treasure we find in Jesus, and in knowing Him!
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Baby Chicks
Our son wanted to try hatching chicks this year. When Grandpa was alive he started a flock of chickens at the home of one of his children. Grandpa loved chickens. Our sister sent some eggs and Grandpa's incubator. The eggs were a beautiful mix of greenish blue, some light brown, others cream colored, and a couple eggs with spots. Our son felt a connection to Grandpa in trying to incubate eggs with his incubator and from the flock of chickens he started.