HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Today is the day traditionally set aside to celebrate romantic love; however, it also encompasses the love we have for all those who are dear to us.

     I was just thinking about the traces we leave behind every day as our mark on the world—the unseen traces, that is.

If anyone wanted to find evidence of where we’ve been (excluding GPS or phone tracking), a forensics expert could easily track our activity by analyzing the fingerprints we leave on everything we touch.

     We don’t consciously think about the invisible marks we leave, probably as infrequently as we think about the approximately 23,040 breaths we take in every 24 hours. Imagine, though, what it would be like if your fingerprints showed up in red (or another color) on everything you touched? It would be quite a sight, wouldn’t it?

     Now, think about how amazing it is that our Creator gave every person a unique set of fingerprints, ones that cannot be matched to anyone else on this planet (even twins have different prints). If we were subject to being found, it wouldn’t be too difficult for authorities to find plenty of physical evidence from our “imprints.”

     But what if our hearts left a “print” every time we expressed love, care, sympathy, or concern for others? I like to think these would be called “Heart-prints.” If they showed up visibly (let’s say in red), imagine what our world would look like? And what would your own corner of the world look like?
We can only hope that our Heart-prints would be even more numerous than the fingerprints we leave behind each day. Picture a world stamped with Heart- prints—might it look like a giant Valentine?

     Speaking of the world, I cannot help but want to speak of our Creator, the Father above, the God of all Creation, our Counselor and Redeemer, who long ago set His fingerprint, His Heart-print, upon each of us. We have been marked as His Own, unseen evidence that we were created for Him, by Him, and we are loved by Him.  
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     May your Valentine’s Day be a Blessed one, and know that you are loved!
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John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." 

[Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com] 
  

The Light has come!
     How we love the light! This time of year, we look in awe at beautifully lit displays of Christmas lights that brighten our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. Even a single candle brings light to the darkness.
     Scripture shows Jesus as the Light who has come—for us. In a verse from John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
     Other verses showing the Lord as our light and salvation are found in 1 John 1:5, John 12:36, John 8:12, John 1:4-9, Ephesians 5:8, and Matthew 5:14. And that’s just the beginning of what God’s Word has to say about Jesus—the Light who has come to save us from spiritual darkness. 
     May peace be with you, my friend, and may your heart be filled with the Light and Love of Jesus in this season—and each day thereafter.  
     Merry Christmas! 
  

It was nearly midnight. I was tired and ready to call it a day. Padding across the bedroom carpet barefoot and carrying a water bottle, my foot suddenly landed on a cold, wet spot in the carpet. I didn't think much about it. I must have spilled water.    
     But the next morning, the wet spot in the carpet was still there—squishy, soaking wet—and spreading.      
     I called out to my husband. "We have a problem!"  
     A leak detection company investigated. A faulty pipe inside the bathroom wall caused water to leak into the drywall, beneath floor tiles, and into the carpet. Water traveled to places it never belonged.     
     An unexpected event can turn a typical day into one of chaos. We may grumble and wonder why we can't just have a calm, peaceful day. But just as water can flow into the wrong places, sometimes we look to the wrong places for reprieve. Companies advertise wellness cures—for a cost.          
     To find what our soul yearns for, we don't have to search far. God's Word provides answers. The 23rd Psalm is a beautiful example of balm for the soul. Favorite verses from this Psalm paint serene images: be led to the "still waters" or green pastures. And the comforting reminder that Jesus is the tender Shepherd of the soul.   
     Unexpected life events can be upsetting or traumatic. No one likes change, or the feeling that life is out of control. Yet it is when we travel through the valleys that we often glean life lessons.   
     The "water intrusion" experience has been inconvenient, but hasn't been a major disaster, unlike some who have experienced extreme flooding of their homes or properties.  However, the experience has been a reminder for my husband and me to not take anything for granted—especially our household plumbing. It has also been a lesson in living with less "stuff," as much of our furniture, clothing, and other belongings are being stored in our garage. Fortunately, these changes will only be temporary.   
     For the times in my life and yours when the “waters are not still,” may we turn to the One who is our Help, our Saving Grace, our Consolation, our Salvation: Jesus Christ. In Him, we find true peace—and the “peace that passes all understanding.”
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"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7
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Photo courtesy of vecteezy.com
 
 
 

     The gardener chooses the pumpkin variety they want to plant, then prepares the soil. By forming mounds to plant the seeds, the roots are forced to search deeply for water, providing strength for the growing plant. 
     Proper irrigation ensures the right amount of water reaches the pumpkin patch, and a keen eye is needed to watch for pests such as the Squash Bug, which can stress the plant and compromise its health. Routine weeding prevents the plant from being robbed of water and nutrients.
     Patience is needed, as it takes 3 ½ to 4 months for pumpkins to grow and ripen. If a freeze is imminent, the crop must be picked right away.
      The gardener makes the preparations, but God provides the ingredients: the seeds, the water, the soil, and the sunlight. He also orchestrates photosynthesis to create the miracle of sprouting and growth. Then the special person who takes an interest in gardening becomes a custodian—or caretaker—of the garden.
      The pumpkin—a symbol of autumn—represents a bountiful harvest and a time when friends and families gather for Fall celebrations and Thanksgiving. The pumpkin often serves dual roles: as an item on a menu or as décor.
      From seed to full fruit, the pumpkin’s tale is just one of many stories of one of God’s miracles of nature.
      As a gardener—or consumer of the pumpkin, you are a recipient of God’s bountiful harvest. Along with family or friends, you are part of an immense blessing—the gathering of God’s people, coming together to celebrate and give thanks!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” –
1 Chronicles 16:34

​Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com/Ikrom Ma-Ela
From my blog post of 10/28/20 - N. Johnson