When we moved to Fort Worth, we bought a house with a swimming pool in the back yard. We bought it both because we like to swim, and because we knew that our grandchildren would really like to swim. We called it “grandchildren bait”. It is not deep enough for diving, but just right for cooling off.

Eventually we needed to have the pool re-plastered and re-tiled. The crew that arrived to do the work was friendly and efficient. One day I asked Peter, one of the crew leaders, if he had a pool at his home. “No,” he said. “I’d love to have one, but I could never afford a pool like this.”

I was hit with regret. Peter was highly skilled and very conscientious. He was good with his people and the project went smoothly. I thought that if anyone deserved a pool, it was Peter and his family; and I recalled how much the pool had meant to us for the years of our daughter’s growing up.

Peter did not appear bitter, and maybe he was saving up to install a pool eventually, but I knew that a window had been opened to my own life in contrast to his. We can never really measure the blessings, material and spiritual, that have entered and even abide in our lives, until a stark comparison to the lives of others, who have not shared those blessings, brings home to us the simple reality.

The Bible addresses wealth in both the Old and New Testaments: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust in your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” (Proverbs 23:45)

Jesus says it this way: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) I don’t believe that owning a swimming pool will have to cost me my soul, but I’m happy that I met Peter the pool man, who put into perspective the privilege and the blessing that it is and has been for our family; and I was reminded by him not to envy others whose resources are greater than my own.

Thousands of years ago God knew that these pressures would challenge us. In the Tenth Commandment He says, “You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land . . . or anything that belongs to him.” Peter was a person who brought those words to life for me.

Love in Him,

Prue

A young woman once gave this testimony about her faith journey: “When I read in the Bible that God told Moses to pick up the snake by its tail, and that Moses actually did it, I knew that the story was true, that God was really testing Moses, and Moses passed the test.” It was the staff turned into a snake and back into a staff, that was to prove that Moses was really from God, and that it was God Himself requiring Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. ( Exodus 4: 1-4)

“I’m from West Texas”, she said, “and if there’s one thing every kid growing up in West Texas knows, it’s that you never, never pick up a snake by its tail!”

Curiously, that story carried the force of conviction in this young woman’s life experience, and resonated with truth that triggered her faith in the God of Moses, the God of Christ.

“This, said the Lord,” is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of heir fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you, Moses.” (Exodus 4:1-5). More than three thousand years later that sign, given to Moses, brought belief to a young woman in another part of the world, entirely unknown to Moses.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word That goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10)

The words of God are priceless. That we have a book full of His words is an awesome gift that has helped shape Civilization for millennia. It has inspired great and least, strong and weak, and continues to this very day to send out His “word that goes out from His mouth and does not return empty.”

Everyone’s relationship to God is unique. Whether we’re from West Texas or Paris , France, God knows us and reaches us wherever we are. His Bible holds meaning for everyone, regardless of how distant our circumstances might seem. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “All scripture is God breathed.” (2Timothy 3:16) For the young woman who gave her testimony, the snake told her all she needed to accept the reality of God. God has a meeting place for everyone.

Love in Him,

Prue

Six Measures of Barley

On good Friday I made a soup of chicken and barley from a recipe I had found in the newspaper. At the time, I didn’ t think about the Scripture, but later I remembered the story of Ruth: And Boaz said, ‘Bring the mantle you are wearing and hold it out.’ So she held it out, and he measured out six measures of barley, and laid it upon her; then she went into the city.” Ruth told Naomi, her mother-in-law, “These six measures of barley he gave me, for he said, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.”’ (Ruth 3:15 &17)

The gift of the barley was more than a simple kindness. Boaz had agreed to be a “kinsman redeemer”: for the widowed Ruth, by becoming her husband. Ruth had been gleaning in his fields for days and had been able to secure a generous amount of barley, but this gift was a sign of commitment to Naomi that Boaz would keep faith and marry Ruth. Neither Ruth nor Naomi asked for this barley; it was Boaz’ initiative alone.

They did marry, and their son Obed grew up to be the grandfather of David. The story of Ruth has delighted readers for thousands of years. It is a story illuminated by grace and reflecting the Spirit of God . It also reflects the Spirit of Jesus, another descendant of Ruth and Boaz.

The grace that comes to us through Jesus is like the barley poured out for Ruth, for just as that barley meant commitment from Boaz, Jesus’ trip to the cross, where his very blood was poured out, meant the commitment of his life to every person for his Father’s sake. On Easter Morning God offered His eternity to each one who believes. In the resurrection, God opened the door of His life to humanity, something He had wanted since the Fall. The “barley” Jesus poured out for us is the Holy Spirit he promised to send. Life on Earth has never been the same since that first Easter.

When Ruth came to Boaz at the threshing floor, she was received warmly with a blessing: “May you be blessed by the Lord. . . Do not fear, I will do for you all that you ask.” ( Ruth 3:10&11)

Today we are told by Paul, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ, and so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2Corinthians 1:20)

The barley soup reminded me of His Word, where I recalled that He Is risen!

Hallelujah!! Happy, Happy Easter!!

Love in Him,

Prue

Love and Fear

Sometimes you may know that, all unsolicited, you are accompanied by

Someone who is better than you, and is with you. The “Someone” is not

obtrusive, but conveys grace and peace. If the “Someone” were to speak, you

would hear, “Don’t be afraid.” Through the Bible, God the Holy Spirit speaks

these words to individuals who,in some cases, passed the words on to large

groups of the Hebrew people; and also found in these words much needed

courage themselves.

When I first understood the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), I became

afraid at the thought of their punishment for having told a lie to the Holy Spirit. I

couldn’t connect to such an extreme, and wondered where I would be in the

kingdom of such a God. The Scriptures answered my fears.

“The angel said to her,’Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with

God.’”(Luke 1:30) Mary’s “Don’t be afraid” came when she had apparently not

asked for anything of God. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and Gideon all listened

to these words; and in all, 365 times God delivered this admonition in the Bible,

for the possibility of being unafraid comes with a promise: “Perfect love drives

out fear.” (John 4:18)

When John wrote those words he was not naive enough to believe that human

beings could produce perfect love. He knew that “We love because He first loved

us.”

“Don’t be afraid,” says the Lord, because I have loved you with an everlasting

love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

For thousands of years God has spoken to His people about His love for them,

and reminded them not to be afraid. He was preparing for the great,

indisputable proof of His love in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of His

own Son.

God’s love is personal. It comes to us from the person of Jesus, and is displayed in

all His fabulous richness; “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. . .

Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John

15:9&13)

The greatness of His love gave us the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, who may say with

love when we face puzzling changes, “Don’t be afraid, for “Someone” loves us

with an everlasting love, and He has shown us the limitlessness of that love in His

Easter morning. In spite of the cataclysmic events of Holy Week, nothing could

be greater than the promise if resurrection life. Don’t be afraid.

Love in Him,

Prue

Going to parties, taking expensive trips, buying lots of clothes and jewelry were not high on my mother’s list of desirable things to do. When she went out or entertained friends at home, her one criteria for a good time was whether or not she had been able to share a good laugh. “Laugh! I thought I’d die!” was one of her favorite expressions, and she might say it coming home from the grocery store or during a picnic, or after talking with her cousins. Whenever she said “Laugh! I thought I’d die!”, we knew she had had a good time.

“Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:5)

God’s movement toward redeeming the world of mankind began with the unlikely birth of a baby named “laughter.” The laughter of Sarah echoes even today in every soul who experiences the unlikely but real presence of the living God in his or her life.

It was Abraham’s choice to name his son Isaac, but It was God’s angel who prompted it when he asked , “Why did Sarah laugh?” When she denied it, he answered firmly, “You did laugh”. (Genesis 18:15) Thousands of years later a young woman, descendant of Sara and Abraham, was pregnant with an unlikely child, and her joy recalled Sarah’s: “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,for the mighty one has done great things for me—holy is His name.’” (Luke 1:46-49)

The incongruous, sometimes silly things that people say and do brought laughter to my mother. The most unlikely birth of a baby, the gift of a new life itself, brought laughter to Sarah, and exultant joy to Mary. To think that our very relationship with our Maker began with a laugh, first of disbelief, and then of joy, opens our minds to the limitless goodness of our God, and His exquisite knowledge of our characters. He knows how to make us laugh! And He knows how good it will be for us. The Psalmist wrote, “Our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy.”(Psalm 126:2)

“Laugh! I thought I’d die!” My mother never died of laughter, but she passed her gift of laughter to her children. They all cherish a good laugh. In this Easter season, I look forward to even more joyful laughter.

Love in Him,

Prue

Standing in front of the back wall of a cave in Seminole Canyon and viewing the ancient rock paintings, knowing that they are as old or older than the Biblical Abraham, gave me a curious sensation of timelessness and mystery. The pictures include recognizable figures of animals and human–like beings; and one group in particular of such figures standing in a circle looked to me as if it was depicting a ritual of some kind. “Are these figures religious in some way?” I asked our guide. “Honey, those figures can be anything you want them to be,” she answered, “No one has any idea what any of them means. No present day tribe acknowledges the people of these artists as their ancestors. There is no record except these pictures, so it’s up to you what you think they mean.”

Besides the pictures there were other artifacts: partial sandals, baskets, and some spear-

like weapons. As I left the canyon I felt as if time had been telescoped and I had seen some things, but understood very little of the character of the people who once lived there.

By contrast, I felt that I could almost have a conversation with Abraham himself, and we would understand each other. Nothing is left to be seen or touched of that bronze age Biblical man or his family, but his very character is literally an open book to which we can turn at any time.: “Then the word of the Lord came to him (Abraham): “A son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir. . . Look up at the sky and count the stars , if, indeed you can count them. . . So shall your offspring be.’ Abraham believed the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness.’” (Genesis 15:4-6)

The God of Abraham was the God of Jesus of Nazareth as well. He is the God of all Christians today. The angel who spoke to the women who came to Jesus’ empty tomb said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He is Risen!” (Luke 24:6) The God who gave Abraham a son in his old age and the God who raised Jesus to new life after his death on the cross is the God who lives in our homes and in our lives today. He is no less powerful now than He was in Abraham’s day, or in the very day of resurrection, or in the day of our own answered prayers. The material substances of the lives of Abraham and Jesus have disappeared, but the reality of their Spirits works profoundly in ours.

I enjoyed the opportunity of seeing the cave drawings at Seminole Canyon, and imagining the lives of the people, but I love more the renewal and joy I experience in relating to the living Christ and his ancestor, Abraham.

Love in Him,

Prue

Early spring is the time I crave to renew the flower pots and yard beds. I spend the summer exulting in the display of beauty they bring to front and back yards. They’re no real carpets of color, but only accents that nevertheless delight the eye after a winter of brown grass and empty flower beds.

This year I debated between planting dianthus or vinca, which I usually plant. The difference is that dianthus is a perennial, while the vinca dies in the first frost and doesn’t return. Both are bright bloomers with vinca being most reliable, all summer and fall, and dianthus taking breaks from blooming from time to time; but dianthus also spreads and fills in to a greater degree. One advantage of the perennial is that I don’t have to replace so many of them every year. Once I asked my nephew, “When you’re planting your garden in the spring, are you thinking about what you will plant next year?” “Always! I’m always thinking about next year’s garden,” he answered.

On the very night before he died, Jesus knew that every word he said must last forever in the minds of his disciples, and for numberless others to come. He said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He prunes every branch in me that bears no fruit while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will bear even more fruit. . . No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” (John 15: 1&4)

Gardening, planting and agriculture mark the beginning of civilization. They also mark a spiritual beginning of hope and anticipation. Jesus told his disciples that remaining in touch with his Father was mirrored by the joy and anticipation of a rich harvest. The goodness he offers is the joy of union with God in our lives. It is a close union, as the vines are actually part of the plant itself. Jesus also said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” ( John 15:11)

It’s a joy to be deciding which beauties to lavish on my yard, but a deeper and higher joy to know that I’m sharing this with the Creator behind all joy.

I decided on the dianthus.

Love in Him,

Prue

In the year 2000, Joy Perfume was declared the “Scent of the Century” by the Fragrance Foundation Fifi Award event in Paris. Joy Perfume had been introduced in 1926, and for some time was known as the world’s costliest perfume. By many, it is still regarded as the best perfume in the world.

One day I was showing a friend some of the plants in our garden, and I said proudly, “This is the “Joy” flower whose fragrance is that of the perfume.”

“And why would you want that? What difference does that make?” asked my friend. I couldn’t think of an answer. “Of course, I said, “It doesn’t matter at all.” I didn’t dare to admit that a small bottle of Joy Perfume resides on my dresser.

Truly , the most famous perfume in the world was introduced more than two thousand years ago. It was made of pure “nard”, a root that had been used by the ancient Egyptians before it was ever poured over the feet of Jesus of Nazareth: “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured is on Jesus ‘ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But Judas Iscariot objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and given to the poor? It is worth a year’s wages.’. . .

“Leave her alone”, Jesus replied. . “It was intended that she should save this perfume for my burial.” (John 12:3-8).

Lent is a time for deep thinking, and the Bible presents lots of food for such thinking. When Mary’s love for Jesus overflowed in her extravagant gesture, Jesus saw in her more than a dutiful young woman, but a loving spirit with an unutterable appreciation for all that Jesus had meant to her and her family. Jesus recognized his own Father’s Spirit at work in Mary, and it outstripped every other consideration, even the ongoing care for the poor.

Nard is a powerful, lasting perfume. It is possible that its fragrance could have been been still detected one week later when Jesus endured the Cross. My friend’s words made me think more deeply about the “perfume flower”, and about my real source of Joy.

Love in Him,

Prue

Rock Language

The word “bergmal” in the Icelandic language can be translated as “rock language” in English, but it means what we call an “echo.” This piece of information came from the website “Mental Floss” which I was browsing for the fun of it. The phrase “rock language” triggered images from the Bible of trees and mountains rejoicing: “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 50:12) and “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, (psalm 98:8)

The jubilation is so great that only the voices of nature can capture the joy of a people who belong to God. In the “Chronicles of Narnia”, C.S. Lewis’ seven novel collection of stories of the mystical land of Narnia, trees and rivers and animals and imaginary characters raise their voices and speak of the wonders of Aslan, their Savior: “Have you ever stood at the edge of a great wood on a high ridge when a wild southwester broke over it in full fury on an autumn evening? Imagine that sound. And then imagine that wood. . . was rushing at you; and was no longer trees but huge people; yet still like trees…” (Prince Caspian, Chapter 14).

For Christians the goodness of nature, its beauty , variety, renewal and fullness of life, are forever reminders of Christ’s resurrection: “See, the winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” (Song of Songs2:11-12). The splendors of nature, coupled with the imagination of human beings, produces awe and praise for the Creator of life itself.

The Icelanders’ language gave a voice to rocks, as God gave a voice to The rock at the tomb. It was sealed and marked by Rome before it was rolled away to expose an empty tomb. Its language echoes still in the world as we probe the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection during Lent, in preparation for Easter, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–His power and Divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”(Romans 1:20)

The secret of knowing the rock’s language is knowing nature’s creator, a knowledge He loves to impart, and His Son loves to share, It echoes today, and it’s ours for the asking.

Love in Him,

Prue

On the “Antiques Roadshow” a woman brought a small piece of old paper with a faded note written on it , and Abraham Lincoln’s signature. She assumed that the note was written by a secretary, but that the signature might be worth something. She was

right about the signature, but the appraiser told her that the message itself was in Lincoln’s handwriting, and was certainly written by him.

The message was a “pass” to allow a widow to cross Union lines during the Civil War in order to visit relatives in the North. The owner was astonished that the whole piece was hand written by Lincoln, and the appraiser said that the signature was worth a few thousand dollars, but having the whole note gave a window into the character of Lincoln, and placed us at the time and place. It was worth many thousands more than just the signature alone.

When Christians say “It’s a God thing!” I think they have perceived the signature of God in an incident in the world around them. Many times it seems to be the closest that we can come to our Savior God, but His whole Book is actually available to find Him and find ourselves in His timelessness and perfect place. Daily reading His book opens vast windows into the life of our God, which He intends to share with us: “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him,” (Proverbs 30:5),and “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds. . . teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:18)

In the New Testament Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31)

The faded piece of paper contained an undeniable truth, not only of a point in time, but of the character of the writer. For that, it was very, very valuable. The Bible contains glimpses of a distant time and place, but also it reveals the character of a timeless God who has not changed, but whose character has become clearer with the years of believers who have read His word, and held to His teachings. Indeed, in the midst of confusion His words have the power to set us free. What could possibly be more valuable?

Love in Him,

Prue