The HEAVENS DECLARE

I have been in a terrible slump for the last several years.

There have been times when I have reached many peaks of encouragement and times where I have waded through valleys of deep sorrow. Hence, my writing stopped all-together.


Melancholic Artist. Some of you will know exactly what I mean.

Amazing though - my unsteady wave riding doesn't change who God is. I am grateful - He is unchangeable...immovable. He remains King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I took this photo yesterday, right out my back door. He truly is the Master Artist.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Psalm 19:1

THE LAND OF THE LIVING

Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

~Susan Ertz, Anger in the Sky

At the base of this pear tree lies the tell-tale evidence of when I once cut it down. I had a fanciful notion of building a posh little outdoor deck where I could entertain. The deck never came to fruition as the pear tree never bore fruit. But, at the time I felt justified.

In an extended act of defiance this little fruitless pear showed me up. It grew back with a "you have no power over me" vengeance.

It now stands strong and tall without the benefit of a Sunset magazine deck floating about its heels. The womb that was once empty now swells with gift basket fruit.

This morning I find myself pressed to remember that with death comes new life.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD... Read More
In the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

-Psalm 27 13-14

SUPERNATURAL NAVIGATOR

Dreams are so much a reflection of this present life – with all of its tonal values both dark and light and shadows of grey.

I was driving up a very steep and windy road located on a cliff. It was not long before I started to become anxious. The breaks had gone out. The car started rolling faster and faster. And, then at some point the car did something extremely unusual. It started to move backwards. I kept hitting the breaks to no avail. It dawned on me that I was facing eminent death. There was nothing I could do except call out to God.

At this point in the dream (I have to confess) – it got a little campy. I really can’t stand this song, (so I find this interesting at best) but in my dream the audio played "Jesus take the wheel." This is about as weird as the dream got.

Anyway, I called out to God and sure enough the car started to navigate those steep curves (backwards, no less) supernaturally. I had No Control. And, just like in life when we ask the Lord for help, we question Him. I had asked for His divine intervention and at the same time I was wondering how the car was navigating those curves while it was speeding backwards. Eventually, the car was safely guided to a sandy bank. I got out and was completely baffled by the whole experience.

I ended up at a church (I used to attend ages ago) and saw my pastor. He looked at me and said, “Oh good you’re here. Now you can help me with this.”

In my head I kept thinking, “But, pastor you don’t know what I’ve just been through.” And, yet the look on his face indicated that the Lord knew.

In the end, this is all that truly matters.


When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

-Isaiah 42:3

A HEART OF FLESH

I will give you
a new heart

and put a
new spirit within you;

I will take the heart of stone
out of your flesh

and give you
a heart of flesh



-Ezekial 26:24

THE LOVE OF A FRIEND

"A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend, one human soul whom we can trust utterly, who knows the best and worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults."

-Charles Kingsley

Tommorow is my birthday. I consider myself highly fortunate because God has been kind enough to extend my life thus far. It is no small wonder that my life is insulated with a small number of true companions. I have much to be thankful for.

The cards, letters, and flower delivery that my dear friends have sent me have done my heart good. I have the sweetest contingent of friends - all highly gifted and multi-faceted.

One gift came from my spiritual sister Bonnie. She sent me a photograph of her son and my close friend Logan who died of lymphoma a few years ago. The warmth of his smile in the picture made me feel like he was actually here.

Birthdays are best celebrated when you know and sense God's love. I experience a great deal of this marvelous phenomena this through the kindness and kinship of my friends.

Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

A SUN-KISSED BREAKFAST TABLE

It is midnight in my little corner of the world and I have breakfast on the brain.
It is the one culinary indulgence that inspires me to sing and dance with no shame.
It is my confession feast; I readily tell all of my love and joy for a sun-kissed breakfast table.

After a long night of darkness, it is good to witness the shadows of the night disappear. Morning food is the celebration feast that honors this glorious light.

Here is my recipe for Raspberry Souffle Pancakes (inspired by Bette's Diner in Berkeley):

3 Egg Yolks (2 in the photo, but it is 3 egg yolks)
1/2 Cup Almond Milk
1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
1.5 Tablespoons Melted Butter
1 teaspoon organic cane sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 egg whites
1-1/4 Cup Raspberries
Good quality organic maple syrup

Preheat your oven at 375 degrees. Beat the egg yolks in a large bowl, add the almond milk and continue to whip with a whisk. Take a rubber spatula and stir in flour to combine. Continue to stir in sugar, salt, and melted butter.

In a separate mixing bowl whip egg whites in a mixer on high speed until medium peaks form. Fold whipped whites into batter until combined. Gently fold in one cup of the raspberries.

Heat a 10 inch iron skillet and butter the bottom and sides. Pour batter into pan and then dot & top remaining berries on the wet pancake. Let it set for a couple of minutes on the stovetop (make sure it is not on high heat) and then transfer to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Check your pancake at the 13 minute mark.


Pancake should be baked all the way through, puffed and light brown. Shake the iron skillet to remove the pancake. It should slide right out. Dust pancake with powdered sugar and top with maple syrup. Breakfast is served!

God is in the midst of her,

she will not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

Psalm 46:5

NOT BEYOND THE SEA

The LORD your God will make you abound
in all the work of your hand,
in the fruit of your body,
in the increase of your livestock,
and in the produce of your land for good.

For the LORD will again rejoice over you
for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,
if you obey the voice
of the LORD your God,
to keep His commandments and His statutes
which are written in this Book of the Law,
and if you turn to the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul.

For this commandment
which I command you today
is not too mysterious for you,
nor is it far off.

It is not in heaven,
that you should say,
“Who will ascend into heaven
for us and bring it to us,
that we may hear it and do it?”

“Nor is it beyond the sea,
that you should say,
“Who will go over the sea
for us and bring it to us,
that we may hear it and do it?”

But the word is very near you,
in your mouth and in your heart,
that you may do it.

-Deuteronomy 30:9-14

HE IS IN CONTROL

Singer-Songwriter Corrinne May, singing "Fly Away."
Beautiful!


A few days ago I had a dream that I had flown higher and faster than any other flying dream that I have ever had.

The dream started with me driving in my car up on a high mountaintop. I was reminded of Italy (even though I've never been there). There were several villages below and the landscape was beautiful. Once I reached the top I was able to see that road was not passable. Several trees had dropped and their were huge boulders scattered everywhere. I sat down on a rock, looked at the landscape, and wondered what I was going to do.

A hiker walked around the corner from the road I had travelled on. She sat down beside me and talked with me. I looked directly at her and asked her what she was doing there. She smiled and said, "You know me." A powerful sense of who this person was emerged; I recognized that she was an angel.

She seemed to disapear in a shroud of light at the same time that I was commissioned to fly.
The flight was pure vertical. I went up and up and up. It almost felt like being in a strong vacuum. I had no control over the direction or course. Yet, I knew I was completely safe. The flight was exhilirating and joyful.

As I have now come to understand this dream, I believe that the Lord was allowing me to see a glimpse into the spiritual realm. For the last several months, I have been wrestling with a trial that has at times perplexed me, saddened me, and discouraged me. The divine intervention into my dream is clear. My road has been seemingly impassable. And, yet The Lord God has called me to be an overcomer. To experience true triumph and soaring over all of my problems. He has been faithful to remind me that He has it all in control.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
-Jeremiah 29:11

LOVE EDIFIES

Now concerning things offered to idols:
We know that we all have knowledge.
Knowledge puffs up,
but love edifies.
And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
But if anyone loves God,this one is known by Him.

-1Corinthians 8:1-3

SETTING SAIL

As bed sores are to the bedridden patient,
so are dock wounds to the tethered sailor.

I have spent far too much time clinging to the pier of familiarity.

My timid heart has prevented me from getting in the beautiful wooden boat of courage I was always intended to sail.

The unseen terror of the unknown has deceived me into believing that I am anchored to this port. The dock itself is not without charm or merits of beauty, but I was never meant to stay here.

The irony in my present state is that no matter where I am on the shore, the tempestuous winds of life still manage to find me.

Thankfully though, I serve the Master Captain, the Lord of all creatures - timid and brave alike. He has not given up on me; He continues to put my trembling frame at ease. The evidence of His affection is what allows me to see the beauty of possibility and the vision of sails unfurled.

By virtue of His divine commission, I am granted resolute faithfulness, precise guidance for the course, constant companionship, and no greater love that will now allow me to set sail for a grand adventure.

I sought the LORD, and He heard me........And delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4