I moved to the city of Norwalk, CT towards the end of the winter of 2007. On my way to work each day I drove through a residential area and one property, in particular caught my eye. Unfortunately, my attention was not peaked because of a positive feature, but a negative one.

You see, the property that I am describing is one that sits on the corner of a busy intersection and SMACK in the center of this otherwise desirable location is a MASSIVE electrical transmission line tower! I recall one day soon after I moved to Norwalk, commenting to my employer about how unfortunate it was that this attractive home has such a monstrosity of a negative feature on their property. I dismissed the property as an ‘eyesore’ to the neighborhood. Little did I realize at the time, that this homeowner annually turns such a negative feature into a conversation piece and focal point for the entire community!

Last spring, as I daily passed this property, I watched as gardeners slowly and methodically cleaned out, previously unnoticed flowerbeds, planting seedlings and young annuals for a future show. Upon my return to Norwalk last September, I was AMAZED at the transformation of this property! There, for every passerby to view and enjoy, was a spectacular show of color and bloom! Yes, I had to “eat my words” as this once, ‘eye-sore’ of a property had become a true summer show place!

True to tradition, as once again I returned to Norwalk from spending the summer in Maine, I passed this property and was again amazed at the lovely display of flowers, vegetables and grasses! I HAD to stop and take some photos and as I did, I immediately applied the transformed yard and garden to a spiritual truth.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV

If any of you know me personally, you may agree that there has been a transformation in my life; one that is ongoing until the day I depart this earth. Because of God’s great love for me, Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, atoning for my sins and thus, providing me the opportunity to become a NEW CREATION! When I acknowledged Christ as my Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit filled me and began what I view as, an astounding transformation! Where once there were huge, ugly sins and stains, Jesus has washed me clean, made me new and cultivated, as it were, a beautiful, thriving garden of my life!

I am amazed daily as the Holy Spirit takes the sinfulness that wells up in the ‘flesh’ part of me and washes it clean! Just like this lovely garden has been tenderly cultivated and cared for, so my life in Christ has been formed and is continually nurtured into a sacrifice that is pleasing to Him. Others may not always see the beauty in my life, I even question ‘beauty’ at times, but I know that my Lord considers my life beautiful and He smiles when I am obedient and I honor Him.

How I wish I had taken a “before” photo so that you could truly appreciate the astounding transformation of this residential property in Norwalk, but you will have to imagine. During the winter months anything in the photos that you see that shows color, texture or form, is simply not there! Instead of color and lush foliage and blossoms, there is DIRT and BARREN, COLOR-LESS landscape.


Praise God for transformation! He is GOD of new beginnings and new life!
A thought for the day: As Christians, are our lives a true credit to the Master Gardener?

I am praising God today for His care and provision during my summer months in Maine and for His protection while I traveled back to Connecticut today!

I have been praying for some time about my curernt health insurance situation. My COBRA insurance expired in May and for the summer months I have been covered by a minimal plan for camp staff along with a temporary 'major medical' plan that my employer is currently paying. Just days ago my employer told me that she will be providing a raise in my salary and because she does not want that money used to cover my health insurance expenses but to upgrade my lifestyle (as she said), she will be increasing my health insurance allotment by a significant amount also!

Now.....that is a testimony of God at work! I am SO VERY THANKFUL for His power at work in my life! A dear friend of mine, just this evening, as he was filling me in on 'news' of mutual friends of ours, said, "God is good to those who do good". I try hard to order my life according to the footsteps of Christ. I don't always do that well, but God knows my heart and He faithfully is SO GOOD to me!

I am praising God for all that He is and does!

Hi bloggers...

I like this photo that I took while walking one morning here at camp. I've mentioned in the past that I LOVE to take and collect photos and pictures of paths, all of which I relate to my own spiritual journey as I walk with Christ. THIS photo is the first one that I've collected that includes a HUGE rock dead center in the path! I was sure there was a spiritual lesson in the photo! Here it is:

I thought, "How often is our spiritual walk just like this photo"? The path seems clear, the way looks straight and our walk is going along fine......until we come upon a HUGE ROCK right in the center of the path!

What to do? How do you handle the situation when you are faced with a barrier or a road block as you are "Walking God's Way"? From this photo it sure looks like it would be easy enough to simply 'go around' the barrier in the path, but is that always the way of Christ? If you were driving a car or other vehicle down the path, simply driving 'around' the obstacle would not even be an option; there would be NO WAY to go around it!

It's at times like this when we realize the importance of keeping our eyes on our Father in heaven who knows all things, loves us and CARES for us. HE is ABLE to remove any road block, to help us to navigate over or around it or even smash it to pieces if need be! Sometimes God may even orchestrate or allow the road block to force us STOP and look to Him, waiting until the path is navigable. The crucial point is that, at all times while we are "Walking God's Way", we keep our EYES ON CHRIST for every step and direction!

May your eyes be fixed on HIM today!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Hi bloggers,

I am interested to know if any of you read my favorite devotional, “My Utmost for His Highest”?

I have been reading this same devotional for many years now and everyday as I read the Spirit inspired words written by Oswald Chambers, the Holy Spirit speaks to the depths of my soul. It is interesting to me, looking back to when I first began reading this devotional, how the words of this devotional seemed to LEAP off the pages and right into my heart! I didn’t know then that it was the Holy Spirit who was so deeply ministering to my spirit through the words of this author. Back in those days I barely KNEW the Holy Spirit like I do today and yet, He knew me and knew exactly how to minister to me and teach me! I find that incredible!

Well, yesterday’s devotional, August 19, once again spoke to my soul. Following is a quote from the author:

“Beware of leakage, of dividing up of your life by the influences of friends or circumstances; beware of anything that is going to split up your oneness with Him (Christ) and make you see yourself separately.” WOW…I just LOVE the way Oswald Chambers writes!

If I have learned anything this summer, while spending some intimate time with Christ, and without phone, TV or internet most of the time, it has been the reality of remaining ever ‘connected’ to Jesus. In my life, just as Oswald Chambers states, it seems the moment that I become conscious of SELF and all the circumstances, worries and everyday stresses in life, that is the moment that I begin to become ‘disconnected’ from Christ…and those are probably the very moments when I need connected to Him the most!

Oswald Chambers referenced the scripture in Matthew 11:28 when Jesus said, “Come unto Me” as being the remedy to being disconnected to Christ. While reading this devotional, I was led to the scripture in John 15:4 when Jesus said, “Remain in me and I will remain in you…”.

May I repeat more words of Oswald Chambers when he suggests in this devotional that we, “Ask the Holy Spirit to produce CHRIST-CONSCIOUSNESS in us”. And I would add, that we must then learn to ABIDE in that CHRIST-consciousness and the very Presence of Jesus!

May we all experience God’s mercy and grace while we are “Walking God’s Way”.

Hi bloggers…

I just finished reading the book of Jude. That means that my next reading will begin with the book of Revelation. I’m looking forward, with great anticipation, to reading this book once again.

Since 1997, I have read the Bible 5 times. (will be 5 after I finish the book of Revelation!) Compared to some people I know, this is not a big accomplishment at all; I know people who have read the Bible nearly 15 times in as much or less time than I have read my five readings. On the other hand, I know people who confess the name of Christ who have not read the Bible in it’s entirety even one time. I try not to look at the accomplishments of others as a measuring rod of my own Christian walk, but I must look to a higher and quite different standard…the life, actions and person of Jesus.

I mention reading the Bible in its entirety only as a challenge for each of you who read this blog. To read the Bible through, beginning to end, will have a profound effect on your Christian walk, your spiritual growth and your understanding of God’s Word. Reading the Bible from ‘cover to cover’ is definitely one of the best things I have done to enhance and deepen my spiritual walk. When I completed reading the entire Bible and began to read the second time, from Genesis to Revelation, I was AMAZED at how much I had actually grasped and remembered from the first reading. With every new reading of this divinely inspired book, I have grown deeper and deeper in my understanding of God, of Christ, of His purpose and plan for me, not to mention a greater understanding of Jewish and Christian history and teachings in general. It has been truly, ‘eye opening’, not to mention “heart-opening”.

I first was inspired to read the Bible in its entirety, when a dear friend challenged me to do that very thing. He, being of the MALE species and an engineer to boot, had calculated exactly how many chapters he needed to read so that he would be able to read the entire Bible in a year…and he methodically accomplished that task many times! While I was not so concerned WHEN I would complete reading the entire Bible, I DID realize I had much to learn and knew that I truly WANTED to grow as a Christian. I accepted my friend’s challenge to begin to read the Bible from cover to cover and have NEVER been disappointed and certainly never considered my reading to be wasted time!

God’s Word has become very precious to me and I cherish it. There are days when I am more receptive than other days and there are times when the Holy Spirit seems to speak more loudly than other times, but EVERY day that I read God’s Word, my soul is nourished! Taking in God’s Word is much like consuming food, which is fuel for our body. When I ‘fuel’ my soul, I am doing something that will have eternal value and significance!

I encourage you to take a step and begin to read God’s word. If you have questions, please ask! To those of you who HAVE read the Bible in its entirety, KEEP READING! May you all be blessed abundantly for your diligence and effort!

Now, on to the Revelation of John!

“We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says,

“I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.

This is how we know we are IN HIM:

Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”

1 John 2:3-6 NIV

I was reading this scripture last night before I started any leisure activity and had to stop and ask God, “How did I do today”? I ask you also, “How did YOU do today?”

What are the characteristics that exemplified Christ’s life? Were those same characteristics present IN MY LIFE today? YIKES! The more I know God and His word….the more I see myself as the wretched sinner that I know I am!

Quietly, I begin to think of the incidents of the day where I acted contrary to God’s Word and direction.

· I ‘grumbled’ when there was a man cleaning the women’s restroom at L.L. Bean today, (waiting in line I’m not always good at doing!)
· I exceeded the speed limit as I drove (not honoring and abiding by the established ‘law’ of this land)
· I ate a Big Mac, probably a horrible food that Jesus NEVER would have subjected His holy body to
· and on and on.

I know, those acts of my day might seem trivial to you, but as I read this scripture, the Word sank deep into my heart. I asked the Holy Spirit just this morning to teach and convict me and shine His light on His Word so that I would learn and be more like Christ….and here I am tonight, examining my life and the actions of this day very closely! It seems that because I truly want to ‘grow in Christ’, the Holy Spirit continually shows me more and more…even the ‘trivial stuff’. He is always burning off the chaff or rubbing out the smudges of my life.

I must admit… I DO say, “I know Him” and yet there are times when I DO NOT do what God commands. The above scripture says I’m a liar in that case….hmmm) I ponder…and ask myself, “How deeply do I REALLY love God and honor His commands?” Our saying one thing and doing another…..it’s a bit like in the book of James where scripture asks if both fresh water and salt water can come from the same spring, or if a fig tree can produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? God wants whole-hearted and total ‘sold-out’ followers.

What now? This post isn’t written to put anyone on a “Lindy imposed Guilt Trip” nor is it written to make anyone feel like a second rate Christian. I write to myself, mostly, though I write with the conviction from the Holy Spirit, so…take it as HE leads.
What I do next is this; With a contrite heart, I approach the throne of GRACE and MERCY and seek God’s promised forgiveness. Just prior to the above selected scripture, in 1 John 1:9, the Word says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

After prayer and thanksgiving, I prepare and move on to a new moment and a new day full of PROMISE, to serve Him as He desires!

Praise God for His great grace and mercy. We are SO undeserving of that love…but it is FREE and God is waiting to shower His love on His dear children who come to Him, admitting their sin and who seek to love Him more deeply and serve Him better.

God is One of second chances….and third and fourth and even one hundredth, if that is what it takes! Every day is new! Every moment is fresh and ready to be lived FOR CHRIST. May we all accept the great challenge to “walk as Jesus did”.

To date, I have always written and posted my own thoughts and inspiration from the Holy Spirit on this blog. Today, hoever, I ran across a lovely post on the "Biblical Womanhood" blog site that I will share with you. I've included the web address so you also can visit and be blest.

http://www.biblicalwomanhoodonline.com/blog.htm

During my devotional time yesterday morning, I became profoundly aware of the reality that God created all things for His own pleasure. Man was created in God's image and for His pleasure, and God loved His creation. Of course, after the fall of man, we became separated from our Creator and this certainly didn't please God, as He hates, and can not tolerate SIN. But imagine the sweet, intimate relationship with God PRIOR to the fall? Sinless, Pure, Innocent, Beautiful, Shameless, and so much more; and God walked and talked among us. The relationship was like none other could ever be!

Now, as I said, I know the fall of man (SIN) has destroyed our intimate relationship with God, but because of His enduring, faithful and perfect love for man, God sent Jesus, HIS only dear Son, who would be the perfect sacrifice that was necessary to atone for our SIN. (John 3:16)

How THANKFUL I am, that someone took time to share this Truth with me and how THANKFUL I am that God saw fit to tenderize my heart, allowing me to receive Christ as my Savior and Lord! For over 25 years, I have walked as a REDEEMED child of God! I have been reconciled back into perfect relationship with God and am now able to commune with HIM, just as if I had never sinned at all….because of Christ!

With that said, I had to ask myself this morning if my life truly is PLEASING to God. Does God ‘take pleasure’ in me and in the way I live my life? Do I live my life in a way that is pleasing to God and does my life honor Him as best I am able? I wasn’t sure. I know too often that temptation gives way to sin in my life and old habits and evil ‘garbage’ in me surface from time to time. I had to ask, How could I, a saved and redeemed child of God, now and always live to best please God and live in intimate communion with Him, yet still live, as we all do, in this fallen and evil world?

The Holy Spirit reminded me of some simple answers to that question: (not in any order)
· OBEY what God teaches (His Word)
· LIVE like Jesus lived (His ways and will)
· LOVE God back (Return God’s LOVE back to Him)
· LOVE others as He requires
· WORSHIP God
· PRAY always
· Stay connected to The Vine, Jesus
· CONFESS and REPENT of any sin

These are just some of the ways that we can live to give God the greatest pleasure. Quite a challenge! May we all live to PLEASE Him every day, as He desires!