Stepping Stones

My mom has a slate rock patio, made of dozens of flat 6-12" slate pieces that she found in area forests, carted home,and dug individually into the perfect position in the ground. I raked away the leaves that covered her lovely patio, and my folks and I sat in lounge chairs surveying the slowly improving back yard. As we looked out over the areas that remained to be raked, Dad mentioned that now what was needed was a slate pathway from the sunroom door to the slate patio. It is about 30 feet long. He didn't direct that comment to me, but it was clear he and Mom were not likely to do it.

"That's a lot of work,"said Mom.
"Oh no," he said, "Just plop the slate down in a row."
"I had to dig in every single one of these patio pieces," she pointed out, "And carried in every piece of slate from wherever I could find it."
The subject was dropped.

I had a full job yesterday digging a trench around their front yard line of bushes and then mulching. It looked splendid when I finished. I was dripping sweat and my new haircut looked anything but chic. My folks had a doctor appointment, but before they left, I asked if there was another job they would like me to do while they were gone. They asked me to transplant some wandering pachysandra that had hopped outside of the area they were supposed to be contained in, and also to dig up some day lilies and move them to the fence line. The transplant victims were right along the path where my dad had envisioned a slate path.

When they left, I began transplanting and was surprised how soft the ground was and how easy it was to dig. Perhaps that slate path was not out of the realm of possibility. I would be able to gather slate from the yard and would just put in a stone about every 5 feet. Well, I did so, and realized it would look much better if I put a stone in between each stone. After doing that, I decided the gaps in the path were still too large and dug in more slate stepping stones. Two hours later, with dirt deeply embedded in my nails, my hair a dripping frizzy wild mass, and my hands aching, a full lovely path had been created.

I didn't think I had it in me to make a thirty foot slate pathway. However, I had been surprised to see I could do a less than perfect pathway, and bit by bit, it got better. Pretty soon, I would not have stopped if my life depended on it until the pathway was complete.

Here is the lesson.

No one should avoid doing good because they don't think they have it in them. Even one stone on a muddy path is better than none.And quite often, once one stone is laid, the next one seems a little easier. It is not unlike the path of faith. Step by feeble step, as we move towards God, God reveals Himself, and what begins as a mustard seed grows into the mightiest of trees.

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Psalm 25:4-5 

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 37:23-24 

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

2Kings 3: 16-17

"And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus
saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that
valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle,
and your beasts."  

Priceless, but Costing Nothing

I have not cut my hair in a year. I figured I would go for the 'recluse-of-the-mountain-hag' look and save some money. However, now traveling and doing a lot of yard work for my folks, it was long and hot. In addition, my daughter told me I looked "scarey." So I called my very chic sister-in-law who lives in the area and asked where she gets her hair cut. I knew she would have an excellent stylist. Unfortunately, her stylist was not able to see me this week, but my brother John's stylist was available,. Jenny told me that John's stylist was also excellent.

My brother has a hair stylist?

Anyway, I called Ashley, my brother's stylist, and made an appointment. I figured after a year of no haircuts, no matter what she charged, it was worth it. To be sure I had enough cash, I asked Ashley what she charged.
"$15."
"One five?" I asked, flabbergasted. I expected $50.
""Yes," she said.
I could not believe it. Our "cheap" hairdressers in Charlotte cost at least that. This young lady owned her own shop. Could she be any good?
For $15, I was willing to take a chance.

I walked out of there with one of the more lovely haircuts I have ever gotten, a simple and fail-safe bob. What a precious and wondrous surprise - to spend so little and receive so much. It is like God's grace and mercy. It cost us so little, though it cost Jesus so much. All that is required of us is to accept the free gift of His atoning sacrifice for our sins. And in return, we receive the most priceless thing in all the earth -- eternal life and communion with our Creator.

Much as I love my haircut that cost me next to nothing, this is a far, far better deal.

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Mark 16:16 

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 2:38 

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16 

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Acts 2:1-47

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven

John 3:16-17 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Romans 10:9 

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:8-10 

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Luke 10:25-28 

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Be a String Trimmer

Yard work is largely my husband's domain, thus somehow, I had never used a string trimmer before. In my visit here with my folks, I am tackling a different little project each day on the road to beautifying their yard and helping out with projects that are difficult for them to do. Yesterday's task was to first gather all the downed twigs and branches, and then string trim around the yard's decorative islands.

The string trimmer hadn't been used in years. The spiders were terribly upset with me as I took it down from its perch on the sidewall of the garage. First unfamiliar task was how to turn it on. After some time, I figured out which switch likely controlled that maneuver, but then second unfamiliar task confronted me. The battery operated trimmer was not charged. To charge it, I had to remove the battery pack. Both my dad and I tried unsuccessfully to do so. Fortunately, my daughter Asherel still has grip strength, and she was able to wrench it off. Unfamiliar task number three was not hard. Charging the battery pack required only the courage to plug in a device that had been dormant for years. Would I be electrocuted? I was not, and the charging commenced.

Unfamiliar task number four was the most daunting. How does one actually use a string trimmer? I had seen others effortlessly do so, digging lovely clear dirt trenches where once unsightly creeping vegetation reigned. I was eager to work this magic. First I turned the string trimmer upside down to see what iron sharp cutting blades completed this miracle. All I saw were two flimsy strings. I was certain the trimmer was broken, and brought it to my mom.

"I think your trimmer is missing parts. All that is left are these strings."
"That's all that is needed," she told me.
"How do these strings cut the grass?" I asked, amazed.
"They whirl around at such a high speed that they just do," she said.
I had never really considered why it was called a string trimmer. I would never have imagined tiny strands of string could do such a mighty thing.

And hallelujah! God was sending me my daily message! I am a tiny strand of string. I am weak, and feeble, and truth be told, terribly flawed. For now we will leave old out of the equation, but that applies as well. Sometimes, I hang unused on the sideline because I am certain I am not up to the task.  But beloved, plug me in to the Source of Power, and I can do anything required of me. At least, I have the potential to do so, and I will accomplish it not because of my own strength, which is about as great as a tiny string, but through Him who strengthens me!

I powered up that old string trimmer and within minutes, the trim edge around both islands was complete. I stood back and surveyed my work thinking, "Oh my, I serve a mighty God."

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Matthew 19:26 - But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Mark 9:23 - Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth.

Mark 10:27 - And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Luke 1:37 - For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 18:27 - And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Matthew 17:20 - And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Genesis 11:6 - And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Hebrews 6:18 - That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].

Pulling Away the Rot

The beautiful island of lovely plants we had installed on my parents' front lawn looked barren.Where once beautiful bushy plants had waved fronds and flowers, now only dead long tendrils of brown and rotting masses lay. I put on my gardening gloves and set to work pulling the dead vegetation away and weeding the many baby dandelions. What a wonderful surprise lay beneath the masses of brown decay! As I cut away the dreary dead stalks, I found the new plant growing, its tiny leaves green and bursting with new life. All is not lost! The beautiful plants have not died! They were only dormant, waiting for gentle hands to pull away the layers of rot so they could bloom again in the light of a healing sun.

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Isaiah 35: 1-4
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
 the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2 it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
 The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
 They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!
 Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."

The Days of our Youth

Right before a major trip up North, the car needed to be inspected. I left it with the capable inspectors, and headed to a nearby shady green-way for a walk. It is blistering hot already in Charlotte, but the tree-lined green-way was comfortable. As I walked along, I passed a little pond where some ducks were sitting on a log. I remembered several years ago when my daughter and I released a frog there that we had raised from a tadpole. Asherel named the frog, "Greeny." (Guess what color Greeny was?) Anyway, Asherel never met a creature she didn't love and she would become very excited about this time each spring when the tadpoles hatched. Every year, we had to catch tadpoles, bring home a good bit of the pond water so they would have lots of yummy microorganisms to munch on, and then watch them sprout legs and lose their tails.

It was pretty fascinating really, except for when the tadpoles died, which was often. In fact, I am not sure I recall a single tadpole surviving, except Greeny. But, soon the care and feeding of Greeny fell to me as Asherel lost interest. So I suggested we let Greeny go. We walked together to the little pond along the green-way, and dumped Greeny into the water. He quickly disappeared.

As I walked along the edge of the pond yesterday in the blistery hot day, I remembered the little girl and how we used to hunt for tadpoles together. Sometimes I wish some things remained the same as the hot sun beating down on a Carolina day.

That "little" girl and I will be traveling for a couple of weeks, visiting grandfolk and colleges. Additionally, today my dear daughter-in-law, Karissa, will be graduating from law school. We get to hang out with her and my beloved son for a couple days, and then on to my folks and a full flotilla of college visits. My blog may be sparsely posted during that time. Forgive me, but my heart will be centered on this trip to see the world again through the eyes of my daughter, no longer catching tadpoles, but instead  glimpsing her future as she sprouts her legs and loses her tail.

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Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them"

1 Timothy 4:12 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Jeremiah 1:4-8 

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

The Obvious Destination of the Road

The road had to lead there. There is no surprise in this news, though no joy. Ron Virmani, the doctor who kills babies at the Preferred Women Center on Latrobe Ave in Charlotte where I beg women to turn away from abortion was arrested yesterday for rape. The only surprise was that it wasn't the other Latrobe Clinic doctor that was arrested, since that one had his license suspended some years ago for sexual misconduct. Nice folk that make abortion such a pleasant and "safe" "choice", don't you think?  I know that no one is guilty until proven guilty, but Virmani is already guilty of murdering thousands of babies. He already trampled on the first oath of any doctor, to do no harm. Rape is certainly not outside his revealed character.

Just Monday, I counseled a young couple to flee from that abortion mill as fast as they could. I told them about the doctor's records. This was before I knew about the rape charge.
"Can you show me proof?" asked the young man.
I hurried to my car where I keep a folder that bulges with the terrible abuses of these so-called doctors. As he looked at the proof that what I claimed was true, he asked, "Is there a safe place we can go?"
"A safe place to kill your baby?" I asked, "That is not the question you should be asking. You should be asking is it right to kill my baby in the first place."
He paused, and looked at me.
"That's true," he said. Nonetheless, as far as I know, the couple went through with the abortion.

Meanwhile, HGTV cancelled the TV series "Flip it Forward" about the Benham brothers buying and fixing up homes for surprised and delighted needy folks. I work alongside the Benham brothers' Dad on the abortion mill sidewalks. The whole family is fiercely pro-life. Apparently, that "hateful" attitude as well as devotion to tradtional marriage, and Christian principles has branded them unfit for HGTV. Their inspirational work helping the poor should certainly not be put out on the airwaves in light of their highly objectionable love of God, family, and strangers. I see HGTV's dilemma.

Perhaps HGTV could instead do a reality show with Ron Virmani, the abortion doctor. Of course, if he is convicted, they will have to wait till he gets out of jail to film his series, but there is none of that nasty religious stuff to worry about with him.

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Isaiah 32:17
17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

A Future and a Hope

My sister is really wonderful and does so many good deeds. She is fond of saying that in her case, "No good deed ever goes unpunished." It does seem that way sometimes. I read recently of one of the people on the abortion mill sidewalk pleading with a mother to spare the child she carried and not enter the place of death. To reward his compassion, someone spit in his face. Some reward for his obedience to the Lord he loved and the desperate desire to spare the woman and the baby from the emotional and physical horror of abortion.

Then I read the depressed wail of a dear friend, a dog rescuer, whose home is filled with cast-off dogs. She gets few breaks, spends every last penny to care for them, and as they grow old and increasingly feeble, must find ways to afford the increasing vet bills. Yet, she would never abandon them because she made a commitment to help them, and she would not shrink from the task because it is hard, and sometimes overwhelming. I think anyone who extends themselves on behalf of others has periods of great despair, feeling used and abused by the very people they strive to help. Every mother probably experiences that from her children at various times. Doing good, and being obedient to God's call is not for the faint of heart.

I have a very full week. We leave Friday for two weeks of college visits, and visits to family up North. I need to pack, organize, and schedule a thousand loose ends. In the meantime, I ought to be marketing my book ( you can help with that - copy this link and send it to everyone you know: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tower-Builder-Vicky-Kaseorg/dp/1494434997 . I know you don't think you would enjoy a book about radio towers, but you are wrong. This is a good book. I promise.)

Nonetheless, I hurried from one important meeting to dash away to fulfill my commitment to teach art at a nearby nursing home. The residents seem to really enjoy it, and are a very uncondemning audience. I know they look forward to my art class...but I wish I had thought more carefully about how busy this week was going to be before I scheduled the class. As I pulled into the nursing home, what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature horse (but no tiny reindeer.) I leaped from the car and dashed over to the horse, who was nibbling ineffectually at the cement on the portico of the nursing home.

"I want you!" I cried. The owner was very accommodating, and answered my barrage of questions. The questions were mostly how I could go about getting one of these. (Hubby, if you are reading this, this is what I want for Mother's Day....) The horse lives in her backyard, which is legal in Charlotte! She is house trained, and only poops in her spot in the backyard. She eats a cup of grain a day, and munches the grass. The owner told me she only costs about fifty cents a day to feed. She got her for $100. This is less expensive cost/upkeep than a dog. As I hugged the horse, some of my art students sat on the front porch, watching.

"Let's just cancel class and go buy a horse," I suggested.

You just never know what might greet you when you open yourself to the world. The last thing I expected to see in volunteering at a nursing home was an adorable miniature horse. I have never in my life gotten to pet and cuddle a miniature horse! It was a highlight and unexpected joy, a sprinkling of the pleasures of walking towards God. I know it is such a little blessing, and probably not much to offer to those who battle in the trenches day after day, and only encounter more mud and caving-in walls. However, God promises us that when we continue in His will, He has mighty plans for us, for a future and a hope if we do not give up.

Don't give up. Just around the corner you might find the precious muzzle of a miniature horse.
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Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Numbers 14:24

But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

James 1:12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Colossians 3:23-24 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

2 Peter 3:9 

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.