Tag: Message

It is Finished 2

Quilter2 Comments
© jb katke

…but Easter 2024 is not over, the message is more than daily. It is hourly—year in and year out.

I love the words I heard on Sunday, never having put the concept together before. They came from two sources, Tim Tebow, former football quarterback, and my pastor, Mike Bickley.

“Jesus’s death on the cross is biggest rescue mission known to man.”

How true! Some had need to call a fire department, others maybe the police. Or maybe both. Depending on the need being an urgent cry of help, and the right people came running.

How many of us have felt that cry of help in a spiritual sense? A mental scenario plays in my mind of someone on the verge of drowning, pleading with Jesus to save him. If saved, this individual makes all kinds of promises—only to forget about them when he miraculously is saved. It is human nature to look after number one. An unfortunate human response.

There is so much in life that is beyond our control. It only makes sense to turn to Jesus. Or is that the last resort? Consider making it your first priority. Jesus already owns a claim to fame. Cracking open the Good Book, you can read about his message of his healing, salvation, his new way of worshipping.

Wait, back up. Does that cry for help in a spiritual sense denote a need of saving? What is really desired is being removed from danger, right? Consider this: We all are in danger. If Jesus is somewhere in the way background of your life, you are putting yourself in danger of falling for…whatever.

A bigger home, the newest model vehicle, or the latest cell phone available won’t give you peace of mind. They will forever require updating.

Compare that to what Jesus has to offer, free for the asking. He is capable of instilling new wholesome desires that fall in line with his plan for you. Were you even aware he made you for a purpose and has great plans for your life? I can vouch for the fact that he will take you places never dreamed of. It’s a good thing.

Jesus can and does fill a heart with gratitude, comforts in time of need, and gives you the opportunity to spend eternity with him. The hard things in life are not removed, but you can have him with you wherever you go. Whatever you do. That, my friend, is better than a State Farm agent who is always there. An agent has hours, Jesus is 24/7 on call, waiting to hear from you.

Getting back to Easter—we have it because of Christmas. Commonly they are the seasons of acknowledgement. He came as an infant growing in this world as you did. Living a blameless life, he deliberately took all the wrong things of this world (aka sin) and let the blame fall on him. Take it personally that he died for you. It truly is the biggest rescue mission ever. It is up to you, do not let your faith be seasonal.

Any hour is right to call on him, he will come running.

Dreaming

QuilterLeave a comment
© jb katke

Dreams can be a funny thing; mine are downright bizarre.

My man will attest to that after he heard about the one I had being on a game show. Let’s Make a Deal, if memory serves me right. The contestant had to vie for attention through some outlandish costume. All I can recall is having the opportunity to choose Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3. Having made my choice, I discovered I  won seven tons of cat food.

This was before we were married and I only had one cat. Nevertheless, I earned the reputation for crazy dreams.

The one I had last night might rank up there with the cat food.

My son, Jamie, sent me a birthday card. The was the message:

Gu bib,

Hidt qumye yi qudg ti0 u gu[[t n94ygeut.

9 yg9m; iv ti0 cxc4t eut ume q9dg qc p9xce wpidc4 yi6cygc4.

9 /9dd ti0 ume gi[c ti0 jmiq 9 pixc ti0 di /0wg.

Jamie

Gibberish to you? Me too, that’s what woke me up. On the outside, I was sleeping, my dream laughter woke me.

Mothers can read between the lines.  

Jamies’ alleged message said: Hi Mom, Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I think of you every day and wish we lived closer together. I miss you and hope you know I love you so much. Jamie

I’m confident enough of these words to comprehend this is Jamies’ thought. I know my boy.

The hilarious part is it is no where near my birthday. Nor is it close to his; to prompt me of sending a birthday greeting to him.

What brings these thoughts to a sleeping mind? I’ve read of folks back in the Bible times that could interpret dreams. If one of you readers can, never mind interpreting mine, I may not want to know.

Whether your dreams are of a sleep nature or physical vacation plans for the summer, I hope they bring as many smiles and happiness as mine did.

My Invisable Helper

QuilterLeave a comment

© jb katke

Well folks, it’s happened again.

Some mornings I wake feeling defeated before the day begins. I hate it when that happens. The problem is I get easily overwhelmed. I have more to do than there are hours in a day. Retirement just ain’t what I imagined. Do ya know what I’m sayin’?

Then I remind myself, for most women, retirement is an illusion. You are familiar with the workload of a homemaker, so there is no need to elaborate. Grandma Andrews once told me, “A housewife never lacks something to do.” Those are true words if I ever heard them.

While I don’t do the gardening or canning grandma did, I do have one little teeny tiny task that makes all the difference in my world. I’m writing a book, and I am here to tell you that is difficult to accomplish. Particularly when I never dreamed, or set out to write. Ever. Period.

As if waking with a crummy attitude isn’t enough, I find myself behind in my allotted time reading the Bible. So, I picked it up this morning and the following is what I read,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress…”                                                                                                         Hebrews 12:1 NLT

It is uncanny how often when I am playing catch-up in my reading, I come across a verse that speaks to where I am at in that moment. I interpreted that to mean, others are watching. Girl, God’s got this. Don’t let little things get you down, there are others that suffered far more grief than you will ever know. There are people rooting for you

I continued reading.

“So, take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet…”                                                                           Hebrews 12:12 NLT

The fact that God doesn’t make mistakes, wrestles in my mind and heart. The waters I tread are strange to me. Writing a book takes a truckload of effort; keep moving forward one step at a time. A saying comes to mind, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

My aim is not to spook you, but experience points to a supernatural experience.

People and circumstances have come to my attention making this a doable project, showing me the next step. I will tell you this. Never will I look at a book the same again. Authors literally pour themselves into the art of writing, not for the money, but because they either have a message to convey, or a desire to entertain.

As usual, when I read the Good Book, I feel strengthened and encouraged. Today is no different. I still find myself challenged, but God’s got this, it was His idea in the first place. My writing coach feels I will have book in hand yet this summer. She thinks great things of me because she knows an invisible Helper is by my side. Stay tuned to my continuing saga.

Why Do You Do This?

Quilter4 Comments

© jb katke

What prompts a person to do what they do?

That question could apply to any bazillion topics. Mine, today, is directed to those unsung hero’s that write for a living.

The last few days, I have lived at my keyboard. Not writing, but listening to those that do. I am fresh from an online conference for authors. What am I doing hanging with them when I’ve yet to produce a book?

Good question. I ask myself that on a regular basis. The answer may not make sense, sometimes not even to me. A voice led me here, where it came from doesn’t matter because it was real to me.

As I sit under the tutelage of educated folks, I am learning new words.  Like Scrivener, Trope, enneagrams. Don’t ask me for definitions, as I haven’t wrapped my head around them yet. I fear there are more lurking about, yet to surface. One of the speakers I heard mentioned we never stop learning.  I have grasped I am in over my head and writers are introverts.

My dear husband disagrees with me being introverted. He thinks because I can carry on a conversation I am an extrovert. Not so. This conference has proved my point. All I did is sit and listen, barely responding to questions or comments and I am exhausted! Interacting with people, and apparently just listening wear me out.

The caveat is how much a writer must do to get their words not only published, but then sell themselves. They must be their own advertising agent, convincing others why they need to purchase this book. Let me assure you, this is no easy task for someone who prefers not to call attention to themselves.

Why do they put themselves through this? Because they have a message. It is an inner voice that says their words are of value. That others could learn from a writers experience or wisdom. That’s what Jesus’ dad did. He chose to write a book, sharing his life and all kinds of other stuff that are helpful for living. He included people that set examples, both good and bad for us to learn from.

There is so much more to absorb. Same as reading the words of the Good Book-we never stop learning.        

Fill ‘Er Up

Quilter2 Comments

It brings me great joy to share my empty laundry basket with you. Laundry basket

I know, you’re thinking the lady has lost serious brain power. (PS Join the long line, others are way ahead of you)

Allow me to explain myself.

I use this basket as a hamper, and for more years than I care to admit, this basket has been ½ full, with dry cleaning as well as laundry. I won’t burden you with why I didn’t get the dry cleaning done in a timely manner. Let’s agree some things just are and leave it at that.

This year, 2020, I got the dry cleaning done! It may be the only accomplishment I achieve this year. That’s okay.

My real purpose is for you to see what I see in that empty basket. It has potential. It can be used for storage; or as when we moved, packed with all manner of things to get from here to there.

I can almost hear you now, “They’re not perfect for everything with holes in the sides, which limits what gets put in them.” True, but…

That empty basket reminds me of myself. Imperfect, kinda limited in what I can do. But still, good for something. I’ll even go so far as to say Jesus sees me that way too. My potential combined with his help will see me through things I never imagined doing.

Like what? If you have followed my blog from the beginning, you know this was not my idea. I don’t see eye to eye with technology, what computer skills I have generally get me in trouble. More than once I’ve had to issue an SOS to my husband or writing coach.

If you read through a few of my entries, you will get it. I don’t know much, but I know Jesus. I have shared things that I have observed in others, stuff from my own life; some scary and others are kinda funny. Bottom line, though, Jesus has been with me whether I have been aware of it at the time or not.

A good blog will have a purpose to the message. My purpose is for you to see the different ways Jesus is with you too. Be of good heart. I believe mankind has value and something to offer to others. Can ya see it?